Soaring records of the LET L33

To submit a record attempt for the L33 Sólo, send documented proof per F.A.I. record rules to: L33 Records, P.O. Box 1124, Wenatchee WA 98807-1124, U.S.A. Enclose a self stamped envelope for return of documents otherwise they will be kept on file. If the Record Attempt also qualifies for a Badge, U.S. or FAI record, copies of the documents will be accepted.

New Illinois State Speed Record in L33

Curt Lewis writes in June 2000, "I hope the Blanik Meet went well. I would have liked to have been there but my staying home to attend the ChicagoLand Glider Council's Fly2K Badge and Record Camp paid off for me. I set a new Illinois State Sports Class 100km Speed Triangle record in my L33. The previous record was 47.21 HCmph and Sunday 6/18/00 I flew a 100km course at 56.16 HCmph. I made good use of my new Cambride L-Nav and managed a 20 mile final glide at 80 mph (that's 101 HCmph!). The paper work is already in the hands of the SSA State Record Keeper and I imagine will be published in a few months."

There may be more special flights that have not been turned in - let us hear from you!

Entries for Special Flights do not require all the paper work. Just a brief statement of the flight and its importance to you. These can also be submitted via e-mail at: L33 Records or via regular mail to: L33 Records, P.O. Box 1124, Wenatchee WA 98807-1124, U.S.A.

International records for the L33 will be kept and posted once they are received!!

Racing the L33

Curt Lewis writes in the Fall of 2000, "I recently finished 2nd at the TSA Labor Day weekend "Lap Races". There were 20 pilots in Sports Class. I placed 3rd on each of 3 days. This consistency got me to within 1% of 1st place. I hate to lose that close ... I would have rather been been better! On the last day I flew 145sm at 72mph (HC) and climbed to 11,000 feet AGL. (They only called 2.5 hour POSTs each day) I found it is very easy to get "sloppy" when you can spend so much time relaxing 1-2 miles above the ground. Next time I will focus more. I should have won this one :(. I more and more am realizing what a good choice and excellent value the L33 is for me."

L33 Solos win in the 1998 Region 8 SSA Sports Class Contest

Rudy Rozsypálek from British Columbia flew Jim Watson's L33 to victory as a guest at the 6-day June/July 1998 SSA Sports Class Contest at Ephrata, WA. The close runner-up was Vitek Siroky in another L33. Both pilots placed first and second in a field of thirteen contestants, thus attracting lots of attention to L33 Solo gliders, and proving that the L33 Solos are also excellent racers. The pilots were required to fly tasks between 2.5 to 3.5 hours minimum, and select from among thirty turnpoints. The weather permitted that on all six days of the contest tasks could be flown. All of the soaring was in thermals only. Thunderstorms developed on two days and slowed down most contestants. See what distances and speeds were achieved in the L33 Solos during the six-day competition (here sorted by speed):

    St. miles     MPH

       209.6    59.82
       177.0    58.17
       147.6    57.98
       173.4    57.27
       140.7    55.85
       165.0    55.50
       195.7    53.48
       169.1    53.00
       173.7    49.73
        97.4    38.85
        79.5    31.80
        71.2    28.50

     1,799.9 total miles flown

Winning the 1998 Region 8 SSA Sports Class Contest was a great success for the L33 Solos.

All the below listed flights were flown by Ira Phillips, III., and have appeared in the Soaring Magazine:
Type / Record / Distance / Date

