Week Ended 1 August

No flying at all after John's winching weekend - very quiet. Wet and wild weather.

On 28 July, Darian Thom came to the club to learn gliding. He has it as his goal to become a tuggie with our club. Already has a tailwheel endorsement, so just needed to get up to speed with gliding, and then get some tow pilot training. This seems to be a problem as two seat tugs seem to be rarer than hens teeth.

I arrived back at Keepit on Monday morning at abou 10.30 am - Geoff Neely there all rugged up ready to tow, and Darian arrived just after. Weather was very showery - After one flight in the morning in the Puchatek, it rained so we put everthing away again and had lunch. Managed four flights in between showers - one of them we managed to soar to cloudbase at about 4000ft, and got rained on, but were able to do the stalling and spinning sequences.

Darian showed very good aptitude with glider flying, and did excellent landings.

On Tuesday and Wednesday John Hoye came out to tow, and Darian was joined by Peter Debnam, who had flown solo in gliders in 1988, but not got back to it till recently. Had been training at Camden, but unable to get enough flights one after the other there, so one of the instructors recommended us!

Using the Grob 103, I was able to send Darian solo on his 9th flight - which has to be some sort of a record, even for a power pilot! Congratulations Darian. Although he only needs to be of solo standard in gliders for towing, he decided he would go the extra mile and do his A certificate. Phil Anderton (tug master) came out to meet him and we had a beer!

Peter was a little tense to start with, but we soon beat that out of him. We did 11 launches altogether, and had some reasonable soaring - which enabled Peter to get used to the glider and get his turn co-ordination sorted out.

On Wednesday Darian flew the Junior to get the necessary solos in for the A certificate, which left me free to bash the circuit in the Grob with Peter. At the end of the day, John and I swapped places - he in the glider with Peter and I in the tug and we sent Peter solo at the end of the day! Thanks for your help John. 17 launches in the day! John Wakefield came out and had a look at the Puchatek for me, but I hardly had time to even talk to him. Sorry John!

On Thursday, Darian stuck around to help out with wing running and glider retrieving, and Garry kindly came out to fly the tug. We reverted to the Puchatek today, as I believe it is an easier glider to land - more circuit bashing culimating with two good solo flights! Well done Peter - the hard work is paying off! Darian snuck in another 2 solos as well - now going for B certificate!

I look forward to seeing Darian around the club in the future as a tuggie when he has his towing permission sorted out - he is really helpful bloke!

On Friday Jim and Maria Hackett came to the club, and Ray and Marga Tilley came down from Armidale. Gerhard made an appearance too - he will be at the club for a week or so he said. Jim and I went on a mission to Tamworth to get carpet for the new hangars, and succeeded in getting enough for Jim's spot. Ray assisted him with track, and by Saturday he was able to rig his ASH26E Bravo Kilo, and ensconce her in her new hangar space!

I meant to get away early on Saturday, but as always got delayed. However flew home at about mid-day. The Grob was soaring happily by that stage with Trevor West aboard - seemed like a really good gliding day.