NEWSLETTER
Number 107 JANUARY 2004
Chairman’s Contribution........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Altimeter For Sale....................................................................................................................................................................... 2
CFI’s Bits..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Faulkes DG505 Flying Policy.................................................................................................................................................... 3
Treasurer’s Notes....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Smoking....................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
From the Flying Field................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Winter Lectures.......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Ontur 2004................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Dave and Wal visit Den............................................................................................................................................................ 6
For Sale........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
2004 Annual Dinner and Trophy
Presentation...................................................................................................................... 8
Annual Dinner
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Please send Newsletter contributions to: John and Ann Parry Holly Cottage Wentnor Telephone..01588 650379 Email……..John.Parry@Virgin.net |
Club Details: The The Long Mynd Church Stretton Office Telephone......01588 650206 Office Fax.................01588 650532 Members Telephone..01588 650405 Email……………….office@longmynd.com |
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Club web
site: www.longmynd.com |
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Charles Carter
I would like to start by wishing everybody the compliments of the season and hoping the New Year brings you all that you can desire even if it is not what you deserve.
Looking back on the past year has seen a time of big improvements on both the flying side and the club infrastructure. Both FWQ and JGJ have been re-gelled and had cockpit refurbishment to join ELE, which was done the previous year, to leave us with a very smart trio of K21s. The re-instrumentation of the gliders is taking longer than we would have hoped but I think that all is now in place for rapid progress. The DG 505 has joined the fleet for flying FFF youngsters and is proving popular with all who fly it. The CFI has slightly relaxed the rules for flying the DG so check that you are not missing out.
Elsewhere you will read that EVV will soon return with a new skin and new instruments but has overrun the budget and so HKP will have to wait its turn until next year.
The new engine in the Knox winch was an unforeseen expense but one which has left us with probably one of the best winches in the country. Colin will probably say the best and I would not argue.
On the buildings side, the lavatories have been completely refurbished and in early January Dave Crowson will start on a complete revamp of the accommodation block which will leave us with five star bedrooms. I have told Dave that he may not start instructing next season until the work is complete. There has to be some lever with builders.
Tarmac has been laid on the area in front of the hangar and those of you who unpack and pack the hangar will know what an improvement this has been.
We have much more to do both with the fleet and particularly with our ageing buildings but I feel that the last couple of years has seen a great deal of progress on both fronts.
The Christmas dinner held in the clubhouse on 13th December was a great success. Jo and her team served up a wonderful meal and the new layout of tables seemed to work very well. I can recommend to those of you who do not go to make sure that next year you book early and get a flavour of the great “family” atmosphere of which most clubs can only dream.
I would like to thank everyone who helps to make the club work and on whom I call (some more often than others) to make my job easier and for giving their time so generously. I will be calling you in the near future.
Our junior pilots have been hitting the headlines recently and for once for all the right reasons. Sarah Platt, John Roberts and Ian MacArthur have been chosen as the recipients of the Ted Lysakowski trust to receive training from top UK pilots and John is going to Australia in February to have instruction from George Lee for 2 weeks and to Spain later in the year for training with the UK juniors. Well done to all involved.
Finally, a big thank you to the staff for their efforts on our behalf and a great soaring season to all of you in 2004.
Peter Cope
Standard 80mm altimeter, US manufacture, in good order, 3 pointer, sensitive (in fact so sensitive it has been known to blush at the language of the pilot).
A give-away at £120.
Neal Clements
There appears to be a little confusion as to the nature of the radio calls so I thought I would reproduce below the protocol agreed between the tug master and the Launch Director. I believe the change has been extremely successful so I ask you to familiarise yourself with below so you can help the Launch Director as required.
Launch point signalling to the tug should now be by radio. This will enhance safety and efficiency as well as reducing tug pilot workload.
Anyone signalling to the tug should initially give the paying (glider) pilot’s name to the tug pilot, addressing the tug as “Golf Golf Charlie”.
When the tug pilot has finished writing and if the glider is not ready to go the launch point signaller may advise the tug pilot “Golf Golf Charlie Move Forward” and then “Golf Golf Charlie Hold” when all but a couple of yards of slack is taken up. The wing tip holder will signal to the launch point signaller (who will be holding the radio) via conventional hand signals.
When the glider is ready to go “Golf Golf Charlie Take Up Slack” may be given. At any time up to this point a “Golf Golf Charlie Stop” may be given.
As soon as “Golf Golf Charlie All Out, All Out” has been given a “Stop” is no longer appropriate. You may however advise the pilot of any hazards.
Tug pilots do not need to read back any of these signals, you will see by their actions whether they’ve heard.
The advantages of this method are:
· Reduced pilot workload.
· Enhanced safety and awareness - the signaller and tug pilot can have two way communication if necessary.
· Greater efficiency - the tug spends less time taking up slack and being generally in the way.
If you have any doubts about what to do on the day then liase with the tug pilot.
