Hi everyone, this is the regular Thursday posting to let you know what is coming up in the near future. There might not be an issue next week, I am working on it.
New Members
Welcome to Ben Harris and Andrew Rands who have joined us, please ensure you make yourself known to them and help them move forward and take advantage of everything our wonderful sport has to offer.
This week
New packages
We have developed a range of products which members may be interested in. These are package-type products, which mean that you would be able to pay a fixed amount, which then entitles you to all the training you need to reach a certain level of training plus you also get discounted launches/flights, a dedicated instructor allocated to you to help you, and anything else you may need so that you achieve your goals.
So far we have developed packages for:
- Solo to Bronze – everything you need to become a fully licenced glider pilot,
- Learn to Fly – everything you need to enable you to go solo,
- Convert to Gliding – everything that a power pilot/hang-glider pilot/etc would need to achieve solo in a glider.
These are all priced very favourably too, so if you are interested then do contact the office or Sarah at marketing@midlandgliding.club to find out more. We will be publishing more information over the next few weeks, so watch this space.”
Another web cam
Thanks to Geoff Minshull for organizing below:-
We’ve added another web cam and weather station to http://www.midlandgliding.club/weather-information/. This is a Long Mynd Soaring Club station, located at Sarn, and might be of interest for showing the sky a few miles from the Mynd. It points WSW.
Wind strengths etc. will be pretty accurate in in WNW – NE, and S – SW. It massively under-reads in an East or SE direction.
Aim higher
You will have seen the post from Mark earlier in the week. We have been so privileged to be able to run 2 of these courses this year and we would like to thank Kevin Atkinson who is absolutely tireless and enthusiastic about cross country gliding. For those of you who attended and for those of you who would have liked to then book task week (see below) in your diary now. We are going to make it even more “early cross country” friendly than before.
Access road
Road Re-surfacing Works Friday 9th– Sunday 11th June 2017
Repair works to the access road are due to start on Friday (9th June). This first phase is a trial of the repair methods and will involve resurfacing the particularly badly potholed section of road around the two bends to the East of the hangar. A mechanical excavator, dumper and vibrating roller will be on site on Friday and throughout the coming weekend.
Access to the club will be maintained but will involve a diversion around the work area. It may be necessary for members to drive on the grass for a short distance. Please drive slowly and carefully to avoid damage to the grass, especially if it is wet.
Every effort will be made to avoid disruption to flying or to other club operations.
IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY. Unless you are directly involved with the work, PLEASE keep away from the machinery and materials and remain outside the work area at all time.
It is important that you treat the newly laid surface with care, particularly in the first few weeks. Please drive carefully and slowly.
Your patience and co-operation would be appreciated.
Your team this weekend is:
Neal Clements, Nigel Lassetter, Denise Hughes, Geoff Dailey, Dave d’Arcy, Chris Alldiss, Mark Sanders, Tony Dietrich.
Field Operation
Our current log sheet holder is not fit for purpose, the Mynd can be quite hostile to uncovered paper (its even worse with electronic devices). If anyone knows of a stormproof system (not involving a vehicle) then could you drop me an email below please. We are legally obliged to log our flights and in some conditions this is extremely difficult with our existing clipboard.
Forthcoming events:
Sat 24th June – Recruitment drive and the longest day
We must get new members for the club to thrive, and this day is a vital part of that strategy. Neal Clements will be number 1 for the day, we will have a briefing the night before at about 18:30 if you are around and also at 08:30 in the morning. Please can I ask you to volunteer, Mac has done a fabulous job in getting volunteers but we need more, especially at the welcome point. You only have to do an hour, no more, please email or call the office and we will add you to the rota. Also, if you know of anyone who may wish to come along, do encourage them to come & preferably to book their flight slot in advance with the office.
Here’s how we’re approaching it: “If you’ve always wanted to learn to fly, please join us for a Gliding Taster Day on the Longest Day of the Year. We will be flying from 5am until sunset around 10pm! Bookable flight slots £25 Experience flying over beautiful Shropshire & Wales at dawn or dusk. Discover what gliding is all about:-
Gliding talks & presentations
Guided tours of the airfield, clubhouse and facilities
Meet all the members, staff & volunteers (we’re very friendly & don’t bite!)
