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| Updated Januadry
1, 2000
(Originally N183BJ) Currently Owned by: Roy E. Eichendorf
STATUS: Active LOCATION: Saskatoon Soaring Club, Cudworth, Saskatchewan No. 15 was originally imported by Capt. Ted Chandler of Dallas, TX on May 9, 1968. Ted reports that he sold it (due to marriage) to John Brittingham before he actually took delivery on it He (Ted) flew it in Germany before delivery and commented that it was a delight to fly, albeit slow in roll. He very soon (on August 12, 1969) sold it to John M. Brittingham of Ramah, CO. The "BJ" in the plane’s original tail number apparently reflects "Big John", which was John Brittingham’s nickname, and since John flew a Cirrus, presumably this one, in July 1969 at the US Nationals at Marfa. The airframe had 105 hours on it by August of 1969, and 246 a year later. Anyhow, John flew it until he sold it on July 21, 1971 to Istvan P. Peteranecz of Colorado Springs, CO. One of the little known incidents that involved No. 15 was that when John was to sell it, the buyer wanted to fly it. The brake was either inop or disconnected. The buyer was told this before the flight. The buyer, when he landed tried to roll up to the hangar to show everyone his splendid aircraft handling capabilities and ran into the hangar. There was substantial damage dollar wise, but the structure was not damaged. I think the canopy and the nose took the brunt of it. In August of that year, it had accumulated 314 hours. That grew to 346 in October of 1972 and 358 in January of 1973, the last record of an Experimental type certificate being requested. Peteranecz sold a half interest in the plane to James H. McClintick of Nashua, NH on August 8, 1974, and on June 27, 1976 he sold out his own share to McClintick. A couple of years later, McClintick sold No. 15 to Captain (USAF) James D. Martin of Valdosta, GA. David V. Martin of LaPlace, LA, bought the aircraft
from James D. Martin with partner was William J. Mouton. [David V.
is not kin to James D., but interestingly James D. had the same name as
David V's grandfather. James was at the US Air Force Academy
in Colorado Springs when David went to inspect and purchase the ship.
They put it together, for inspection, in about 6" of snow and about 20
degrees. David lived in LaPlace, Louisiana at the time he owned the aircraft,
and the ship flew from Stennis International Airport in Bay St. Louis,
MS. This was the first sailplane that David owned, and he had a wonderful
time flying it. When David was transferred by his business, he elected
to take it to Maryland, his new home, as they thought that they would have
a better market for selling the craft. Shortly thereafter, these
partners then sold, in 1983, the ship to Michael Kappl of Windsor, Ontario,
Canada and deregistered the N183BJ number on May 18, 1983. The current
owner Roy Eichendorf purchased No. 15 in early 2000.
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