Weekend Report

Saturday

The weekend was overshadowed by the funeral of Hans Lobach on Saturday afternoon. It was attended by a good many of our members. Thanks to Reinhold Laurenz who spoke at the funeral on behalf of the Club and the soaring members in general. Our sincere condolences have been conveyed to Elizabeth and the extended Lobach family.

Saturday dawned with low cloud which persisted until after lunch. I had to fly out to an event at Happy Valley near Greyton. We went in ZS-RMP, the Cherokee 180, via Bonnievale and from there crossed over the Sonderendberge to reach Happy Valley. For anyone interested, the runway is a good grass one of approx 35m width, 650 metres long. It is 1000' above sea level and has a hump in the middle! The owners, Marianne and Neville Wright, welcome anyone who wants to land there and you can pre-book for breakfast, or simply pop in for coffee.

We flew back via Theewaterskloof dam, arriving at FWC at 14h45. Adriaan and Adri were on duty at FAWC at the time. Before we had taken off that morning we were privileged to see Kevin Mitchell do the first of his three maiden flights in his beautiful DG400M. We wish you lots more happy hours in your new glider, Kevin!

Andre Stander, the only student on Saturday, managed three flights while Tom Heaslip flew two hours, Sven 6.2 hours, and Trevor Johnson 1.5 hrs. At 15h00 the convergence was well developed. Adriaan and Bill G managed to fly alongside Sven near Greyton, enjoying the strong conditions.

The Rotax Falke was kept busy with Ari and Andre Stander practicing circuits. Both Frans du Toit and I completed our respective conversions onto the RF, under the watchful eye of Martin G. Otto and a friend flew in his DG but after an hour he called to say that he had to return to the airfield because "he was full and his passenger was empty". Very descriptive!

Those who did not fly - especially the students - missed a very good training day with good flying conditions.

Sunday

It began with a NW but threatened to blow out. We therefore took GOK to the launch point in anticipation of the expected conditions and to prevent scurrying back to the hanger with the lighter trainers. Andre LduT and Peter Clemence were kept busy with three students and two visitors. It was very nice to see Rene Heise at the field again. One of the “AE” visitors was Urs Rothacher, the technical director of FLARM who was visiting. He also upgraded various FLARM units. It was a pity that the conditions were not good enough for him to have a really spectacular flight. Hopefully he will visit us again.

At about 15h30 the wind strengthened and the operation had to called off. We certainly seem to have had an undue and disappointing number of "blow-outs" this season.

We will advise members whether there will be a tug for flying on Wednesday, the public holiday. Watch the news on the “CGC discuss” forum.

Do also remember that it’s the “Cape Gauntlet” this weekend as well as the first Saturday party in the Clubhouse. For those with motor gliders, it’s the Swellendam fly-in is this Saturday and Sunday at Swellengrebel Flying Club. Camping facilities are available at their airfield.

Thanks to Tom Heaslip and Rob Kakebeeke who put the roof back onto the ERV as well as repair the seat of the tractor. Speaking of which - Peter Clemence has been signed out after his conversion onto the tractor - he just has to send his paperwork in!

That’s all the news for now. Just one more request: WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO DO THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE Ka7 ON THE WEEKEND OF THE 17TH MARCH. Please contact Jerry Betbeder should you be able to help. Remember students - this is an excellent opportunity to get to know the workings of the gliders.

Alison

Weekend Report: Porterville 1st, then a black/blowout.

Saturday

Flying on Saturday began nice and early with our first launch at 10h25 in what was promising to be a very hot day. We were not disappointed but as the day developed it became evident that the inversion was not going to lifting. Adriaan and Wally both took their gliders back to the hanger - Adriaan to go "Falking" with Hubert to Porterville instead.

Student pilots Frank Dorey and Andre Stander had three training flights each. Our guest for the day, Fuad Esack, from the Cape Community Newspapers, came out to Worcester to do an article on gliding at Worcester. His day began in style when Mark invited him to come along on the tug ferry flight from Stellenbosch to Worcester. That was followed by a flight in GOK with Nicky, followed by a winch launch with Martin. All in all Fuad had a good time and got a good impression of how the club operates.

Garth Milne was the star of the day (again) with an excellent out-and-return to Porterville! Well done! And also well done to Sven who managed to stay airborne for 5.9 hours. Gerhard Waller flew for two and a half hours and so did Herbie. A rare sighting was made and logged of the Tipping lad who flew his beautiful ASW20 for two and three quarters of an hour! Also airborne was Jerry “Wave man” Betbeder in GUC.

Winching got off to a slow start but we managed five launches. I personally had a bad start to helping with the winch when I inadvertently almost reversed over John Spargo with the tractor (fortunately I missed)! Sorry John! You certainly can jump high and fast!

