Weekend Report: Tulbagh fly-in
What a weekend! I, for one, have come back to work to recover!
The weekend actually began on Thursday with Randall, Garth and Quinton doing some excellent flying followed by Adriaan on Friday.
The rest of us (the ones’ who had to work!) arrived early on Saturday and the teams were there to do their duties. Garth thought that is was not going to be too busy so sent his co-duty pilot off in GUC. Jacobus had a fantastic flight around the valley. Others who flew were Jerry in GOK with Wally, followed by Horst Pfeugner and a visitor – Frieder – who also flew in GOK. It was nice to see John Spargo in HW again! Believe it or not, I flew the Ka6 as well!!!!
Bryan Dean had a check flight in GHB and then 2 more solo flights later in the day. Sven had a nice long flight in EY and Rico had a few flights in his DG500, and Adriaan in K17 flew too.
On Sunday we awoke to the sound of Adriaan and Jacobus taking off in the Lambada en- route to Riversdale. The air was calm and we took advantage of flying the Grob. After landing the air became very busy with the Pipistrel flying and Martin converting instructors and later more motor gliders became airborne and even two visitors arrived from Swellengrebel Gliding Club. They plan to visit our club in early February to do some aerotows and Gliding.!
A light SE picked up and we launched GOK from 15, then myself in the Ka6 (Yes, again!) , and then Johan Gericke took off in GIG. It was inverted and I did not stay up long but Johan ventured further towards the mountains and managed to stay up and the conditions improved. Then the wind changed!! A fairly strong NW blew and surprised most of us. Johan reported wave at Waaihoek and was at 6500’. GUC with Frieder, Ian in LW, Wally in GVG, and a few others took off. We really had an active day at the launch point with many single seaters flying but no students again. Then the wind dropped – completely!!
Johan Gericke telephoned me to tell me that he had landed out. By that time I had left the field already so telephoned Andre and Marion to organize a retrieve team. Wally and Ari very kindly set off to fetch Johan. Then Ian phoned – he had also landed out. Both near Tulbagh. Randall set off to fetch Ian and Nicky followed to lend a hand on the way home. Thanks to all the crew who worked so hard and unselfishly at the end of a hard, hot day to help their gliding buddies!
What was also very nice to see was the family presence at the Clubhouse on Sunday. Children in the pool and mothers and small children in the shade! The Clemmence family was there with friends and Tombi with Christine as well at the O’Regans and Marion and Penelope. Like old times!
I really must make mention of the two tug pilots who worked EXTREMELY hard in the hot conditions this weekend. Nina on Saturday and Alan on Sunday. We tend to forget about these pilots when we are focused on getting into the air. Duty Pilots – try and find a relief tug pilot for a launch or two or insist on giving them a drink-break. Their safety and that of the people they are towing is of paramount importance.
On the Business side:
1. GZF’s wing will be back by the weekend and we need members to help rig her. Especially if you are of the members keen to fly her, your help would be appreciated. Please contact Trevor Johnson if you can help.
2. On Saturday evening I had to go and speak very nicely to the members of the horseriding Club. They really have a very serious problem with the traffic past their club and decided to dig a huge ditch to force people to drive slowly. I told them that we have made our members aware of their problem and everyone was endeavoring to drive slowly but that we could not be responsible for visitors and casual traffic driving to the vacant land next door. I also urged them to rather communicate with us and also make everyone aware of their presence by putting up some sort of signage. The meeting was very amicable and they promptly filled in the ditch. I MUST URGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SPEED WHEN DRIVING PAST THE STABLES. We do not need a war with our neighbours.
3. I had a look at the trailers in the trailer hangar on Sunday with Graham to see which ones are renting hanger space. I must say that I was horrified at the state some of the private trailers parked in there. Quite a few of them have flat wheels and rusty fittings! I know that it is none of my business how some of you look after your trailers but, with the spate of outlandings lately, it is not fair on anyone requesting a retrieve with a trailer that will have a blow-out five kilometers down the road or is not mechanically sound! I urge every member to maintain their trailers to an acceptable roadworthy state. That includes Club trailers. If you fly the glider – you look after the trailer, too!
That’s all for this week.
Alison
PS : Don’t forget the Gauntlet on Saturday!!!
