Colditz Glider on NOVA PBS - USA

I just saw another version, also on NOVA.
It was done in 2011 and they actually built the glider and launched it off the roof as originally planned. They flew it via radio control, made it out of the prison and could have done a landing but were getting close to houses.

Looked like they had people from HpH helping build it.

The show was titled, "Escape from Nazi Alcatraz".

On Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 10:26:50 PM UTC-4, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
I just saw another version, also on NOVA.
It was done in 2011 and they actually built the glider and launched it off the roof as originally planned. They flew it via radio control, made it out of the prison and could have done a landing but were getting close to houses.

Looked like they had people from HpH helping build it.

The show was titled, "Escape from Nazi Alcatraz".

The BBC program Charlie is mentioning can be found on YouTube he

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zUC1TK2n_Y

Uli

On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 05:17:36 -0700, AS wrote:

On Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 10:26:50 PM UTC-4, Charlie M. (UH & 002
owner/pilot) wrote:
I just saw another version, also on NOVA.
It was done in 2011 and they actually built the glider and launched it
off the roof as originally planned. They flew it via radio control,
made it out of the prison and could have done a landing but were
getting close to houses.

Looked like they had people from HpH helping build it.

The show was titled, "Escape from Nazi Alcatraz".

The BBC program Charlie is mentioning can be found on YouTube he

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zUC1TK2n_Y

I think you'll find its a Channel 4 program rather than from the BBC.

That replica had a weight limit imposed (50kg IIRC despite being a full
scale version) because it was flown in a built-up area by R/C and, again
IIRC, that it hadn't been test flown before it was filmed. Any and all
corrections are welcome.

More on topic: last time I met Derek Piggott the Colditz Cock came up
and, as I knew he'd test flown the first replica, asked him about it. He
said it handled well, "like all similar gliders from that era" and that
they'd flown it on RAF Odiham on a pretty average day. Nonetheless he
said he'd almost got away in a small bump but decided to cut the flight
short because there was a fair cross-wind.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

You are correct, since that replica had not been flown and they were going to launch it as originally intended over the town, there were quite a few restrictions.
It was still a pretty good display of, "making due with what you have".

Maybe a mass produced version would satisfy Wilbur in that "other thread"....... LOL......