Well, it's January and the snow has finally melted, so Lukas Brandt decided that a little bit of thermalling was required to make up for some of the lost days. Okay, it was only a bit of thermalling, and one or two others did so too, on Sunday 24th, but we do like to take every opportunity to soar. Even in winter.
Danny Lamb is giving this year's Winter lectures, and it's two down and three to go so far (although more may be added, perhaps).
Dave Watt's score your skills test has had several takers so far, and all seem to have enjoyed it. I haven't had a chance to find out if everyone would let us place there scores on the web, but it might happen.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Monday, 11 January 2010
Gliding in January
Here are the images, as promised in the Happy New year post.
The first problem might have been getting in through the gate. (Although first Derren, then Alan Smith, needed rescuing to get OUT again. ;) )
Once in, the depth of the snow can clearly be seen by the ruts to the left of our young model.
And finally the brave heroes man-handled the T21 out to the launch point - all the posh sleek gliders were impossible to move as snow would fill up their wheel boxes.
Some people prefer gliding in warmer sunnier conditions - Pete Stratton and Terry Mitchell in the Alps, for example. Great video. Nice editing and music added by TM. And did you know young Philippa was once in a Pink Floyd tribute band and the last track in the video was her party piece?
The first problem might have been getting in through the gate. (Although first Derren, then Alan Smith, needed rescuing to get OUT again. ;) )
Once in, the depth of the snow can clearly be seen by the ruts to the left of our young model.
And finally the brave heroes man-handled the T21 out to the launch point - all the posh sleek gliders were impossible to move as snow would fill up their wheel boxes.
Some people prefer gliding in warmer sunnier conditions - Pete Stratton and Terry Mitchell in the Alps, for example. Great video. Nice editing and music added by TM. And did you know young Philippa was once in a Pink Floyd tribute band and the last track in the video was her party piece?
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Happy New Year
We had our usual Xmas party, and then the New Year Party at the club, and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thanks to Tony for keeping the bar open on New Year's Eve instead of going out partying himself. Everyone present appreciated his efforts. I know from experience that serving a load of party-goers single handed is hard work.
Boxing Day was celebrated in the traditional Bicester way, with a couple of flights in the motor glider.
On New Years Day, as usual we dragged out the gliders again, and had 15 flights to start the year we intend to go on - flying whenever it is possible. And just for luck, did another 25 flights on the 2nd.
And although the airfield is now currently a whiter shade of pale, some brave souls have proved that if you want to fly, we can get you up in the air. They decided that one of the T21s needed an airing and took it out today, 9th Jan, for a float around, admiring the view. Very pretty it was too. Apparently it was much easier to admire the snow covered landscape when flying over it than when stuck in a traffic jam in it.
Unfortunately I couldn't make it out of the valley I live in, and the local police down here in Kent are impounding any cars abandoned near the top of the hill, so if I had managed to get out, and got stuck on the way back (it's snowing again as I write this), the car would probably not be there any more. Obviously they think abandoning a car on flat ground is a more reckless action than taking it down a 1 in 8 slope covered in ice and snow...
Boxing Day was celebrated in the traditional Bicester way, with a couple of flights in the motor glider.
On New Years Day, as usual we dragged out the gliders again, and had 15 flights to start the year we intend to go on - flying whenever it is possible. And just for luck, did another 25 flights on the 2nd.
And although the airfield is now currently a whiter shade of pale, some brave souls have proved that if you want to fly, we can get you up in the air. They decided that one of the T21s needed an airing and took it out today, 9th Jan, for a float around, admiring the view. Very pretty it was too. Apparently it was much easier to admire the snow covered landscape when flying over it than when stuck in a traffic jam in it.
Unfortunately I couldn't make it out of the valley I live in, and the local police down here in Kent are impounding any cars abandoned near the top of the hill, so if I had managed to get out, and got stuck on the way back (it's snowing again as I write this), the car would probably not be there any more. Obviously they think abandoning a car on flat ground is a more reckless action than taking it down a 1 in 8 slope covered in ice and snow...
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Bicester Regionals 2010
The most popular Regionals in the UK (if the number of entrants is anything to go by!) is scheduled for 24th July to 1st August 2010. The entry form is now available online at Bicester Regionals 2010.
