Our first day of flying for the Northern Regional Champs was yesterday. The weather gods decided to taunt us with a layer of cloud for most of the morning that defied all forecasts. This did eventually open up, and we launched around 1:30. Our original task was a 300km AAT task, with a 15km circle around SH60 and 25km around Tihoi. This changed on the grid to the task you see on soaring spot. The club and open classes had the same task.

On launch, cloudbase wasn't very high, and didn't really change much over the course of the flight. Climbs were weak to start with and in the valley between Putararu and Tokoroa. We had two landouts, both single Discus - one in lower Atiamuri, the other at Tokoroa.

My flight went well, with low points near Tokoroa on the way down and up. Highpoint was near Mangaikino of 4800 feet, which was a good height to get back over the forest back to Tokoroa. As I was quite slow, I reached the bottom turn point at 4:45. With an oninous warning at the weather breifing we should be on final glide by 4:30, I wasn't optimistic. Things were certainly starting to thin out considerably south of Tirau.

The view of Tokoroa north. A nice big gap.

North of Tirau, there was plenty of cloud, and with a 10 knot north westerly, the ridge was also helpful to get home. We just had to get there.

In the end there was a rough climb over the papermill, which got us to a small line of cloud at Litchfield. Only 1 knot there, which died after a few minutes, but that was enough to grab a better climb over the forest at Ngatira. From there it was a flight along the ridge and home.

In the end it was only Bob and myself who got around from the club class, with Steve, Ian, Connal and Bill making it around from the Open class. What was meant to be a 2 hour task took me 3 hours. Overall a challenging, but enjoyable day. Results are available here:

http://soaringspot.com/nznr2012/results/club/daily/day1.html

http://soaringspot.com/nznr2012/results/open/daily/day1.html

Tim

Weekly Winglets - little tipbits from the week that was (45)….

At last some thermalling weather!

Last Wednesday was a beauty so I’m led to believe and Saturday was a beautiful day to be at the airfield. Not the same quality thermals as Wednesday, (well someone forgot to tell Phil Smith who disappeared for 3 ¼ hours in VM!), but for the rest of the mere mortals it was an enjoyable day if not a little challenging when your thermalling skills are rusty. On the ground we got a wee taste of what summer could be like, and shorts and sunblock suddenly became the norm.

I haven’t seen the flying data for Wednesday, the new laptop was hidden so well, no-one could find it, so a report in detail isn’t possible, apologies to the unknown Wednesday warriors (if you want to get mentioned in despatches from now on you have to use the computer!!) Saturday though got off to a lively start with two new temporary members taking their first trial flights, both looking very likely to join our ranks. We welcome to the fold David Brosnan and Nigel Brinkworth who took their flights with Tony Davies (PC) and Steven Care (PK). Peter Minor and Bob Gray warmed up YL for the day with a couple of circuits, before Bob and Dave Dennison hit out for 2hrs 20 or so in the big bird.

Mark Shrimpton and Tony weren’t to be outdone and took PC off our hands for an hour & 16, Ed Devanoges slipped out in PD for 2hours 25, and Carl Henderson warmed up NI for 30minutes before handing it over to me for 49, and Dave Muckle (Duty Pilot) for 45. For some reason NI was having a day where it wouldn’t stay up, whereas WW in the kinds of Peter Minor managed 1hr 16 before being handed over to Will Kamp for 45minutes. The day was rounded out by Steven taking Nigel Brinkworth for a treat circuit in YL – that ought to have tickled his taste buds for more! Not forgetting to mention the Crequer family day – Dennis taking daughter Zoe and son Hamish up for an hour or so each in PC – great to see!

Dave Harding did the towing honours for the day in PNE which we are using while BZA gets work done on it following the Taupo comp.

Sunday dawned foggy at the airfield where I overnighted – it’s often quite a spectacle when the fog lifts rapidly to reveal what the day is really going to be like, only this time it wasn’t pretty. Rob Owens & Mark Drayson were duty instructors and Dennis Crequer who couldn’t  stay away after yesterday was doing his last duty pilot (now re-joined the instructors panel after a spell – thanks go to Dennis for doing that – may all your instructing duties go so well!). Trial flighter Frank Dibben was first away in PC on the stroke of midday, followed by Pieter Bronkhorst under the tutelage of Mark  in PK for a circuit and a 21 minute attempt to find lift!