Tennessee Open Free Out & Return 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee 15-Meter Free Out & Return 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Standard Free Out & Return 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Junior Free Out & Return 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Junior Out & Return 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Junior Free 100.681 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Sports Free Out & Return 120.817 sm. 9/22/96
Tennessee Junior Free 196.681 sm. 12/8/96
Tennessee Junior Distance 55.532 sm. 12/24/96
Tennessee Junior Goal 55.532 sm. 12/24/96
Tennessee Sports Class Distance 66.639 sm. 12/24/96
Tennessee Sports Class Goal 66.639 sm. 12/24/96
Tennessee Open Free Out & Return 121.294 sm. 1/5/97
Tennessee 15-Meter Free Out & Return 121.294 sm. 1/5/97
Tennessee Standard Free Out & Return 121.294 sm. 1/5/97
Tennessee Junior Free Out & Return 121.294 sm. 1/5/97
Tennessee Junior Out & Return 121.294 sm. 1/5/97
Tennessee Sports Free Out & Return 145.554 sm. 1/5/97
On February 21, 1998, Ira Phillips, III, of Gadsden, Alabama, reset two Alabama state soaring records in the Single-Place class, Junior category. With only an hour to fly, the 17-year old pilot hopped in his Blanik L-33 Solo just before noon and took an auto launch from Gadsden's Municipal Airport to 1,429 feet AGL. In less than half-an-hour, he thermalled up from a low point of 1,199 feet to 6,559 feet AGL (7,128' MSL), resetting the Altitude Gain and Absolute Altitude records for Alabama in the Junior category.
Ira, one of two 1998 Kolstad Scholarship winners, has been burning up the Alabama and Tennessee state recordbooks for the past year, so watch this space! I expect a steady stream of similar announcements to follow throughout the soaring season. Rand Baldwin "NN"
Alabama SSA Governor

L33 SOLO Pilot becomes the 1998 Kolstad Youth Scholarship Grant Winner!

From Rand Baldwin, Alabama SSA Governor, comes the following announcement:

"I am pleased to announce that Ira Phillips III, 17-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira "Phil" Phillips, Jr., of Gadsden, Alabama, has been selected to receive a 1998 Kolstad Youth Scholarship Grant. The award has been presented on February 28 at the SSA Awards Banquet during the Soaring Society of America’s Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon.

The Kolstad Century Awards and Youth Scholarship Grant were established in 1968 in memory of Paul Kolstad, a young soaring pilot from Colorado who earned his Gold Badge with two Diamonds. The Century I, II, and III awards recognize flights of 100, 200, and 300 kilometers, respectively, based on claims submitted to the SSA with documentation identical to that required for FAI badges. The Scholarship Grant is awarded annually to one or more outstanding pilots between the ages of 14 and 20 who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in soaring and who are recommended by the applicant’s club, an SSA Business Member, or the SSA State Governor. The applicant must have a record of initiative, character, and integrity, participation in club or Chapter activities, and good judgement and safe flying.

Ira III is the first Kolstad award winner from Alabama and the first from SSA Region 5 in many years. His record of soaring accomplishments is extraordinary and testifies to a passion and skill for soaring that is rare in pilots of any age.

After soloing a Blanik L-13 on his fourteenth birthday, Ira pursued his aviation goals with unusual fervor. Not long after his first solo, he acquired an Blanik L-33 Solo glider, with which he proceeded to earn his Silver badge, the distance leg of the Gold badge, and the Kolstad Century I, II, and III awards. He has set or reset four Alabama state records and 18 Tennessee soaring records in open, 15-meter, standard, and sports classes. On a trip to Minden in 1997, he earned a Lennie pin by soaring to over 30,000 feet.

As of September, 1997, Ira had flown a glider at least once each month during the preceding 39 months!

Lest you think Ira is a one-sided wonder, I should point out that his free time is not devoted exclusively to soaring. He also competes successfully in regional swim meets and, in fact, was participating in a YMCA district swimming competition during the SSA convention. His proud father was present to receive the Kolstad award in his son’s behalf.

Ira’s enthusiasm, determination, and persistence should be an inspiration to all of us, and is an example of what can happen when a young person’s interest in soaring is encouraged and supported by understanding parents, flight instructors, gliderport owners, and fellow soaring pilots.

I wish Ira the best in his soaring career and I expect that we will hear much more from this extraordinary young man in the years ahead."

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