Weekend Report: 904km

Friday
Friday saw Sven take to the skies in GOK with a Swedish guest Lars Olson. They turned at Piekenierskloof in the north and on the return flight overflew the Groot Winterhoek mountains - a rare treat. Adri started the weekend with some touch-and-goes accompanied by Adriaan in the Lambada.

Saturday
Flying started at 10h13, thanks to Quinton who got the show into the air. Test aerotows were flown with the Rotax Falke piloted by Mark. GHB was first piloted by Quinton and later dual, with Quinton and Boet. The piece de resistance was the aerotow of the Twin with Jerry “Duo Discus” Betbeder and Mike Pascoe. In a no-wind situation it was somewhat marginal as to height AGL at the end of the runway – although I remember being taken aloft in a Kranich at Old Tempe by a Tiger Moth when after a circuit around the little church steeple we arrived back over the runway at 150’. For a club operation a little thin for comfort!

Adriaan launched at 11h10 to return at 19h13 after covering 904km! Dave Starke and Reinhold had a two & a half hour flight in GLZ, Hubert’s tricycle-gear Rotax Falke, whilst Mike Pascoe, Herbie Oberhofer, Tom Heaslip, Gerhard Waller and Peter Farrell were airborne in their respective gliders for two to three hours. Rico and Horst Pflugner enjoyed two and a half hours in the DG500, and Bill Griffiths one a half hours in his Astir. The longest flight in a club ship was Gareth Floweday and Boet at 77 minutes.

Seven Air Experience flights were launched after the singles and together with check flights, the instructors were kept busy. The “Two Louis’s” as duty pilots recorded 28 flights, a medal for perseverance was earned by the only pupil, Andre Stander, who actually managed to have two flights, both of over an hour.

John Spargo was the extra-busy tug pilot – thanks John!

Sunday

An excellent instruction day with Phil and Randy sharing the load and Nina and Gareth handling the ground operation. It was a slick performance which benefited Ben and Eduard Kieser (three each), Jaco Hartman (five!), Helmuth von Michaelis (two), Michael Allen (two) and two Air Experience flights. The longest flight was 61 minutes – Helmuth and Randy.

There is a perception amongst duty pilots and time keepers that in order to satisfy a wish for minimal effort, that flights of private glider including self launchers do not need recording! This is a fallacy! The timesheet needs to reflect ALL glider movements. Some information is needed by the treasurer for invoicing (the most important) but the complete range of activity must be recorded for national statistics and our web page. The web page info helps attract visitors and they spice up our cash flow. So PLEASE! – duty pilots, record ALL flights in future.

The ignored flight this Sunday was Hans & Martin in the Stemme who did Renosterhoek and back.

Alan Procter got everyone airborne – thanks Alan!

Ed

Weekend Report: Neiuwoudtville Recce

Except for a few pilots, both days were blown out, especially for training. However on Saturday a few powered gliders launched - Otto, Hubert, Rico, Rob K, Hans and Reinhold, and Martin were able to get airborne. Rudi and Ari took tows to brave the extremely turbulent conditions in their singles and Ari was rewarded with a spectacular flight, beginning in wave at Victoria Peak and transitioning to ridge, all the way to Renosterhoek and back. An excellent second flight in his “new” ASW20.

Visually the wave clouds were of the most spectacular seen at Worcester and it’s estimated that at least 30 - 40 000’ was attainable.

Adriaan, Sven, Alan O'R and Quinton took off in motor gliders at 06h45 on a fact-finding recce to Niewoudetville. A very interesting and informative trip where outlanding areas were duly recorded. Sven has a set of digital images.

Uys Jonker flew his Motorfalke from FAWC back home and reported lift on the northern side of the Langeberge as well as good wave in the lee of the Swartberge.

Back at Worcester the highlight was the arrival of our “nearly new”, diesel FIAT tractor. This is for drawing out the winch cables as well as airfield bush cutting. Ed is in charge of the key and will convert tractor drivers where necessary. PLEASE! ABSOLUTELY NO CHILDREN EVER will be permitted to ride on this tractor.

NIG was test flown by Mark on Saturday and (he says) it is running beautifully. Johnny Navarro spent a lot of time repairing the tow release mechanism on ZS-GZF, so we are now ready to commence towing – THANKS JOHNNY! Any takers for a tow?

Thanks to the teams that turned up for their duties regardless of the weather!

Welcome back to Jerry Betbeder who attended a ridge and wave flying course at Omarama in New Zealand! The aircraft he used was a brand new Duo Discuss - lucky chap!

Alison

Weekend Report: Another DG400 arrives

Firstly I would like to thank all the tug pilots - Ari, Aubrey, Mark, Bill, John, Rien and especially Rico who tug many times when there was no one else. A BIG thank you! The Star of the Winelands Week was ED. Ed took the times every day (and there was flying virtually every day) and also helped launch gliders when there were no hands. We would not have managed without you!

Saturday took us by surprise with the weather that moved in overnight but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the members who came out to the Club.

Kevin Mitchell brought his brand new DG400 out for the first time. Congratulations to him and to Hubert with his new Rotax Falke. Two new members joined on Saturday - Ben Kieser and his 15 yr old son Edward. Welcome to our Club. The Rotax Falke was in much demand on Saturday with conversions and Ben only managed to get airborne after 6.00pm. They had 2 or 3 more flights in gliders on Sunday, though, and are enjoying themselves! Thanks to all those who made them feel welcome. Many members took the time to clean hangers and do general maintenance on their gliders and hangers. A very merry atmosphere prevailed throughout the weekend!!

Sunday the weather was much the same as Saturday to begin with and cleared later towards the afternoon and we had a very active gliding day.

JUST ONE COMPLAINT:

Duty pilots are not phoning their teams on the Monday of the week preceding their duty and the instructors and tug pilots are not always informed of their duties. I do know that it is up to every member to know when he/she is on duty but it does not always work like that. People need to be reminded verbally. Then at least you know that they are informed. e/mail or SMS are NOT adequate. Another thing, PLEASE arrive early. Every week seems to get later and later and this is not a good example to our enthusiastic students. We cannot lose members because of our "laid back" attitudes. This also gives the perception that perhaps the ENTIRE operation, including instruction and safety, is not taken seriously enough.

Regards

ALISON