Club Class - Request for crew

I am flying the Club Class Nationals at Gransden Lodge from 21-29 July...

I did also have a crew, but they have pulled out.

If anyone fancies a week in Cambridgeshire, experiencing competition environment and seeing a nice area (and multiple fields) please let me know...there would be beer and food on offer for the willing candidate.

For those slightly newer to gliding, crews are required at gliding competitions to retrieve pilots from fields - it often means adventures across rural England with the trailer strapped on the back. Also, crews need to be available on the airfield for ground handling the glider and helping rig/get ready for the flight.

If anyone would be willing to help out, I would be very appreciative.

Please email charlie.jordan@bibbyoffshore.com

Maiden flight of A31

The Weekend

As predicted, the ridge was working well combined with some strong thermals in a very unstable airmass.

England had the best of it with numerous 750km flights flown, and a Junior friend completing his first 500km in a Cirrus.

I have a little video camera which I have been playing with (see the screenshot). Shall post some videos once I figure it all out...

Fran's Weekend Report

The Open Weekend was a great success - thanks to Alex for the inspiration, it will definitely be repeated. 18 people flew over the weekend, with one new member and a few coming back for more. Helen Mann was an inescapable first point of contact for the visitors on Saturday; Charlie invented the need for a collective noun for beat ups. Tuggies were brilliant, Graham Mann as Duty Pilot included in his duties making a sign for the road. Sunday was quieter, but Susie Mc went around the car park by the road and persuaded unsuspecting watchers. Ereyone seemed to muck in to make it a good time. Richard and Davie were on sheep removal duty....Davie fell over chasing them (his explanation for muddy knees) "They werent even pretty!"

Sooty said he couldnt make it as he would be 'sipping beers in a nice bar overlooking the fortress in Corfu' and Hazel is working away in Norway 'strolling by the sea in the evening'.

Saturday evening found 16 of us being fed in the clubhouse... Janet Mc provided a choice of starter [oat cakes and mackerel pate or soup] and wonderful puds [cheesecake and strawberry pavlova] and in between we had pasta with tomato/basil/chilli sauce with chicken and bacon provided by Gill. Amazing. The BBQ was inundated with hungry folk both days, thanks to Murdo, who declared himself open to 'favours' for sausages.

The prophesy I made last week of beers being drunk came true....(not hard!) and whisky/gin etc etc. The McGregor ladies redefining "Life and Soul of the Party". Susie thought she had a bad hair day on Sunday morning, but it was only melted bits of the duvet where she kept putting the hair straighteners down.

Kevin had a couple of training flights, and Graham helped Ron with his forthcoming Ass Cat rating. Graham also flew with Charlie M who is a power pilot taking up gliding.

The Juniors C of A is done, despite Roy W and Dave S "Dropping balls"?? probably due to smaking their heads together hard when going to peer into the tail. A resounding 'twock' was heard.

Mike has finished GCA with polishing help from John and Kevin. Welcome to new members Aaron and Sue.

Andy and Alex flew in from Easterton with their Chipmunk for its annual.

Using the Aboyne ridge

Flying the ridge this weekend

I know we are a few days away, but there is forecast to be quite a strong Northerly. The sky might also be leaking water.

However, if that wind direction/strength stays, the ridge to the South of the Dee Valley (running towards Ballater) could be working nicely.

It takes a bit of bravery but it can provide some fun flying - and a change from the norm. There are a couple of good fields at the base of the ridge should anyone get stuck.

I will be there on Saturday if anyone wants to ask about the fields at the base of the ridge... I have been in them a couple of times. No field is safe from me.

On that note - I would recommend that EVERY solo pilot does a landout at some point this year. It is really important to keep your skills up in this potentially high risk activity - you never know when you need to do it for anger.

I average 5 per year...... and none of them are planned.

Nice video

This chap films every flight he does, compiled into 6mins of some 'good bits'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nNUmAUJUso&feature=g-vrec&context=G206c9b1RVAAAAAAAAAQ

Weekend Photos

Alistair Stark took a few photos from the weekend, which can be found here:

www.flickr.com/photos/whiteliner1/7060502367/in/photostream/

Tuggy & Instructor

Word on the street has it that from 1st May there will be a resident instructor and tug pilot, enabling flying during the week.

Make use of your annual leave, school holidays or retirement to avoid the weekend rush!

Call 013398 85339 prior to arriving to check the weather.

Day 2 - Open Weekend

Despite the weather being a little better than Saturday, not as many people turned up - presumably too busy eating chocolate eggs. There was a couple of training flights and in the afternoon a few people came along to make use of the reduced trial lesson fee.

Overall, the weekend has been a success, with a considerable amount more flying than there otherwise would have been. At least one new member, 'utilisation' of the bar and just a bit of fun... lets keep fingers crossed for next weekend.