Neal Clements
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Purpose |
Pilot qualifications |
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Solo |
Must be red card with a DG505 conversion signed off AND be Discus qualified (Bronze + 15 hours) |
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Dual Instructing |
Same as K21 AND instructor must have signed off spin in DG505. |
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Passenger Flying |
Not allowed. |
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Trial Lessons |
Same as dual instructing but discouraged because of cost. |
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Cross Country |
P1 Blue card + DG505 conversion. |
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Faulkes |
Same as dual instructing AND instructor must be CRB cleared. |
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Mutual |
As now, one pilot must be yellow card other must be red, both must have DG505 conversion signed off. The P1 will sit in the front seat. |
David Rance
At the time of writing, EVV the older of our two K23s, is
about to emerge from Iain Evan’s workshop at Shirenewton Sailplanes where it
has been re-gelled. By the time it gets
back, it should look like new. You will
recall that we have sent all three K21s to
We have also bought instruments for refitting the K21s with identical, modern instruments, including radios, GPS and varios, the intention being that which ever K21 you jump into, the instruments will all be the same.
You may also have heard that we have had to replace the engine in the Knox main winch after it seized. The new engine has cost £6,500 and whilst it is shiny new and even more powerful than the last one, combined with the cost over run on EVV, it has pretty much eaten up my budget for refurbishment this winter and as a result, the plan to refurbish our second K23, HKP, has been put on ice until next winter.
Good news comes from
Mike Whitton is about to start work on the refurbishment of some of sleeping accommodation bringing it up to the sort of specification that is expected of sleeping accommodation these days. Some of this work is funded by grants and should keep Dave Crowson employed until the beginning of the course season.
For the new subscription year, I will be putting in place a new Direct Debit scheme which will enable members to pay their subscriptions by twelve equal monthly payments. And for those of you who want to pay in one go in April (and you will continue to be the Treasurer’s favourite members!), I will actually be reducing your subscriptions.
We were reminded at the last committee meeting how far the club infrastructure has come in the last few years. We have found money, effort and enthusiasm for refurbishing the kitchen, the hall way, both the ladies and gents toilets, we are about to refurbish the sleeping accommodation, we have completely refurbished three K21s and now a K23 and bought new instruments for them, bought a new K8, a new K21 trailer, a new multi purpose trailer, built the Knox winch and now put a new engine in it, installed new computers, and laid tarmac on the apron. Your club is in good shape. Please enjoy it.
Charles Carter
Those of you who were at the AGM last year will remember that a vote was taken on the members’ wishes as to the desirability of smoking on club premises.
Following that straw poll which showed an overwhelming number in favour of a complete ban on smoking the committee voted in favour of a complete ban on smoking in all club buildings and subsequently put that ban in place.
Recently on the renewal of the club insurance we have assured the insurers that a total ban on smoking is now in place.
I would remind smokers that the smoking ban is now not merely what your fellow club members wish but is part of the insurance undertaking of your club and as such I expect the rules to be observed. I do not wish to resort to sanctions but will if they are required.
Richard Platt
The first of the 750 to solo pilots has soloed. Roger Skelhorn was sent off solo on Sunday 23rd Nov, gaining his B badge the same day. Dev Galal has completed his Bronze checks.
The day of the Mynd Christmas dinner proved to be an ideal day for our CFI to give lots of bungey checks in a K21.
We had a good crowd of visitors over the Christmas
period. Andy Holmes invited a large
contingent of Juniors and visiting clubs included
Keith Mansell
There will be a programme of winter lectures in February and March, following on from those organised by Bill Dean last year.
These will be held as before, on Saturday evenings in the
clubhouse, from
Details of the lectures will be available from the club office, on the website and on club noticeboards.
Paul Shuttleworth
The Long Mynd 2004 trip to Ontur is booked for
More info at - www.soaringclub.com
David d’Arcy and Walter Baumann
Well had quite a good
time up in
Check flight was in a K7m (this is a K7 with modified wing root position and canopy, basically looks like a K13) with a visiting instructor from East Sussex GC. Winch launch was to just over 1000 feet, although P1 said I could have got a little more if I pulled back a little more. The main aim of the flight was to point out the safe or should I say only landable field for west launch aerotow rope breaks and the two bowls adjoining the ‘Tusk’ on the nearest part of the hill. From 1000 feet I didn’t think I’d get a good appreciation of the check flight’s second aim, but certainly took the first point in. The fields close by were quite small indeed! Fortunately, I was able to work some lift at the back of the site and then joined under a K21, and eventually out climbed it, to complete part 2 of the check flight and get on the hill. In a north-north-easterly it wasn’t working too well as the main ridge line is orientated in a south-west direction, however, the ridge starts at Denbigh GC so there was a bit of a north face to it and this was just ‘S’ turnable. Thirty minutes later completed my circuit to land taking care with the curl-over from the surrounding trees and gully on approach at the east end. This is a worthy point, as a little later that day I witnessed the same K7m lose its wing tip in a collision with the ‘popular’ trees on the southern boundary, having drifted over due to the cross wind. Fortunately, there was no one hurt, just a missing wing tip outside of aileron and a heavy landing.