The last 2 flights of the day were circuits by Rob (PC) & Mark (PK) which I suspect were to enable them to land their gliders at the hangar and overcome the lack of wing walkers! Generally Sunday was not really a flying day at all!t  

A big thank you to Tauranga tow pilot Mark Rundle, who, not only travelled over the hill to bring oil for his tug, ended up flying it as a late replacement for our regular Scott Jeanes who was unwell. Cheers Mark – although looking at the delectable motor bike you arrived on, it may have been a case of any excuse to justify a ride is a good one? Why not – but thanks anyway to you and to Tauranga Club for your ongoing co-operation.

Can I finish with a request – actually 2:

1. If you book a glider on the clubs website and decide not to come out – you must cancel your booking on the website – phone in to the duty pilot or instructor as well, but please cancel it on the website. Other members plan their times around the bookings they see on the day, and naturally feel a bit disgruntled when they get to the airfield and realise they could have planned their day differently if the bookings were not going to be taken up.

Also if you book for a time you must turn up on time and take your flight at the time you booked, otherwise your booking is effectively cancelled, and you must wait your turn if there is a waiting list for gliders on the day. Don’t rock up an hour late and expect everyone to stand aside – well you surely wouldn’t would you, but …..

It was once mooted that a financial penalty for non-cancellation of bookings would be charged – let’s not have to go there – try common courtesy and we can all stay happy.

1. Raglan – a follow–up call to my earlier email of 9 Nov for all to put your hand up for Xmas duties BY NOV 19TH PLEASE – Matamata as well actually. Let me know if you intend camping at Matamata for Xmas camp 26 Dec - 6 Jan or Raglan 2 – 20 Jan or both, or which days you could do as a day trip.

Thanks

PC

A good day yesterday, some of the best weather we've had, although the first turnpoint had it's tricky moments being in a lot of blue. Getting started was again tricky, with broken thermals thanks to the wind.

There were a few landouts, but many also made it around giving the day a decent number of points for a change.

See the task and results here:
http://www.soaringspot.com/cpnz2012/results/open/daily/day4.html 

Here are some pics from on course

Morning dew on the wings is a good sign

Neil and Robert ready to launch into an impressive sky behind

Delio with an interesting way to fly to keep cool

Photos from the good area on course. Didn't take any in the blue stuff for some reason.

Hi all, I've had a few people ask how the contest is going. The scores and daily updates from our scorer/contest director are available online here:
http://www.soaringspot.com/cpnz2012/

So far we've had one pratice day, and two competition days. The practice day was really only good for local soaring so a few hardy souls went up.

First day was a very strong easterly, which is not typical for Taupo flying. Thermals were working, but broken by the strength of the wind. Things were streeting up nicely however at times. The task was a 'PST' (Pilot Selected Task). I managed to get to our first compulsary turnpoint, and then headed for a second only to find the ground came up to meet me quicker than anticpated. A nice big paddock was only fractionaly used thanks to the strong wind. 

Today was forecast to be a good strong day, so a large almost-around-the-lake task was set. Scores are available here:
http://www.soaringspot.com/cpnz2012/results/open/daily/day2.html

Alan managed to be the only one to get around, well done. It turned out to be a lot bluer than expected, with good cloudbases, but huge gaps between them. Here are some pics from the day.

How many crew does it take to launch a Discus B?

A cloud! Only a small gap to the next ones you can see in the distance.

Nice view of Taupo township and the mountain

Jeepers – it’s been a bit hectic again/still!

Wednesday 3/10 and Saturday 6/10 were canned but Sunday 7^th had some action finally. Captain Brown in command of the day for his inaugural turn on the roster came up against it immediately when I removed the backboard and paper flying sheet and said, “Sorry Pres – but we don’t do it that way anymore!” His initial professings to being digitally challenged were soon put one side as he rattled up 13 flights on the score sheet with only 1 error – caused by an errant entry being extinguished in a manner the pc didn’t like. Great job Roger and a big thanks for becoming an avid supporter of doing it digitally – sorry folks but if the president is on my side it’s pretty much a done deal!!

