First impression – JS1

After de-registering VH-VJS and returning the Nimbus 3 to the USA, imagine my surprise at being invited to fly VH-VJS during my recent trip to Australia! While a few of you will have seen Steve Leonard’s VJS at open class contests in the USA, the Australian VJS is now Todd Clark’s JS1 hangared at Lake Keepit. Here’s some thoughts after flying the JS1.

To open the canopy, there’s a handle built into the canopy rail inside the vent window. Closing the canopy, I noticed that the two canopy latches and two emergency release latches fair smoothly into the canopy rail, very clean. The feel of the cockpit was familiar, being shaped a bit like the ASH26… With plenty of room.

We added water in the wings, to get CG a little forward for my first flight. Didn’t seem to hurt the climb. From takeoff roll through landing it felt great. The JS1 thermaled hands off, proving the “idiot behind the stick” theory. Shifting gears to cruise was intuitive. Whenever I checked the Grosskinsky Ring, it indicated the flap position already selected.

Everything felt in the right place. The trim adjustment was so easy to use that you just let your hand fall on it and it’s set. The rudder pedal adjustment handle is neatly built in to the panel. The landing gear was easily retracted and deployed. Only the airbrakes offered a surprise, there being quite a firm lock to overcome. Believe this is to fully seat the caps when the wing is flexing.

After a very pleasant couple of hours, we put the glider back in the hangar and cleaned off the bugs. I’d like to see how the JS1 handles at max gross weight!