31 May 2012

UK Junior Gliding TV

As per the last video I posted, us Junior pilots have continued to film our flying and Matt Davis has put together another good video.

We hope to gather footage from clubs and competitions, so if you have anything you would like to see included, please get in touch.

Through UK Junior Gliding TV, the aim is to showcase gliding at its very best.

30 May 2012

An easier way to ascend Ben Nevis

Alex and Bob flew to Ben Nevis on Saturday in blue thermals.

I like climbing mountains, but this just beats it hands down.

Gliding with an Eagle in Scotland

Alex Maitland and Bob Bromwich captured this photo from the DG505 on Saturday - a true master of soaring...

The bird, not Alex.

28 May 2012

Sunday - are we in Australia or Aboyne?

Another scorcher, and again the blipmaps were not confident of a good day. However, by 11am there were small cumulus forming over the hills and by midday it was really looking quite good.

I launched at half 12 and rapidly made my way north towards Dufftown where the conditions just got better and better. I wanted to reach Easterton but the conditions deteriorated near the coast so I elected to run over to Granton-on-Spey instead, among other places on a truly vast tour of the North East/Cairngorms/Grampians.

As the photo shows.....46.8km to run to Aboyne, climbing through 6000ft at 8.5knots average.

It doesnt get much better for thermals at Aboyne

Saturday - Costa del Scotland

The past week has simply been stunning, with clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid-high 20's.

There was mild panic on Friday - RASP was broken. What did glider pilots do before this invention?

In any case, it wasnt inspiring and that general consensus was a 'hot, blue, stable' day. Releasing in Glen Tanner with a 8knot average thermal showed otherwise, and it turned out to be a very nice day in the mountains.

Heights of 6700ft were reach in thermals averaging anywhere between 4-7knots. I found the lift quite localised under a line of energy and some constant cumulus over the mountains. I didnt fancy exploring much further than that with the blue conditions / returning headwind.

20 May 2012

Sunday

What an epic day - whilst not a great day for going distances, the thermals were strong and the sunshine was warm.

I had a camera strapped to my glider and made this very amateur video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQmzTo-yUKQ

17 May 2012

Bicester Air Leage Day


Some of us Juniors collated some good footage at Bicester (near Oxford) last weekend, and edited together by Matt Davis.

This is the result of a fun weekend.

On-site Instructor and Tug Pilot

Gerry and Pawel are now fully operational at the airfield offering mid week flying.

No excuses to not make use of the mid-week wave!

Epic Flight

A big congratulations my friend Will Ellis who has flown an OLC flight of 690km in his K6 during a trip to France.

This is a very old, basic, low performance glider which makes the achievement all the more impressive.

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?dsId=2364254

10 May 2012

WW2 plane found preserved in the desert

Interesting find in the desert, almost 70 years after it was shot down

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ac2_1336671370

09 May 2012

Visiting Richard

For those who wish to visit Richard, his is in Ward 45 at ARI.

Visiting times 14.30-17.00 and 18.30-20.00.

He is have an operation today (Wednesday) so no visits today please.

He passes his thanks to all who assisted.

01 May 2012

S75


It has finally completed its 3000hr inspection and will be back at Aboyne this weekend....I have spent too much time instructing in the Puch whilst its been away, so I'm very much looking forward to flying this again....

...which leads me nicely onto the Club Class Championships! I am still looking for a crew - if anyone can help I would be very grateful. I know crewing can be a big ask, but it should be a fun week, with the opportunity of getting involved with the faster/competitive side of the sport.

UK Mountain Soaring Championships 2012


This competition will run from 2nd - 8th September 2012.

This is a unique competition, non-rated but governed by the Regionals rules and scoring. The tasks are set to allow all levels of pilots and gliders to compete over the stunning Scottish scenery in some truly awesome wave and thermal conditions.

I have competed a number of times and I recommend that any pilot with a Silver badge and desire to explore life beyond the Tarland bowl enters the comp. It is a great way to learn, in the company of some of the UK's top pilots. Use 2012 as a year to push yourself to achieve new things in gliding, and make this a defining target.

Apart from anything, its just a good laugh.