L-13 Blanik Tow OUt Gear

On Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 8:29:20 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
Thread Hijack
AS- Did they ever determine why that L-13 wing came off?
Hate when that happens...

Yep - it was the same reason that years later lead to the world-wide grounding of them. The wing came off at about 2,000ft. The front seat pilot bailed out quickly while the instructor in the rear seat had to fight his way out of that 'cubby hole'. Both carried static line chutes and landed safely.
Uli
'AS'

On Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 6:53:11 PM UTC-6, AS wrote:
Quick History. The below is correct.over 800 in the world and over 100 in the USA were grounded over 8 years ago. The then owner of the Blanik license was not financially motivated to come up with a repair, there was an outfit in Germany fairly early in the process that did but it did not take hold for a number of reasons mostly FAA, Jal, EASE and money reasons. About two years ago Greg Mecklenburg in Bozeman got involved and through a lot of work dealing with the FAA and now Czech Republic Blanik licensee obtained a FAA approval for repair. The two options were send it to the Czech factory or get a repair- or shops- shop in the US to be approved to do the repair.. A few were contacted but not knowing how many of the ones still showing on the FAA registry would step forward none took it on. We shipped three in a container - with Greg's fantastic design and construction of the glider mounts after being told only two would fit - three to the factory in Feb. of this year and got them back in Sept. All were totally overhauled which was included in the repair and now have 6,000 hour life limits before another major overhaul. The cost of shipping three in a container was about the same as two on trailers and the cost of the repair/inspection was less than $20k. They are like new. Compared to anything else out there under $100K these are great trainers.Just glad to have a reliable two place in the Boise valley for tow pilot check rides, BFR's and fun flights. Flew with my wife for an hour earlier this week in unusual conditions with lift in late Oct. Putting it away for the winter.
Boise Pilot.

On Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 8:29:20 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
Thread Hijack
AS- Did they ever determine why that L-13 wing came off?
Hate when that happens...

Yep - it was the same reason that years later lead to the world-wide grounding of them. The wing came off at about 2,000ft. The front seat pilot bailed out quickly while the instructor in the rear seat had to fight his way out of that 'cubby hole'. Both carried static line chutes and landed safely..
Uli
'AS'