Standard

Day 1 - Open Weekend

The weather wasnt great, but we managed to fly 15 trial flights. It was a great turn out from the membership and a surprising number of people considering the weather. Great BBQ and the bar is now open..........

Interclub League 2012

Every year, DGC enters a team in the Scottish Interclub League. This year, the first round will be held at Feshiebridge (June) and the second round on home turf at Aboyne (August).

It is a fun competition with points allocated via the Regionals scoring system.

We need novice, intermediate and advanced pilots - if you would like to compete or request more info, please contact Roy Wilson: wilson@alt-na-dee.freeserve.co.uk

I will publish dates soon.

Fran's Weekend Report

Saturday saw the cold front leaving a tasty (?) airmass for spring thermals. Add in a brisk Northerly wind and you have a working ridge whilst waiting for thermals. Charlie and Graham Mann did exactly that, pulling off tow at 1000' and working towards Ballater where they got into the wave using a 4-5knot beauty just West of Glen Muick. After reaching 10,000' they had a 'nice run' to Newtonmore and back...a fine flight indeed.

Davie took HXH up for 1.5hrs before getting cold feet... literally, no reflection on his bravery... and George had two good solo soaring flights in the Puch. Roy flew the tug and then swapped for instructing in the Puch, taking a trial flight soaring...Roys first soaring flight this year. Glad to see you flying again...this is a more measured response than 'Yippee! A lot better than looking up at the sky from the clubhouse!!!'. His new, highly anticipated hotship will be making an appearance shortly. Beers in the clubhouse followed.

Sunday dawned with good wave, but gaps kept closing. Bob and Davie were going to get the Capstan out, but the wind looked a bit strong, so elected to fly the Puch instead and climbed well in the wave. Charlie and Ron flew trial lessons, whilst Alex took over instructing as Mike was full of cold...probably picked up in Englandshire whilst singing and having a great time. This week finds him not seeing the big wide world as much whilst working on GCA's C of A.

Thanks to Charlie, Alex, John Dransfield, Graham Mann and the loveley Helen, who worked hard clearing pathways, cleaning, painting, etc for our Open Weekend. All is now shipshape.

Alan has sent round an email regarding maintenance; give it some serious thought and just ask if in doubt.

In preparation for this weekend, a few will arrive Friday night for an anticipate early start for our Open Days; please come and help, support, enthuse and have fun. Beers in the clubhouse will follow...

There is a warm front Friday night clearing for Saturday, leaving light showers to follow and another just clearing by midday on Sunday. Light winds from a WNW direction on Saturday, and SSW on Sunday; local thermal extending to the SW on Saturday with a base around 3500', and on Sunday extending to the NE with a slightly better base. If the timing on the fronts changes, its anybodys guess!

Whatever the weather, dont forget its out Open Weekend - the craic will be excellent, so dont miss out.

Out & Return to Newtonmore - 31st March

Graham Mann and I flew 3D to Newtonmore (in the Spey valley) at the weekend. We released at 1,000ft onto the ridge, before finding a good 4-5knot thermal to cloudbase. After a bit of effort, we contacted wave West of Glen Muick - reaching a high point of 10,000ft over the Cairngorm mountain range.

2012 Easter Open Day

On the 7th & 8th of April, the Deeside Gliding Club is holding an open day with the aim of encouraging the public to try gliding and potentially join as members.

We are offering flights to 1500ft at a discounted rate of £45, with instructors and members on hand to answer any questions.

A BBQ will be running all day and aircraft on display.

It would be great to see as many members as possible at the airfield to offer support and enjoy the day.

Return of the Blog!

Yes folks, the blog is back.

Please save this under your favourites and check often for various snippets of information, banter, photographs or just general things I find funny.

If you have any content you wish to share, please email charlie_sierra75@hotmail.co.uk and we will ensure it is uploaded for the club to see.

Thanks,

Charlie

Landout...

I have just recieved this picture....

It would appear that whilst flying yesterday, John MacGregor didnt quite make it back to the airfield, and took the right decision by landing in a big field by the River to the East.

The glider was aerotowed out of the field, this time with Dave Pirie at the controls - less than a minute on tow!

Awesome Day

I was unfortunately looking at the wave from university, but Roy Wilson was again looking at it from the cockpit of his Ventus...for all 563km of it.

Which puts him top of the leader board in the national ladder. John Williams did two laps of a 500km (IN ONE DAY!!!) boosting him to 3rd overall.

Yesterday I was at 14000ft, and it was nice to see a lot of the visiting pilots enjoying the good wave also. It would seem that everyone so far has had good weeks.

New Solo...

After only 29 training flights, Lauren Stammers did it, with a greaser of a landing. Well done.

Update...

