Funnily enough, none of these pics are from the actual AGM. Details from the meeting will be coming soon.

The ridge was working well so here are some pics from Chris Money of Josh and Bob in GPC joining the ridge.

GPC from above joining the ridge

I (Tim) also also went for a fly in GXP, managed to get up past Thames and back. With plenty of time before the AGM decided to try to find some wave. After a good 30 minutes managed to crawl up to 6400' in the pressure wave. I then asked for clearance from Christchurch control, and was informed by ATC that I was already in controlled airspace.

Damn! I had assumed because people were flying on the ridge all day the, GA 254 would be open up to 6500'. Obviously it wasn't, thus the limit was 4500'. The lesson yet again is always check, never assume. I thought that was it, go home time, however the nice traffic controller let me off with a reminder, and was cleared up to 9000'.

With clearance given, I then promptly dropped 1000' down to 5500'. And couldn't find the lift again. With half an hour before the AGM I was about to give it up.

All the while some lenticular style clouds were moving slowly towards the ridge. Then a new one formed right in front of the high point. I headed upwind of it and found a steady 3-5 knots lift. In 20 mins we were up to 9000! Highest flight so far for me. By then it was 5 to 5pm, took a few pics, and headed back quick.

By the time Bob and I put the glider away we were 15 mins late for the AGM... so apologies to everyone. Here are some pics!

There's a glider there somewhere...

It was raining heavily in Auckland apparently, this looking across the Firth of Thames

Te Puru

Nice views from 8900'

Smooth clouds

Descending back to the airfield.

Don't forget the Piako Gliding Club AGM is this Saturday, 5pm at the Matamata Soaring Centre clubrooms. There will be delicious nibbles from 4pm and quite possibly after the meeting also.

Come along and have your say at our clubs most important meeting of the year.

Below are the minutes from the previous AGM and special meeting, and the Agenda for the upcoming meeting. Big thanks to Joan for getting all that written up.

MINUTES OF THE PIAKO GLIDING CLUB AGM 10 MAY 08.doc

Minutes of the Special General Meeting 17 December 08.doc

PIAKO GLIDING CLUB AGM Agenda 9 May 09.doc

Flying today was cancelled due to showers, so here are two videos of things that are better to just watch on YouTube than actually try.

Guinness World Records : Fastest Glider Assembly - almost as quick as our Discus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG_nEAfdnD0

Aerobatics on Aerotow - some ideas for our tow pilots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r2u9oWAiSU 

A few tidbits  that came out of the committee meeting yesterday.

Club member training during A course

First up the current Saturday A course has 2 new pupils on it. They'll only be using 1 glider, so the other glider is available for use for club member training only. There won't be any passenger, trial or gift voucher flights, it's just for club members, just make a booking like normal.

If you need something ticked off, ridge syllabus, B cert, BFR, check circuit or any other training make the most of it.

Modellers up to 1500'

Apparently the the modellers may be operating up to 1500 feet, be aware they can be this high. If they are operating over 400' they have to have an observer looking out for aircraft.

Chris Scale's blog about learning to glide

One of our new students, Chris Scale, has started a blog, and is writing about his experiences learning to fly gliders. A great read, see it online or subscribe to it, and leave him a comment at:

http://scalersgliding.blogspot.com/

Either our students are getting bigger or PK has shrunk a bit

AGM Coming Up

The Piako Gliding Club AGM is coming up Saturday 9th May at 5pm.

The updated club rules have been available of the web site for some time, and can be viewed  at 

http://www.glidingmatamata.co.nz/members/rules/. 

Come along and have your say at our clubs most important meeting of the year

Mid Winter Dinner

Our annual Mid Winter Dinner has been set a preliminary date of Saturday 11th of July. Put it in your calendars today!

Wooden box on bar for membership application forms and other documents

Just a reminder there is a wooden box on the bar for any forms or documents that need to go to the committee.

There is also a spike on the bar for any bar related EFTPOS receipts only. If you want to buy something from the bar and pay for a flight, do two separate transactions, that will make Jamie's life a lot easier.

Happy Flying!

Pics from Jamie Pirrit

Pics from Adrian Roberts (Zing Photography)

Thanks guys!

If anyone has any more pics they would like share, feel free to send them through.

There are a number of events that you'll always remember when gliding. One of the biggest is your first solo, and well done to Manda who completed hers in PK a couple of weekends ago. I've never seen anyone bounce around so excited as Manda after that :)

Manda and snoopy left.

Another milestone is nailing your first landing in a paddock, which Jamie did yesterday in GXP near Waitoa. It was a real beauty, nice big field, easy retrieve, friendly farmer, and lucky for him right before the land out BBQ on Sunday too. Well done Mr Floorman.

If only putting the wings back on went as smoothly. Bill, Jamie, Richard and myself tried for quite a while to put it back together, unfortunately after an hour and a half we ran out of daylight and gave up! Luckily Sefton and Les saved the day today by figuring it out somehow, so thanks heaps guys.

Don't forget the Airfield open day this Sunday, the long range weather is looking OK. We'll be doing the displays between 1-2pm, and the BBQ will be going for the landout farmers and club members. Normal club flying will also be available, as well as heaps of displays so bring the family out.

The Matamata Aerodrome open day is coming up next week, Sunday 19th April.

This year we are having  our annual Land Out BBQ to coincide on the same day. This is where we invite all farmers who's paddocks we've landed in along for a feed, and take them for a fly.

Between 1 and 2pm there will be various staged events and we have a slot there for some high speed finishes and a glider to explore its envelope for the crowd.

Jan is running the kitchen so we will have morning teas, lunches and nibbles for the after get together in our clubhouse. We would like a hand in the bar which will open about 4pm too please.

There is the chance that there will be outdoor entertainment off the back of a truck in the campground also.

This is the clubs big public display day so we need helpers:

• A welcome person to put identification name-tabs on the farmers so they can have a flight.
• A large number of hosts in general to be at the club house, at the launch point and at the launch point.

Get in touch with Bill if you can help out in any way. wajvmace@ihug.co.nz

We really need as many club members as possible, so please make an effort to come along, help out and have a good time. It's also a great opportunity to drag along friends and family members, as there will be heaps to see, eat, and fly!

More details coming soon...

The Easter ham was demolished last night, thanks to Jan and Kate for putting on a great feast yet again. Here are some not-quite-in-focus photos of the frivolities. 

Ham, Delicious Ham.

Dom appreciating a good photo.

Bunny Wabbit Ears are all the rage this year