I met Larry Maltman, a Canadian flyer and incredible builder, three years ago at the NATs. He is a wealth of Ed Southwick lore. (I'll be sure to bring the Skylark ribset I owe him this time). Larry has built a lot of Skylarks, some of them the Sterling kit. Ed apparently was a very friendly person, but did get a little upset with how the Sterling kit of his plane turned out. There's a "glitch" in the wing of the Sterling kit, apparently two ribs are the same, or one is left out, maybe it had to do with making the parts fit in the box. I thought it was just me, but others, like Larry, have noticed it, too. The plane I've been flying for a few years is a Ken Smith kit and I really enjoyed putting it together. No problems. When I first saw the Skylark in Ed's hands, I surmised it was sort of a Thunderbird look-alike. I've had T-Birds, but none flew like the Skylark does. Then I noticed Paul W flying a Skylark at the VSC, too. He may have won, I don't remember, but I tend fly what Paul flies, sort'a hedging my bets, so I got one, too.
The plane comes out of a corner flat, and seems to be saying. "OK, I got that one done for ya', what's next, Boss?" I recieved the best scores I ever have at the VSC with Ed's plane, and did well in Classic at the NATs (for me, anyway) with it. Bob G, tongue in cheek, says it doesn't look enough like a Nobler to suit him, but added it brings out the best in me. It doesn't fly as well as when it was new, a couple of accidents and clumsy repairs have added weight, but I really enjoy flying a plane that talks to me like this one does, and I have Ed Southwick to thank....dg