I am at uni now, and this is the first time I have found the world wide web in a while...

The weekend was pretty good as far as I could gather. Saturday had very strange conditions...after being stuck in the most horrendous turbulence I have ever experienced for an hour or so, I got fed up and landed. Upon looking at the 214, there was a massive shift in direction and speed of the wind, which was probably causing this. Many folk suffered the same, but those who got towed towards Ballater/Mount Keen got away without a bump! However, for those of us in the Logie Coldstone area, it was a different matter. Weathering it out, led to nice climbs and stunning views. The best I saw was just under 15knots on the averager! That was shortly followed by about the same in sink!

The visitors are now making their way to Aboyne, so hopefully they will enjoy nice wave...we are owed about a years worth

Mountain thermals

UK Mountain Soaring Champs

Well, its all over.

We enjoyed 5 comp days, and for a change it was all thermal!

Day 1:

We all launched and it soon became clear that the first turnpoint was being rained on badly. We headed down the valley, but when I saw everyone getting VERY low, tucked tail and ran for home. Only one person got around the TP, John Williams, who won the day - with a whole 30 points.

Day 2:

A much better looking day, but with showers still lingering. After a good start, I headed deep into the first sector at Glenfiddich Lodge. The run in was fairly good, and before long I had zoomed along a sea-breeze front into the second sector at Turriff. At this point I looked down track and saw a very uninspiring sky. Rather than head down track in hope, I decided to retrace my steps in soarable-ish air. This detour almost went into the Spey valley, but I came down at Tomintoul. Just enough to win the day.

Day 3:

After a great start, we all headed quite far into the first sector. However, I went racing off with a bit too much enthusiasm, and was soon looking for a climb near Huntly. Robert Tait came down there, and I met Stuart Naylor in R1 at the same height (1000ft approx!) but luckily found a climb to cloudbase. I headed back towards the Tarland bowl, but having flown through a rain shower I lost a lot of height and ended up in Strathdon. 2 mins after landing, Bens dad rocked up so I had lunch with them while waiting for John! Very civilised. Dave Latimer stormed the day, and gave hope to the little ships!

Day 4:

Not my finest performance. After a death glide across a big blue gap, I ended up extremely low near Strathdon. I luckily climbed away, and nicked the sector at Heughhead. I followed a nice cloudstreet down the Dee valley, but again had to cross a gap at Braemar. Unfortunately, the Cirrus just didnt have the legs. I should have been more patient, and waiting for the right time to move, but I ended up in a nice field...third in three days. Very disappointing, as I knew I could have done better. I had to spend a couple minutes in the cockpit just cooling down... Phil King became the next day winner, getting around the task with quite a few others.

Day 5:

Final racing day. The day started gloomy, but by mid day had bubbled up nicely to provide us with a launch. It was an AAT, but I just wanted to get round. Reaching Corgarf, I was low...and below ridge height. Working a little thermal got me to cloudbase and around the TP. I then headed to a cloudstreet along with R1, and we had a storming run down, at an average of 150kph! The street ended 8km from the TP, and after turning back into the 25knot wind I was losing out. Again, I was at ridge height...and with not much to spare, got back into ridge lift. Not wanting to maneuver close to the ground, I carried on down the street, slowly picking up height. R1 was a great help, and after 1 hour 40 I crossed the finish line. Under time, but home. And enough for a joint day win with John Williams.

Pic from Poc

The Capstan in a field near Pocklington, during the 2 seater competition

Todays SatPic

Lots of folk up in the wave today, in excess of 18000ft. Congrats to Jamie Thompson, a visitor from Camphill who decided to skip Silver and go straight for Gold height.

Last heard Roy half way round his 500 milkrun. Looking at the ladder, John Williams has yet again proved what Scotland has to offer - a 500km OUT AND RETURN at 109kph.

Cool webcam shot

It aint soarable, so I was having fun

Watch this space...

More to come, including....

Video of Alex in a donut eating competition.
Video of Alex snoring in the sun, while finishers from a task week are screaming overhead
Details of Alex eating dog food - prank joke by yours truly. Oh how we laughed.
And more things that Alex doesnt want publicised.

The other two...

End of Juniors...

Well, it was a fun two weeks, though more of a "how much money can you spend" comp. I though that last year was bad, but this was taking the michael.

On the final Friday, we did get another comp day - though no-one completed the task. Having taken a re-light, I set off on task. It was a matter of taking every climb as far as it would go and gliding out in hope! There were some long and lonely glides. I decided to do the entire flight myself, with people invariably following me - EXTREMELY irritating, but I still belived this was going to be a finishing task, and you dont get prizes for gaggle flying. As we got to the first turn point, the top cover came in and killed everything. It was survival mode, and I took a weak climb for 300ft. It was enough to get to within 2km of the second turn, but I just couldnt risk stretching it any further, and came down in a field of 7 gliders.