Even so, due to the buoyant nature of the check flight I
decided to rig and by
The showery Saturday weather made soaring a little difficult, but one Ringmer pilot made 2 hours of it. My task for the day was to get the glider back in its box dry! I had a nice chat with Mike Woolley who had popped up to visit his Ventus ‘C’ turbo and Cosford lot. Then the afternoon opened up a little and so I decided on a winch launch. Immediately I realised my mistake, there was a weather front only 30 or so minutes away at the coast. So a little bit of soaring then circuit, and rush to de-rig, aided by Lenny and Caza. The rain beat me by about 4 minutes. On retrieving Walter, he commented “where’s your glider?” Yes, it was that quick!
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After another beautiful TD, whom do I see walking over to help me? None but the aforementioned two. After pleasantries I ask “So why are you up here?” “Oh, we’ve come for the after comp piss-up party.” “Errr, what comp?” “You know! This comp.” “Oh.” “Lenny, there isn’t a comp, there never was going to be a comp regardless of the email and entry form saying so.” “Oohh. &^%!.” “Well, Caz wanted to go to Rhyl anyway.” After some hurried planning and subtle hints there was hotel floor space available, were informed later that they were safely on their way back to the Mynd.
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Sunday was altogether a better day, and the soaring
prospects looked good. By
We had entered the Clywd
Challenge, advertised as a four-day comp from Friday till Monday.
I had taken Thursday off
to trailer the glider up there and get a check flight and my bearings back
after a five-year absence. (I actually soloed at Denbigh in 1995 whilst flying under the
auspices of Manchester University GC).
On arrival found Cosford and East Sussex GC were also there for a week’s
gliding, and Cosford had brought their tug.
Denbigh GC now have a tarmac runway, sorry … “access road!” Usual mid-week activity on the Denbigh side.
Friday morning I met up with the “comp director” who told me that there had been somewhat reduced interest in the comp. In fact only Dave and I had entered! (He could have told us that in advance, I would have then not wasted a good day’s paid work to beat the check flight rush). Walter is now peeved! Dave just finds it funny. Weather fairly poor, but improving.
Eventually we get flying,
wind now NNW, very little hill action, but good climbs nonetheless, some 3 knot
averages (yes, Dave, 3 knots on my averager).
At the end of the day SeeYou tells me that I could claim 68 km using OLC
rules (multilateral using extremities of area flown over), whereas Dave’s trace
shows 62 km. Being the one with the
laptop, I am assuming the role of scorer and disqualify Dave for insufficient
logger evidence, as his trace only started at 3000 feet.
Saturday is a washout,
two attempts at flying totalling 45 minutes followed by getting flushed out of
the sky. Dave loses his GPS, and for the
rest of the afternoon we search for it until he eventually finds it in his
parachute bag. Plonker!
Sunday is bright and sunny, wind now WNW, more hill activity, still good Cu
prospects. We rig again and get 1½ hours
of good climbs some pretty views of
We get a bottle of wine
from the comp director, and our money back. Walter now feels guilty. Competition-wise, I called it a draw in the
end. Dave was mumbling something along
the lines of “I didn’t know it was a competition” so I will now have to
share the bottle!
In
summary, a good fun weekend. More westerly, or even SW, wind would have
been nice to get a good run on the ridge, but there is always next year…
Chris Ellis
World War Two type RAF sheepskin flying jacket. This is for sale by a friend of mine. I would have bought it but it is too big for me which will give an indication of the size. It is as new and cost £399. He is asking £150 at which it is a snip.
If interested contact me on 01691 622788.
Sarah Platt and Lynette Causer
This will take place at the Long Mynd Hotel in Church
Stretton on
There will be a disco, with music to cater for every taste (Nigel’s friend Terry, who did Denise’s party and Bonfire night at the club). But those who do not wish to be deafened will be pleased to know it will be in a separate room from the meal.
We also understand that Lembit Opik MP has been asked to give a short speech and to present the trophies.
The price (to include coffee and mints) is £23 and the menu choice is as follows:
Cream of Honey Roast Vegetable Soup
Fresh Fruit Platter
Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Marmalade
Beef, Mushroom and Ale Pie
Fillet of Salmon with a Lime and Chilli Sauce
Savoury Pancake filled with a Cauliflower Cheese Sauce
Profiterole filled with Vanilla Ice Cream
Fruits of the
A Selection of Carte D’or Ice Creams and Sorbets
To book, please call Martin in the office on 01588 650206 with your menu choices and credit/debit card details, or send the form enclosed with this newsletter to the office. Book early to avoid disappointment as places are limited to 85 people.
There will be a bus or taxi arrangements - details to be released soon. If you wish to make use of this, please let Martin know.
Accommodation can be arranged with the hotel 01694 722244, or they can give details of other local accommodation.
If you have any questions, please let us know. Thanks.
Lynette and Sarah.