Today was a bit more stressful, lots of clouds and some pretty ones not working at all.
I planned to go to Bingara and cut across Terry Hai Hai to the plains but in Barraba there was almost no sun and I could see rain in the distance. I headed towards Kaputar but it was a struggle. As I was going to cut to the plains, Ian in the ASH radioed that there was 7kts 10km north of Kaputar, I climbed to 8000 and went through. New goal was Moree but again many dead clouds and I got lowish at 4000ft. The clouds were rather large and I was wasting lots of height to get there and explore to find them dead. I decided to go to that huge one and it paid. 12.5 on the averager the vario needle bent on the stop for most of the climb, in a few minutes I was at 8000ft again.
I thought I'd try Moree and that cloud should still be there on the way back, 2 more dead clouds and I turned back 20km from Moree.
The big thermal was still there but much weaker, then it was just a matter of staying high to get back home. All in all 328 Km.
Ian and Miro flew in the ASH I think they also didn't reach Moree The Newcastle gang progressed in their training and flew Grob around Gunnedah.
Cheers
Jacques
Thursday, November 4, 2010
2nd & 3rd November - Jacques Graells
Jacques did his first couple of flights in the club's LS7, and I persuaded him to tell us about them:-
"I first did little bit of soaring around to get used to the LS7 and landed, I thought doing an outlanding on my 1st landing would not be very wise. After a little rest I was planning to go to Boggabri Mullaley and return. All was good in Boggabri so I pushed a bit to Banbaa and I wanted to go down on the edge of the pilliga scrub, but there were only small and sparse clouds so I went down to Mullaley. Since all was still good I headed to Tambar Springs. The west was over-developing a bit so I headed to Premer and just after I turned it started to slow down. I had a down wind leg so I took weak thermals drifting home and waiting till it cycled. Then it became bombastic and I came back.
Since the conditions forecast was similar for today I planed a 300km for the gold distance. LK-Narrabri-Premer-LK.
Andrew Samson from the UK in the LS6 decided to fly the same task and we took off at the same time.
We got split just before the Kelvins, his thermaling was more efficient than mine but I was doing longer legs so I got ahead.
He caught up in Narrabri and I wasted some time to make sure my turn point got registered then we split and joined several times in the end he arrived a minute before me but much higher than me. I was aiming for 85km/h but I only achieved 79.5Km/h maybe tomorrow :)
Looking at the forecasts we could get close to 10'000 ft tomorrow but high probablility of thunderstorms, we will see in the morning.
You can see it live here http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0sKN7Qb6Yyecoi6GOpICCMukzxeeXlXp5
Cheers
Jacques"
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sunday 31st October
My partner John is back in Aus for 6 months :-) and we travelled up to Lake Keepit on Saturday afternoon by car, towing the Mosquito trailer. Arrived at about 10 pm and found I had left my gate pass in the other car in the hangar at Keepit! However a phone call to the Park Manager sorted things out and he came to the gate to let us in. The emergency code wouldn't work for some reason.
On Sunday morning I was duty instructor but after consulting the weather forecast no one thought it would be much of a day. We were supposed to get 20 - 25 kt north westerlys followed by thunderstorms at 1600. Jay and Mary elected to fly back to Bankstown while they still could. Tomas towed. There was no one who required instruction, so I rigged the Mozzie assisted by numerous club members (thanks very much) taped up the joins and went flying.
Jacques flew the Junior, Attila flew his recently acquired Cirrus, I flew the Mosquito and that was about it I think. However there was activity over at Kentucky and the duo flew back from there, and the Grob was aerotowed most of the way back. I think I heard Harry Medlicott on the radio, Ian Downes was in the Grob and Todd Clark was in something!
Despite the sky being mostly overcast, there was good lift about though I found it a little hard to centre. Probably out of practice. Cloudbase was about 6000ft, though it went up to 6500 later.
There was a nice line of cu going down the Melville ranges and I considered gettng a clearance to fly along it, but with the forecast 20kt winds in mind I thought I'd go upwind first. Headed along the clouds up to Mt Kaputar, no trouble making progress against the wind - looking at my stats afterward the wind was no stronger than 11 kts even at cloudbase. Met Attila going the same way, but much more efficiently than I!!
