Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future and give you highlights of the last week.

Last week:

A bit of a washout, “flaming June!”.   Still we managed to fly between the showers.

Weekend outlook:

The weekend looks quite flyable with the showers looking as if they will be to the North of us.

Saturday Mike Greenwood and Guy Hartland are on duty,  on Sunday it is  Simon Adlard and Matthew Cook.  If you need checks or want to develop your flying then these teams are ideal.  I suggest you phone the office and book.

Forthcoming events:

Shrewsbury school camp

Next week Paul Fowler is hosting the school camp with between 8 and 10 students.  Unfortunately one of the instructors has had to withdraw and if any instructor can help Paul even for half a day we would be enormously grateful.  The effort Paul puts into the schools is immense and he is creating an investment in the future of gliding.  Please help if you can.

Wenlock Olympian Games Gliding

This is getting close now,  9^th of July so please make a note in your diary to come along,  enjoy some time  with some fabulous gliders and fly as well.

Building and caravan park

We are getting ready to do the fitting out of the shed now,  Roger’s roller door is to be fitted then the electrics can be started.

Web site and video

Rob and Jean Shepherd are helping with the communciations strategy and our marketing to potential members.  To this end they are appealing for any video footage you may have. We are going to create a Google Channel and steer people to this for our video material.  If you have any footage please email the office and we will be in touch.

Airspace

I make no apologies for reproducing below the latest message from the BGA regarding airspace,  this is vital to our sport and therefore our club.  Please take a moment to read it.

EU – The medium to long term impact on gliding of a decision to leave the EU is anyone’s guess.
Aviation in a number of non-EU European countries is regulated by EASA, eg Norway and
Switzerland. Some months ago, the DfT advised that if the UK leaves the EU, it will continue to be a
part of the Single European Sky and subject to European aviation regulation under EASA. The BGA
will of course engage with CAA and DfT to explore any opportunities. Meanwhile, our work in Europe
continues with the overall aim of minimising the impact of EASA regulations. The loss of UK political
and government support in Europe will naturally present a new and significant challenge.
**AIRSPACE SAFETY AND PILOT RESPONSIBILITY** – Airspace, like membership and airfields, is a
strategic priority for gliding. John Williams leads a small team who work tirelessly on the detail and
with others in air sport to make sure we retain our freedom to operate without controlled airspace
and other restrictions.

There are powerful forces out there looking for any justification to establish a permanent ‘known’
airspace environment, ie one involving ATC contact and transponders. Each year there are more
than 1000 claimed infringements of controlled or restricted airspace. Over 99% involve powered
aircraft. But we absolutely cannot be complacent. The CAA is focussed on the airspace infringement
problem. It is a hot topic. There is a real risk of a heavy handed response by the CAA as it attempts to
treat the symptoms but not the causes (we’ve regularly offered to help CAA to address the causes).
We have a reasonably good name as responsible airspace stakeholders. That’s in part due to
education and awareness at clubs, widespread use of moving maps, helpful airspace files, and
ongoing monitoring of activity. However, it only takes one pilot to get it wrong to destroy years of
good work by many.
One screw up, no matter how innocent, can easily destroy our freedom to fly. It’s vitally important
that all our pilots are trained properly, that everyone plans before flying, that we use GPS moving
maps with up to date navigation software, that we check and understand NOTAMs, and essentially
do all that is reasonable to avoid infringements and other airspace safety hazards. Please link to our
airspace pages from your club website https://members.gliding.co.uk/airspace/ and please direct
your club pilots to the information.

Neal Clements

Chair.

Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future and give you highlights of the last week.

Last week:

Dave, Helen, Mike Dodd, Fay, Rob and Geoff Minshull represented the club at the Welshpool airshow last Sunday and despite poor weather,  attracted a lot of interest to follow up.  These events are hard work but can be so worthwhile, thanks very much to everyone involved.

We took delivery of the latest addition to the club vehicle fleet this week,  a Suzuki Vitara in remarkable condition.  This is a test vehicle, paid for by the sale of one of our Landrovers.  We all owe a huge vote of thanks to Julian Fack for organizing the purchase and delivery (using Dave Rance’s trailer) of this.  Dave Crowson and Julian are running the evaluation project and the next steps are :-  tow ball, gas conversion cost,  field identification marker and radio.  I tested the vehicle myself by taking it to where the ambulance and police cars got stuck at the South end and it dealt with it perfectly.  If the tests are successful then we will compare the costs of using such vehicles vs the cost of maintaining the Land Rovers.

