Slingsby Skylark 3f Registration BGL, BGA No 957
19th May 2004, on a late spring morning at the Cornish Gliding and Flying Club, Trevellas Airfield, St. Georges Hill, Perranporth, Cornwall, I purchased a Slingsby Skylark 3f. A quick crash course on the two man rigging aid and my first look at my new acquisition, “BGL” BGA Nº 957, that holds the affectionate nick name of the “Vomit Comet” due to its somewhat unusual colour scheme, and a call sign of “Rainbow One”, it was officially mine.
Quickly re-packed into its trailer and off on a long journey up the UK to its new home at the Lakes Gliding Club, Walney Airport, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. 
Quickly ringing our BGA inspector, Geoff Bailey-Woods, and engaging him to perform an inspection and C of A. However with work commitments for us both getting in the way, nostalgia and historical chats, scratching of heads due to Geoff working on the glider way back in his career at Slingsby, and it looks like being a highbred of designs (not a true 3f nor a 3b) we arrived at the 6th March 2005.
It was a lovely morning at Walney with the natural skylarks singing and twittering over head, rigging and pre flight checks complete found BGL and myself at the launch point of runway 35 at Walney. Chief Flying Instructor, Dave North was to test fly the skylark first and then it was my turn. Dave climbed in BGL, I like an expectant father stood and fretted at the wing tip. Soon the “All Out” was heard and off they both went, in the air for the first time in 4 years, what a moment.
A flight debrief, and a pre flight brief from Dave to me “enjoy every minute of it”, and it was now finally my own turn to get acquainted with my new lady of the skies. Well what can I say, it was one of the most wonderful flights in a glider I have had. It smells right, it fly’s right, it is very quiet, even the friends that flew it after me that have their own glass ships remarked on how quiet it was when they came back to the launch point.
I have to say thanks to Nigel Climpson and the Skylark syndicate at Perranporth for selling me the glider, thanks to Geoff and the enthusiastic members and friends of the Lakes Gliding Club for the technical help and oodles of encouragement they have given me, and my Wife Jackie, who yet again heard lots of “I am just going to the airfield for 10 minutes” and returning some hours later.
It’s a great buzz putting an old aeroplane back into the skies again, I thoroughly recommend it.
Paul Allen Rose MBE
Proud owner of a Slingsby Skylark 3f.