05-Oct-09

VH-GRS and VH-GRV side-by-side at YCAB today ...  Romeo Sierra was the first ever ES-KA6 and Romeo Victor was the second.  The ES-KA6  is a version of the German manufacturer Albert Schleicher's Ka6-Cr sailplane that was built under licence by Edmund Schneider in Adelaide. GRS was first registered in Aug'61 (ES Serial Number 50) and GRV was first registered in Jul'62 (ES Serial Number 54).

GRS had her first outing at YCAB today when she was removed from Speedy's trailer, rigged and placed in temporary residence in Hangar 22 in readiness for a Bert Persson inspection during this week and her first flights at Caboolture (planned for Friday). GRV was de-rigged and loaded into Speedy's trailer in readiness for her upcoming road trip to Jondaryan with a view to some cross country flying during "Caboolture Week at DDSC".

Interesting to ponder as to how many times they may have been been together before ... GRS has had only two pre-McCarthy/Russell owners (Gliding Club of Victoria at Benalla VIC and South Gippsland Gliding Club at Leongatha VIC). GRV has had several pre-Rodda owners (Marj Peglar - Quilpie QLD, Ian Aspland - Kingaroy QLD,  Goondiwindi Soaring Club QLD, Charleville Soaring Club QLD, stored de-rigged under a house at Charlieville QLD for some 18 years through to 1999, stored de-rigged by Barry Deeth for another 3 years at Caboolture QLD, major restoration during 2002 and 2003 by Thomas Dattner at Tyagarah NSW before migration to VIC under the ownership Walter Dietz at Mangalore Gliding Club).

Perhaps the two first-hatched Schneider K6's may have been seen together before at State and/or National Gliding Championships during the 1960's (or 1970's)?

Caboolture's proud K6 owners ... Barry McCarthy & Garrett Russell (at left and at right respectively - owners of ES-KA6 VH-GRS) with Bernard "Speedy" Gonsalves (at front - owner of Ka6-Cr VH-GSR) and Kevin Rodda (at back - owner of ES-KA6 VH-GRV).

PS: Note the clouds in the background of the above pics ... Bert Persson reckons that the sky above Caboolture Airfield is always this good on Mondays!