MIDLAND GLIDING CLUB

There are still some places remaining on next week’s course, so this is your final call to arms.

Gliding, particularly XC, is all about grasping the opportunities as they present. Last Thursday was a case in point. I had blogged that it looked a good day. Several members, as you’ll have read, grasped that particular nettle and gained Silver legs and in one case completed a Silver badge. I set an ambitious task for myself up to the Denbigh ridges, with concerns before take off, if I’m honest, about how viable the thermal soaring trip up to Llangollen would be in 25-30 knots of wind, and whether I might end up just local soaring! All that changed when I hit a solid 6 knot climb less than a minute into the flight and I went on to complete a memorable flight. What I’m saying is, you have to be in it to win it, and you never know what’s possible unless you give it a try.

Aim Higher could help you unlock your potential.

Kevin Atkinson, will once again be taking the reins, with informative, entertaining and thought provoking briefings in the mornings, lots of opportunities for XC flying, both solo and dual, as soon as it gets soarable, and debriefs once the hangar doors have closed!

As last year, the charge will be a nominal £10 per person per day to cover expenses, with flying at normal club rates.

Grasp the opportunity and get yourself booked in today by phoning or emailing the office – Aim Higher!

Mark

Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future.

Winch

The Skylaunch main winch is back on site….shiny new engine installed.

 We just need a day when a long launch direction (preferably South) is possible to get the gearbox set up properly for the new engine.

 Web cam overheating

The computer that processes the data from the weather station and serves the pictures up to the web is overheating so we are having to reset it and turn it off overnight.  We are looking at ways to address the problem, in the meantime bear with us as we have to restart each day.

Calendar

We are now able to show the events that are planned during the year.  This is a less detailed view than the rota but extends further.  We are working on extending it to a 2 year horizon so you can plan your holidays around gliding.  We are also seeking ways to increase its detail but in the meantime please have a look and, if you like you can link it to your own electronic calendar.

See http://www.midlandgliding.club/all-events/

Your team this weekend is:

Saturday:  Neal Clements, Guy Hartland, Laurent Couval

Sunday:  Simon Adlard, Guy Hartland, Peter Orchard, Dave d’Arcy

Forthcoming events

Prospective Members Weekend – 4th-6th May

We are inviting local folks who are interested in joining our wonderful club, to join us for a mini tour of the club so they can see everything the club has to offer. We are not guaranteeing them a flight, but if there’s availability then we may choose to offer that. If you’re around that weekend, and can lend a hand for half an hour, it would be much appreciated.  Please can you let Sarah or James know that you are going to be there so they can guarantee guides for the prospects. 

treasurer@midlandgliding.club or marketing@midlandgliding.club

Aim Higher at the Mynd 7-11 May.

Last year’s Aim Higher courses precipitated our busiest XC season at the Mynd with a best ever 79 flights totalling 14500km recorded on the club ladder, SIX Silver Distances during the season, and Dominic flying the first ever 500km FAI triangle in Wales (an achievement recognised by the BGA with an award at last week’s BGA annual conference).

This year we are running the full five day course from 7 – 11 May.

Aim Higher lead, Kevin Atkinson, will once again be taking the reins, with informative, entertaining and thought provoking briefings in the mornings, lots of opportunities for XC flying, both solo and dual, as soon as it gets soarable, and debriefs once the hangar doors have closed!

As last year, the charge will be a nominal £10 per person per day to cover expenses, with flying at normal club rates.

Build on your achievements in 2017; aim to take your flying to new heights in 2018; kick start your season with a group of like-minded pilots and get yourself booked in today by phoning or emailing the office – Aim Higher!

chairman@midlandgliding.club

20W, so it’s a ridge day and very thermic, but without the same degree of shower potential as we are seeing today. Perfect for getting some extended local soaring time in. We have arranged an additional instructor. Please remember to book if you need two seater flying.

Probably a bit too windy for early XC, but there are other boxes you could tick …

Silver duration (5 hour) should be on. Spend the day thermalling and having fun, but with the ridge as a fall-back if there is a dead patch. (And it will be too windy for spraying – you know who you are!!!)

Silver height (a gain of 1000m or 3281ft) may also be possible. You will need to carry a logger. If it’s an approved logger with a barometric pressure sensor, then 1000m is all the gain you need. If it is an approved position recorder (i.e. the FR300) you will have to add on an extra 100m, so your gain will need to be 1100m or 3609ft. Remember to “notch” your trace, with a dive from the release at the top of the launch. If you can get down onto the ridge so much the better because you won’t have to climb so high to achieve the required gain.

