Summer strikes!
The summer season started last week on the Highveld with torrential rain falling around Mafikeng especially. After the dry winter season, just before the summer rain begins, they have the best soaring weather of the year. That is why the Gauteng Regionals are organized during that time. Kevin Mitchell and Sven Olivier were both there to represent the CGC. Kevin was amazed by both the good soaring conditions and the amount of water coming out of the sky.
We experienced the edge of a front passing along the coast this weekend. On both days we had southerly to south easterly winds with a cool temperature. The swallows have returned from the north, bringing Tom H with them as well!
On Saturday Martin Y had the longest flight with 3,5 hours on the southern side of Vic Peak. On one or two occasions he had to choose a field - just in case! We saw many who took to the beautiful sky for the first time after a long winter break. Among them Herbie, Wally and Alison in her “Broomstick”! Friederich got a lot more experience in the Apis, doing 3 launches. His daughter helped to walk his wing to the launch point. Adriaan flew his Lak17 and Rudi flew his Astir. Sadly, Bill’s Astir left for its new home at Magaliesberg. Reinhold did an instruction flight with our newest member, Marc Avella. Mark S flew his Nimbus and after landing, let Nicky fly it as well.
A DG400 experienced a collapsed undercarriage while landing and blocked runway 15. June and Rudi had to land on runway 12 - a new experience for sure. Your reporter was the first one to speak to the DG pilot. He said that the wheel was down, but it collapsed when touching the ground. Your reporter is not on the flying panel but his opinion is that it is not good enough that the undercarriage handle is merely in the “wheel down” position - it must be secured, or secure in the “wheel down” position. The pilot was a bit rusty on type and this event could be headed “Winter Blues”!
Ryno O did the timekeeping – and a good job as usual. Gareth assisted with retrieving gliders and helped with the launching.
Sunday saw mainly visitors. William took two friends up while Johan showed some visiting KLM flying personnel what soaring is all about. The KLM pilot, John, got a ride with Rico in GWU. Simon, a visitor from Somerset West, had seen our website and brought his family out for the day. He experienced his first flight ever with Johan and thoroughly enjoyed his day! Adriaan and Adri flew the Lambada after Adri had done some “touch and goes” earlier. Later, Adriaan did his “back-seat” rating with Andre. Now we have a new AE instructor! Mike Miller and Maurice Cotton kept a good timekeeping setup on the ground while John S tugged in MIV.
Others seen at the airfield were Rob T, Peter F, Peter W and Hubert S.
All in all – a very enjoyable weekend!
Rob K and Alison N.
We experienced the edge of a front passing along the coast this weekend. On both days we had southerly to south easterly winds with a cool temperature. The swallows have returned from the north, bringing Tom H with them as well!
On Saturday Martin Y had the longest flight with 3,5 hours on the southern side of Vic Peak. On one or two occasions he had to choose a field - just in case! We saw many who took to the beautiful sky for the first time after a long winter break. Among them Herbie, Wally and Alison in her “Broomstick”! Friederich got a lot more experience in the Apis, doing 3 launches. His daughter helped to walk his wing to the launch point. Adriaan flew his Lak17 and Rudi flew his Astir. Sadly, Bill’s Astir left for its new home at Magaliesberg. Reinhold did an instruction flight with our newest member, Marc Avella. Mark S flew his Nimbus and after landing, let Nicky fly it as well.
A DG400 experienced a collapsed undercarriage while landing and blocked runway 15. June and Rudi had to land on runway 12 - a new experience for sure. Your reporter was the first one to speak to the DG pilot. He said that the wheel was down, but it collapsed when touching the ground. Your reporter is not on the flying panel but his opinion is that it is not good enough that the undercarriage handle is merely in the “wheel down” position - it must be secured, or secure in the “wheel down” position. The pilot was a bit rusty on type and this event could be headed “Winter Blues”!
Ryno O did the timekeeping – and a good job as usual. Gareth assisted with retrieving gliders and helped with the launching.
Sunday saw mainly visitors. William took two friends up while Johan showed some visiting KLM flying personnel what soaring is all about. The KLM pilot, John, got a ride with Rico in GWU. Simon, a visitor from Somerset West, had seen our website and brought his family out for the day. He experienced his first flight ever with Johan and thoroughly enjoyed his day! Adriaan and Adri flew the Lambada after Adri had done some “touch and goes” earlier. Later, Adriaan did his “back-seat” rating with Andre. Now we have a new AE instructor! Mike Miller and Maurice Cotton kept a good timekeeping setup on the ground while John S tugged in MIV.
Others seen at the airfield were Rob T, Peter F, Peter W and Hubert S.
All in all – a very enjoyable weekend!
Rob K and Alison N.
posted by CGC Reporter at 1.10.07
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