Turning out on the day and flying first up was Darren Smith, a keen ex RN lad 1 day off a plane from UK seeking a new life for himself and family here in godzone – with his gliding credentials and personality he will be an asset to any club he joins here and a welcome addition to our NZ fraternity, I am certain – keep a look out for him as he has promised to return on a ridge day! Members who flew were, Tim Bromhead, Jamie Pirrit and daughter, Carl Henderson, Will Kamp, Jacopo Detti, Edouard Deveonoges, Paul Knight, Mark Shrimpton, Dave Dennison, and me, practicing rope breaks with Rob Owens – but that’s another story!

Wednesday 10^th was not high on action as Iggy reported:

Two tows today.  The high cover cut off the promised thermal activity but Neil Raymond did 30 minutes WW and Phil Cox in PK managed 35 minutes.  Bill gave Phil a bit of a workout on tow, having him boxing the wake, levelling off into cruising flight and then establishing a descent while on tow.  I found out how much rudder and elevator it takes to counter the wayward glider!

Good to see we are keeping the Chief tow pilot entertained whilst at work!

Then the week got very short as the Instructors Course arrived ……….. Friday 12/10 there were 52 launches in 4.5 hours – none on Saturday (phew!) and 30 on Sunday, which as you can imagine kept the laptop humming. It was a great experience to be a part of the event and to see the number and quality of people coming through the system. Some great presentations on Saturday, while the rest of the world blew on by.

Club members Ian Finlayson, David Muckle, Robin Britton and Ralph Gore managed to squeeze a flight in, but the rest was strictly business!

Ralph has asked me to put out a call to all private owners who might want to have their parachutes re-packed, to give him a call or email as he has arranged for a packer to come to the airfield for a weekend (I don’t know which!), to get the job done for you.

By the way - old mate and ex club-member Gerald (thanks for your help on the grid at the course - deserves another plug), has his beautiful motor-glider for sale on Trademe:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=515813530

Hopefully we get a great long weekend! See you there!

PC

As I sit looking out at a rainy dreary Auckland Monday morning, I think how lucky we were to get a weekends flying! Not great but flying!!

Not so on Wednesday though – the day was cancelled.

Saturday was a busy one for Julian and pupil Pieter, who between them racked up 1hr 50 mins of circuits and thermalling in PK. David Muckle & Tim dusted off PC for ¾ of an hour, Julian & Keith had PK up for 49 mins to round out the club glider flights.

Also in the air were Fin in ZO and Phil Smith in VM – both notching up flights in excess of 2 hours – nice going guys.

Total for the day was 10 launches keeping Tracey and BZA in business, and Dave Dennison occupied at the desk

Sunday was one of those bonus days – you couldn’t see the Kaimai’s on the webcams, and you could easily have been fooled into thinking that “Day Cancelled due to weather” was to be the outcome, but Bob reckoned it would come right, and so it did. 13 flights in all with YL taking the prize for departures and arrivals with 6 (Bob  x 2 taking up some friends, Steve and Phil Smith X 2, then Phil was gone solo, with Dave and Steve getting to do the last flight of the day). Nudged out was PK on 5 flights (Will & Mark Drayson, Carl & Bob, Phil Cox & Mark, Carl again, and a trial flight) making the numbers. Completing the flying list were with Jacopo in NB and Tauranga’s Dave Jensen in NM (trying out some new gadgets apparently – watch out those competing later this year!). Phil Cox was doing the paperwork and Dave Harding enjoying himself as always at the controls of BZA.

Definitely a gliding weekend, unless you took a flight to Pauanui in a passing Tecnam and got back to find all the Cu’s had evaporated, and the much anticipated flight was left for another day!

By the way - old mate and ex club-member Gerald has his beautiful motor-glider for sale on Trademe:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=515813530

PC

My apologies for falling off the horse – back up and running – it’s a pity Uniform Lima can’t get re-hinged that quickly!