In either case, discuss your plans with the No 1 before take-off.

For the more experienced, I have a couple of ideas in mind, to a bit of sky we don’t usually frequent …

The Denbigh Ridges MYN-DYS-DRS-DYS-MYN (243km) – some models show what may be a bit too much north in it.

Else: Uttoxeter-Lleweni Parc MYN-UTT-DRS -LLE -MYN (279km)

That may all change, of course!!

Mark

Recent member Owen Elias, seen here in the glider with daughters Sarah and Helen, chose us here at the Mynd to help him celebrate his 90^th birthday. A virtual coach-load of family members were in attendance to watch him take to the skies. Owen made the mistake of telling me that he was sponsoring himself with a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society (an illness which claimed the life of his wife a couple of years ago) for every minute flown, with bonuses for aerobatics! So first up a couple of soaring flights, which he handled very well, then later an aerobatic sortie. Four loops and a couple of chandelles later (as his wallet begged for mercy!) he landed to applause and smiles all round.

Here he is again, being presented with a cake by his grand-daughter Elizabeth. Not sure where the other 87 candles are – probably too much of a fire hazard! Just look at the weather they brought with them – please come again – anytime!

Happy Birthday Owen – and many Happy Returns, from all of his family and all at the Midland Gliding Club!

In other news … A good day had by all with 75 launches by the close. Some more annual checks completed, lots of training, a smattering of trial lessons and a visiting party from North Hill here for the week, kept all four two-seaters busy. A few private owners flew, notably Rob and Dave in the Arcus who braved the murky and fairly low cloudbase conditions to get out to Llyn Brenig in Welshest of North Wales, although it cost them a bit of petrol to get home – see the flight on the Club Ladder.

Mark

Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future.

Airspace

Sorry to keep badgering about this but it is important – the consultation closes TODAY.   Please can you  review below and help wherever possible, the deadline is today.

https://members.gliding.co.uk/representation-and-consultations/oxford-and-raf-brize-norton-acps/

Your team this weekend is:

Saturday: Geoff Dailey, Glyn MacArthur – It seems we are short of a No 1, so if you are one and are available & willing to supervise the field for a bit, please can you contact Martin asap.

Sunday:  Mike Greenwood, Steve Alexander, John O’Reilly

Committee updates:

MT: The new winch engine has had a shipping delay, we are awaiting an accurate arrival date so that we can plan the fitting which should be mid/late April.

Caravan park: Dave Crowson and Guy have discussed the very muddy state of the north end of the caravan park since the new MT shed has changed the way water flows into the caravan park. We have tried to stablise the mud with some stone chippings and will look at a new drainage scheme and possibly a new road surface to resolve the issues.

CFI News – Check/Currency/Recency Flights:

Now the weather is (should be) getting better a number of us, including me, will be thinking of taking to the air for the 1st time in a while. This brings us to the thorny questions of “Currency” and “Recency”.   You may well be within your Annual Check period of validity BUT if you haven’t flown 3 launches and 3 landings as handling pilot in the last 90 days then you’re NOT “Current”.

You also need to ask yourself if you’re “Recent”.  You can easily be within the 3 launches & landings in 90 days requirement but ask yourself: – when was the last time you flew in today’s conditions? or, in today’s launch direction? Could you cope with an unexpected launch failure on your 1st launch?

Bear in mind that during a lay off our “skills” generally stay with us but our “judgement” deteriorates quite quickly, so, If there’s any doubt then there’s no doubt.

ASK for a check flight and be sure to tell your instructor WHY you want/need a check flight; maybe get them to demonstrate something you’re rusty with or a new skill?

Our instructors are all here to facilitate you flying safely and making progress, so use this valuable resource and get the best out of your flying.

Incidentally, I haven’t flown since October, because of my health problem, so I will be taking a series of Check/Refresher flights before I fly solo again. If I can do it -so can you !

MGC Stage System

Do you know what MGC Stage you are?  Do you know what the check flight period is and what your annual renewal requirements are? Do you know what skills you need to move to the next stage?

If the answer to any of these questions is “NO” then talk it through with an instructor, particularly on wet “tea drinking” days and (particularly with Annual Check Time fast approaching) get a plan together, give yourself something to aim for both in the short term and for the season as a whole…….. Give it some thought, you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve. Then, when you fly with an instructor TELL THEM what you’re trying to achieve – that way they’ can tailor your flying to make progress towards your goal.

