MIDLAND GLIDING CLUB

Hello again
Doesn’t a week go by quickly.  And doesn’t the weather change so quickly too.  So the beginning of the week I was looking at torrential rain and thunderstorms.  Today a lovely hot blue day but with a strong easterly wind.  Tomorrow looks like 25kt easterly so even though it looks like a nice day, unlikely to be flyable from the Mynd.  Saturday the wind goes to the south and Sunday we get a stiff westerly with the chance of some wave.

Your duty teams this weekend are:
Saturday: Mike Witton (no 1), Alan Swan (No 2), Nigel Lassitter (TLs), Peter Orchard (winch), Laurent Couval (LD)
Sunday: Simon Adlard (no 1), Denise Hughes (TLs), Peter Orchard (winch), Liz Adlard (LD)

Instructor Shortage
We are short of another instructor to assist club flying next week.  This is becoming a regular problem with not enough instructors on the rota and people pulling out at the last minute without much notice.  If anyone can help out next week even for a few days please get in touch with the office or the CFI.  We may also have a potential problem for Course 7 starting 8th July.  If there is an instructor able to offer at least the first two days that would be a great help.

Shrewsbury School
The pupils from Shrewsbury School are with us all of next week with Dave Crowson and Paul Fowler instructing.  They will be using the main bunk room all week.

Wood Week Vintage Rally
Starts 13th July until 20th July.  It is always good to see the sky above the club filled with brightly coloured vintage gliders so if you have one why not join in.

Feedback
It is always nice when people let us know that we are doing something right so I was really pleased to see the following comment in response to my blog last week:
‘I attended a premium trial flight on June 20th. Apart from the flight, my wife and I, enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and welcome shown to us.  In particular, I would like to thank my instructor, Charles, for a very enjoyable and informative first flight.  Fantastic day.’
Regards
R***** L***

Restricted Airspace Alerts
I know that Silverstone is a popular O/R waypoint from the Mynd so all you cross country pilots please note:
Restriction of Flying Regulations for Silverstone and Turweston for British Grand Prix between 12 and 14 July 2019.
Details by NOTAM and in AIC M084/2019 at http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/
Restrictions also apply to the operation of all drones.
SW2019/127

Enjoy the good weather while it lasts
Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman

Hello everyone
I’m back from Spain after a very good expedition to Santa Cilia de Jaca in the Pyrenees.  It was, as always, different from previous years, quite cold a lot of the time but some really good flying.  These expeditions are a really good way to kick start your season.  I did around 50 hours during the three weeks, probably more than many people do in an entire season.  I highly recommend it as a way to get going at the beginning of the year.  As soon as I returned I went to the Lake District to visit a friend and while there went to the Windermere Jetty, a new venture that replaced the long standing and privately owned Windermere Steamboat Museum.  This new enterprise is run by a Trust and has some pretty special buildings designed by a young practice of Starchitects, clad in copper.  But one of the objects on display caught my eye because its not a boat at all but a glider, built  by Slingsby in 1943.  The water glider was an experiment by the War Office to develop a small aircraft that could take off and land on water in enemy areas.  TC Pattinson, George Pattinson’s father, adapted a standard Slingsby Falcon 1 glider.  It’s good to see gliders cropping up in non-aviation museum displays.

Taxiing on the airfield
A reminder that it is club policy never to taxi your glider whilst landing but rather to land in a straight line.  This avoids the potential for running into things if the wheel brake fails or doesn’t work or confusing others landing behind.
Important Notice
Please note.  Dawn and Guy Hartland will be cleaning and restoring the wooden floor in the main dining area this weekend.  As a result the clubhouse will be closed from 1600 hours on Sunday June 16th until the next day and there will be no catering that evening.  Sorry for the inconvenience but it is a necessity and the floor will look great when finished.
Your Duty Teams this weekend are:
Saturday: Walter Baumann (No 2),  Mike Witton (TLs), Geoff Dailey (winch), Jon Hall (LD)
Sunday: Walter Baumann (No 2), Geoff Dailey (winch), Glyn MacArthur (LD)

I know the weather has been unkind but it can’t last for ever.  Make sure you are there when it turns.
Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman

Hi everyone.  Sunny Spain is not so sunny this morning but the forecast is for it to clear up and get wavy in the mountains.  Yesterday was an interesting day, very turbulent below cloud with difficult thermals but we eventually contacted wave at Sabinanego in KA and climbed to 15000′ before heading home. Today is our last day so we are hoping for a good end to the expedition.

Your Duty Teams this weekend are:
Saturday: Chris Alldis (No 1), Nigel Lassetter (No 2), Denise Hughes (TLs), Stephen Alexander (winch), Dave Cole (LD)
Sunday: William Brewis (No 1), Nigel Lassetter (No 2), Charles CArter (TLs), Stephen Alexander (winch), Laurent Couval (LD)

Rockpolishers
Don’t forget that we are hosting the Rockpolishers Inter Club League comp this weekend.  Any help on the ground is most welcome.

This warning sticker on one of the little buggies made us smile

Should be back to normal by next week.
Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman