Dream Classic Update

In March 214, GSAL delivered a Dream Classic kit to Mike and Chris in Wiltshire and although we had been in touch regularly over the telephone and a few meetings at the GSAL headquarters, we thought it was time to go down and see the progress.

This was always going to be a slow burning project as both Mike and Chris are retired and they had always intended to build the kit in their spare time.

I'd popped down a couple of times to sort out bolt lengths as GSAL had made design changes to simplify building the kit and also a wing-fold mechanism.  Each time I visited them they seemed to have made some progress and I took the pictures below.

The next time I visited Mike and Chris they had completed the wings and tail feathers, Chris had made changes to the rudder so it looked very much like a Demoiselle's.

After the second visit things went quiet until we got a call about the stitching used for the fabric covering, so we arranged to drive down and check out the progress in June this year, and the following images show good progress and that they were indeed ready for the fabric covering.

I saw Mike and Chris at the LAA Rally in September, they confirmed that the covering had been completed and were working on the engine installation which is a Rotax 447, it should be finished soon!!!!

LAA Rally 2016

The 2016 Rally was a special event for the LAA as they were celebrating their 70th year, I don't think the weather realised as it poured with rain all Saturday with strong winds through the night.  It wasn't all bad, we at GSAL arrived Thursday lunchtime and setup the pitch quickly so we could sit back and enjoy the lovely sunny day and watch everybody setting up while enjoying a few beers.
 

Friday was another fine day with a reasonable attendance and quite a few aircraft arriving by air.  The evening weather was especially pleasant as the wind dropped, and again we enjoyed a few beers with fellow exhibitors and friends.

Shaun had prepared a splendid feast of roast pork, new potatoes, green beans, and carrots, all washed down with some lovely red wine..........well you might as well enjoy being at the show!!!

Of course we had the Eindecker on show as usual, but we also had Roger Peirce's (7/8th scale) N11/16 in the builders marquee, which caused quite a stir.  He had exhibited it last year with a bare airframe which was pretty much complete and many people couldn't believe it was an SSDR.  This year it was covered with the engine and beautiful Hercules prop fitted, and caused even more of a sensation, poor Roger made up a big sign saying YES THIS IS SSDR to stop the same question being asked hundreds of times over the weekend.  The images below show what a magnificent aircraft it is in the authentic camouflage.

 
However, on Saturday the heavens opened and everybody ran for the marquees, we at GSAL cover the Eindecker with a plastic sheet but the wind decided to make our life hell as we fought to keep it on the aircraft.  I managed to take a couple of pictures while in the caravan just to show people how bad it was!

GSAL look forward to the LAA 2017 Rally and will pray for fine weather the whole weekend.