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| By Mark Nankivil |
Wabash Valley Soaring Association Vintage/Classic Sailplane Regatta
June 11-15, 2014 at Lawrenceville-Vincennes, Airport
June 11-15, 2014 at Lawrenceville-Vincennes, Airport
My son, Jack, and I arrived on Thursday afternoon and were
treated to vintage sailplanes in the air and on the ramp. I was excited to see Matt Gonitzke’s
beautiful V-tailed Austria SH-1 (N12052) on the ramp, as the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum has one on display.
Matt did a splendid job restoring this all wood sailplane with the looks
of a modern ‘glass ship and it looked even better in the air.
The WVSA has a plethora of vintage and classic sailplanes,
either individually or club owned, with a number of members actively restoring
sailplanes in a purpose built workshop. With
two hangars full of sailplanes and a club house to make you feel welcome, this
is a great club and place to host a sailplane regatta.
Weather over the three days we were there was excellent, and
lift was plentiful though you had to work for it at times. Jim Short in his blue/silver Schweizer SGS
1-21 (N-91861 - one of only two made and both still fly!) put in a 5+ hour
flight on Friday, landing as the sun was setting. Jim obviously loves his 1-21,
and he knows how to fly it well and work the lift that was available.
Jim Croce flew his Glasflugel Libelle on
Thursday and even used the drag chute for the landing, something rarely done
nowadays.
Howard Petri brought out his
ultra rare, Dutch designed 1963 Vliegtuigbouw
Sagitta (only 20 made) on Friday and after a thorough inspection,
visiting Chad Wille took her up for a flight.
On Saturday, Chad flew her again, performed mild aerobatics and
thermaled up and out a number of times.
The Sagitta looked good with the blue sunburst scheme showing as she
flew overhead.
German designed sailplanes tend to dominate, by their numbers, vintage/classic events with the Schleicher Ka-6 (in its numerous models/variants), Ka-8B and two seat ASK-13 sailplanes being the most numerous. All three types listed were present at the event with six different variants of the Ka-6 at the field and a pair of Ka-8Bs.
Saturday night the club hosted a dinner and auction
benefiting the VSA with Dody Wyman’s beautiful quilt being raffled off as well. Made from sailplane artwork found on numerous
shirts, banners and other memorabilia with stitching taking on the outline of a
sailplane, the quilt is a true labor of love – photos don’t do it justice.
I look forward to heading back over to Lawrenceville, IL
again next year - come join us and enjoy the beauty and grace of sailplanes
both on the ground and in the air.
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