Not much clearance between the aerials and the ground, and on my second attempt to get around them I got flushed down the gully behind in some of the worst sink I have ever experienced. I thought I would not make it out from the trees. However I got to a landing paddock at about 1000ft AGL and found some zeros, which eventually turned into about 4-6 kts so I was out of trouble.
Back to Keepit, mooched about over Carrol but was getting lower so back to the airfield. It started working again as I got to the Caravan Park and there was still a nice line of clouds over the Melville ranges so I called up the Tower. Got an automated response "Tamworth Aerodrome 119.4". Apparently the tower is closed on Sunday afternoons now. Called Brisbane centre and they confirmed that it was allowed to go gliding in the control zone but asked me to make a broadcast call on 119.4, so I did!
I didn't go far down the ranges - in hindsight I wish I had gone further, but the outlanding scare made me a bit cautious.
Turned back and flew to Keepit again all in a straight line climbing at 6 kts without turning all the way back to Mt Surprise. It was apparently raining at Keepit. Started worrying about weather at aerodrome so came back and landed. Needn't have worried at all, because Attila stayed up for about another couple of hours!!
All in all a much better day than the forecast would have led one to believe and a much needed fix for me!!
Spent a very convivial evening with the Newcastle contingent and UK visitor Andy - an excellent break!
On Sunday morning I was duty instructor but after consulting the weather forecast no one thought it would be much of a day. We were supposed to get 20 - 25 kt north westerlys followed by thunderstorms at 1600. Jay and Mary elected to fly back to Bankstown while they still could. Tomas towed. There was no one who required instruction, so I rigged the Mozzie assisted by numerous club members (thanks very much) taped up the joins and went flying.
Jacques flew the Junior, Attila flew his recently acquired Cirrus, I flew the Mosquito and that was about it I think. However there was activity over at Kentucky and the duo flew back from there, and the Grob was aerotowed most of the way back. I think I heard Harry Medlicott on the radio, Ian Downes was in the Grob and Todd Clark was in something!
Despite the sky being mostly overcast, there was good lift about though I found it a little hard to centre. Probably out of practice. Cloudbase was about 6000ft, though it went up to 6500 later.
There was a nice line of cu going down the Melville ranges and I considered gettng a clearance to fly along it, but with the forecast 20kt winds in mind I thought I'd go upwind first. Headed along the clouds up to Mt Kaputar, no trouble making progress against the wind - looking at my stats afterward the wind was no stronger than 11 kts even at cloudbase. Met Attila going the same way, but much more efficiently than I!!
Not much clearance between the aerials and the ground, and on my second attempt to get around them I got flushed down the gully behind in some of the worst sink I have ever experienced. I thought I would not make it out from the trees. However I got to a landing paddock at about 1000ft AGL and found some zeros, which eventually turned into about 4-6 kts so I was out of trouble.
Back to Keepit, mooched about over Carrol but was getting lower so back to the airfield. It started working again as I got to the Caravan Park and there was still a nice line of clouds over the Melville ranges so I called up the Tower. Got an automated response "Tamworth Aerodrome 119.4". Apparently the tower is closed on Sunday afternoons now. Called Brisbane centre and they confirmed that it was allowed to go gliding in the control zone but asked me to make a broadcast call on 119.4, so I did!
I didn't go far down the ranges - in hindsight I wish I had gone further, but the outlanding scare made me a bit cautious.
Turned back and flew to Keepit again all in a straight line climbing at 6 kts without turning all the way back to Mt Surprise. It was apparently raining at Keepit. Started worrying about weather at aerodrome so came back and landed. Needn't have worried at all, because Attila stayed up for about another couple of hours!!
All in all a much better day than the forecast would have led one to believe and a much needed fix for me!!
Spent a very convivial evening with the Newcastle contingent and UK visitor Andy - an excellent break!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday 29 August 2010 - by Nick Singer, Duty Instructor
Sunday was the first day I have been at Keepit for a while which was good enough for a real X-country. The Puchatek rudder was re-installed by Bob DIrks, thanks are due but lack of paper work stopped it from flying. All present helped rig the DG after its form 2.
Having no students I flew the Pik.
