by John Switala

In the container was our ASK-21 secured in a wooden frame and an ASG-29 belonging to Tom Claffey. Sharing the container allowed both of us reduced freight costs.

The first photo was taken in Germany just before they shut the container doors on 1 October 2008.

The rest of the photos show various stages of the unpack. A few comments:

Apparently the yellow fluoro vests have the ability to stop a forklift truck! They are mandatory on site!

If you are a speleologist (caver) you are going to be sent to the back of the container. In a confined space. In the dark. By yourself.

There is a photo of a twenty foot container being moved just after we loaded the trailer with the K-21. The container was hoisted high to get over our trailer. As it was passing our trailer it teetered sideways towards the trailer when overhead. It looked like the moment before a disaster!

The longest part of the job was getting the ASG-29 trailer with glider out of the container. They take off the wheels, axles and mudguards to make as much room as possible in the container.

It does make it difficult to get the thing out though!

All the helpers brought something to the operation; Stu brought some axle stands, Ken had a couple of trolleys, Laurie had his tool box (his truck), Gary had a forklift (don’t we all) and John had some tools and drills.

Laurie drove the K-21 back to Benalla from the unloading site in North Melbourne. The trailer was rented from a syndicate at Mt Beauty Gliding Club who recently purchased an ASK-21Mi, the self launcher version. Having a trailer specifically designed for the type of aircraft made the transport to Benalla so much easier. Our fall back position was to bring one of our open trailers and “rig” something to take the K-21. Much sorrow would have occurred if that went wrong. The cost of transport of the container to Benalla was $1,800 from a number of sources! Too much money – this was the only way to get the glider to Benalla. Thanks to David Jacobson from the ASK-21Mi syndicate for the assistance in providing the trailer.

Many thanks to Stu Smith, Laurie McKinlay, Ken Boland and Gary Brasher for helping. And also to Tom Claffey who volunteered 5 flights in his ASG-29 to the helpers! I’m sure I heard him volunteer that suggestion! I could be wrong! I’ll ask the other four if they also heard that suggestion! That’ll confirm it!

STOP PRESS

by Robert Dorning

The Workshop team working on the ASK-21 report the preliminary inspection to issue a 'Form 2' is progressing well. It is hoped a Experimental Certificate will be issued by GFA on Friday, December 19 when the Form 2 inspection is completed. If so, it could be test-flown on the coming weekend.

If all goes well, the GFA will issue the C of A next Tuesday, December 23. However, the K21 can't be used for commercial purposes until the C of A is issued, only check flights of instructors and pilots, no passenger flying. Here's your chance to be the first!

After the C of A has been issued, the K21 becomes one of GCV's ordinary gliders.