Find out if gliding is for you
Special deals & offers available on the day for those wishing to become members
REGISTRATION & PRE-BOOKING ADVISABLE, although you can also turn up on the day & we will aim to fly everyone!
To book a flight slot for you and your family or friends, please contact Martin on 01588650206 or
office@midlandgliding.club
In addition we want to increase the activity and the interest for members. Years ago we used to run a “dawn to dusk” day and we are going to combine the two. It is fantastic fun, we run in shifts and do “shedloads” of launches (or words to that effect). Flying starts at 5am and continues until 10pm. Please drop Neal an email at chairman@midlandgliding.club if you would like to help out for a shift, everyone is welcome and I guarantee you will have a great day.
8th – 15th July – MGC Wood Week
Roger is leading this year’s Wood Week, which is an opportunity for all gliders particularly those of the wooden variety to get together, admire their beautiful aircraft, and to take part in various “Enterprise” type tasks, either cross-country, height gain, or other fun things like spot landing competitions. It’s always a colourful event, so would encourage you to come along. Equally, if you know of anyone from other clubs who may like to join us, then please let me know & I can email you the poster or further details which you can pass on marketing@midlandgliding.club.
21st July – Glide Britain
There is a possibility that we may host filming team for Glide Britain, who are creating a suite of UK-wide marketing materials & resources, which we hope to tap into to broaden our scope & reach for marketing & promotion. A small part of this includes creation of a short film showcasing different elements of gliding found at various clubs throughout the UK. Please do say hi & make them feel welcome. We may also need a couple of volunteers / characters(!) to speak with them on the day – more details to follow.
Juniors camp
The Club will be running a summer camp for junior members from 7th to 11th August, and all junior members are invited to join for just one day or all week. Please call the office to book a place.
19th-27th August – MGC Task Week (party on 27th)
If you’re planning on coming, please book in so that we can start to know numbers. And if you know of people who may wish to join us, please do ask for the info/links (being set up at the moment) so that you can share it with them. This year we are going for a different format with tasks being set inside themselves (wait for it). For example a 200 k task may contain a 150 , a 100 and a 50k task. This way any aspiring badges eg Silver can be accommodated in the same conditions as the bigger tasks. More details to follow but book the week now, the fields are terrific, the organisation is even better and you will make significant progress with guaranteed retrieves and a lot of fun.
23rd Sept – Farmers’ Thank You Supper
See above for info. A great opportunity to thank your farmer, showcase the club & build our reputation as generally friendly folk, all at the same time!
Junior Nationals
Junior Nationals and Two-Seater Training. Entries are now open for the 2017 Nationals and Two-Seater Training. These will be held at Nympsfield from 19-27 August. Anyone can apply as long as their 26th birthday falls after 2017. As usual, two-seater competition training will run alongside the competition. You can enter the competition even if you do not have your Silver badge yet, but you cannot be given a place until you have completed it. If you are not sure whether you will get your silver before the competition, you can apply for both the competition and the two-seater training. The two-seater training course is intended to prepare young pilots to fly a rated competition solo in a subsequent year. Places are limited. Although any worthy applicant will be considered, the majority of successful applicants have Bronze & XC Endorsement completed and some solo soaring time. Applications for both the competition and the training should be made by 22nd May at https://legacy.gliding.co.uk/juniorsentry. Applications from previously unsuccessful applicants are welcome. Questions about the competition and the entry process should be addressed to ukjuniorgliding@gmail.com and two-seater training queries should be addressed to Ed Foxon (edfoxon@hotmail.com) or Andy Holmes (andyh418@yahoo.co.uk).
Wally Kahn fund
You should have received an email regarding this. In summary the fund is offering a cross country training course at Lasham with the aim of you completing your Silver. This is an outstanding offer and will be heavily subscribed. Suitable candidates will be people who have already demonstrated an involvement and keenness in their own gliding clubs and will need to explain to the
Trustees how a Silver “C” qualification would help them in their own personal development as well as helping them with their careers in gliding.
Applications should initially be by letter or by e-mail to manager@lasham.org.uk