Hi everyone
I have become so used to moaning about the weather and the lack of good soaring conditions that now the weather has improved and become more like an English summer I’m finding it hard to think of anything to write about. But the course this week is full and indeed slightly oversubscribed and they have enjoyrd a great week with flying every day. My grateful thanks to Mark Jerman for stepping in at the very last minute to provide extra instruction. Last Sunday was a very good day. From where I was standing (note standing not flying) it looked like one of the best days of the year. But more of that later. This weekend looks eminently soarable with Saturday bringing light northerly winds, should be good for medium cross countries up to 200k. Sunday looks better with the wind going round to the south and potential for a further 100k over Saturday. High pressure still very much in charge ofter an occluded front overnight Friday.
Your duty teams this weekend are:
Saturday: Roger Andrews (No 1), Mike Witton (No 2), Simon Adlard (winch), Liz Adlard (LD). There are no Trial LEssons.
Sunday: Neal Clements (No 1), Charles Carter (TLs), Simon Adlard (winch), Dave Cole (LD).
Large Model Show, Cosford
The reason I wasn’t flying on Sunday last is because I decided to go to the Large Model Show at RAF Cosford. Even though I missed a great flying day I really enjoyed the show and was glad I went. Steve Male and Chris Harris were both there on the flight line and there were some remarkable model aircraft being flown, some of them almost half scale. The display by two Red Arrows was impressive even for the real thing and a fleet of eighteen World War Two aircraft all flying at the same time took some beating. I can highly recomend it especially as if you book early online the £8 it costs includes access to the museums. I was particularly impressed with this high performance single seat glider and an equally high performnce trailer to keep it in!
Airspace Officer
You will be aware of the increasing potential for poaching of Class G airspace by large and sometimes smaller commercial airports to make their customers’, the commercial and business airlines, lives easier and cheaper. There is a constant campaign by the BGA to guard against any new applications reducing the space that we enjoy for our sport and we at MGC are lucky in having very little controlled space locally or indeed in most of Wales. However we have to be on our guard at all times and I’m pleased to anounce, and enormusly grateful to Andrew Rands for willingly volunteering to take on the new role of Airspace Officer for the club. If you feel you can be of help please contact Andrew directly.
Gap Tallard
Some of our pilots are currently flying from Gap Tallard in the French Alps. The Arcus 291 is there with Nigel Lassiter, Rob and Fay Hanks and Bob Sharman and Clive Crocker with his new Arcus 18. Judging by the Facebook posts they are having a pretty good time.
Make sure you get in as much flying as you can while the weather lasts.
Happy landings
Jon Hall
Chairman