I went with Trevor west, Jay Anderson and John Stewart off to Manilla , then along the range to Rangori area then north. I checked to see if I had any passenger flights and spoke to David Tan on the radio who wished to have three circuits in the Grob. I turned back with final glide from 6800 ft 47 km out.
Mary and Bob Emery shared the Junior; both had over an hour's soaring. Ray Tilly flew I know not where, but I saw him land. Trevor I believe did over 300km and was last home.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Weekend of 7th & 8th August 2010
I was supposed to be standing in for Vic on Saturday, and had intended to arrive at the club on Friday evening. However my RAA instructor rating test at Narromine happened to fall on Friday, and as I had another chap with me that had to go back to Cowra on Friday afternoon, I had to delay my departure until Saturday morning.
BIG MISTAKE!! Arrived at Cowra aerodrome at 7.15 am to find the plane covered in a thick layer of ice, and the runway invisible with fog. Paul Goard was also there waiting to get away to Temora to fly one of the Museum planes at 10.00 am. The fog hadn't lifted by 10.30 am, but around 11.00 am there was a hole in it, and both of us shot through it trying to get to our respective destinations as quickly as possible.
Once airborne, we saw that the fog was just sitting over the airport, and that everywhere else was in brilliant sunshine. Paul got to Temora 5 minutes to late to fly his display aircraft - another pilot did it. I got to Lake Keepit to find that Little Petunia had taken matters in hand, and the winching operation was underway.
The central coast pilots flew off the winch, Dave Goldsmith getting 2100 ft off his launch in the Ka6e in very light winds. He stayed up for ages and then his partner Jenny flew it - she only got 1900 ft on her launch.
Bruce Paulson was training in the twin astir with Garry, who had really come to fly the tug, and had about 5 flights. Matthew Minter turned up and did a couple of launches with me in the Puchatek to get current, then a solo flight. Bob Dircks gained his winch driver's endorsement, and did two flights with me in the twin astir. The second one he did the launch all himself and he did very well, especially considering he hasn't done any winch launching for about 20 years! Garry's twin really is a lovely glider to winch launch.
Chris Carr disappeared for a long time in the Nimbus 2, WP. Trevor flew an air experience flight for a person who had a voucher, and got away and soared for the required half hour.
David Tam did a couple of winch checks with Trevor before I got there, and later did a couple of solos. He worked very hard all day retrieving the rope.
Harry Medlicott spent most of the day on the winch, but he was training others to drive it. He says he'll only drive the winch if there is someone else to train - everyone needs to learn.
Flying went on all day and we only stopped when the sun went down - so once again a successful and enjoyable winching day.
On Sunday Jenny and Dave Goldsmith and Arie and Phil Endecott all left, leaving just Bruce Paulson and David Tam, Trevor Harry and I. We did some winching in the morning - Bruce had three flights with me in the Twin Astir, and Trevor got endorsed on driving the new winch. David Tam did another solo in the Puchatek, but then the wind changed direction and rather than change ends with the winch, we packed up. Harry wanted to fly his glider, so I aerotow launched him and he had a reasonable soaring flight to Manilla and back but he said it was hard work.
Michael and Bronwyn Shirley arrived in their Grob 103 just as we were putting everything away. I was hoping to be able to get away back to Cowra but found I had left the master switch on in the plane and the battery was flat so I had to stay till the morning. Another lesson learned.
Keep an eye on the chat group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lksc/ for the next winching weekend.
Jenny
BIG MISTAKE!! Arrived at Cowra aerodrome at 7.15 am to find the plane covered in a thick layer of ice, and the runway invisible with fog. Paul Goard was also there waiting to get away to Temora to fly one of the Museum planes at 10.00 am. The fog hadn't lifted by 10.30 am, but around 11.00 am there was a hole in it, and both of us shot through it trying to get to our respective destinations as quickly as possible.
Once airborne, we saw that the fog was just sitting over the airport, and that everywhere else was in brilliant sunshine. Paul got to Temora 5 minutes to late to fly his display aircraft - another pilot did it. I got to Lake Keepit to find that Little Petunia had taken matters in hand, and the winching operation was underway.