The Rotax Falke was kept busy with June and Wally both doing their conversions with Martin Grunert.

A full time sheet and five paxes - a great day!

Sunday

The power cuts had far reaching repercussions when both Mark S and Rico S had huge technical problems and could not make it to the Club. The wind picked up in velocity and by noon Alan O’Regan called it a day and no flying was done. Earlier Adriaan and Adri in the Lamabda and Johnny and I in the Grob had got airborne but had to beetle back to the airfield in a hurry, due to the wind suddenly picking up in strength. Thanks to Alan, Wally (who stood in for Mark), and Mike Allen who came out to do their duty. Well done guys!

Alison

Porterville at last!

Garth Milne reports on his first flight to the front ridge in the Cirrus. . .

I was really pleased to get out onto the Porterville ridge on Saturday. One step closer to Renosterhoek! I looked at Dr Jack's blipmaps on Friday night. They showed wind onto the Porterville ridge at 11:00, 14:00 and 16h00? so I was hoping to get there.

I asked Mark for a tow to Audenberg. He towed me past Brandwag where there seemed to be lift so I released, but ended up slowly sinking, so migrated back towards the Audenberg slope where I could slowly climb to about 4500. The N1 at Hex had no sink, and with intermittent lift I could get onto Keerom and to Nuy, where the lift was marginal but sustaining.

Eventualy getting tired of this I decided to see if Brandwag had improved. There was wide 1m/s lift in front of Brandwag, so I reached its top, and could then make it around Waaihoek where another 1m/s topped me up to get to Mostertshoek. Along the Witzenberg the wind was parallel to the ridge, with more sink than lift so I headed towards Tulbach, getting a few thermals. At 5000' approaching Tulbach I radio'd Sven in EY and asked if I would make the Saronberg/Soldersberg gap. He said I would - but to be careful, since it was getting late.

Heading into wind (possibly lee sink from Saronberg) I lost height, but pushed the speed, and reached Solderberg at 3000', expecting (hoping?) there would be lift on the windward side. My nerves recovered a bit with the 0.7 m/s against the Sodersberg rocks, and I gained slowly to 4000' (big difference to have the ridge below you), and could then gain enought to be looking down on the ridge to Porterville, so "here goes". There was no trouble maintining height to past Porterville, but I was getting too far into unknown territory. Sven's "be careful" was in my mind, and I was not sure about getting back across the Tulbach valley. ON returning, just NE of Solderberg I happily hit a 1-2m/s thermal. There is nothing as comforting as watching the dial slowly wind up, knowing that this is your ticket across the valley and home! I circled in any lift on the mountains towards Tulbach, and then headed diagonally across the valley.

Alan previously suggested one aim SE for a point on the Witsenberg mountains near a landable area. I followed this advice and found 0.5 m/s lift on the slope so slowly climbed to the top at Mitchel's pass. I looped back once get more height, and crossed on the West of the Mostertshoek gap (previously suggested by Sven/Alan). At Waaihoek I could again "tank up" and initially headed for Vic Peak, hoping to add some km for the OLC. Sven's height reports from Nuy showed he was climbing, so this sounded like as safer bet, and I turned back to Brandwag, and after reaching Nuy returned home via Keerom.

Getting onto the Porterville ridge for the first time has opened a new area for me. I am grateful for all the help from Sven (in the flight and on the ground), Alan and others. Their internet leads (Google Earth, Blip Maps, encouragement to post to OLC etc) have also added to this latest step. Thanks guys!

Garth

Wave on a thermal day

Today the BLIPMAPS forecast a ballistic day, but we had already spotted that they (and NOAA) seem a little blind to our inversions. And today we had a 10 degree inversion.

After a launch from tuggie-combo John&Piet (thanks!) with Ed running the wing, X32 found good lift in Jan du Toit's and headed for Waaihoek. MUCH more sink than usual and it took a while to climb up again to start at Botha.


Rob Manzoni (see pick of him syphoning fuel into GUF at Porterville recently) reported good conditions on the front ridge, but it was really bumpy and decidedly soft at Dasklip, so at 2500ft (after losing 500ft in less than 5 km) I bailed and returned somewhat gingerly back to Jan du Toits.

Jan du Toits rotor-thermal worked to 6500 and suddenly went smooth (like is does) and friendly controllers allowed a run at FL120 to Villiersdorp and further.

We are so priveledged to have these mountains to play in!

And Ed just LOVED the short retrieve from the taxi-way. YAY! X32 lands at FAWC for a change.