Weekend outlook:

The weather for the weekend looks flyable albeit a bit showery and we have slots available on both days.  If you need a check or you want to develop your flying in any way then book a slot with the office.  Clive Crocker and Mathew Cook are on duty on Saturday with volunteers on Sunday.

Forthcoming events:

We have a few places left on the course next week, call Martin if you would like to attend.

Wenlock Olympian Games Gliding – 9 to 16 July.  A message from John Randall.

Still time to enter your oldtimer!  Its not just for those hard bitten competition types, We have prizes, not only for completing the tasks but also things like: “the best glider”; Maximum height achieved during the week; spot landing and even if the weather gods turn against us for the odd day then try your hand at reversing a glider trailer.

To start the week (Sat 9 July) we not only have the first tasks for the fullsize guys but also vintage scale model gliders that will be shown off not only on the ground but also flying between 5 and 8pm.

There are evening talks and other happenings after the gliding and eating has finished and to round off the week we have a Hog roast on Sat 16 JULY.  Even if you aren’t competing please come along and join in. If the weather is soarable then we will be able to do club flying as well .

In addition, can I put out a plea for photographs for the web site gallery.  The purpose of the gallery is to show visitors what they can expect when they come to the club,  grounds, hangar, accommodation, bar etc.  I have had an excellent response for the external photographs and now I need ones of the interior showing the club in its best light.  Please send them directly to me at nealxclements@googlemail.com

Building and caravan park

We have insides as well as outsides now, the next step will be the fitting out and the electrics.  Mathew Cook is in charge of the electric installation and the actual fitting will be done by volunteers.

The caravan park is fully trenched and conduit laid and now Guy Hartland is running the project to bring the site up to a more modern standard.

Neal Clements

Chair.

Assuming the weather models are correct, then a low cloud base on Sunday will make flying very unlikely. So, if you feel the urge to get your feet off the ground this weekend, Saturday looks a better bet – locally at least, you won’t need to worry should you forget to pack your map!

Mark

Amy Johnson flying at the Mynd. Great to see how they did things in those days, though not that much seems to have changed. I’m sure some of the members are still here….

Many thanks to http://www.artsalive.co.uk/ for letting us know about the footage.

Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future and give you highlights of the last week.

Last week:

Last week’s course was a roaring success seeing two former members, Richard Bennett and Brian Connaughton, both re-solo so congratulations to them both.

The evening courses are continuing to work well, with lots of progress being made by everyone.

Weekend outlook:

Looking flyable for the weekend, turning southerly and then westerly. We have slots available on both days.

If you need a check or you want to develop your flying in any way then book a slot with the office. Mike Greenwood and Walter Baumann are instructing on Saturday and Sunday, and they are joined on Saturday by Nigel Lassiter and a further instructor, who will fly our Previous member guests and visitors.

Forthcoming events:

Joint “Previous Members” and “Flying Taster” Day  – Sat 11 June.  Bring a friend along or just come along to help, this is going to be a very busy day and is aimed at gaining new members and reminding past members of what they are missing.  The advertising for this has been intense and we are expecting a lot of visitors and past members,  please come along to help, it is in the interests of your club.

Don’t forget that we will be running our “Bring a Friend” Reward Scheme for our members until further notice, so if you bring a friend to the club who subsequently joins as a full member, then we will give you your next 10 TEN launches absolutely free. What could be nicer than that!

Steve Male is running an Aerobatics course week beginning the 18^th of  June.  We are delighted that this is now fully booked, but if you are interested then contact the office and we can send you details of future dates we will be running later in the year (September).

We are gearing up for hosting the Wenlock Olympian Society Gliding Games which runs from 9th to 16th July. The entry list is really hotting up now, so if you (or anyone you know) have a wooden glider & are interested in taking part, then contact the office sooner rather than later.

We are running a Cross Country course from 6^th to 14^th August – we’re starting to take bookings for this so let Martin know if you’re interested.