The central coast pilots flew off the winch, Dave Goldsmith getting 2100 ft off his launch in the Ka6e in very light winds. He stayed up for ages and then his partner Jenny flew it - she only got 1900 ft on her launch.
Bruce Paulson was training in the twin astir with Garry, who had really come to fly the tug, and had about 5 flights. Matthew Minter turned up and did a couple of launches with me in the Puchatek to get current, then a solo flight. Bob Dircks gained his winch driver's endorsement, and did two flights with me in the twin astir. The second one he did the launch all himself and he did very well, especially considering he hasn't done any winch launching for about 20 years! Garry's twin really is a lovely glider to winch launch.
Chris Carr disappeared for a long time in the Nimbus 2, WP. Trevor flew an air experience flight for a person who had a voucher, and got away and soared for the required half hour.
David Tam did a couple of winch checks with Trevor before I got there, and later did a couple of solos. He worked very hard all day retrieving the rope.
Harry Medlicott spent most of the day on the winch, but he was training others to drive it. He says he'll only drive the winch if there is someone else to train - everyone needs to learn.
Flying went on all day and we only stopped when the sun went down - so once again a successful and enjoyable winching day.
On Sunday Jenny and Dave Goldsmith and Arie and Phil Endecott all left, leaving just Bruce Paulson and David Tam, Trevor Harry and I. We did some winching in the morning - Bruce had three flights with me in the Twin Astir, and Trevor got endorsed on driving the new winch. David Tam did another solo in the Puchatek, but then the wind changed direction and rather than change ends with the winch, we packed up. Harry wanted to fly his glider, so I aerotow launched him and he had a reasonable soaring flight to Manilla and back but he said it was hard work.
Michael and Bronwyn Shirley arrived in their Grob 103 just as we were putting everything away. I was hoping to be able to get away back to Cowra but found I had left the master switch on in the plane and the battery was flat so I had to stay till the morning. Another lesson learned.
Keep an eye on the chat group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lksc/ for the next winching weekend.
Jenny
Week ending Friday 6 August 2010 - by Ian Downes
The week started with having 1 student - Jim Burford - for 3 days from Tuesday. Jim was here for 6 days in June and wanted to come back for further training and advancement. We achieved this with Jim just about ready to solo in GFP. Jim will return shortly and after signing up as a full member, continue onto the Junior. A great 3 days work Jim.
Arie van Spronssen from Central Coast called me Sunday enquiring as to the possibility of a few people coming over from Gloucester as their Camp looked like being rained out.
This gave me an excuse to mow in front of the Flight Centre to spruce things up a bit and on Monday, Ari and David Tam from Central Coast and Phil Endicott from Southern Cross turned up. Jenne and Dave Goldsmith arrived on Wednesday with their lovely Ka6.
Tuesday was a bit ordinary for things other than circuits but after that, the fun started.
Three to four hour flights have been had. Arie did nearly 200k's to Narrabri and back yesterday and today got to 6,000' in shear wave out to the west.
David and Jenne have just landed and David will go back to Central Coast with some valuable consolidation on the Puchatek.
All in all a great few days flying with some very convivial visitors.
On the weekend of the 25/26 September we have 2 opportunities to promote the club and for which I will be seeking assistance.
The first is to display the Duo Discus at Manilla for Slopefest 2010 and secondly to assist Vic Hatfield with a visit to Keepit of up to 70 of his ne'er to do mates, aka the Ulysses Motor Gang. More details to follow.
The weather looks good for the weekend so please continue the pleasant winter flying we have just enjoyed and I will catch up with you on Sunday afternoon if you are at LK.
Regards Ian
Arie van Spronssen from Central Coast called me Sunday enquiring as to the possibility of a few people coming over from Gloucester as their Camp looked like being rained out.
This gave me an excuse to mow in front of the Flight Centre to spruce things up a bit and on Monday, Ari and David Tam from Central Coast and Phil Endicott from Southern Cross turned up. Jenne and Dave Goldsmith arrived on Wednesday with their lovely Ka6.
Tuesday was a bit ordinary for things other than circuits but after that, the fun started.
Three to four hour flights have been had. Arie did nearly 200k's to Narrabri and back yesterday and today got to 6,000' in shear wave out to the west.
