Welcome all, and thanks to Tim for filling in with news while I took leave!

The week that was ………

Another wet Wednesday – followed by an eventually cancelled Saturday – just about situation normal this winter! However, Saturday did produce enthusiastic glider riggers that turned out to de-trailer and rig PC and de-rig and trailer PK – if you haven’t got that ticked off on your ‘B’ cert you missed a golden opportunity! Neil, Roger, David Muckle, Julian, Paul Knight myself and a guy who stopped in to ask about the next course was the roll call, as I remember. I had arrived with a friend but he never got past the clubhouse having spotted someone he knew at Middle Earth FS. By the time I was holding up PC’s left wing for 15 minutes while the fuse team debated why the wings wouldn’t fit, he was waving to me from a taxiing Tecnam twin!

Saturday was about keeping the best part to the end – and 35 or so turned out for the Annual Awards dinner and seemed to enjoy themselves – either that or they were making a lot of noise complaining to each other. Hopefully the volume of talk equates to the volume of the cash take at the bar – the bottle sacks certainly were bulging at the end of the night!

Our guest speaker (Barry Murray) is certainly passionate about his subject (the soon to be here 787) and the level of interest seemed to be pretty good given the audience participation. Man can those wings bend before breaking!! And how do all those fuselage bits fit and stay together once they do arrive from a surprising number of places around the world? You won’t be able to call yourself a pilot soon – a flight information & systems management officer (FISMO?) would seem more appropriate!

Awards were awarded and prizes carried off by their worthy recipients – I won’t detail them here because I don’t have a proper list with me and I am not entirely certain Roger & Bob giving out the prizes were 100% sure either – (note to self – perhaps prize-giving should take place before the bar opens?). A fit and proper list will be published asap, I promise.

A decorous but rapid exit occurred in, what was later realised to be, time for the rugby on Sky. Your intrepid Winglet editor and his guest who were over-nighting in the Soaring Centre Acomm rapidly completed the task of loading a couple of dishwashers and passing the time until the free version of the game started close to midnight! The number of topics debated seemed directly proportionate to the ongoing contributions to the bar fund which were increasing exponentially on a per capita basis. In the end we had to change from beer to rum due to the froth coming out our ears (beer and Allan Rollande don’t mix). Fortuitously the game ended with enough forward motion remaining in both of us to find our way to the other side of the carpark, after a beautifully executed sprint from the alarm panel to the light switches near the bathrooms then the airside exit door, sidestepping chairs in the dark a la Dan Carter!

Sunday for those of us not flying, delivered a day that seemed like another NFD, at least, that was how it looked from Julian’s lounge, but how wrong you can be when there are ATC scouts around. We got to the airfield at about 2:30 to find 3 2-seaters (PC, GS and YL) on station and taking 3000 foot tows. I recollect that Tracey never left BZA’s cockpit except when Steve Care had to redo a rope splice sitting in YL’s rear seat! Rob Owens, Jamie Pirrit and Dennis Crequer were all kept busy as well but had good help from the scouts and their leaders. We couldn’t stay too long due to the ‘towing PK to Auckland’ duty we had, so at this stage no report on the number of flights achieved is available, but suffice to say they did a reasonable number, and avoided disappointing the youngsters by cancelling the day.

I would like to thank all those who did support the Awards function and who helped make it possible especially Bill & Jan Mace, Dave Reed, Roger & Bob, and Joan for the support and encouragement, and, of course my guest Barry for giving his time and expertise to address us. Plus anyone I may have forgotten and not to exclude Julian and Caroline Mason for providing us with breakfast and lunch on Sunday!

I would also like to give a special thank you to Norm Duke and his buddies at Auckland Gliding Club who helped us out sheltering PK in their hangar when we arrived there at 6:00pm in pouring rain on Sunday evening. You certainly realize what spirit there is in the gliding community when the call for help goes out!

PC

Here's a great video about how to use your National parachute - from http://soaringcafe.com/2012/08/national-parachutes-video/

View here on youtube

The high cloud moving in, an ominous sign of the weather to come

Another interesting weekend of weather, with a slightly patchy easterly wave on Saturday. The wind turned quite northerly towards 5000', so getting up to 6500' was possible but only in parts. A good way to shake off the cobwebs for Roger in the Libelle, and Bill in his Lak while I took some friends from work up for a flight in PK. Nothing like being thrown around in wave for your first flight ever! Luckily these two were more than up for it, and had a blast.

Don't forget the Mid Winter Awards Dinner coming up Saturday 18th August (next weekend!).

There's been a lot of news on the international site http://soaringcafe.com/ about the running World Gliding Champs in Uvalde in the US. One piece of news that caught my eye (apart from the 11,000 foot thermals) was about the InReach GPS Satelite Tracker. It's very similar to a SPOT device, where it reports your position to the internet, live while flying. The main differences are:

• Can send/receive text messages through satelites (great if you land out somewhere remote)
• Sends your height, and ground speed, as well as location.
• Can report your position every 2 minutes, instead of every 10 like the SPOT. For emergency rescue, you could travel a lot of ground in 10 minutes.
• It does cost more than a SPOT however, at $250USD for the device, plus $25USD/month for unlimited tracking and 40 text messages.

