Hi All,

It has been a very long time since posting, mainly due to the panemic, lockdowns, life in general. However, GSAL has a new driver at the helm for sales and marketing, and so I will once again start posting builder updates as they come in, plus other things related to flying.

Back Soon.

Dream Classic Update

Chris and Mike spent a few days with their Dream Classic at a private airstrip performing taxi runs to stretch and adjust cables before doing some flight hops in preparation for flight testing.  Unfortunately the weather turned to rain and high winds the next day, so they are waiting for time and weather to coincide for flight tests.

Some period moody evening shots at the days end.

Chris and Mike have reluctantly decided to sell the Dream Classic for a very reasonable price of £8500 ono (less than it cost to build), as Mike has had a hip operation since this testing and is unlikely to fly again. It does have a unique wing-fold which will make storing the aircraft at home possible, or reduce hangar costs.  Anyone interested in the aircraft should send me and email on: george.simoni@outlook.com

DH2 Update

DH2 Wing Sections

DH2 Wings with fuselage

Fuselage and central wing sections.

Brian has now completed the DH2 fuselage and central wing section installation, including the rigging wires.  He has now run out of room in the garage, but has arranged the use of a farm building to complete the wing and rigging over the next few weeks.  GSAL look forward to seeing images of the assembly.

Eindecker Build In The Fatherland

Dieter inspecting engine installation on GSAL's Fokker Eindecker.

Dieter admiring the GSAL Fokker Eindecker.

Our friend Dieter flew over from Germany for the day early in 2016, to check out the GSAL Fokker Eindecker prototype, and was impressed enough to order a kit which he received at the end of December.  He couldn't start until he'd moved house in 2017, but has made good progress once settled into his new home.

Dieter's first update image of his Eindecker build in October 2018.

The following images were received from Dieter June 2019, and he has made excellent progress with the engine installation. Initially he was going to fit the Verner 3 - cylinder radial, but decided to go for a modified Briggs & Stratton V-Twin with belt reduction drive instead.  The engine mount configuration was designed by GSAL, but the detail and build was done by Dieter and his friend.

June 2019

June 2019

 

June 2019

June 2019

June 2019

Dieter has a way to go before finishing, however, he has made excellent progress.  We are looking forward to some more detail on the engine and its power output which I believe was sourced in Germany.

N11 Flight video

Some film footage of Rogers N11 first flight with sound.

N11 First Flights

Roger's NII achieved weightlessness and got it's wheels of the ground, there were the usual adjustments to be made, but everything progressed well.

Side panel off, for access to control systems during taxi runs.

Roger's friend an experienced tail-wheel pilot performed the first test runs.

Take off run.

Safe landing after the first sortie.

Back safely after the first sortie and ready for a debrief.

GSAL are looking forward to seeing some film footage, hopefully we can post it on the blog.

Dream Classic Update 3

DC with Thruster fuel tank in front to help C of G.

On Monday the 24th of September GSAL visited Chris and Mike to check their completed aircraft, and inspect the wing fold mechanism.  Most Dream Classic's have the Rotax 503 or Hirth equivalent fitted which are about 6kg heavier than the Rotax 447 Chris and Mike have fitted.  Also the larger heavier Demoiselle type rudder has moved weight aft, so mounting the fuel tank in front instead of to the side has balanced this out, and the C of G is now in the correct position.

Chris and Mike demonstrated how they folded the wings.

 

Mike explained how he was making a saddle to support the wings for transport, with further fixed supports on the trailer not yet completed.  They are just about ready to start flight testing at the end of October.

GSAL will post any test flight details as they arrive, and I must say we can't wait..!!

Nieuport N11 Update

N11 frontal view.

N11 side view.

N11 close up.

N11 engine detail.

N11 cockpit.

N11 detail.

N11 detail.

GSAL recently visited Roger's completed N11/16, to give it a good going over before flight testing.  These images were taken during the day in lovely sunshine.  Later we took of the cowling to inspect the engine installation and run her up.....

 

What a lovely sound...

Whing-Ding II Sub 70kg

UK Whing-Ding II Front View

UK Whing-Ding II Rear View

GSAL are now offering a complete plan set of the Whing-Ding II with UK upgrades. It's possible to build this aircraft to the new licence free SUB 70 kg category.

GSAL would always advise any builder to seek flight training from a professional establishment.

Price: £50 + VAT + Postage

(Online support via email)

DH2 Update

DH2 Fuselage coming together.

More DH2 progress on the fuselage.

Better view of rudder bar and gun.

Brian tries it out for size.

GSAL Eindecker EIII Kit Number 10

A very happy looking young man, with hours of reading, and a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the kit purchase.

On the 14th of April Matthew and his mother Anna, collected GSAL Eindecker kit number 10.  During correspondence I was asked what size of vehicle would be required, I replied the longest tubes are 12ft, so either a van or an average size car with roof rack.  They surprised me by turning up in a little Fiat Panda/roof-rack with ladder mounted on top...........we managed to get it all in and on top (rear seats had been removed) goodness knows how.  They arrived back home safely with everything in tacked.

I look forward to posting updates from Matthew's build as it progresses.

First UK DH2 Kit Update

Brian Appleby Received a bottle of bubbly as a thank you for purchasing a kit.

GSAL will be working closely with Brian to iron out any build issues that might arise from a new kit.  However, Brian hasn't wasted any time in getting started and has already completed the rudder,  stabiliser and elevator.

Brian with the Rudder and his favorite red jumper.

Stab & Elevator

GSAL has produced full size CAD drawings of these parts which has greatly helped speed up the build, and we are currently working on other CAD drawings for the kit.  We will off course keep posting images of Brian's progress.

Dream Classic Update 2

GSAL recently visited Chris and Mike building their Dream Classic.  They're almost finished, with just fuel system, throttle cable / lever, some instruments and exhaust system to finalise before first test runs / flights.  I was very impressed by how well they had done in giving the DC a period feel, with painting of frame tubes and colour doping the fabric.  The following images were taken during the visit, which was primarily to check the aircraft weight and confirm C of G.

Looking very period.

Colour tubes, dope, and Demoiselle shape rudder work a treat.

Wing - fold detail.

Looks like a lot of fun.

Love the hat.

Period looking prop.

Rotax 447 with pull start.

Swan neck catch for quick relase when derigging.

One very period looking chap.

We look forward to a flight review in MF Magazine early in 2018.