Now, you know you want to go there. So to be sure of a place, click the above link and make your entry. Do it, now!
Now, you know you want to go there. So to be sure of a place, click the above link and make your entry. Do it, now!
Monday, 9 November 2009
Lots of Solos, Lots of Uni Students
This year we seem to be getting a large number of students solo, many of them on our weekly courses. So far, the total is 21 solos and there is still several weeks of good flying left this year!
And now we have a large influx of new students from Oxford University and Cransfield University, around 45 new ab initios, so with a bit of luck we will have a similar number of new solo pilots in the next 6 - 8 months, weather permitting.
And now we have a large influx of new students from Oxford University and Cransfield University, around 45 new ab initios, so with a bit of luck we will have a similar number of new solo pilots in the next 6 - 8 months, weather permitting.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Still going cross-country in September and October!
Late September and early October are not the normal time of the year to be out on cross-country flights.
But...
A couple of weeks ago we had Andy Smith doing 340km+, on the 10th September, for what we thought would be the last long flight of the year. Wrong!
Ken Hartley and Bob King went out and return to the Long Mynd on 20th September while Andrew Reid went to Ely and back on the 26th. More recently Matt Turnbull went to Broadway and back on 3rd October, then his syndicate partner did a shorter o/r immediately after Matt landed, while Gary McKirdy made a flying visit to his Mum for a cup of tea (she lives near Pocklington) then flew back again a few days later (8th Oct.). That same day we had another couple of 200km flights by Dave Watt and Bob King. And on 10th October Ken Hartley did 180km.
And these are only the flights I've been told about - I'm assured that there were others.
Who says global warming brings no benefits.
Meanwhile, Derek Staff is notching up gold and diamond heights every other day at Aboyne.
But that's not all the good news!
George Tvalashvili and Pete Cadle finished their Basic Instructor course yesterday under the tutelage of OJ and await their acceptance flights from the CFI.
But...
A couple of weeks ago we had Andy Smith doing 340km+, on the 10th September, for what we thought would be the last long flight of the year. Wrong!
Ken Hartley and Bob King went out and return to the Long Mynd on 20th September while Andrew Reid went to Ely and back on the 26th. More recently Matt Turnbull went to Broadway and back on 3rd October, then his syndicate partner did a shorter o/r immediately after Matt landed, while Gary McKirdy made a flying visit to his Mum for a cup of tea (she lives near Pocklington) then flew back again a few days later (8th Oct.). That same day we had another couple of 200km flights by Dave Watt and Bob King. And on 10th October Ken Hartley did 180km.
And these are only the flights I've been told about - I'm assured that there were others.
Who says global warming brings no benefits.
Meanwhile, Derek Staff is notching up gold and diamond heights every other day at Aboyne.
But that's not all the good news!
George Tvalashvili and Pete Cadle finished their Basic Instructor course yesterday under the tutelage of OJ and await their acceptance flights from the CFI.
Monday, 28 September 2009
What a great week!
This last week Monday 21 to Friday 25 September gave us five days of perfect weather for our eleventh Going for Solo course. We had three pupils all of varying levels of experience and our staff instructors worked their socks off every day. There was a great atmosphere here all week and it was one of the busiest weeks ever with 198 launches over the five days. Two of our Going for Solo pupils achieved their first solos on Friday with the third making very good progress.
We also had two other new members flying with us – the dynamic Parr brothers! Dave Parr was a pupil on the Going for Solo course which ran from 7 to 11 September and he achieved his first solo on 11 September. Dave carried on flying whenever we could fit him in and on 18 September he flew a K13 for 51 minutes, easily qualifying for his first Bronze leg. His second qualifying Bronze flight came on 25 September when he flew the K8 for 47 minutes.
His brother Simon was inspired to learn to glide and joined us on 16 September as a Learn to Glide member and started flying that very day. He went solo on 24 September and then, just to show brother Dave that he could also fly, he was checked for his second solo on 25 September and stayed airborne for an astonishing 45 minutes to qualify for his first Bronze leg!
Our Going for Solo courses have seen a number of first solos this summer and together with our booked intensive days our newer (and a few of our more established) members are making rapid progress. We are extending the commercial side of our operation throughout the winter and we will be offering bookable day intensives on Wednesdays and Fridays at £30 per day booking fee – this guarantees two pupils to one instructor.
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