SZD 55

I owned an SZD 55 for a number of years and believe that it was the best standard class glider of its generation.

It had the great advantage of being able to virtually double its weight with ballast and still be very responsive. This was useful for me as a long-distance pilot flying OLC, taking off full of water when the conditions were hardly soarable. I did win OLC Oceana in 2014.

The 55 had a reputation for not being friendly during the early stage of the launch, with its tendency to drop a wing. I very soon learnt to resolve this issue, and since never dropped a wing. In addition, I used this feature to launch out of paddocks.

• The 55 has a high clearance undercarriage, thus giving a high angle of attack, whilst on the ground. This makes the prop draft want to lift the wing that is vulnerable to the prop draft, with a cross wind take off. Use this feature in paddock launches.
• To resolve this issue, 
• Always take off full of water, even if it brings you over weight. You can always drop some once you are flying.
• Always take off directly behind the tug, no matter what the club's policy is.
• Go through your cheques as per normal and close and lock the breaks when required.
• Once take up slack takes place half open your breaks. (You may need to tell your ground crew that you will do this.)
• Once the glider is rolling close the breaks.
• Simple