Wednesday 31 May 2017

AeroExpo Display 2017

A 23 second preview of the Booker Gliding AeroExpo setup.  Lots of hard work and a brilliant representation of what we have to offer.


Richard spots some potential new tugs, and we relocate to Haddenam

Weather steadily improving through the day with light winds.

Some very interesting aircraft at the show, Richard has his eye on a couple of potential towplanes.

This one for its classy paintjob and impressive radial engine/

And this one for summer use - look it actually has a tow hook.

Ruth flew to Haddenam and having found the place made an excellent landing in the K21 and completed her bronze C oral test very well done to her.

Thanks Bob for flying the Duo to Haddenam for us and we look forward to a great day tomorrow.

We now have some single seaters at Thame ready for everyone to come and enjoy flying from somewhere different.

Was it something I said? I think Geoff had an unpopular idea during the set up at Thame!

Let's look for another day in paradise tomorrow.


Tuesday 30 May 2017

Final preparations for Aero Expo well underway

Low cloud dominated most of the day.

The hangar is unpacked swept out and filled with a fantastic display of gliders both new and old including two unique gliders. The Petrel and the prototype Kite have been kindly lent to us to enhance the display.




Many thanks to everyone for the assistance derigging our single seaters and getting them into their trailers. We are looking for pilots who want to fly them to move them to Thame.

Meanwhile the airfield is changing by the hour as new aircraft arrive and get positioned for the Expo.


Follow us lads we are off to Thame.

On the training side, Ruth is working towards completion of her Bronze C.


See you at Haddenam tomorrow?

Bank Holiday Monday - of course it is wet and cloudy

Low cloud, rain and drizzle dominated the day, with the wind changing through the day from 110/ 05 to 220/10.

Our keen new course member was not to be put off and came to the airfield anyway, so it was lecture time, followed by a closer look at the gliders in the hangar and then onto the flight simulator.

 
As you can see, Jonas quickly moved on from the basics and tried his hand at slope soaring. All together a very productive day.

Preparations continue on the airfield for Aero Expo, aircraft out on the field, barriers being erected and the fast food caravan put in place.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, any assistance to help with the gliding club preparations will be appreciated, or see you at Haddenham later in the week?

Saturday 27 May 2017

A very warm finish to the week

A very warm blue day. Surface winds 110/12 and 20 knots at flying altitudes.

The day was good for training and trial lessons, so loads of spinning practice and cross wind take off and landing practice. Jo Shephard, John Blake and Matt all had very useful training flights.

The trial lessons all had a good time, and thanks for all the assistance with that, Symeon in particular kept everyone entertained with his stories of flying in South Africa.

Lots of preparations for Aero Expo is under way with new fences, temporary buildings new car park, and aircraft now being parked to the side of runway 35.

Our preparations are well underway for Haddenham next week. Please come along and have some fun with us - bring lunch and water, the facilities are fairly basic. That's from Wednesday next week.

Friday 26 May 2017

Another great day and Norman Potts gets his full rating

Winds were light southerly with high temperatures and good thermals. It was good to see the Petrel flying, Graham took it off for an airing for a couple of hours. Rob Munro popped in in his Citabria and took the K13 for a trip.

All the 2 seater pupils getting dangerously close to solo, who will be first?
 
Jane landed out and so has her own adventures to tell, her comments were "I thought I would see what it is like at Chiltern Park". Well done Jane.
 
Finally well done Norman Potts, now a full rating - good job.



Thursday 25 May 2017

Lovely day out and a visit to Chiltern Park



 

Deptford school pays us a visit

A warm thermic day, weather worsening as you headed North, but very warm and sunny at Booker.

We welcomed 15 members of Deptford School yesterday. They all had a great time, enjoying the thrills of gliding for the first time. Many thanks to all the helpers that made this day a success and in particular Maddi, Nick and John who tirelessly helped on the ground and made sure everyone was kept safe. A very special mention to John H who treated us to fresh strawberries !!


Flying continued well into the evening - here are two happy chaps just about to take off at 7pm.

This time next week we will be at Haddenham - put it in your diary.