David and Jenne have just landed and David will go back to Central Coast with some valuable consolidation on the Puchatek.
All in all a great few days flying with some very convivial visitors.
On the weekend of the 25/26 September we have 2 opportunities to promote the club and for which I will be seeking assistance.
The first is to display the Duo Discus at Manilla for Slopefest 2010 and secondly to assist Vic Hatfield with a visit to Keepit of up to 70 of his ne'er to do mates, aka the Ulysses Motor Gang. More details to follow.
The weather looks good for the weekend so please continue the pleasant winter flying we have just enjoyed and I will catch up with you on Sunday afternoon if you are at LK.
Regards Ian
Monday, August 2, 2010
Report on the Weekend 31 Jusly - 1 August 2010 - by Bob Dircks
Saturday was showery after about 2" or rain overnight.
As far as I know no-one even considered flying.
Sunday started with a clear blue morning with hints of cloud development and a moderate NW wind much stronger at altitude.
Access to the club was rather restricted as the Peel River had risen to just over the bridge adjacent to the Alternate Activities Centre. Cars couldn't cross safely, but my truck provided a "ferry" service for LP and Juho.
Jay, Mary & Nick arrived by air and things got underway by 11:00.
The Grob 103 was used for 3 check flights, and Mary took the Junior for a couple of flights. There was lift around, particularly over the dam wall. Jay and LP got going towards Kelvin where LP managed to get into wave and took a ride up to almost 7,000 ! After a check flight I took the Libelle for a short tour of the dam wall, probably a bit late as it was getting very patchy.
A short but rewarding day.............
Bob
As far as I know no-one even considered flying.
Sunday started with a clear blue morning with hints of cloud development and a moderate NW wind much stronger at altitude.
Access to the club was rather restricted as the Peel River had risen to just over the bridge adjacent to the Alternate Activities Centre. Cars couldn't cross safely, but my truck provided a "ferry" service for LP and Juho.
Jay, Mary & Nick arrived by air and things got underway by 11:00.
The Grob 103 was used for 3 check flights, and Mary took the Junior for a couple of flights. There was lift around, particularly over the dam wall. Jay and LP got going towards Kelvin where LP managed to get into wave and took a ride up to almost 7,000 ! After a check flight I took the Libelle for a short tour of the dam wall, probably a bit late as it was getting very patchy.
A short but rewarding day.............
Bob
Monday, July 19, 2010
16 & 17 July - 4 day Weekend
Arrived at Lake Keepit by car :-( . I had to drive up because the plan was to tow the Mosquito down to Temora for its annual inspection - not because there was any problem with the aeroplane. In fact the Brumby is coming along nicely now- undercarriage problems have be solved, and electrical wiring problems solved so instruments and GPS's are now all communicating properly! Only need cabin heat and wheel spats, and I think we can consider it finished!
Anyway Friday morning dawned with heavy frost, but a nice sunny day. Despite all the optimism we could muster, no thermals materialised. Garry rang to put off Richard Fethers, who was booked to fly in the Duo with him on the grounds that he did not expect any lift - and he was right. Richard elected to go home and do some more work after helping with glider launching.
Ian was instructing a gentleman named Peter, who was finishing a week's course, and I was co-opted to instruct in the twin astir. . The Grob was away at the cadet training camp at Bathurst - it arrived back at the club on Saturday afternoon. Juho (Iceman) Rossi did the towing. The tug has a new propeller fitted; it climbs really well, but is very noisy. Luckily you only notice if you are on the ground.
Garth Patterson and Lee Braithwaite were there to be instructed - or rather flown with - neither really needed any instruction. Neither had flown the twin astir before, and both had not flown for two or three months. Garth handled the twin very well, and flew it solo in the afternoon. Garth learned to fly with Garry in about 1992, and again with me last year. It was nice to see him at the club again. No problems for Lee either - he has heaps of hours of flying but it was 25 years ago! Ian and Peter and Peter's family went up and down numerous times in the Puchatek. It was a fantastic day for training in that the air was very smooth (no excuses) and nice and sunny.
Harry and Wendy Medlicott were there - Wendy seems to be recovering very well from her head surgery - and Dave Shorter and numerous family members turned up in the evening. Graham Holland completed the Form 2 on Jantar IZT with a test flight on Friday morning and then departed. Al Giles turned up on Saturday morning.
