Big Boys & Toys: Andre turns 50!
Saturday morning got off to an enthusiastic good start with Alan’s briefing in the Vliegklub training centre which was well attended. Jacobus was hilarious when he arrived dressed as a mad scientist– blond wig and all!! Jennifer and Douglas Bradley were visiting us and Jennifer flew with Martin “Mountain Meister” Grunert in GOK. Douglas was fortunate to be invited by Rico to fly with him in the DG500. Both had wonderful experiences, and this morning’s reports from their home confirmed that! Thanks to everyone involved for making them feel welcome at our Club.
Two tug pilots had been organized and Paul Troskie (MIV) and Rico (NIG) were kept busy from just after 11.00am until 13.00 when all the gauntleteers had been launched. Alan, Peter, Quinton, Mark, Jennifer & Martin, William, Jacobus, Craig, Adriaan and Errol all took part in the competiton. All made it back with the exception of Jacobus who outlanded with a little damage to the wing of GUC. He was very fortunate as he had a VERY close encounter with a barbed-wire fence! We are all very happy that YOU are fine, Jacobus!
Garth did his annual check with Paul Bailey while Rudi took a launch in his Astir and flew for just over an hour. Paul then took Garth for a flight in GUF and Jerry and Nicky went flying in GZF.
Peter Wooley has been trying to get illusive paperwork regarding his Lambada together in order to complete his Annual Inspection and this was accomplished by Saturday afternoon. The Cherry on the Top was when he went for his first type-conversion lesson with Martin at sunset. Congratulations, Peter! I am sure it was worth the wait!
After sunset everyone gathered in the Clubhouse and the mood was very festive while everyone chatted about their day’s flights. We celebrated Andre’s 50 years of gliding with champagne and the presentation of a Certificate! Well done, Andre! Andre was also thanked for his amazing effort in getting GHB repaired in time for the course. Rudi fetched the wing from Andre’s workshop on Friday morning and brought it straight out to the airfield. Unfortunately Friday was the day that the schools closed and Rudi was caught in the Cape Town traffic from 8.00 in the morning until he reached the airfield at 13.30. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, Rudi!
Andre Stander drove out especially on Saturday morning in response to the request for assistance to do the LS1 to GUZ. He and Rudi completed the inspection and then we all helped to rig GHB whereafter Andre Stander and I cleaned the gliders in preparation for the course. After putting the gliders back in the hangar, Andre had to leave the airfield as he had a prior engagement. Before leaving he discovered that Ed had a plight which needed attention : the liquid refreshment order had not been delivered. Andre then drove to Cape Town, collected the order from Makro and drove back to the airfield to deliver the drinks to the Clubhouse! This surpasses anything ever done for the club in recent times – I am speechless and I can only say “THANK YOU” Andre!!!
On Sunday morning I thought that I would take Jacobus’s mind off the day before and take him for one of “Alison’s Scary Flights” in the Grob. I certainly took his mind off things for a few minutes as the 90 deg. cross wind sent the Grob (thankfully airborne) heading for the bushes at the side of the runway for a few seconds! The rest of the flight was uneventful but we had to land due to a radio problem. Adri and Adriaan were next to get airborne (separately) and flew in what seemed marginal conditions the rest of the morning. They were joined by Johan Gericke in GOK with a pax and then Errol also tried out the conditions in his Antares. Phil flew first with a Pax in GOK and then with June in GZF for an hour. Johan Gericke was kept busy in GOK and Ian did various check flights in GOK as well. Kevin had the last flight of the day in his DG400 for half an hour.
The day ended with us getting geared up for the course which starts today. My thanks to the people that have put in a lot of effort to make this happen: Andre LdT, Rudi, Andrew S, Ed, Tom, Ian, Johnny, Andre S, Rob K, Jesse, Hans (for the projector), and all the Instructors and Tug Pilots.
