[ULF-1] Member 137 home-builder without experience.

From: Member 64
Date: 2012-09-08 16:57 UTC
Message: #0389

Hello Sam and all other readers,
I have read your mail asking for advice as you plan to build a ULF-1 and you worry about your lack of experience in that matter.If my experience could help you a bit, here it is.I'm a 77 year old Frenchman living in south-east France, still flying gliders from a famous airfield known for the high performance flights one can achieve, Fayence. In 1981, after reading a report on the ULF-1 in an aviation magazine reading that the construction time was about 800 working hours, I decided to order the plans to Mr Member 9, the ULF-1 conceptor, although I had no experience at all in Member 60 and fabric construction, not even on models. The short construction time and the strong urge to fly again, especially with a glider giving so much freedom, motivated the decision.I was a bit disapointed by the complexity of the plans : I must say they are perfectly drawn and easy to interpret. After several months of drawings study and work planning, I started the construction. It lasted 5 years, far away from the predicted 800 hours...But I learned a lot, asking for advice from old aviation carpenters happy to give information and demonstrations on Member 60 machines, glueing techniques, etc. as their beloved old job has vanished today.Building a ULF-1 is quite a job, the same as building those beautiful old machines from the 1930's and forties in which the Germans excelled. The result is at my expectations level if not higher : it looks beautiful in its old-fashioned airframe, made a sensation among the glider pilots in Fayence and flew beautifuly : since the first flights, towed behind a car, I never adjusted the controls, balance or whatever.Unfortunately, I am too old now to foot-launch in the mountains and fly regularly (just as yesterday) on a Silent2 "Targa" (also excellent in its category).Bon courage, Monsieur Member 89.Regards,André Member 64.