On Saturday Harry got the winch out and trained Lee Braithwaite and Peter Shiels to drive it. I got elected duty instructor, as there was no one rostered. It was just like being back at work. No complaints though - I love it. Peter ended up driving the winch for the whole afternoon while Lee redid his winch endorsement - he had one from years ago. Many thanks Peter. Ken Flower came out to fly the tug, but as we didn't use it, he did a couple of winch flights with Garth and flew his G109 with a friend from Narrabri aero club.We have a new cadet member, Stewart Kennedy who joined the club and did some winch flying with Dave Shorter and I in the Puchatek - not both at the same time obviously. Stewart is 16, and we hope he will bring his mates along so we can get a group of young people who can run their own winch operation and fly cheaply.
Dave flew with his family - numerous grand children - and managed a few short soaring flights. Garth got winch current again in the twin astir and was able to do a little "thermalling with other gliders" practice.
The winch operation went fairly smoothly but be had a few hiccups with the rope retrieving - at one time there was no-one to do it - but more inconveniently the dune buggy would not idle very well and kept stalling. Since the generator does not work, the more starts you have the more the battery runs flat, and in the end we had to dispense with it and use my car instead. Not sure where the club car was. If there are any bush mechanics out there that can do a job on it, it would make the operation run much better.
We kept flying until it got dark and I think there were about 17 launches in all - plus one aerotow. Harry managed to stay up for ages in his Ventus - much longer than anyone else, but I did see him use the iron thermal once. Its good fun on these winter days to use the winch to keep current.
On Sunday morning I had a good crowd of helpers to assist with derigging the mozzie and putting it into the trailer. Anyone who has assisted me with this before will know what a rotten job it is. Thanks very much guys. It looked like being a good day with plenty of cumulus popping before midday. I believe the winch was used again, - the tug hangar doors got stuck which made access to the tug difficult. However I am sure our ingenious members found a solution to the problem.
I had a very enjoyable couple of days at the club.
Anyway Friday morning dawned with heavy frost, but a nice sunny day. Despite all the optimism we could muster, no thermals materialised. Garry rang to put off Richard Fethers, who was booked to fly in the Duo with him on the grounds that he did not expect any lift - and he was right. Richard elected to go home and do some more work after helping with glider launching.
Ian was instructing a gentleman named Peter, who was finishing a week's course, and I was co-opted to instruct in the twin astir. . The Grob was away at the cadet training camp at Bathurst - it arrived back at the club on Saturday afternoon. Juho (Iceman) Rossi did the towing. The tug has a new propeller fitted; it climbs really well, but is very noisy. Luckily you only notice if you are on the ground.
Garth Patterson and Lee Braithwaite were there to be instructed - or rather flown with - neither really needed any instruction. Neither had flown the twin astir before, and both had not flown for two or three months. Garth handled the twin very well, and flew it solo in the afternoon. Garth learned to fly with Garry in about 1992, and again with me last year. It was nice to see him at the club again. No problems for Lee either - he has heaps of hours of flying but it was 25 years ago! Ian and Peter and Peter's family went up and down numerous times in the Puchatek. It was a fantastic day for training in that the air was very smooth (no excuses) and nice and sunny.
Harry and Wendy Medlicott were there - Wendy seems to be recovering very well from her head surgery - and Dave Shorter and numerous family members turned up in the evening. Graham Holland completed the Form 2 on Jantar IZT with a test flight on Friday morning and then departed. Al Giles turned up on Saturday morning.
On Saturday Harry got the winch out and trained Lee Braithwaite and Peter Shiels to drive it. I got elected duty instructor, as there was no one rostered. It was just like being back at work. No complaints though - I love it. Peter ended up driving the winch for the whole afternoon while Lee redid his winch endorsement - he had one from years ago. Many thanks Peter. Ken Flower came out to fly the tug, but as we didn't use it, he did a couple of winch flights with Garth and flew his G109 with a friend from Narrabri aero club.We have a new cadet member, Stewart Kennedy who joined the club and did some winch flying with Dave Shorter and I in the Puchatek - not both at the same time obviously. Stewart is 16, and we hope he will bring his mates along so we can get a group of young people who can run their own winch operation and fly cheaply.
