Fact tower

Betty's wave

JS 1Certified

I really loved the flights i had in the JS1 (#1) at Tswalu. To have built and now be producing the JS1 is a remarkable achievement. It has now been type certified in South Africa. Below the press release just in from Iain Baker

Sven
This is just a short press release for the gliding community worldwide and there will be a more explanatory and detailed press release for the aerospace industry, general aviation and local SA media when the formal handover of the TC is made. As you can imagine, there are a lot of happy people here in Potch.
Kind regards

Iain Baker

The press release

Jonker Sailplanes

Press Release

March 19th, 2010

JS1 Revelation Awarded the
First South African CAA Type Certification


On March 12th, 2010 the Jonker Sailplanes JS1 Revelation 18-metre class sailplane received South African Civil
Aviation Authority (SA CAA) Type Certification.

This is a historic milestone for the JS1 Revelation, for Jonker Sailplanes (JS) and for the SA CAA as this is the first
South African designed and manufactured aircraft certificated to modern airworthiness standards. The certification
requirements for the JS1 Revelation are the latest issue of EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) CS-22
Certification Standards for Sailplanes and Powered Sailplanes.

For this pioneering work, the SA CAA formed a highly capable team from CAA Engineering, led by Kavita Vanmari.
Throughout the Type Certification (TC) process the SA CAA team was thorough and meticulous, while being
practical and working with JS towards the common goal of TC. As this is the first TC awarded by the SA CAA, it
was essential that the process was rigorous, especially as the TC will be subject to the scrutiny of EASA and FAA
prior to their validation of the TC.

The TC award follows an extensive programme of engineering analysis, ground-based structural testing and flight
testing to demonstrate that the certification requirements have been met.

There will be a formal handover of the Type Certificate by Captain Colin Jordaan, CEO/Commissioner, SA CAA at
CAA Headquarters, near Johannesburg, South Africa during April with full local and international media coverage.

With a TC to the highest and latest international standards, the JS1 Revelation can now be operated with South
African registration in any ICAO country.

A copy of the Type Certificate is attached.

For further information please either contact Jonker Sailplanes directly or the regional JS agent, or see
www.jonkersailplanes.co.za

A flight with reflections

It was not so easy to get into the glider this Saturday. I released under the closest clouds, which as it so happens was nearly directly overhead the crash site where Adriaan lost his life last Sunday, and where Adri so miraculously had survived. I could not identify the site, and heavens know how Chris Loedolf managed to located it.
It was a weak post-frontal day, with a descending cloudbase to the east, small convergenses all over, and blue to the west and north west. Over Worcester, and in the blue no-one could get away from the winch launches.

After i had been as far east as i could go, i turned back and from Brandwacht glid over to the convergence on the Slanghoek mountains. I was concerned that the enticing clouds may in fact be the result from a westerly flow, which would place the Slanghoek range in the lee. I had better arrive high (i said to myself). Indeed, as i got closer it was clear that the flow was from the west and Slanghoek was in the lee. I got a strong turbulent climb on the northern (lower and accessible) part of the ridge.

This is the view from much higher.

Now to get back to the convergences the other side of Vic Peak and the Brandwacht dam.

After i managed to cross the big blue and went as far east towards Robertson as i could go, i did not quite manage to run the convergence line pictured above to its natural end at Jonaskop (from Brandwacht) and had to turn back.

At the end of the day, with the sun setting in the west.

Rest in peace Adriaan.