Anyone wishing to fly during the duration of the course must bear in mind that the course launches take precedence over any private gliders wishing to launch. Private gliders are very welcome but the pilots must bear in mind that they might have to wait for a launch until a tug is available. The course runs until Friday afternoon.
We hope to see you all at the field over the Easter Weekend.
Until then….
Alison
Two tug pilots had been organized and Paul Troskie (MIV) and Rico (NIG) were kept busy from just after 11.00am until 13.00 when all the gauntleteers had been launched. Alan, Peter, Quinton, Mark, Jennifer & Martin, William, Jacobus, Craig, Adriaan and Errol all took part in the competiton. All made it back with the exception of Jacobus who outlanded with a little damage to the wing of GUC. He was very fortunate as he had a VERY close encounter with a barbed-wire fence! We are all very happy that YOU are fine, Jacobus!
Garth did his annual check with Paul Bailey while Rudi took a launch in his Astir and flew for just over an hour. Paul then took Garth for a flight in GUF and Jerry and Nicky went flying in GZF.
Peter Wooley has been trying to get illusive paperwork regarding his Lambada together in order to complete his Annual Inspection and this was accomplished by Saturday afternoon. The Cherry on the Top was when he went for his first type-conversion lesson with Martin at sunset. Congratulations, Peter! I am sure it was worth the wait!
After sunset everyone gathered in the Clubhouse and the mood was very festive while everyone chatted about their day’s flights. We celebrated Andre’s 50 years of gliding with champagne and the presentation of a Certificate! Well done, Andre! Andre was also thanked for his amazing effort in getting GHB repaired in time for the course. Rudi fetched the wing from Andre’s workshop on Friday morning and brought it straight out to the airfield. Unfortunately Friday was the day that the schools closed and Rudi was caught in the Cape Town traffic from 8.00 in the morning until he reached the airfield at 13.30. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, Rudi!
Andre Stander drove out especially on Saturday morning in response to the request for assistance to do the LS1 to GUZ. He and Rudi completed the inspection and then we all helped to rig GHB whereafter Andre Stander and I cleaned the gliders in preparation for the course. After putting the gliders back in the hangar, Andre had to leave the airfield as he had a prior engagement. Before leaving he discovered that Ed had a plight which needed attention : the liquid refreshment order had not been delivered. Andre then drove to Cape Town, collected the order from Makro and drove back to the airfield to deliver the drinks to the Clubhouse! This surpasses anything ever done for the club in recent times – I am speechless and I can only say “THANK YOU” Andre!!!
On Sunday morning I thought that I would take Jacobus’s mind off the day before and take him for one of “Alison’s Scary Flights” in the Grob. I certainly took his mind off things for a few minutes as the 90 deg. cross wind sent the Grob (thankfully airborne) heading for the bushes at the side of the runway for a few seconds! The rest of the flight was uneventful but we had to land due to a radio problem. Adri and Adriaan were next to get airborne (separately) and flew in what seemed marginal conditions the rest of the morning. They were joined by Johan Gericke in GOK with a pax and then Errol also tried out the conditions in his Antares. Phil flew first with a Pax in GOK and then with June in GZF for an hour. Johan Gericke was kept busy in GOK and Ian did various check flights in GOK as well. Kevin had the last flight of the day in his DG400 for half an hour.
The day ended with us getting geared up for the course which starts today. My thanks to the people that have put in a lot of effort to make this happen: Andre LdT, Rudi, Andrew S, Ed, Tom, Ian, Johnny, Andre S, Rob K, Jesse, Hans (for the projector), and all the Instructors and Tug Pilots.
Anyone wishing to fly during the duration of the course must bear in mind that the course launches take precedence over any private gliders wishing to launch. Private gliders are very welcome but the pilots must bear in mind that they might have to wait for a launch until a tug is available. The course runs until Friday afternoon.
We hope to see you all at the field over the Easter Weekend.
Until then….
Alison
posted by CGC Reporter at 2.4.07
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