Wednesday 24 May 2017

Guess the age of the glider

A warm front brought with it lower cloud and 1600ft cloudbases. Still thermic but not ideal for cross country.

We welcome Stephane Andre, a visitor from France. Stephane was here to view the Ventus that Glen Alison is selling. A quick site familiarisation and he was off testing his new toy.


Preparations are starting for the  Aero Expo next week. Graham was preparing the Petrel, a very special glider and the only flying example in the world. The Petrel will be on display in the glider hanger during Aero Expo for those interested to have a closer look.


A gull wing built in 1939. The tail number does not relate to either the age of the glider or the age of the pilot. Graham did reveal that the combined ages is quite a large figure - but he didn't give any further details.

The club will be at Haddenham during the Aero Expo, so please come along and enjoy a different airfield. That's Wednesday 31 May to the following Sunday.

Flying conditions improved for the evening group - a good turn out and some fun flying.

A good day forecast for tomorrow.

Monday 22 May 2017

A blue day with strong thermals

A great soaring day with the occasional haze cap, otherwise blue.

Raymond Freeman from near Henley on Thames enjoyed an introductory course.


"I really enjoyed that, it's great fun" was his remark after the course. Well I thought it was fun too.

More good weather tomorrow

Don

Sunday 21 May 2017

It's a FES

A new high tech and very elegant arrival in the trailer park.  Jeremy Gilbey and Barry Michael with their new Shark FES.  Yes, apparently it really boosts your cross country performance if you join the Flat Earth Society.
I thought you said the batteries were charged up !
For those not up to speed on the latest gliding tech - FES = Front Electric Sustainer.  The glider has a small electric motor and propellor enabling it to glide on for an hour after the last thermal has fizzled out.  An easy way to avoid a landout on a cross country flight.

Saturday 13 May 2017

First solo in a real glider

Congratulations to Luke Bishop; first solo in a real glider today. Luke came back to gliding last year having previously been solo in an ATC motor glider about 12 years ago. Luke says it is easier with an engine but, now he has mastered gliding, I'm sure he won't be needing one.


More from the film set

On Wednesday Booker played host to a film crew taking scenes for a major TV drama series to be aired later this year. After a morning taking ground shots at White Waltham they arrived at Booker for some aerial work.
 
Who's that man?

Beards R Us

How many people does it take to........?




Hero or villain?


Thanks to Richard Martyn for use of his beautiful K6 and to Robin Willgoss and Mike Sinclair for help on the day.
  

Friday 12 May 2017

LS7 a new goal for the future

 
Iain Segall and David Parker admire the new LS7. Well it is raining outside and a short break from the lecture room is welcome.

We expect to see David back again to complete his conversion training. Won't be too much longer now, mainly a paperwork exercise.

Don

Thursday 11 May 2017

Nigel Smith completes his full rating

 
Congratulations to Nigel Smith on successfully completing his full rating test with Richard Crockett. Nigel is an instructor from Halton.

The weather was not inspiring from a soaring point of view but Nigel Smith and David Parker (our visitor from Dartmoor) took full advantage of the quiet airfield to get their training done.

Don

Graham grows a beard

What a great day. First launch at 8 am Graham certainly didn't have a beard when he flew Richard Martyn's beautiful K6 behind the Pawnee. A few hours later he reappeared (having been to White Waltham) and had grown a splendid bush. He then made a few more flights in the K6 for the benefit of the film crew which was filming scenes for a programme we can't name until it's aired.

A blue day, with a strong inversion at 3000ft QFE. A few adventurous flights were made, but many elected to stay within the local area.

David Parker, a trainee from Dartmoor Gliding continued his training in the K21. He made a superb cuppa on the bus cooker. Thanks.

Flying continued into the regular Wednesday evening group.

Don   

Monday 8 May 2017

A nice day out at Shuttleworth

Yesterday two of our pilots showed off a couple of vintage gliders at an air display at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden. There was a fantastic range of amazing aircraft on display, not least the improbable looking Fauvel flown by Graham Saw and a kitchen chair with wing attached - a Primary - flown by Richard Crockett.


Hooking up the Fauvel


Richard checking his nails before his flight

The record-breaking Comet seen from the Primary