Scale Soaring UK

We thought it would be appropriate and fitting to mark Cliff's passing here on the SSUK forum and to that effect I have created this new page for anyone who would like to post their memories and experiences of both Cliff and his models.

Someone who we all know has inspired many to take an interest in scale sailplane building and flying, myself included.

Do please let me know if there are any problems posting as setting permissions on a new category is tricky especially when you are doing it with your left hand.

C'mon then, Robbie...what happened to the other hand?

My first ever scale glider was an ASK-18 from Cliff's plan

VinceC wrote:My first ever scale glider was an ASK-18 from Cliff's plan

And you can remember that long ago?????



BC

Yep, in those days if you did Cliff's K18 or K13 you had arrived on the scale glider scene.

Alas, regrettably, I did neither.

Chris, just a routine minor job on the right hand - back in the worshop next week.

I have very fond memories of Cliff coming to our comps on the Long Mynd and particularly on one occasion. It was sometime around the late 1980's and I had built my first scale model, Cliffs Grunau Baby. He took great interest and gave me some `fatherly' advice on using the air brakes, a really lovely gentleman.
This is a photo of that same model taken a couple of years ago, This time being launched by another great gentleman on the northerly site of Darnford on the Long Mynd.


This is a photo again taken at Darnford of a happy group go our `Ladies' , my wife is the knitter, her way of a joke !

Nice colour tones in the Grunau photo

The reason for posting the photo of the ladies was that Cliffs wife `Heather' is standing on the left, looking at the photo, sorry about that.

John

John

Don't know why you're sorry. Great picture of Heather, brings back many wonderful memories of a great lady.

Ian

I just found this in the archive, although I can't work out where it was...

Previous lifetime Chris

chris williams wrote:I just found this in the archive, although I can't work out where it was...

Once upon a time,
on a hill far far away.

It couldn't be you in the photo Chris.
Looks as if it was taken much too long ago!

Cliff with his Ka2 Rhonschwalbe at Lords Hill in 2002

chris williams wrote:I just found this in the archive, although I can't work out where it was...

You are lucky you can work out who it is...



BC

Cliff with his SF33 electric motorglider prototype at Lords Hill 2002...

Grunau Baby Lords Hill 2005, Ka6 County Model Flying Club 2008

I think this electric T61E must have been the last of Cliff's designs. He was dissatisfied with its flying qualities, thus the plan was never released. CMFC 2008

Ibuilt cliff,s grunau baby many years ago,as my first venture in to scale sailplanes,a magnificent model,strong lift and a safe landing to you Cliff,you will be missed,jack.

Thanks for posting your photos Chris

I think I can remember Chris's bushy hair being like that, (Post No 10) I was about 7 years old Terry

Sorting thro' some old cd's and came across this historic pic. Taken at Lords Hill in 2003. Two men who did more than most for our hobby.

Cliff and John Watkins both in fine fettle.

A picture showing another side to Cliff's flying. Kindly sent by Jess Nicholls.

Thanks for uploading the picture Robbie.
Much appreciated Jess

Found this.I also have Cliff's original article if anyone is interested.



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Just found another pic of Cliff with his ASK16. Taken at Lords Hill many moons ago

Ian

Thanks Ian, great picture.

In about 1982, my father bought the plan and canopy for Cliff's ASK 13 and proceeded to stink out the house with balsa cement and dope. After it had been flown for a while, dad chose his next project ... Cliff's ASK 18. To finance the '18, dad sold the '13.
The '13 went through 3 owners, each doing their own "involuntary modulations" until finally, the wreck was donated back to me.
The '13's restoration is low priority in the build queue but I thought I'd share a quick video of the progress.

After dad's passing in 2014, I inherited the ASK 18 so now I have both.
The '18 has a strong significance for us. About 10 years ago, while at an aerotow event, the ASK18 had one flight with three pilots.
I flew it on tow, and after release I handed the Tx to my dad who flew it for about 10 minutes and then dad handed the Tx to his grandson, my son, and he flew it for the remainder of the flight. We have a photo taken just after the flight of the three of us standing behind a Cliff Charlesworth ASK 18 ...
and that's pretty special if you ask me.

Nice story, thanks for sharing

Cliff would have loved this story.