Dave flew with his family - numerous grand children - and managed a few short soaring flights. Garth got winch current again in the twin astir and was able to do a little "thermalling with other gliders" practice.
The winch operation went fairly smoothly but be had a few hiccups with the rope retrieving - at one time there was no-one to do it - but more inconveniently the dune buggy would not idle very well and kept stalling. Since the generator does not work, the more starts you have the more the battery runs flat, and in the end we had to dispense with it and use my car instead. Not sure where the club car was. If there are any bush mechanics out there that can do a job on it, it would make the operation run much better.
We kept flying until it got dark and I think there were about 17 launches in all - plus one aerotow. Harry managed to stay up for ages in his Ventus - much longer than anyone else, but I did see him use the iron thermal once. Its good fun on these winter days to use the winch to keep current.
On Sunday morning I had a good crowd of helpers to assist with derigging the mozzie and putting it into the trailer. Anyone who has assisted me with this before will know what a rotten job it is. Thanks very much guys. It looked like being a good day with plenty of cumulus popping before midday. I believe the winch was used again, - the tug hangar doors got stuck which made access to the tug difficult. However I am sure our ingenious members found a solution to the problem.
I had a very enjoyable couple of days at the club.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Queens Birthday Weekend
I was rostered to fly the tug on Friday 11th June, as Juho was not available. My plane had its first 25 hour service (on its third engine) on Thursday, so I flew up on Friday morning. Arrived about 10 am just in time to meet Vic, Al Giles, Gerhard and Jim Burson for a cup of tea. It was very cold. I don't have any cabin heat yet - but its coming!
Vic and Jim got the Puchatek out and I got the Tug ready. Jim had been flying with Ian during the week, and and done quite a bit of flying in a Jabiru, though not quite enough time to get his pilot certificate.
I did 7 launches for the day, all with Vic and/or Jim - although the sun came out, conditions were very still and there was no thermalling to be done. Jim did three solo flights - so another first solo for LKSC!
Ray and Marga Tilley turned up during the afternoon, John Williamson from Tassie and his friend Cree (short for Lucretia I think) and Rob from Central Coast Club and his friend Tom, from Canada arrived in the evening and we all spent a very convivial evening in the club house in front of a roaring fire!
Saturday was a busy day for Gerhard, who was instructing, and there were quite a lot of people to fly with. Rob fixes appliances for a living, and finished the job he started on our dishwasher last Easter, replacing all the rollers on the trays. He seemed most enthusiastic to fix things all over the club house - great to see!
I spent the morning replacing the bungees on the undercarriage doors of the Mozzie - thanks to John Clark, who had all the necessary materials to hand, and saved me a trip to Bearfast in the the morning. Phil Anderton flew the tug, and there were about 14 launches during the day. Soaring was possible from about 1300 to 1545, but not easy. Max height I got was 4000 feet ASL, but someone reported 4400! My best climb rate was a boomer of 2.7 kts! Chris Carr managed to get as far away as the Carrols, and so did John Clark, but I think he needed the iron thermal to get back. There were clouds in the distance to the west, but much to far away to get to.
We had a magnificent Christmas dinner in the club house prepared by John Hoy and Pam, with help from Marga Tilley, Fiona Singer, and several others - a marathon effort and greatly appreciated by all. Unfortunately no Christmas Pud - as someone left it at home - but we had apple crumble and custard instead.
There was a very heavy frost on Saturday night so I had to wait for it to melt of my plane before I could take off to come home - at least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Not sure what the gliding was like on Sunday, but the winch was out I know. Perhaps someone else will write the story?
I posted the photos I took of the festivities on the yahoo group site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lksc/photos/album/466925684/pic/list
Vic and Jim got the Puchatek out and I got the Tug ready. Jim had been flying with Ian during the week, and and done quite a bit of flying in a Jabiru, though not quite enough time to get his pilot certificate.
I did 7 launches for the day, all with Vic and/or Jim - although the sun came out, conditions were very still and there was no thermalling to be done. Jim did three solo flights - so another first solo for LKSC!
