Nyborg glider

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18 years 1 month

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A friend of mine was asking if the Nyborg TGN 11 glider still exists? It is listed in Wrecks and Relics as owned by Paul Williams of Warwick. But this has not been updated since 1992. Years ago I saw movie film of this glider being pulled across a field at quite high speed. Can anybody help please.

Dave

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19 years

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Used to be stored by Ken Woolley at Berkeswell on behalf of MAPS when I was a member in the late 1960's ...

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Nyborg Glider

Used to be stored by Ken Woolley at Berkeswell on behalf of MAPS when I was a member in the late 1960's ...

It would be inappropriate to post the full circumstances but tragically the Nyborg was burned by aviation people without consulting me.
Astonishing that could happen in this day and age. The canopy and part of the tail survive.

I have written most of a book on this remarkable man. Few ever guessed his interest in flight dared back to Lilienthall and Ellehammer or that he built gliders in the UK before WW1. He conceived the high speed - highly loaded sailplane as early as 1919 based on his unique mathematical formulae serived from the characteristics of soaring birds.

A difficult yet kindly and generous character, he was widely derided as being irrational - especially by Doc Slater editor of The Sailplane. In fact he was a highly talented engineer who ultimately had almost 90 lucrative patents to his name.

itonically, I have found his post WW2 years the most difficult to research and would welcome any photos or reminiscences - however minor.
In particular, rumours of aerotows, probably at Staverton and of test flights at Andover in September 1959 when it was crashed by Andy Gough.

I have sufficient drawings to build and fly a large radio controlled model which will gives some further insights into this remarkable machine.
Paul Williams

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18 years 1 month

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Paul

Many thanks for the sad information.

Dave

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It would be inappropriate to post the full circumstances but tragically the Nyborg was burned by aviation people without consulting me.

It would be interesting to know a little more concerning how and when this unique glider was lost. Maybe, Paul, you could relate the tale leaving out names and other information that you feel might be inappropriate to disclose in a public forum?

Member for

10 years

Posts: 4

Nyborg glider

It would be interesting to know a little more concerning how and when this unique glider was lost. Maybe, Paul, you could relate the tale leaving out names and other information that you feel might be inappropriate to disclose in a public forum?

As you can imagine I have VERY strong feelings on the subject, however, as I do not know who exactly decided on this course of wanton destruction, I would not wish to taint by implication what is otherwise an otherwise good organisation and decent group of people.

Personally I would like to see a replica built, flown and performance tested, simply to demonstrate its actual performance, although informal feedback suggests a negative view from the authorities.

Many refused to accept Nyborgs performance claims but it is intriguing that very experienced pilots such as Eric Collins and Ralph Slazenger persisted in flying it despite some unpleasant handling in pitch (unbalanced elevator). The aerodynamicist Frank Costin also flew it from auto towed bunjey launches and was astonished by it. To the best of my knowledge it was only taken above 200 feet during the two or three aerotows carried out by Ralph Slazenger.

My assessment is that Nyborg correctly predicted the parameters of the modern sailplane but his formula was probably out by a factor of 2.
None the less it appears to have been achieving 1/20 to 1/23 which is impressive for a 10 meter span and draggy fuselage.
Unfortunately he found it difficult to accept constructive criticism from the many pilots that flew his gliders, otherwise the led sled might have arrived earlier.
The only definite influence was on the broad concept of the Moore Gipsy/BG135.

I would again like to ask for any information or indeed anyone with contacts with a film/documentary company as the story really does deserve to be better known, a most valiant failure.

Paul Williams

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14 years 4 months

Posts: 12

Hi Paul,

If you are interested, I have just picked up some 8mm and 16mm film of the Nyborg. There is also a few colour slides as well, which were Mr Nyborgs collection, as the old box bears his name and address.

I do not know what is on the films, however the 16mm reel is 350 feet of film, whilst the smaller film is around 45 feet.

You can PM me if you are interested in finding out more....

SF

Member for

10 years

Posts: 4

Nyborg Glider

Hi Paul,

If you are interested, I have just picked up some 8mm and 16mm film of the Nyborg. There is also a few colour slides as well, which were Mr Nyborgs collection, as the old box bears his name and address.

I do not know what is on the films, however the 16mm reel is 350 feet of film, whilst the smaller film is around 45 feet.

You can PM me if you are interested in finding out more....

SF

PM sent and greatly look forward to hearing from you.
Paul Williams

Member for

19 years

Posts: 923

Whilst scanning old photos I came across this one of the TGN III assembled at Ken Woolley’’’s forge at Berkeswell, Warwickshire, in the late 1960s.

https://flic.kr/p/2eNpAsu

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17 years 11 months

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In this day and age do any drawings etc survive?

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16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

I assume that's the Wicko in the background.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

Is there anything more about the films, Silent-Flyer and Mu17?