Weekend Report: It's Raining - Awards!

I was not at Worcester this weekend so I do not have any news of the FAWC nature but have a few items that I need to forward to you all.

Congratulations to the Mitchells on the birth of their daughter – well done guys!!

I was at the Soaring Society AGM at Magaliesburg at the weekend. I will be doing a full report to all members for the Krautkorant but really must stress to the members what a fantastic job the Exco are doing for the Gliding fraternity! The time that these people put into the movement voluntarily to save money and hassles for all of us is invaluable. Mike Pascoe (as one of the Exco members) attended too and will support me in what I have stated.


A wonderful surprise were the awards received by members of our Club. Nominations were forwarded by Alan O’Regan (thank you Alan) and the SSSA Safety award went to Andre Leeb-du Toit for his publication of the manual “Cloudbase”!

The Pilot of the Year Award went to Sven Olivier for his FAI 1000km.

A proud moment indeed and well done both of you!

I also brought back FAI Centenary Gliding Weeks Certificates for the Southern Hemispere for

Sven Olivier – Club Class
Peter Farrell – 15m Class
Alan O’Regan – Standard Class

All winners in their Class! Congratulations to all of you.

Until next week…..

Weekend Report: GOK is back!

Graham Anderson had traveled to Potcheftroom last week to collect GOK and arrived back on Friday morning. GOK looks stunning and I have included some photographs of her. Thanks to Graham for traveling all that way to collect her.

Saturday the weather was the worst I have seen it at FAWC in a long while - 1000’ cloud base at best, cold and very wet! Yet the team turned up and all helped in rigging GOK – Craig Fussell, Paul Bailey, Wally Tamsen, Rob Kakebeeke, Ari Cotton, Ed Verpraet - thanks to all of you but, most of all, a big thanks to Jerry Betbeder who spent the entire day cleaning, polishing and taping GOK.

Paul Troskie drove all the way from Ceres to tug but had no takers. Even if we could get airborne, the gliders wheels would have been full of mud as the airfield was saturated.

I would also like to say a big “Thank You” to Johnny who helped with the elevator inspection and helped out with all those tools and extras one needs when rigging but seems to find that you have left them behind!

Sunday was 100% better and we had many interested parties turn up to fly. Bryan Dean and Frank Dorey, the duty pilots as well as Mark Siegelberg (yes, that is him running the wing of GOK in the photo!), Peter Clemmence (who flew in – in GWB) and Nina tugging – all turned up to do their duty.

Martin test flew GOK on the Audenberg ridge with Koen Marais for over two hours and had the longest flight of the day.

Randy Cullen and Peter Farrell joined Martin on the ridge and Jacobus Hartman and Johan Gericke also launched singles – Johan after spending most of the day working on GIG.

Helmut von Michaelis had his first flight in GOK while Kelvin Holmwood completed his 10 solo flights required before converting to GOK! Michael Allen kept GHB busy while Ian Forbes decided that the better option for the day was GZF. Not a very good day to stay up locally but, once again, a good training day. The airfield was certainly stunning with the flowers opening after the rain.

Anyone flying GOK must remember:

1. Please clean off any marks immediately they are made or report any damage incurred so that it can be repaired immediately.

2. NB: The MINIMUM front seat weight is 70kg.!!!! This is very, very important to remember. This is placarded and is written in the DI book.



Katryntjie was very ill during the past week and thanks to Rob and Ed who took her to the vet on Thursday, she is now on the mend. Her illness is a mystery but she was chasing (and catching) rabbits again on Saturday!

I wont be out at the Club this weekend coming but will be at the SSSA AGM. I wont be able to do a weekend news but, should anyone volunteer, I will be most grateful.

Until next time…..
Alison

Weekend Report: The Stork flies - and Wave

This week’s news begins a little earlier when, on Thursday evening, John Spargo and Libby’s baby daughter, Katie, was born. Congratulations – well done!

Friday afternoon was such a beautiful evening at Worcester that I flew RMP for half an hour locally. The spectacular weather persisted on Saturday and not a breath of wind blew! I took VAE out and had an hour flight in the valley. Fantastic weather for training or motor glider flying and June Sterling as well as Alan Procter took advantage of the conditions in the Rotax Falke. It took Paul Troskie just a few minutes to do his conversion, too! Kevin Mitchell had a wonderful late afternoon flight in his DG400 and landed just as the sun set. Hans Sterling set off with Martin Grunert for a flight in his Stemme.

Work was being done in the hanger when Rudi, Michael Allen, Kelvin Holmwood and Nina Grunert took care of the AAI (old LS1) inspection on GHB. Thanks guys! They then took it out of the hanger and Kelvin did a few solo flights until sunset. Adriaan went whale watching in his Lambada, while Rudi flew in the tandem falke with Gerhard.
Thanks to Michael Allen who did his duty solo and handled it very competently, too.

Sunday was a very different picture and the predicted NW began fairly early. Jacobus Hartman was there early and gave a hand to Gareth in preparing GUC for a wave flight. Johan Gericke beat everyone with an early launch in GIG and throughout the day I heard him at various altitudes and changing to 119.7 as well! Gareth called at various points in the valley at 8.0’ as well as Ian Forbes in GLW. Hotel Bravo was taken to the ridge by Paul Cartnel as well as Kim Carter Brown and they both managed to stay up high for long flights with Grove Steyn and Fred Vernimmen. Gerhard Waller flew his Janus with a friend and had a wonderful flight, too. Unfortunately Adriaan and Adri’s wonderful flight in wave ended with a mishap on landing – sorry about that, Adriaan. It was very gusty at that point and we also had to stop tugging.

I had to leave early and collect a car at Stellenbosch airfield and, when I arrived there, I met William Whittaker doing a preflight on OHI. Wrong choice again, William. Longer wings and the north side of Vic Peak would have been the better option! I hope you enjoyed it, anyway!

For those who have not been coming to the field, you have been missing out on the best wave that we have had for a few years and it is there virtually every weekend!.

Remember that there WILL be flying on Wednesday at FAWC. (Weather permitting).

Dieter Eberbach is looking for a single seater glider that is not in use anymore for his displays at airshows. If anyone knows of anything available, please contact me.

All pilots are invited to a talk on weather by Steve Metcalfe at 6.30pm at Stellenbosch Flying Club on Monday the 21st August. RSVP Alison 082 728 7386. Snacks will be served.

Last but not least – remember the Gauntlet this Saturday at FAWC.

That reminds me……. no competition finishes over the Clubhouse as the Stork is on short finals once again. In two weeks time we are expecting the arrival of Kevin and Tombi Mitchell’s baby! Good luck, guys.

Until next time – happy flying.

Alison