Task Week this year runs from 20^th to 29^th August, so it’s a good idea to get your entries in now! Two-seater cross training will be available on a limited first come first served basis – so if you are interested in developing your cross-country flying or seeing how it’s done, then get booked in NOW. (The way the two-seater training generally works is that you agree to take it in turns to fly and crew, so you don’t necessarily need to be there all week if that’s not possible for you).

The club calendar is a good way of checking what is coming up, if you haven’t already got a copy then ask in the office.  We are getting ready to produce the next one so can I ask you to submit your pictures for consideration in the new calendar.  Email them to Neal or the office directly.

In addition can I put out a plea for photographs for the web site gallery.  The purpose of the gallery is to show visitors what they can expect when they come to the club,  grounds, hangar, accommodation, bar etc.  Please think to yourself what would I need to see before I arrive and I would be very grateful if you would send the pictures to Neal Clements or Sarah Platt (see website for email address).

Building and Caravan Park, and Airfield:

The building is progressing well and the floors are now down. Next job is to hang the doors and windows, and the completion date is expected to be next Wednesday. Then the internal fit out will start.

Guy Hartland and some willing volunteers have started to tackle the caravan park & it’s already looking a bit tidier. It now also has the makings of an entrance road.

Don’t forget to keep avoiding the marked areas of newly-sown grass, so that they have the best chance of taking well.

Other info:

The monthly Shobdon LAA Strut meeting TONIGHT – Thursday evening (9th) is about e-go aircraft.  See their web site at http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/  If you would like to know more do go along at 7:30 pm.  There is a nominal £2 fee to pay for the speakers expenses (£1 for Strut members).  The cafe will be open for food and drink from 6 pm.

The BGA monthly newsletter is available here: http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/notices/newsletters.htm .

Sarah Platt, Marketing

Congratulations to Mark Williams on his first solo on 26th May, here are the photos

Chairs report from the Committee meeting of 27 May

MT shed

As you can see there has been considerable progress and it looks like the cladding will be complete by the end of next week.  The next step is the internal fittings.  The bills are starting to arrive and we owe a huge vote of thanks to Dave Wedlock for his sterling efforts in restraining the costs.  Projecs like this inevitably attract a lot of “while we are at its”, the death knell of many a project and Dave has steered a fantastic line keeping a grip on the project.

Caravan park and campsite

The MT shed project also includes moving the access road to the caravan park, amending the fencing and putting electricity into the campsite.  These tasks will be completed once the shed is finished.  In the meantime Guy Hartland is creating the plan to bring the caravan park up to a more modern standard, he has already started by moving the empty gas bottles.

New roof

The accommodation block has sprung a leak and we are trying to find a way of re-roofing it which will provide insulation, waterproofing and be affordable.

Operational plan

The club runs an operational plan containing the upcoming events.  These are reflected in the Calendar and the web site.  We will be rolling it forward in July so we can have the new calendars available by the early Autumn.

Finance

The figures continue to look healthy but there are quite a few capital projects queuing up and we will decide on the priority and sequence of these once all the bills for the MT shed are settled.  As well as infrastructure projects we will be looking to future proof the fleet.

Marketing

We are launching a range of new packages aimed at new members and we are offering special deals on the 11^th of June at the joint Past Members Day, & Flying Taster Day.  This has been heavily advertised and if you could come along and volunteer then this would be greatly appreciated.

Fleet

The Astir canopy is broken through wear and tear but everything else is flyable and flying.

Launching and MT

The winches have been serviced and the launching performance has been superb over the past few months.  Once again this is thanks to our winch and engineering team.  Please consider helping out with winching and apply to Guy Hartland for details

Grounds

A lot of work has gone into the seeded areas just to the East of the road.  It is  essential to keep off them and all duty instructors are asked to brief about this. We would also like to make the areas more visible.

The cyclists/walkers who emerge from the East are being encouraged to go South and then round to the West onto the Starboard Way.  To achieve this we have mown paths and installed a stalling corrall,  all that is left is the signage.  We hope this will reduce the number of times launching has to be held because of traffic crossing East to West.

You will have noticed a dramatic increase over the past couple of years in the number of apparently feral horses both on top of the Mynd and intruding onto the airfield.  We have walked the fence and found it to be generally in good condition but we need to find out how they are getting in and address it.  If anyone knows if these horses have owners would you be kind enough to get in touch with me.

Neal Clements