I have had a lot of complaints that I have not been updating the blog lately, so here goes a brief catch up.
Went on holiday for two weeks in October, met up with an old friend, and got engaged! So that was a bit exciting and may go some of the way to explain why I have not been blogging much lately.
First week back from holiday, i.e. last week in October was very quiet at the club, hot weather and good conditions, but no people!
First two weeks in November were absolutely frantic. 5 students the first week, including two visitors from England, one from Germany and two from Newcastle. Rob de Jarlais
came out to help instruct, and we had the two two seaters going flat out all week. Bruce Clark and Ian Barraclough towed. There was a really good atmosphere with all the pilots that week, everyone helped everyone else, and we all had a great time. Three students solo by the end of the week!
2nd week in November we had four visitors from Mt Beauty gliding club. Mart Bosman and Craig Collings brought both their gliders and their partners to Lake Keepit. The girls, Heather Mull, famous professional runner of Hang Gliding and Paragliding Competitions, and accomplished hang glider pilot herself, and Viv Williams, ace paraglider pilot - 2nd of the women in the Paragliding World Championships, Manilla 2007.
It was another great week, with a really good atmosphere. Viv had done some winch training before at Mt Beauty, while Heather was new to sailplanes, and initially somewhat suspicious at the idea of going over to the dark side. Both girls did really well and were solo at by the end of the week, Heather only needing a dual check for A certificate. The weather was brilliant, and both the boys did 500 km tasks during the week. Viv gave Garry, who was towing for us, an enormous hug after going solo! Nice to see appreciation for the tuggie! I really enjoyed teaching Heather and Viv, and their emotion at flying solo in sailplanes was a great reward.
I have challenged both girls to come back next year and duplicate the boy's cross country flights.
Last week we had two visitors from the UK, and the weather was dismal almost the whole week. However we flew on Thursday, and Friday quite a good day, though rather windy. Peter Robinson (who I sent solo at about this time last year) on his second every cross country flight did about 240 km - not sure exactly but its on the OLC.
Weekend was pretty ordinary with very strong winds but a couple of brave souls took to the air for AFRs!
Weather so far this week has been really good. Brian DuRieu flew over 500 km yesterday, and both he and Nick Singer flew over 400 today. Peter Robinson has done two 300 km flights on his 3rd and 4th XC flights.
I did 11 tows today, and one self launch (Nick) one relight , so 11 gliders in the air. One outlanding at Barraba airport, all back now. We have a going for distance week going on, and are setting tasks in the morning. All the club gliders have been flying (except Puchatek) which is great to see. Lets hope we can keep it up!
Today I picked up Juho from Tamworth, a visitor from Finland/Switzerland, who is going to do some towing for us during the summer. This is great - I might actually get the chance to fly my own glider once in a while!
So from now on we have a tuggie, the days are nice and long, and everyone should be comeing out to try to achieve that cross country goal. The gliders are not booked next week, so there's no excuse!
Some are going on the Keepit Safari next week, but Juho and I will be at the club keepit things going.
Will try to keep up the blog for all those interested in what's going on.
Jenny
