Gliding Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Shalbourne Gliding

12th July 2015

Windy and Chilli (11 July 2015)

A very changeable day: there was a strong west wind of the sort that gives a tailwind no matter which end of the field you set up on and strangely one that didn’t increase with height much. It made for very broken thermals and getting away was a challenge. Certainly having got away you wanted to stay high.

I went for a cruise in the Nimbo GT and spied with my little eye something beginning with ‘nice farmer man or woman driving a big shiny combine harvester machine and making lovely impromptu airfields out of England’s green and pleasant land… ’ near Devizes.

After the flying fun we retired to the club house for the Chilli evening where I think I managed not to poison anyone and Tony P also brought along gorgeous salad from his allotment and Chocolate Brownies which went perfectly with Trevor’s fresh picked raspberries.

I cooked up a hot version this morning with the extras I’d bought.

29th May 201529th May 2015

25th May-Open Day

With 55 flights flown during the day our instructors and gliders were kept quite busy. First flight was at 8:48am and the last took off at 17:58 landing some 12 mins later.

By the end of the day we had flown 28 trial lessons, 2 members guests and we also had a visit from Clive Harder (ex member and BI at Shalbourne) who a had a flight with Pete Smith, about time you re-joined Clive!

Rod Harris volunteered to drive the winch all day and apart from a short break for a cup of tea was firmly rooted in the cab, thanks Rod 🙂

20150525_112941 — Rods eye view of a launch, can you guess the time!

Apart from the numerous happy visitors there were some notable flights by club members, Bill Orson had 35 mins in the K8 only to be trumped by John Douglass who, during his first flight in a K8, had 46 mins ………well done John but you really should have done the hour!

However Trevor took top honours with 46 mins in EGF followed later on with 50 mins again in EGF, no surprises there!

Many thanks to all who flew the visitors and thanks also to everyone who helped out on the ground as I’m sure that everyone enjoyed themselves.

Roll on next year!

6th April 20156th April 2015

Sunday 5th April- Easter Day

Sunday turned out to very busy day what with pre-solo training, check flights and annual checks.

Although flight times were noticeably lower than yesterday we managed to clock up an impressive 46 launches.

Paul Prentice set the best time of 15 mins in the K8 at a time when all others were getting 8 or 9 minutes and thought he had the bragging rights in the bag until Graham Tanner smashed it by claiming 25 mins!

Graham has been unable to fly the K8 or Vega for some time as we are no longer allowed to use lead cushions in gliders which means he is under min cockpit weight. But following the re-weighing of DHA it has been agreed that by using the lead bar and seat packing Graham is safely within C of G limits so can now fly the K8. Also after a recent visit by Gordon McDonald, the BGA CTO, it has been agreed that we can now add ballast weights to the nose of the Vega so that he can fly that as well……understandably Graham is quite happy!

Other highlights of the day include Andrew Peacock getting “Off Checks”, Rod Harris and James Walters successfully completing their annuals and Jeremy Knight flying his second solo so well done to you all.

Saving the best to last Top Honours must go to Tony Chapman who after plenty of spinning, stalling and numerous simulated cable breaks went SOLO!!!!!