Ever since I entered onto the path of designing and kitting vintage and classic model sailplanes, I've recognized that the journey would be much more rewarding if I were to partner with those who shared my passion for unpowered flight.
The first of these I reached out to was the Soaring Society of America (SSA) and their division the 1-26 Association. It was clear to me that there was a special interest in RC scale sailplanes and that I was often visiting their pages for ideas, images, specifications, details, and stories for inspiration. It wasn't long before they and others were featuring my designs and kits on their links and pages.
Since that time we associated ourselves by necessity with other special interest groups such as the Vintage Sailplane Association which has an extensive archive of blueprints, factory documents, specifications and photographic images of numerous vintage and classic sailplanes from the 1930's to approximately 1965. Their archivist, Raul Blacksten has been extremely helpful in my research of old sailplanes and gliders.
Likewise, we've developed a relationship with the National Soaring Museum (NSM) whose excellent collection provides a priceless resource in the development of kits of many of the aircraft that they house. Not only do they help promote the sport of soaring, but allow excellent and close up photos of some of the most historical sailplanes and gliders in the world - some which are found nowhere else.
Without these resources we would never have been able to produce a kit of the Schweizer brother's first aircraft, the SGP 1-1 or their first production aircraft, the SGU 1-7. The examples of these at the National Soaring Museum are the only ones in existence.
And now we are looking to extend our partnering efforts to the Experimental Sailplane Association (ESA) formerly known as the Sailplane Homebuilders Association, another division of the SSA. Their annual meetings are like going to an antique car rally. There are so many vintage production gliders now classified as Experimental due to being surplused by the U.S. Army or Navy or other extenuating circumstances, that an ESA get-together feels like visiting a glider port in the late 1940's.
I'd like to extend our appreciation to all of these and others like them for all of their support and encouragement and all that they do to help keep the sport of soaring alive and well worldwide.
Thanks!
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