Olympia 1 Jacob’s Ladder
Built in 1947 (registered G-ALNB) at Elliotts of Newbury – Production No 14 (EoN/0/014)
One of the first batch produced, the glider initially went to the Derby & Lancs Club Camphill Derbyshire.
The glider was built without a wheel and only a skid, but in the late 1950’s a droppable undercarriage was fitted and this made it into a designated Oly 3
As was the custom at the time it was given a name, Jacob’s Ladder, and because the glider was named there are various references to Jacob’s Ladder in S&G over the years i.e.
Gold C distance flight 1957 – (Featured in Sailplane and Glider Feb 58)
The pilot (Michael Stather Hunt (Coventry Gliding Club) landed 20 miles short of his Gold C goal. However, it occurred to him that he must have covered considerably more than 300km on his trip, and a turning point at Gillingham put him well in the distance required. Whilst he couldn’t hope for identification at 5,000ft, there had been some low spots between Devizes and Gillingham and he decided to go down to Wiltshire to investigate. Starting at Devices he located a gentlemen in a pub who positively identified a model of Jacob’s Ladder but was not sure about the date. Remembering that he had crossed the gunnery range on top of the plain just outside Warminster, he was hopeful that if there had been any range wardens on watch there was a fair chance that he may have been spotted. No luck! due to most people being on leave, however the Orderly Officer offered to make investigations. Enquiring at a guard room at another Army Camp, a corporal confirmed that he knew of a fellow who had seen a glider low over the camp, but he was at Earl’s Court playing the pipes and drums for the North Irish Brigade. Worse still he didn’t know his name but he was going bald on top. Further down the road the proprietor of a sweet shop confirmed he had seen a glider flying over recently and went to great lengths to describe it: the length of the wings, the position of the cockpit in front of the wings etc. but when asked the colour it failed to match that of Jacob’s Ladder (carmine and cream). Continuing the search he next spoke to a lad (Brian) in the village who was said to be a keen aircraft spotter. In fact it turns out that Brian was a keep ‘train’ spotter! Back home he dropped a line to Major Mulcahy-Morgan C.O. of the North Irish Brigade at Earl’s Court asking him about the piper with thinning hair who might have seen a glider. Success at last – he received a signed statement from Major Mulcahy-Morgan himself giving all the necessary details for an identification with almost professional accuracy. He had been in the glider regiment himself during the war, and had taken a particular interest in his flight over the camp. He offered to produce a hundred signatures if necessary. Just over 300km was the final distance as checked by Londonderry House (home of the BGA at the time).
Jacob’s Ladder was last flown in 1989 and was then left in a state of decay until rescued by Bill Cook in September 2014 with Ken Reid subsequently becoming half share owner.
Restored over a period of 6 years (would have been quicker had covid and lockdown not interfered!) it is now back to its former glory and was finally launched at Shalbourne Gliding Club on Wednesday 16th June 2021.
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