In the meantime: – STAY SAFE & HAVE FUN.

Whatsapp group for flying updates – if any members would like access to this please drop a text to Rob Shepherd on 07709352826 asking to be added, including your full name and membership number if you know it. Please see previous blogs for further details.

Forthcoming events

All Events – We wanted to make it easy for all members to see everything that’s happening and planned, all on our website. Here’s the link http://www.midlandgliding.club/all-events/

Get checked week is this week – I’m looking out the window at a beautiful day. Notams have precluded any realistic tasks, but there are loads of gliders rigged and raring to get airborne.

Easter Junior Camp – 9th to 13th April

Easter Camp for junior members. All junior members are welcome to join for just one day or all week.  Flying training and briefings will be given, and concentrated flying on opportunities like this is a sure way to make good progress.  If any junior member is interested, please book a place through the office. As with coming along to the Club on any day, the consent of a parent or guardian is required and you will have to arrange transport.  If you want to stay at the Club overnight, please speak with the office about the special arrangements for this. There will be no extra cost and you will just pay for whatever flying you do in the normal way plus food.

North Hill visiting the Mynd – 14th April for a week, so come along and say hello. There should be lots of aviation happening.

BI (Basic Instructor) Training week – 16th to 20th April

If you’re booked on, that’s brilliant. If you are interested in getting booked on or training to become a basic instructor, please contact Steve Male by emailing him here to check the criteria and find out what’s involved and to get booked onto this or a future training event.

Rockpolishers – InterClub League at Nympsfield – 21st/22nd April

Contact Mark Sanders for more information – if places are not already filled, he will no doubt will be looking for pilots, crew and other willing volunteers to take part.

Club Week – 23rd-27th April

Come along and fly lots! Get those checks finished if you still need to. Get some training on something that you’re finding tricky. We recommend you book accommodation and any check flights fairly quickly for this one, via the office.

Gliding Course No 1 of 2018 – 30thApril to 4th May

This is very early sold out, but it looks like there may be a space on Tues, Thur and Fri. So if you are interested, please contact Martin in the office without delay.

Prospective Members Weekend – 4th-6th May

We are inviting local folks who are interested in joining our wonderful club, to join us for a mini tour of the club so they can see everything the club has to offer. We are not guaranteeing them a flight, but if there’s availability then we may choose to offer that. If you’re around that weekend, and can lend a hand for half an hour, it would be much appreciated.

Rockpolishers – InterClub League at The Mynd – 5th/6th May

Contact Mark Sanders for more information – if places are not already filled, he will no doubt will be looking for pilots, crew and other willing volunteers to take part.

Aim Higher at the Mynd 7-11 May.

Last year’s Aim Higher courses precipitated our busiest XC season at the Mynd with a best ever 79 flights totalling 14500km recorded on the club ladder, SIX Silver Distances during the season, and Dominic flying the first ever 500km FAI triangle in Wales (an achievement recognised by the BGA with an award at last week’s BGA annual conference).

This year we are running the full five day course from 7 – 11 May.

Aim Higher lead, Kevin Atkinson, will once again be taking the reins, with informative, entertaining and thought provoking briefings in the mornings, lots of opportunities for XC flying, both solo and dual, as soon as it gets soarable, and debriefs once the hangar doors have closed!

As last year, the charge will be a nominal £10 per person per day to cover expenses, with flying at normal club rates.

Build on your achievements in 2017; aim to take your flying to new heights in 2018; kick start your season with a group of like-minded pilots and get yourself booked in today by phoning or emailing the office – Aim Higher!

Sarah marketing@midlandgliding.club,

on behalf of Neal 🙂 chairman@midlandgliding.club

Surely must be worth a punt, I reckon. The models differ on the detail, but the predicted ridge of high pressure for Thursday has remained consistent on the chart throughout. If you’re a “RASP Star Rating” kind of forecaster, you may be feeling a bit lukewarm about it. That rating is based on Thermalling Height, with deductions for windy and/or blue conditions. Since blue conditions are forecast, the rating is lower. I’m working on the basis that the models make no consideration of how wet the ground is, so there should be a good deal more humidity (and hence cloud) around than they predict. Only one way to find out though. “You’ve got to be in it to win it” and all that – See you there.

Mark

PS. There are significant NOTAMS around Shobdon, which you will certainly have to consider when making your XC plans.