Annoyingly, Tom and Alex did go that 2km further, scoring them about 8 more points! Until of course, Tom got a 65 point penalty for starting too high...

Overall, it was a rubbish comp, but the usual juniors banter made it fun. Fingers crossed for the Mountain Soaring...

Juniors Day 1....

Mixed results... It started with rain and wind, and ended with sunshine and wind. The thermals were tricky, and there were a lot of land backs. I struggled around in the start sector, but after returning to the bad air to make a start, it was hopeless, and I couldnt get away. Alex had the same problem.

Tom however, who was very drunk last night and missed briefing...made it around 2 turnpoints! Good lad.

There were only a few finishers, with very few people actually making a start.

Pics of Nymphos

JUNIORS...practice week update

10 hour drive down wasnt too bad in the scorching heat, and we even had enough energy to rig the gliders and our tents that afternoon...

On Sunday we flew (Alex longer than any of us, which he is very proud about - we are letting him take this small victory, so he doesnt feel as rubbish when I thrash him in the REAL competition.)

Yesterday, Matt and Alex flew as I was a bit ill....

....and not long after they landed, that is when the storm hit. I have never seen such a black looking sky, and it was a race to put the gliders in the boxes, peg mine to the ground and run for cover. It didnt work, as we got soaked, our two expensive Argos Gazeebos went AWOL - wrapping themselves around some trees - and someones trailer swung into Matts. It just seems to be the luck of the Juniors, to attract the worst conditions in Britain!

Last few days....

SUNSHINE

The soaring has been tricky....yesterday was OK, with tricky, but strong thermals. Gill had her first flight in the Discus woop.

Today, the wave looked stonking all day, but it was high. Roy took at 4100ft aerotow, and is still up there. Last heard heading towards Fort William at 15000ft

Ben and I went flying...briefly... as we plummeted from Cambus O'May bridge, for a splash landing

Alex, Tom and I are heading off to the Juniors this weekend, so I will keep you updated on how much I am beating them. :-)

Playing silly buggers with the webcam

Some photos by Roy from the trip to Spain

Me hooning around in an LS8 in Spain...hot, weak and blue [warning - this video is boring]

If you have never flown an LS8, add it to the list of things to do before you die. Absolutely superb.

The Paparazzi capture one of our instructors

**Approx 3am, and out cold. Driving was difficult, as each time I turned a corner, 17stone of scotlands finest flopped to the other side of the car**

Santa Bob

Just a nice picture

Panorama Investigation - Alex's Failed C of A

Sunday Antics

How to ground out a Vectra.
Taking EASA and Alans requests seriously...electrical tape trigraph

Doing our bit for the bar, and then Banchorys bar(s)

The Last Couple of Weekends...

Ok well me and Jim have done our BI training course, Tom Crawford did his NavEx, and there were a few thermals kicking around.... when is the weather going to get decent?!

I successfully half destroyed the Discus trailer, but dont worry its pretty much fixed...

And we have succeeded in using the BBQ (rain and shine, night and day) for 6 weekends in a row.....cant be all bad. Can we get a DGC club Co-op card?

Sunday 8th

A day with a bit of everything - wave in the morning, thermals all day, and a convergence in the afternoon!

Murdo did his NavEx too, congrats.

At the Peak of Sporting Physique

Unidentified Aboyne/Drumshade pilot, known only as "Lord Lexington"

New Webcam

http://www.deesideglidingclub.co.uk/webCam.php


Works brilliantly for making you jealous at work...

One of my better photos...

Taken as John Williams crossed the line at speed....

copyright CHARLIE JORDAN 2008

Scottish Interclub League

Deeside took the gongs, after a cracking weekend with strange things called "thermals". I made a hash of it and landed out, but at least someone joined me so I didnt feel too bad!

Next interclub is at Feshiebridge. Even if you are not a competitive pilot...come along, or enter as a novice! It is a great way to improve your flying in general, with tasks set for your abilities.

Sorry!

Apolgies for the distinct lack of updating...though to be fair, there hasnt been a whole lot to write about.

Until Wednesday, when Roy pulled yet another one out the bag, and completed the first UK 500km flight of 2008, at 113kph.

The weather is finally (dare I say it) starting to show signs of improvement, so hopefully there will be much more to report on in the near future.

In the mean time, I'm writing this at Gatwick airport, on my way to Spain for a week of nice Spanish soaring :-) See you when I get back

Weekend Weather...

The outlook is fairly settled with a bit of cloud, and potential for some drizzly patches. But it should be mainly dry, Sunday looking the better day.

Monday could be interesting....high pressure moving in from the East and no fronts on the board...i hate employment.

Anyways, see you tomorrow...