Weekend Report: Kelvin goes blind

Saturday

A classical breathless super-hot day at the airfield. Unfortunately, once again, there were not enough takers for the winch so we aerotowed for the entire day. Rudi waited until later in the day and was rewarded with a two and a half hour flight in his Single Astir. Kelvin Holmwood, the only student present, had GHB all to himself and enjoyed four flights, one of which was his "blank panel". Well done Kelvin! Adri took accolades with her circuits and bumps in the Lambada - and later was cleared solo. Congratulations Adri! Andre Fechter flew in from Stellenbosch with Martin Grunert, in his brand new Pipistrel Sinus. Ari and Peter Clemence worked very hard instructing in the searing heat, ably assisted by tuggie Bill Griffiths, with duty pilots Henry Barnes and Marcel de Reuck. Well done to all of you.

Sunday

It looked promising to me early on (though I always seem to misread the weather). I was quickly proved wrong again when the north wind picked up to a very healthy 50kph. We were unable to take the trainers out of the hanger so all the students and AE flight visitors were all flown in GOK by Phil and Boet. Unfortunately Boet landed out near Brandvlei dam wall, and Phil and son Liam, plus friend Justin together with Coen, went off on retrieve.

Johan Gericke tried to get going early for a goal flight, but to no avail. Nevertheless he had two flights of over two hours each, in GUC. Sven and Peter Farrell had long flights in wave, thermal and ridge. Kevin Mitchell flew GUC and had such a rough time in turbulence on aerotow that the airbrakes were wrenched open and he had to release prematurely when he got out of position behind the tug. Hopefully he will have his DG400M in the air soon.

We welcome to our newest member Frank Dorey (and his wife Enid). Unfortunately Frank was unable to fly yesterday due to the outlanding, but he has already signed up for the April course.

Jaco Hartman worked extremely hard yesterday together with Coen Marais, as well as tug pilot John S, who handled the tug well in the strong winds.

Please note! Saturday is winching again and we really would like to get the winching operation going. However, we cannot do this if no one pitches up to fly off the winch. Remember, this is an opportunity to practice your circuit planning and landings – a really inexpensive launch method compared to aerotow. So all you students out there, please bear this in mind and come and winch with us next weekend. Besides - we are dying to try out latest acquisition - the FIAT TRACTOR!

Remember! ALL GLIDER HIRE BEFORE 11 AM IS FREE!

Alison

Cape Gauntlet takes to the sky

The Cape Gauntlet, the monthly competition of the Cape Gliding Club, took to the smoke-filled skies over the Western Cape this weekend.

Gliders launched from the Worcester airfield and followed courses taking in Robertson, Citusdal and the Du Toit's Kloof tunnel.

For results, pilot reports, and more, pick up the Cape Gauntlet!

Weekend Report: The Gauntlet is thrown

Saturday

For those property owners who were affected, the grass around the hangers was removed by Hennie du Preez and his staff on Friday morning. They have not yet completed the task but the worst has been removed. The rest will be done in a few days as he is busy with harvesting at the moment. A firebreak will also be graded on the eastern side of the hangers by the municipality.

Saturday was extremely busy, as Murphy caused us to change runways twice, kept cloud base at 2000' for the greater part of the morning, and troubled the workings of MIV’s starter motor. Then there was a fuel leak, so we took NIG out of mothballs and that certainly helped with getting all the gliders launched in time for the Cape Gauntlet competition.

The heat was extreme and the pace was hectic. It was actually wonderful to see a full launch point and both tugs out of the hanger and working. There were quite a few visiting pilots from the UK who were able to fly with Mike Pascoe and Andre.

Adriaan led the pack and won the comp – you can’t hold this man back now! Unfortunately Tom landed out at de Wet, where Rob K and Kevin Mitchell went to retrieve him.

Saturday night saw Rico fighting another huge fire on his farm but he still managed to come and tug on Sunday. NIG behaved beautifully all day.

The Rotax Falke was kept busy with Rudi and June doing conversions.


Sunday

The entire team turned up – we had one student (Andre Stander) and five AE Flights. One of these people joined the club so we welcome Paul Cartmel to the fold. Another AE visitor introduced and flown by Boet Coetzee is Frank Dorey who is also interested in the course.

GHB was the only glider taken out of the hanger on Sunday but we managed to keep her busy and did about 10 flights. Dave and Hubert flew their Rotax Falke.

Please remember that the course is from the 3rd to the 7th April. If anyone is interested in doing the course or who knows of someone who may be interested - please pass their names on to Peter Wooley.

Now that the main grass has been removed, all hanger owners are requested to please to care the areas immediately surrounding their hangers – you are urged not to let the situation get out of hand again – these clearances cost money and we have to pass these costs back to you. PLEASE! Maintenance of your hanger and the immediate surrounds is your responsibility.

Alison