If we are able to hook this up to the same maps page the SPOT devices use, it could be a good alternative. Here are more details from soaring cafe.

Ah more technology in the cockpit to play with. Lucky this is throw in the back and forget...

Hi All Glider Pilots,

Reminder notice to make sure you come along to the:

2012 Preseason Briefing 

Yes there will be a soaring season sometime soon!?

10.00am Saturday 8th September 2012,

with repeat of briefing at 11.00 Wednesday 12th September 2012

Gliding Clubhouse, Matamata Airfield

To be followed by a free lunch at 12.00 (Saturday only, no free lunch on Wednesday) and club flying in the afternoon.

(Instructors meeting to be held 9 to 10am)

Stop the rain,

Julian Mason
CFI

Tim & Steve climbing in Wave in GYL (not GUL)

well - more like a trailing edge really...... I have had enough of aeroplanes after disappearing to China for 2 days and Singapore for 1 last week!

The Wednesdayers drew the long straw being the only flying day with Sat & Sunday getting the big "C".

Correspondent Bill Mace filed this report:

I took Peter Minor up in PK for 90 mins in moderately rough wave. (Well Peter took me) The wind was due to swing around to the west at 6 to 7000' so didn't try for great height. We went to 6200' in lift above 1000'/min at times.

Thanks Bill - that really cheers up those of us who spend Monday to Friday hoping for flying weather at the weekend!! Bills photos are posted at:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ykqxkf5s425gboo/lAlSo_DcYV

To rub it in Wing Commander (BZA and bar (frequently)) Wood filed his take:

Not a big crowd today, but the easterly wave was working.  After pre-flight briefing (well, a few minutes to eat lunch and look at a coverage of the Olympics) PK was wheeled out, BZA was ready, and Peter Minor with Bill Mace in the back seat launched at 1315.  Release at 2000’ a couple of miles east had them on the up elevator!  Alan Belworthy checked in on 120.0.  Alan was at Rotorua at FL160, but he had a couple of turboprops to help him along!  As BZA called “Downwind to land”, PK called 4300’ climbing.  Peter and Bill can add 1 hour and 30 minutes to their logbooks with 6250’ as max altitude.  Iggy gets one tow and two cups of coffee.

Thanks guys – like a good fishing story the altitude got a little better with the telling of the story – but well done to Peter and Bill and my unpaid scribes.

I can tell you that it is no calmer at 35000’ at the moment on the Asian routes – a good 70% of my 777 and A320 time last week was spent in quite impressive turbulence – but how about this for a coincidence – on the last leg from Singapore I took my Advanced Soaring Made Easy out and opened it to begin what was going to be a few precious hours of intense study. No sooner thought, when the guy next to me says “so you fly gliders then”? He was a migrant pom who qualified as an LAME and flew gliders recreationally, prior to coming to NZ! Hopefully, once his young family ages, we will see him back into it!

NOW – IMPORTANT DATES TIMELINE:

8 August – Wednesday this week – preferential bookings close for club awards dinner – pay your subs, buy a dinner ticket and you won’t miss out! Book now at:

http://pgc.wordjot.co.nz/wj_sites/pgc/20120728/wswzpw33.jpg

18 August – Saturday – Club Awards Dinner

 8 September – Season opener – compulsory pre-season briefing and re-connecting the brain cells day! (Have you tried Flow Free yet – it’s bound to sharpen you up! – Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigduckgames.flow  Apple - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flow-free/id526641427?mt=8)

22 September – First day of New Pilots training course – get your mates signed up – one of the world’s best soaring sites, 3 trainers available including the ASK13 – rated still by experienced pilots as the best trainer of all, highly experienced instructors teaching in-flight and classroom at NO EXTRA CHARGE, great facilities, and friendly people – why wouldn’t you do it?

SEE YOU NEXT WEEKEND!

What a week! Even some Wednesday flying - here's how it went according to my newly commissioned mid-week flying correspondent:Wednesday 25 July showed some promise of being like last Saturday with easterly wave in the offing.  Glider pilots were briefed, Bill said to Iggy “Are these just a few spots of rain or is it setting in?” 

“It will clear” said Iggy.

Peter said “All out, but just a circuit for the first launch.”

The gap along the Kaimais closed.  Light rain started.

“All out for another circuit” said Peter.

Hangar landing.  Two flights, 10 minutes airborne, WW and BZA got a wash!!!

And so to Saturday where quite a turnout was had. The roll call went something like this:

Alan Belworthy, Bill Mace, Bryan O'Brien, Carl Henderson, Dave Dennison, Ian Finlayson, Jeffrey Hunter (BZA), Keith Irvine, Phillip Cox, Rainer Kunnemeyer, Steven Care, Tim Bromhead, and self.

The Easterly wave was working a treat, albeit better behaved than last week, which was good news for those who were relatively new to wave flying. In all 8hrs & 44 minutes of flying was had, with 13 launches and 5 different gliders having a great time, including 2 trial flighters, who definitely picked the right day.

