u/midstn

I’ve been in love with the SZD-30 Pirat ever since I first saw it which was right when I started gliding. Our club is moving soon due to our lease ending and all private gliders must be moved off site so the farm will give us money to aid in our move to a new site.

I was speaking to some inspectors at my club asking them about the Pirat, the work they may need, their costs, problems (like the Schleicher glue problems), and anything else.

A day later I found out (like 1 week ago) that there is a Pirat on the site abandoned. I sent a letter to the owner and he said I can have it for free but we should do a tiny formal trade so like £1 for the legal transfer. I agreed instantly. However we had to figure out how to move it in 2 weeks or else it will be scrapped completely.

I woke up the next day with a text from the chairman basically saying “don’t buy it, you are very stupid if you do because it will cost you so much”. So I basically said no I will still take it, even though the trailer was snapped in half and everything was rotting (apart from the Pirat)… I then had a revelation . I thought I shouldn’t own it because I would have to then arrange to scrap it or move it myself. So I asked to take the parts as I wanted to lighten the load for the owner when it comes to scrapping the trailer as it can’t move and also to learn re-fabricating. The owner is yet to get back to me after my taking the parts offer.

I was bummed about this and a K-6E came up for sale, I went for it but somebody already got it. I was wondering where do I realistically find one for sale to get or find, or even fly. I know the Gliding Heritage Centre have one and I contacted them but it wasn’t insured this year. The junior officer of my club (who knows everybody on the planet I swear) has gotten in touch with a few owners asking them to let me fly theirs so I can get a taster of flying it. I hope I get that.

Should I email clubs if there are any for sale? Or should I just wait on Facebook until one shows up? I don’t know what to do but I’m desperate to have a small project whilst our club waits to move. Any help is appreciated as this is looking like one of the only cheap gliders I can fly due to my light weight. I’m in a K6 syndicate but I have to have a lead cushion that boosts me up so my head hits the canopy, so I can’t fly it.

Thanks for your help (and for reading this)

I found an SZD-30 (which is a type I love) in a trailer with no door in it for a good few years. This means we have to remove all the fabric, sand and repair anything, then recover it.

I have spoken to inspectors and other people but since day I should and others say I shouldn’t. I really want it but if it will cost way more than it’s worth then I don’t see a point.

Do I buy it as I have obviously been offered to buy it for free due to its condition. How much am a looking at spending on it and should I even do it in the first place?

I’ve had this trouble ever since I started playing and used a tutorial. I could follow the most complex tutorial fine and if it went wrong I could fix it fine by myself. If somebody’s build is wrong or not working I know exactly how to fix it (most of the time) and it would work. But since I’ve started training to be a pilot I’ve been wanting to build some aircraft I fly and also the glider I own.

I’m massively into gliders so if course I found a tutorial for one. It wasn’t bad but I modified it into an LS4 which turned out alright. I’ve been wanting to make my own glider after doing this which is a Ka6-CR, it’s has so many curves and the skid is just impossible. I am now looking at a Duo Discus which I have also flown and I would like to build plus it is similar to the tutorial glider I modified. But of course I can’t even do that for some reason…

I understand everything but I just can’t use that to build something. Does anybody have any tips because I would love to make these and do them accurately🙏
Any help is appreciated thanks!