Klippeneck update

Richard reports as follows:

We’ve thus far had good soaring every day with cloud bases between 8,000 and 10,000 ft.

 

The airfield

 

Somewhere over Germany

 

 

Hot work pushing

 

Roland looking happy

 

Yesterday evening the rain finally made it here in the form of a huge thunderstorm. The rain was extremely heavy and the thunder and lightning drew us all outside to watch the spectacular light show. 315 and 370 managed to just beat the rain, landing only a few minutes before it started. The de-rig of 370 became rather entertaining, especially after a lightning bolt hit the ground a few hundred metres from us!

  

 

Z3 (Tim Scott) and RM (Rob Munro) did a lead and follow to the Black Forest achieving 200km at 100.8kph. The day before Tim flew his fastest task ever with 142 km at 137kph – I'm sad to report that FI could only manage 120kph – Tim says I got lost but I’d call it a mix up of turn points!

 

Speedy Tim

 John Herman and Steve Williams took a break from flying yesterday and went to the Schempp-Hirth factory to stock up on parts – most of which they were given for free! Gift of the plumbers gab!!

 

 Food wise, we have an excellent restaurant next to the airfield with spectacular views. We’ve also been investigating other restaurants in the local towns and I’m pleased to say we haven’t been disappointed!

 

 

The airfield accommodation is fantastic and is highly recommended!

 

The only downside is the heat, it's permanently hot! During the day it's usually around 32 degrees, dropping to 25-28 degrees overnight......... 

 

Richard also took this picture of sheep, not sure quite what part they are playing in the expedition.

 

 

Klippeneck Day 1

The expedition to Klippeneck  in Germany is now underway, and the following brief report from CFI Richard suggests that they are having a whale of a time:

'Today we had a 10,000ft cloud base with climbs up to 9-10 knots. Roland and myself managed a quick 100km in 40 mins and then carried on with the rest of the check flights. Z3 and RA did 300km and V66 and KV did 200km. Amazing weather!!'

 

Booker Common Show 2014

The Marketing team spent the morning in the clubhouse drinking tea as the rain poured down - going to a summer show didn't seem like such a good idea. However, by around 11am it has reduced to light drizzle so we decided to go and join in the fun. The other stallholders, bouncy castles and carousels were already setting up so we got on with rigging HNK and putting up our display materials. And then the sun shone and the visitors arrived and we had a constant stream of children  and adults keen to see a glider up close, since they see them overhead their homes all the time.

'How old do you have to be to go in a glider?''

A few more years to solo...

After a damp start the day turned out really well, the Show was a great success with a variety of attractions including bowls, a dog show, a dance display by an army of tiny tots clutching teddy bears
and of course a raffle, one of the prizes being a glider flight. As well as selling some trial lessons, our participation was also an opportunity to contribute to our local community.

Many thanks to the team: Chris, Hedda, William, David H, Hugh, George and Josh.

David wins Bronze in National Aerobatics Comp

Faithful readers will remember that David Humphreys won our local Easter Egg Aerobatics comp a few weeks ago (no, not actually at Easter), here he is receiving the trophy from Richard.

David has follows this up by winning Bronze in the Standard Class of the British Glider National Aerobatics comp at Saltby this weekend, an excellent result for a first time entry.

In other news, another of our fantastic cadets went solo today - Hugh Cherkas - congratulations Hugh.

First solo!

George may have postponed his fundraising cycle ride but he made good use of the day by achieving his first solo. Here he is before the event.

The cycle ride will be happening later in the year combined with other events, keep an eye out for further news.

Cycling to get a K18 in the air - EVENT POSTPONED


George's marathon cycle ride (see below) has been postponed for a while to allow time for a more comprehensive package of fund-raising events to be organised. Look out for news later in the summer.

Wouldn't it be nice to have another one of these?

Since joining the club's cadet scheme in January, George Hunter has made fantastic progress on his flying, now only needing a decent weather window for his first solo. He has also thrown himself into working hard for the club, and on Saturday 31 May he will be setting off on a 200km bike ride to raise funds for the refurbishment of the K18 currently languishing in a trailer outside the tug hangar so it can join the club fleet.


That looks like an awful long way!

Setting off from the club house at 0830, George's route will take in Enstone, Hinton in the Hedges, Buckingham, Stony Stratford and Aylesbury, before arriving back at the club between 1700 and 1800 (depending how many punctures he gets).