Word is that Finn made it to the swamp and back, Tim & Steve paid Tirohia a visit on the last flight of the day, with Steve and Dave taking the height honours with 7800ft - YL is certainly enjoying its initiation at Matamata!

It was a pretty chirpy bunch in the bar afterwards, where the lift got 2 knots faster and the speed with the brakes out whilst still climbing went up a click or two! Issues were raised about a particular Cessna with a pilot who's calls were very hard to understand and who seemed to have difficulty acknowledging that he needed to give way to gliders. Hopefully he will find another airfield to terrorize, but it was a lesson that we all need to be on our toes with the increasing operations of trainee power pilots at our airfield. SVT and 2 Katanas from CTC were operating as well.

One brave warrior had a day to forget, having to return to the airfield to tune his radio and that was after having to suffer the emabrassing call from the Pawnee to put his brakes away! Worthy of consideration by the soon to be convened awards committee! 

Another point to store in mind came about when the ASK13 GS was brought to the line. Phil Cox and Bill Mace sat waiting whilst Jeff completed a tow and refuel, then just as he returned to the grid to hook them up they climbed out! In the process of doing their checks and reading the placards and manuals - then discussing what they had eaten for breakfast (over the last couple of years), they discovered they were collectively overweight! I was due to take the next flight in GS, but the only instructors I could have gone with were off flying elsewhere. The all up pilot weight is apparently 180Kg, so if your goal is to fly GS, best you find yourself an instructor that does not compliment your weight beyong 180Kg!!

For all that it was great to see 3 twins on the line and that was with PC and UL in the repair shop still! 

Sunday was a washout, pretty much as forecast, so I leave you with good wishes for the next week, and a reminder for those who were not there to check your forecasts and call the launch point in case you are missing out!!

By now you will have seen the Awards Dinner invite and be deciding if one or two of you will come. Don't delay, sales are brisk with 12.5% of capacity already filled. Thanks for reading and following the instructions - your names are on the list!

Must fly as I am packing for a trip to China for a few days. You can imagine the smile on my face when I read this on my ticket re one of the aircraft I am flying on :

Boeing 777-300ER (WINGLETS) - what the .....????

See you Sunday,

PC

Click on invitation to enlarge!

Well gentle pilots, I can tell you that it hasn't stopped raining in Auckland since dawn or earlier, and Waikato is no different, hence the cancelled sign went out for today. so idle fingers need work. No late editions this week!

The mole has already leaked committee activity from Wednesday 18th, he (she?) has no respect for his lowly peers, struggling to find something to write about. However I have gazzumped him and taken to publishing this edition of Winglets to a broader audience, here on the website.

To business............

Winter did get its way ruling out flying on Wednesday again as well, but Saturday was a day; oh yes.

Hiding behind cloud base of about 2500 -300 feet was a huge wave band that seemed to stretch from Thames to Taupo (OK - Te Aroha to Te Poi), and once it began to show itself, a number of eager beavers turned up.

PK was rigged and readied and Peter & Dom flew some circuits. Then the Duo Trio turned up (Steve, Bob and Dave) with YL and after a circuit for Bob and Steve, Dave climbed in and disappeared with Bob, East bound for the wave.

Will Kamp took his DP's compulsory flight with Dom in PK and followed YL into the unknown, and an eery quiet came over the field. Not for long however, as Roger had GJ rigged in a flash and was soon heading for mecca.

David Muckle arrived shortly after, wheeling out WW to take up the attack. Iggy and his mate Chris decided that my suggestion of getting NI out warranted support, so all at once the hangar was empty! Being last man away at 16:07 I was keen to get high and get down asap, happy and content. Little did I know that I was about to take a romp around the sky looking like a drunken hawk - oh yes I found it (wild rotor) and was a little stupified by the experience, but happy that I found my way home OK after flying nearly to the swamp to find a hole in the cloud and barely losing a foot in altitude!

David reckoned I was working some secret leavers to make the wings flap when he went past, but didn't look too hard because his little stubs were trying to emulate NI's apparently. I am now initiated and, wiser as to what I should have done - as Roger commented "we've all been there", so I guess I am part of that club now too! 

What I didn't do was ask Alan Belworthy, our wave guru, why he wasn't flying - did he know what I found out? In fairness he was working hard tidying up loose ends on his ASK 13 (GS) readying it for use. Evey was busy sewing covers as well, so the B team was having a full on day. 

Visitors included Rainer and Anna and Wills friend Kim, who managed to fill in a few times on the laptop for me, and make some suggestions for improvements - thanks Kim. 

In all 9 flights taken in 5 gliders for a total of 6hrs and 11mins flying by 9 pilots, which, given the general look of the day, was a great turnout for winter. Moral: There can be great flying in weather that looks like rubbish. 

Look out for the Awards Dinner invite later this week and meantime check you have got the date of 18 August reserved for this function.

Finally, please pay your subs asap. The Awards Dinner is for club members and the rsvp date for the dinner is Monday 13 August. If you haven't paid your subs by then you won't be able to attend the dinner!

PC