Iggy filed this for Wednesday 19/09.

Tuesday was a good thermal day.  Light winds, well spaced Cu and a cloudbase rising to 3500 at Matamata.  All seen from the office window!  Damn!  Wednesday (19 Sep 12) was forecast to be similar to Tuesday.  Good!  You know the rest of the story ….  Yes - the high cover developed more than predicted and a little “feature” moved in preventing thermal activity.  However, BZA burst into life at 2pm and Roger in GJ was followed by Neil Raymond in XP.  Both took 2500 tows and made for the ridge.  Roger reported: “Great time over at the ridge in softish conditions I have to say but a wonderful 1.30 flight. Pity more did not turn up to enjoy the potential the day actually offered in the end. Neil also had a wonderful ride over there in XP. We both came back well satisfied young? men.”

As for the tow pilot - BZA was washed and was returned to the hangar prior to gliders landing and I got back to the office also well satisfied.  As for the Duty Instructor – Ralph Gore got to run two wings!

So, to the weekend:

A great, summer-like weekend in many respects with Saturday chalking up 20 slots on the time sheet and Sunday 14!

I wasn’t there Saturday but Julian filed the following for me:

An outstanding spring day with Tony Davies completing 20 tows!
Our very committed new Student, Pieter Bronkhorst, arrived 20 minutes early and had a1 hour flight in the morning and 80 minutes later in the afternoon. The thermals were going 4 to 5 knots to 4,000 ft by mid-afternoon.
A big welcome home goes to Phil Smith, who completed his BFR in fine style and flew VW for the first time in 18 months.
Stuart Wilson & Dave Reed both flew WW, with Dave ending up at the top of the by then waning thermal, putting much more experienced pilots to shame. Our other new member, Mark Shrimpton,(formerly with Tauranga he has joined us after a time out), flying with Mark Drayson showed good skills. The Duo Discus was also enjoying the day, with Dave Dennison getting to spend some time with Steve Care in his new acquisition. Fin completed the roundup of high performance singles and Evey Belworthy had a flight with Julian in the K13 at the end of the day.

That’s 3 new members folks Pieter, Mark and Evey (now officially a member after all her contributions!)  – that a great start to the goal of 15!

Sunday saw the return of NI (just – I missed the Drury off-ramp listening to something intensely intellectual on the radio – doh!!), and a bit of repositioning at the end of the day meaning XP is in hangar 15 for a while!

Mark S got us off the board with 2 circuits in PC then disappeared for his first solo for a while in PC – 3 nice landings and some good thermalling go under his belt for the day. Bob and Steve got YL into it after a circuit – disappearing for an hour and 40. The followed a rush of single seaters XP (Julian), VM, (Paul K), RY (Alan), and NB (Jacopo) all got away for hour plus stints.

PC then took Dennis and son Hamish Crequer away for another 1hour 26 completing its workout for the day. Evey and Steve Care managed 17 minutes in the K13, and Mark rounded out his busy weekend with a flight in YL with Bob.

Were off!!!  

PC 

A note about the upcoming contests and XCountry course. Now is the time to be booking time off work, organising gliders, sorting accomodation!

Here are the upcoming events:

• Central Plateau contest @ Taupo, practice day is on Sat 27th Oct and 1st Contest day is Sun 28th Oct finishing on Sun 4th Nov
• XCountry Course @ Matamata, Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Nov
• Matamata Soaring Center Regional Comp @ Matamata, Sat 24th practice day, Sun 25th Nov - Sun 1st Dec. 
• Nationals @ Taupo, Practice Sat 9th, Sun 10th Feb. First Contest Mon 11th Feb. Final Day Fri 22nd

The Central Plateau contest is the first competition of the season, so it's a great warm up for the Soaring Center competition a few weeks later in Matamata.

See Taupo's website for details on the upcoming central plateau contest. There is a good discount & competition entry for early bird entries.

http://www.taupoglidingclub.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:cpsc-2012-invite&catid=2:competition-detail&Itemid=9