For Everyone

For SABC Members

Just recently I was made redundant from Telstra, which allowed me the time to visit a small aircraft construction centre in Bielsko-Biala, Poland. Bielsko-Biala has 13 small aeroplane companies which produce some of the most advanced aircraft designs and historical aircraft.

While in Bielsko-Biala, I also looked at the Edward Marganski’s new prototype aircraft call Orka which is being designed as a replacement for the venerable Cessna 172. Marganski's company Zaklad Remontow I Produkcji Sprzetu Lotniczego is also producing composite propellers and windmill fan blades.

The Glider production facilities of Allstar PZL Glider Ltd produce a range of gliders including the SZD 50-3 Puchacz, the SZD 51-1 Junior, the SZD 55-1 and the SZD 59-1 Acro.

I also looked over the factory of the Wytwornia Konstrukcji Kompozytowych producing the Stemme S-10 (German) motorgliders and the Sky Arrow (Italian) aeroplanes. A variety of ultralight aircraft being produced by Remos Sp.Zo.o like the Mirage, Eol and Gemini, both as completed aircraft and kits.

In particular, I went to see the Historical Aircraft Services factory run by Janusz Karasiewicz which produces new Bucker Jungmann, Jungmeister and in the future the Bestmann aeroplanes as complete aircraft or as kits.

I spent 7 days inspecting the factory workshop and the final assembly workshop/operational maintenance centre at Bielsko–Biala airfield where I flew a Bucker Jungmann for 45 minutes, and I must confess it’s a delightful, highly maneuverable aerobatic biplane to fly, and ideal for teaching aerobatics.

H.A.S. is also setting up facilities to make carbon steel Flying Wires for aircraft (carbon steel flying wires last four times longer than stainless steel); they are also looking to make spare parts for Tiger Moth aircraft. They will also take on restorations of any vintage, military or classic aircraft.

The cost of owning one of these new handcrafted Bucker Jungmann aircraft with a new Walter Lom engine is €103,000.00 complete fly away or €51,500.00 for a kit. In the near future the Jungmeister kit with the Walter Lom engine (or in limited number of aircraft - the original Bramo Siemens Radial engine will be available) will be available either as a complete aircraft or as a kit. Shortly the Super Jungmeister with the 250 hp Walter Lom engine will also be available.

After seven days of intensive inspections and discussions, I visited the Polish Aviation Museum at Krakow with it’s excellent collection of World War 1 and post World War 2 aircraft; the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow would like to obtain a Transavia Air Truk (without engine) for their collection of unusual Crop Spraying Aircraft.

It was time to leave Poland; my only major problem was the language as many people in the Bielsko-Biala region (which is in the south part of Poland) don’t speak English. Luckily the H.A.S. company have two people who can speak English.

I will being acting as an agent for the Historial Aircraft Services company and anyone interested in purchasing a Bucker Jungmann, Jungmeister and Bestmann aircraft, please contact me, Fred Long on 08-9271 5766.

Switzerland

On my way home to Australia, I stopped off at Marcel and Marie's home in Fribourg, Switzerland; to catch up with two new friends who had recently visited Serpentine Airfield south of Perth.

Next day, Marcel took me flying in his Robin around the mountains, just past Zweisimmen Airfield, (I still get claustrophobic in the mountains) and so we didn’t go very far. Instead we flew over Lausanne along the edge of the lake to Yverdon Les Bains for luncheon. We took off and flew along Lac de Neuchatel past Porrentruy (home airfield of Albert Reusch Aerobatic School, who use Bucker Jungmann and Jungmeister aircraft) and back to Ecuvillens.

Next day we took off from Ecuvillens and wandered down to Grenchen for afternoon tea together with a number of other aircraft in a gaggle (unfortunately we didn’t catch up with them); and after afternoon tea we flew back in formation to Ecuvillens (I could get to like this type of life).

In the late afternoon I had a look at an RV7 project and was very impressed with the workmanship. That evening we had a Fondue (cheese - with various fruits) for the evening meal which was quite unusual for me.

Next day I visited Max Brugger and had a look at his latest project. (Max is the renown designer of the Colibri MB2 single seat aerobatic homebuilt).

After that, I spent a relaxing afternoon with Marcel and Marie before departing for Perth via Hong Kong.

In all it was a wonderful trip, only just too short.

Fred Long