Weekend Report: Cart Wars
Saturday was relatively quiet despite the good gliding weather – proven by some great distances flown eg: Craig Fussel 521 km.
It was good to see Adriaan airborne again after being earthbound for the past weeks due to injuries sustained paragliding at Christmas.
Otto experienced some instrument problems after launching and had to land to sort them out and then relaunched and flew for 2.5hrs. Sarel Oosthuisen had a 2.5 hr flight in his Cirrus and William Whittaker flew first GIG and then took to the skies in GOK with Kim. Peter Farrel in ID flew for 3.5 hrs as well! Even I flew GVA.
Bill Griffiths spent a good deal of the day tugging in the uncomfortable heat, while Mark instructed Marion, Jesse and Paul in the Pipistrel. Later Nicky took over and flew with Jesse in GKM. Herbie and Peter Wooley were seen working on their hangers and huts, and later Peter flew with me in VAE.
I must mention the MOST incredible Duty Pilot of all times. Peter Middelton had resigned towards the end of last year. His last duty had been swopped with Kim Carter-Brown, but he did not renege on the outstanding duty. True to his word (remember – he is not a member) he turned up and did his duty on Saturday. If there was ever an award due to a duty pilot – he would be the one to get it! Thank you very much Peter. I – for one – am going to miss you very much!
However – the” Cherry On The Top” award for Saturday’s Flying goes to Jacobus Hartman. Before he took off on Saturday, he inspected GUC’s trailer, arranged a crew and left his car with the crew in case of a retrieve. He took off, flew to Swellendam and, on the return, landed at Robertson and had to be retrieved. Congratulations on doing your 50k’s Jacobus, and the preparation beforehand. What’s more, on returning, he rigged GUC and stowed her in the hanger! Your example will be hard to beat!
Saturday evening had many staying over – Bill and Sue, the Fussels, the O’Regans, Peter Farrel, Otto, Mike Pascoe, Rudi and Liesl, Peter Eich, Andre, the Hepburns, Jacobus, the Coles (and Penelope), Bruce Clemmence and ourselves. Like “old’ times!
The next day promised to be an even better day and Alan did a weather briefing in the Clubhouse at 9.00am. Otto was first off the mark with Martin and flew 1029km!! Well done Otto!.
The motor gliders were, once again, out in force with Angus Money in UMZ, Johnny in VAE, Brian Cole and Adriaan in GKM, Andre in GZF and Bill in OEM all having fun.
Alan O’Regan was the first to aerotow and came back with a cracking 885km under his belt! Great Alan. Cornelius did a not-to-shabby 785km!! Next was Sven who flew a great 694km and Mike Pascoe 273km. Tom Heaslip flew close on 2 hours in his Jantar and TJ in GPB flew over 2 hours. Helmut took the newly-rigged and cleaned GUC up for close on 2 hours after which Jacobus took her for another two hours while Rudi flew his Astir for over an hour. Hans Sterling and Reinhold Lawrenz flew the Stemme for 4 and a half hours.
GOK was kept busy with visiting pilots and paxes.
Rico was a very enthusiastic and entertaining tug pilot (thanks for your happy banter over the radio, Rico) while the instructors, Phil and Boet, assisted by William flew in GOK and GUZ all day. The two duty pilots, Richard Harris and Henry Barnes were fantastic! They only left the field after 8.00pm after being on the runway all day and running operations so efficiently. Thanks to both of you.
During the WWII, when a pilot shot down another aeroplane, little stickers were put on the side of the pilots plane to acknowledge that he had shot down these planes. At our Club we are having stickers made of Golf Carts being “shot down” (or run over) and Hubert Spaun has both of these to date. The first time he was involved in a golf cart accident was when the Club Golf Cart was unceremoniously rammed into the wing of the DG after it had landed with Hubert at the controls. Yesterday Hubert reversed over Hans Sterling’s Golf Cart. He had stopped his Prado to speak to a club member when Hans parked behind him in his golf cart and vacated it. Hubert did not see this and, after starting his car, reversed because there was a tyre in front of his car. He could not understand why his Prado was “sluggish” and would not go. He got out and saw the Golf Cart on it side behind his car. So – if you own a Golf Cart – beware of Hubert Spaun. He will “shoot you down” sooner or later!! (Something like our hanger being rammed into!!)
Remember the Power Aerobatic Competition to be held at FAWC at the weekend. There will be a safety briefing at 9.30am on both days for anyone flying on those days. I suggest that all Duty Pilots, Tug Pilots and Instructors as well as anyone wanting to fly on those days, attend this briefing.
