MIDLAND GLIDING CLUB

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

Jaca expedition
The weather has been poor by Jaca standards, flying every day for over 6 hours, wave flights at FL195 and yesterday a nice trip out of the valley towards the East of the Pyrenees, today another 5 hour flight in convergence. The locals insist the weather is rubbish!
Your team this weeekend is
Saturday: Guy Hartland, Matthew Cooke, David Brown and William Brewis
Sunday: Mike Witton, Alan Swan, Geoff Dailey, Glyn MacArthur
Forthcoming events
Midsummer recruitment event 30 June
Last year we ran an open day and combined it with a “longest day”. This year we are going for a more targeted event. The marketing team will be publishing the method and the purpose shortly but in the meantime can I please ask instructors, launch directors and winch drivers who would be willing to help me on that day to get in touch with me directly. Our aim is to be able to fly people all of the day so we will need instructing and winch cover. We won’t be doing a dawn or dusk flight so you don’t have to worry about having to get up too early!

Wood week July 7 -14
Prepare your glider for 5kt winds, 5 000 ft cloudbase or just a week of gentle westerlys. Steve Male is helping run the week so let the office know now that you want to take part.
Task week August 18 – 27
Please ensure this is also in your diary, we have better weather last year and I am confident this trend will continue into this year. The CFI will be announcing more details of the structure but I can guarantee that if you are early cross country then this is the week for you.

chairman@midlandgliding.club

Hi everyone,  this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future. And to let you have the highlights of last week’s committee meeting

Appleby ATC

The Club was delighted to welcome a contingent of eight cadets and four staff members from Appleby Grammar School ATC squadron over the last weekend. Two good days of sunshine with a nice westerly wind ensured that they all enjoyed soaring flights with an introduction to the basic effects of the controls. All were eager to help on the airfield with a bit of prompting at times from Rob, their CO; one member was overheard saying that he would make a great Launch Director!

The squadron have hardly any flying opportunities with the RAF and so, with cadets keen to learn to fly, they now been visiting the Club regularly over the last few years and are planning a summer camp this year and an autumn visit. The Committee is keen to encourage the visits.

Aim higher

A fantastic week was had by the attendees. The quote of the week was “50k to diamond in 5 days” which applied to Mark Williams Who had his sliver distance at the beginning of the week and had his diamond goal by the end. Steve Ward and Tim Brunskill achieved their diamond goals as well. We really are privileged to be able offer this course.  Kevin Atkinson is not only enthusiastic and knowledgable but is also an extremely good demonstrator. We are also really grateful for JF and KA helping out, introducing new pilots to cross country.

Membership renewals

Please can I remind and encourage those of you who have not yet renewed to do so.  It really is vital that we maintain or increase our membership and every late or forgotten renewal makes managing the club and maintaining our fabulous facilities more difficult.

Winch

The Skylaunch main winch is back on site with its new, more powerful engine and is now able to give us the powerful launches promised.

 Web cam overheating

The experts have now reached the conclusion that it probably isn’t worth any more attempts at salvaging the existing computer so we will attempt to move the software over to a more modern configuration.   Fingers crossed,  this is isn’t usually very easy in my experience.

Your team this weekend is:

Saturday:   Chris Alldis, David Brown and Charles Page

Sunday:  Roger Andrews, Charles Carter, Geoff Dailey and Mark Wakem.

Forthcoming events

Midsummer recruitment event 30 June

Last year we ran an open day and combined it with a “longest day”. This year we are going for a more targeted event. The marketing team will be publishing the method and the purpose shortly but in the meantime can I please ask instructors, launch directors and winch drivers who would be willing to help me on that day to get in touch with me directly. Our aim is to be able to fly people all of the day so we will need instructing and winch cover. We won’t be doing a dawn or dusk flight so you don’t have to worry about having to get up too early!

Wood week July 7 -14

Prepare your glider for 5kt winds,  5 000 ft cloudbase or just a week of gentle westerlys.  Steve Male is helping run the week so let the office know now that you want to take part.

Task week August 18 – 27

Please ensure this is also in your diary,  we have better weather last year and I am confident this trend will continue into this year.  The CFI will be announcing more details of the structure but I can guarantee that if you are early cross country then this is the week for you.

chairman@midlandgliding.club

Highlights of last weeks committee

The meeting welcomed James Moore, this was his first meeting as treasurer.  He has commissioned a financial review from our accountants with a view to us being able to reduce our outstanding debtors and confirm our calculations on reserves necessary for business continuity.

The fleet strategy continues to be a priority with the provision of a glass single seater, the move to a  2 seater fleet of the size and nature we require and how we provide access to a motor glider given the latest restrictions from the CAA.  These are the  3 items under consideration and of course, tie in with our minimum reserve referred to above.

One of the Vitaras is struggling to work on gas. The root cause has been identified and Julian is working on a solution. The Shogun clutch has the parts ready to fit.

For those who haven’t had time to check the weather have a look at Thursday and get the day off, the aim higher group are all marking up for 300k’s and Kevin Atkinson doesn’t overset to leave you in a field.

Pundits could stretch to 400+ probably 500 could be on.

Dave

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

Apologies

Sorry this is a short blog, I am writing it 4 days into a week of instructing, over 60 flights and over 10 hours of flying on a reasonable week.  I encourage all of our instructors to book themselves to help out on a course week, it is the most enjoyable refresher you can have.

Winch

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

 Tomorrow is scheduled for the set up of the gearbox and transmission then we will be operational

 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 have had to remove it while we attempt a repair.  A replacement is the last resort as it runs a particular software configuration.

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:  Mike Greenwood, Nigel Lassetter, Matthew Cook, Simon Adlard, Liz Adlard  

Sunday: Chris Alldis, Matthew Cook, Simon Adlard, Mike Dodwell

Forthcoming events

Fell Runners

Their annual race takes place this weekend,  we are co ordinating with them and it should not impact on our operation.  This weekend will be very busy, come along and see how the competition is organised and have a flight whilst they are busy soaring away on task.

Rock Polishers

We are hosting the above this weekend

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.

We still have spaces on the aim higher course,  please call the office if you would like to attend.

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!

Marketing

We have lots of leaflets at the club, if you see a visitor of any description please can you encourage them to take the “your gliding journey” one, or several if they are staying at a B and B.

chairman@midlandgliding.club