The weekend actually began on Thursday with Randall, Garth and Quinton doing some excellent flying followed by Adriaan on Friday.
The rest of us (the ones’ who had to work!) arrived early on Saturday and the teams were there to do their duties. Garth thought that is was not going to be too busy so sent his co-duty pilot off in GUC. Jacobus had a fantastic flight around the valley. Others who flew were Jerry in GOK with Wally, followed by Horst Pfeugner and a visitor – Frieder – who also flew in GOK. It was nice to see John Spargo in HW again! Believe it or not, I flew the Ka6 as well!!!!
Bryan Dean had a check flight in GHB and then 2 more solo flights later in the day. Sven had a nice long flight in EY and Rico had a few flights in his DG500, and Adriaan in K17 flew too.
On Sunday we awoke to the sound of Adriaan and Jacobus taking off in the Lambada en- route to Riversdale. The air was calm and we took advantage of flying the Grob. After landing the air became very busy with the Pipistrel flying and Martin converting instructors and later more motor gliders became airborne and even two visitors arrived from Swellengrebel Gliding Club. They plan to visit our club in early February to do some aerotows and Gliding.!
A light SE picked up and we launched GOK from 15, then myself in the Ka6 (Yes, again!) , and then Johan Gericke took off in GIG. It was inverted and I did not stay up long but Johan ventured further towards the mountains and managed to stay up and the conditions improved. Then the wind changed!! A fairly strong NW blew and surprised most of us. Johan reported wave at Waaihoek and was at 6500’. GUC with Frieder, Ian in LW, Wally in GVG, and a few others took off. We really had an active day at the launch point with many single seaters flying but no students again. Then the wind dropped – completely!!
Johan Gericke telephoned me to tell me that he had landed out. By that time I had left the field already so telephoned Andre and Marion to organize a retrieve team. Wally and Ari very kindly set off to fetch Johan. Then Ian phoned – he had also landed out. Both near Tulbagh. Randall set off to fetch Ian and Nicky followed to lend a hand on the way home. Thanks to all the crew who worked so hard and unselfishly at the end of a hard, hot day to help their gliding buddies!
What was also very nice to see was the family presence at the Clubhouse on Sunday. Children in the pool and mothers and small children in the shade! The Clemmence family was there with friends and Tombi with Christine as well at the O’Regans and Marion and Penelope. Like old times!
I really must make mention of the two tug pilots who worked EXTREMELY hard in the hot conditions this weekend. Nina on Saturday and Alan on Sunday. We tend to forget about these pilots when we are focused on getting into the air. Duty Pilots – try and find a relief tug pilot for a launch or two or insist on giving them a drink-break. Their safety and that of the people they are towing is of paramount importance.
On the Business side:
1. GZF’s wing will be back by the weekend and we need members to help rig her. Especially if you are of the members keen to fly her, your help would be appreciated. Please contact Trevor Johnson if you can help.
2. On Saturday evening I had to go and speak very nicely to the members of the horseriding Club. They really have a very serious problem with the traffic past their club and decided to dig a huge ditch to force people to drive slowly. I told them that we have made our members aware of their problem and everyone was endeavoring to drive slowly but that we could not be responsible for visitors and casual traffic driving to the vacant land next door. I also urged them to rather communicate with us and also make everyone aware of their presence by putting up some sort of signage. The meeting was very amicable and they promptly filled in the ditch. I MUST URGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SPEED WHEN DRIVING PAST THE STABLES. We do not need a war with our neighbours.
3. I had a look at the trailers in the trailer hangar on Sunday with Graham to see which ones are renting hanger space. I must say that I was horrified at the state some of the private trailers parked in there. Quite a few of them have flat wheels and rusty fittings! I know that it is none of my business how some of you look after your trailers but, with the spate of outlandings lately, it is not fair on anyone requesting a retrieve with a trailer that will have a blow-out five kilometers down the road or is not mechanically sound! I urge every member to maintain their trailers to an acceptable roadworthy state. That includes Club trailers. If you fly the glider – you look after the trailer, too!
That’s all for this week.
Alison
PS : Don’t forget the Gauntlet on Saturday!!!
posted by CGC Reporter at 27.11.06
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