Weather Observations from N Wales

Uneventful journey up punctuated by two fabulous stops:

http://www.mughousebewdley.co.uk/

1) The Mug House in Bewdley. Lovely pub right on the Severn by the bridge in the middle of Bewdley. Sorry, nowhere to park a trailer but awesome pub grub.

2) The Corn Mill at Llangollen. Old water mill on the Dee which was in full flood. Now a pub with grub and a fabulous pot of tea. https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/cornmill/

Now to the weather: Last night it blew a right hooley with dog sized drops of rain. Still a bit blowy but clearing up as I speak. No flying today so off to the seaside!

View from our kitchen window

See you later...

How to improve your cross country performance

Following on from Jim's excellent Psychobabble lecture last week, Nils and Jeremy will be discussing flight planning, analysis and boosting performance. Discussions will be centered around some of Nils' great flights last year and we will looks at analysing the data obtained to see how we can use it to improve our x-country performance. We will also look at how to put flights on the ladders and why it helps the gliding community, and us to have fun together in our club.

See you there

Nils Wedi and Jeremy Gilbey

Not quite the UK but it does make one want to get in the air again

https://www.facebook.com/delobelglidingchannel/videos/566129357238783/?t=104

319 joins Virgin Atlantic for a day

The club's ASW19 took part in Virgin Atlantic's Future Flyer and Exceptional Engineers event at their headquarters at Gatwick today.

The objective of the event is to "inspire children and young adults to showcase the amazing opportunities available to them by sharing our wonderful world of aviation".

Organisations supporting the event

Over 800 people attended the event over the course of the day with opportunities to fly Virgin Atlantics Airbus simulators, try out their training escape slides, meet and talk to various aviation related organisations and crucially sit in a real glider and find out about gliding. 319 was a popular attraction with a constant steam of 'future flyers' throughout the day.

319 on display in front of Virgin Atlantic's training rigs

Highlight of the event had to be Maddi giving a group of Virgin Atlantic pilots a very practical lesson in weight and balance....

Maddi's take on "Catch me if you can"

help us inspire

tomorrow’s talen

help us inspire

tvarious’s talen

Snowy Saturday

While the briefing room was sheltering those who attended Chris Rowland's lecture on Aircraft General Knowledge, a hardy few set up on 35 for Graham's aerobatic course and some check flights for those wanting to get current - after we had managed to get the frozen hangar doors open. The airfield was surprisingly clear of snow but the fields round about were well covered and the views were stunning.

Attaching the triangle for aeros

Maddi launching the first flight, Bob D in the tug

Luke looking for the airfield

Ah yes, there it is

A good warm hat was essential

Hangar packed, off to the clubhouse for a hot drink

Henry and the Winter Lectures

The room was well-filled yesterday to hear Henry de-mystifying radio comms in the third of our Winter Series of briefings. Next week Chris Rowland will be tackling the subject of Aircraft General Knowledge.

Henry keeping calm

We fly in snow!

There's been a bit of snow here in the Chiltern uplands, but not enough to stop us having fun.

Still smiling

Snow joke

There was some gliding today at Booker in the fine morning sky, but the day was cut short by a heavy snow shower. Jim Roland managed to get the tug away just in time.

Booker tug pilots remain cheerful whatever the weather throws at them.

First first solo of 2019

Today the Kosogorin family took advantage of the glorious sunshine to come to Booker to see 14 year old Sacha do his first solo. Sacha did his training last August with CFI Richard Crockett, but he had to wait until his 14th birthday before he could go solo, after a couple of check flights with DCFI Graham Saw. His younger brother is hot on his heels!

Congratulations Sacha!

Mum, Dad and younger brother with Graham

The traditional instructor handshake

News from Australia

Club member and DCFI Steve Williams is currently enjoying great weather in Australia.
Here are a few pics that he has sent to cheer us all up while we await the arrival of Spring.

Looks like the Discus 2 fits.

9000Ft Climb in convergent air.

9000 Ft in convergence above mountains North of Lake Keepit