There are only a handful of K18s still flying, anyone who has flown one will know what a delightful glider it is to fly. The refurbishment project needs £1,000, so please support George in his efforts by making your donation at the office.

George keeping a good look out

The run of good weather continued

After Saturday's cross countries and the swooping and swirling of the Easter Egg competitors, Sunday produced more good soaring and under Symeon's leadership he sent Ruth J off in DJK with orders to not return until she had been airborne for more than 2 hours.

Not one to disappoint, she duly followed instructions and only came down after about 2.5 hours thus finishing the soaring elements of her Bronze C (she had flown an hour long flight the day before).

Whilst the sky didn't look 'classic' there was strong lift until late in the afternoon/early evening and Symeon was overheard (very tongue in cheek) chastising a student who had gone up to practise his soaring and staying up far too long (and late).

Ruth stood by DJK after her Bronze leg (Photo Symeon)

A racing task and Easter Eggs

The sun brought out plenty of members to have a go at a handicapped distance task set by Tim, so the launch point was very busy. Most people got back - Rob and Yan dropped in to Thame to take a look at their Vintage weekend line up - and your correspondent arrived back too late to find out who won, but it was a good day out.


Busy grid

That bit of polish will make all the difference

Ready to launch

Meanwhile back at Booker, the 'Easter Egg' aerobatics competition was underway. With two classes - Standard and Gorblimey - there was plenty of action, scored by a judge from the British Aerobatic Association, and the winner was David Humphreys with a very creditable score of 85%, Second place went to Alun Jenkins and third to Ben Followell.

David receiving the Easter Egg trophy - patience rewarded

Booker Rules Competition Day 3

After a couple of days of weather imposed rest, the competition was back into full swing with a middling forecast, possible cloud bases of 3,000/4,000ft and 2/3kt thermals. There was an impressive grid set up with 15 gliders ready for first launch at 12:30 for the task of Stokenchurch South - Ravensthorpe Reservoir - Booker SW - Booker Airfield for a Task length: 167.5km.

The 15 strong grid ready to go

 With club members happily soaring there was no excuse but to launch and the start line opened at around 13:30 although the cloudbase was at various heights from 2,500ft to 3,500ft around the airfield but most importantly everyone set off.

Unfortunately the day didn't work out as forecast and soon Shelagh was kept busy in the clubhouse taking calls from all the landouts.

Thame proved a popular bolt hole with CEH, JDV, 405 and 118 all landing there - they had a friendly reception from some of our old friends at Thame with Henry O and another Thame member coming up to the field and helping tow the gliders back.

Luckily there were a lot of pilots on hand to move gliders at Thame

Rob looking pleased with himself having beaten the plastic toys again!

The "Thame crew" just prior to returning to Booker

Bicester reined in J1M and LC - aerotows being provided locally (although LC had an interesting 'Cooks' tour back routing via Kidlington/Brize before he took command and steered his tug pilot in the right direction.

Lastly we had 844 landing at BOB - it was pointed out to Symeon that it was a glider trailer we used to leave in the field, not a glider to signal when the start line was open (for those of you old enough to remember comps before GPS and when photos were required).

Look closely to see the "start line open" glider

Provisional honours for the day went to Richard C (F1), with Simon V (Y2) and William P (LC) 2nd and 3rd respectively (although nobody scored any points for all their hard efforts). General concensus though was that a good day was had by all.

Booker Rules Competition: Day 2

Sunday proved as wet as forecast, so the Comp reconvened on Monday for Day 2.

The briefing started with prize giving: 3rd place Jim and Jeremy (315), 2nd place Nils (EN), 1st place Bob (279) whose 'how I dunnit' included highlights like hanging around for 45 mins at Didcot and 45 mins at Bicester. The champagne was well deserved for endurance and determination.

Results on SoaringSpot

Met Man Nils was cautiously optimistic about tasks, displaying complex graphs and diagrams which suggested a window of opportunity for a short task. He also enlivened his briefing with some more hints and tips for those going on the June expedition to Klippeneck in Germany. An example of the German v. English approach to forthrightness was:

'Would you like to come for dinner on Friday?'
English response: 'Well, that's a lovely invitation, I'll have a look at my diary'
German response: 'No.'

Back to the flying. The task set was Didcot-Bullington-Goring. As the sky became more threatening this fell back to Oxford East-Chieveley. The grid launched, milled around for a while and then arrived back at ground level, in time to derig before the heavens opened.

At least we tried.

Next opportunity may be Wednesday.