ALISON
It was good to see Adriaan airborne again after being earthbound for the past weeks due to injuries sustained paragliding at Christmas.
Otto experienced some instrument problems after launching and had to land to sort them out and then relaunched and flew for 2.5hrs. Sarel Oosthuisen had a 2.5 hr flight in his Cirrus and William Whittaker flew first GIG and then took to the skies in GOK with Kim. Peter Farrel in ID flew for 3.5 hrs as well! Even I flew GVA.
Bill Griffiths spent a good deal of the day tugging in the uncomfortable heat, while Mark instructed Marion, Jesse and Paul in the Pipistrel. Later Nicky took over and flew with Jesse in GKM. Herbie and Peter Wooley were seen working on their hangers and huts, and later Peter flew with me in VAE.
I must mention the MOST incredible Duty Pilot of all times. Peter Middelton had resigned towards the end of last year. His last duty had been swopped with Kim Carter-Brown, but he did not renege on the outstanding duty. True to his word (remember – he is not a member) he turned up and did his duty on Saturday. If there was ever an award due to a duty pilot – he would be the one to get it! Thank you very much Peter. I – for one – am going to miss you very much!
However – the” Cherry On The Top” award for Saturday’s Flying goes to Jacobus Hartman. Before he took off on Saturday, he inspected GUC’s trailer, arranged a crew and left his car with the crew in case of a retrieve. He took off, flew to Swellendam and, on the return, landed at Robertson and had to be retrieved. Congratulations on doing your 50k’s Jacobus, and the preparation beforehand. What’s more, on returning, he rigged GUC and stowed her in the hanger! Your example will be hard to beat!
Saturday evening had many staying over – Bill and Sue, the Fussels, the O’Regans, Peter Farrel, Otto, Mike Pascoe, Rudi and Liesl, Peter Eich, Andre, the Hepburns, Jacobus, the Coles (and Penelope), Bruce Clemmence and ourselves. Like “old’ times!
The next day promised to be an even better day and Alan did a weather briefing in the Clubhouse at 9.00am. Otto was first off the mark with Martin and flew 1029km!! Well done Otto!.
The motor gliders were, once again, out in force with Angus Money in UMZ, Johnny in VAE, Brian Cole and Adriaan in GKM, Andre in GZF and Bill in OEM all having fun.
Alan O’Regan was the first to aerotow and came back with a cracking 885km under his belt! Great Alan. Cornelius did a not-to-shabby 785km!! Next was Sven who flew a great 694km and Mike Pascoe 273km. Tom Heaslip flew close on 2 hours in his Jantar and TJ in GPB flew over 2 hours. Helmut took the newly-rigged and cleaned GUC up for close on 2 hours after which Jacobus took her for another two hours while Rudi flew his Astir for over an hour. Hans Sterling and Reinhold Lawrenz flew the Stemme for 4 and a half hours.
GOK was kept busy with visiting pilots and paxes.
Rico was a very enthusiastic and entertaining tug pilot (thanks for your happy banter over the radio, Rico) while the instructors, Phil and Boet, assisted by William flew in GOK and GUZ all day. The two duty pilots, Richard Harris and Henry Barnes were fantastic! They only left the field after 8.00pm after being on the runway all day and running operations so efficiently. Thanks to both of you.
During the WWII, when a pilot shot down another aeroplane, little stickers were put on the side of the pilots plane to acknowledge that he had shot down these planes. At our Club we are having stickers made of Golf Carts being “shot down” (or run over) and Hubert Spaun has both of these to date. The first time he was involved in a golf cart accident was when the Club Golf Cart was unceremoniously rammed into the wing of the DG after it had landed with Hubert at the controls. Yesterday Hubert reversed over Hans Sterling’s Golf Cart. He had stopped his Prado to speak to a club member when Hans parked behind him in his golf cart and vacated it. Hubert did not see this and, after starting his car, reversed because there was a tyre in front of his car. He could not understand why his Prado was “sluggish” and would not go. He got out and saw the Golf Cart on it side behind his car. So – if you own a Golf Cart – beware of Hubert Spaun. He will “shoot you down” sooner or later!! (Something like our hanger being rammed into!!)
Remember the Power Aerobatic Competition to be held at FAWC at the weekend. There will be a safety briefing at 9.30am on both days for anyone flying on those days. I suggest that all Duty Pilots, Tug Pilots and Instructors as well as anyone wanting to fly on those days, attend this briefing.
ALISON
posted by CGC Reporter at 15.1.07
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