Ray and Marga Tilley turned up during the afternoon, John Williamson from Tassie and his friend Cree (short for Lucretia I think) and Rob from Central Coast Club and his friend Tom, from Canada arrived in the evening and we all spent a very convivial evening in the club house in front of a roaring fire!
Saturday was a busy day for Gerhard, who was instructing, and there were quite a lot of people to fly with. Rob fixes appliances for a living, and finished the job he started on our dishwasher last Easter, replacing all the rollers on the trays. He seemed most enthusiastic to fix things all over the club house - great to see!
I spent the morning replacing the bungees on the undercarriage doors of the Mozzie - thanks to John Clark, who had all the necessary materials to hand, and saved me a trip to Bearfast in the the morning. Phil Anderton flew the tug, and there were about 14 launches during the day. Soaring was possible from about 1300 to 1545, but not easy. Max height I got was 4000 feet ASL, but someone reported 4400! My best climb rate was a boomer of 2.7 kts! Chris Carr managed to get as far away as the Carrols, and so did John Clark, but I think he needed the iron thermal to get back. There were clouds in the distance to the west, but much to far away to get to.
We had a magnificent Christmas dinner in the club house prepared by John Hoy and Pam, with help from Marga Tilley, Fiona Singer, and several others - a marathon effort and greatly appreciated by all. Unfortunately no Christmas Pud - as someone left it at home - but we had apple crumble and custard instead.
There was a very heavy frost on Saturday night so I had to wait for it to melt of my plane before I could take off to come home - at least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Not sure what the gliding was like on Sunday, but the winch was out I know. Perhaps someone else will write the story?
I posted the photos I took of the festivities on the yahoo group site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lksc/photos/album/466925684/pic/list
Saturday, May 22, 2010
22 May 2010
Flew up to Lake Keepit in my new Brumby on Thursday morning, just in time to get to my aviation medical with Dr Henderson in Manilla. Fortunately he was happy with my state of health, so I am legal for another two years.
Grey overcast weather, great for power flying, but pretty ordinary for gliding, and Friday was much the same. Spent a relaxing day at the club, just walking, sleeping and drinking cups of tea. Delightful!
On Saturday I was rostered instructor - not many were present at briefing - only Harry Medlicott, Ian Downes, Juho, Geoff Sim and Peter Kemp - a visitor who's wife was attending a sewing session at the Sport and Rec along with Wendy Medlicott. Peter is ex-airforce, and flew Carribous in Vietnam. He was also involved with the RAAF Richmond gliding club for some years and did some towing there in an Auster.
Later on Christian Linnet, Bob Dircks and Greg Smith (Tuggie) and Justin Smith turned up. Phil Anderton came out to work on his plane, which is now looking like a real aeroplane, with wings and an engine!!
The weather was looking reasonable, a high pressure but with a small wiggle in the isobars near Keepit which looked as if it might give us some instability. 4000ft scattered was forecast at Gunnedah. Not expectimg much we called a task Manilla, Boggabri Gunnedah and back, with 20km circles and a 2 hr time.
Ian and Justin got the Grob 109 out and did some circuits in it then I took the first aerotow launch in the Grob with Peter at about 12.30 pm, although there had been clouds about for quite a while earlier. We only managed a grovel for about half an hour, despite the good looking sky. However Peter had no problem taking off and landing the glider. Harry took off after me and got away much more easily than I - and went around the task twice.
On a second attempt, Peter and I did much better, and were able to fly out beyond the Carrols, and got to cloudbase at about 5000ft. After an hour or so, Peter was not feeling too well as he has a nasty cold, so we came back to the field, and he landed quite safely.
Meanwhile Geoff Sim and Justin took of in the ASH GSI, and had a nice flight out beyond Boggabri. You had see it on the OLC, because I showed Geoff how to post to it later in the afternoon. While we were at it, we posted a flight of Ian Barraclough's on 19th May, and it turns out it was the only one posted in Australia that day!
Christian had a decent flight in the PIK UMC., and I was able to talk Greg Smith into going for a flight in the Grob with Phil Anderton - which gave me the opportunity to do a tow. Greg and Phil had about an hour burning up and down a cloudstreet (convergence?) which parked itself right over the airfield.
Ian organised a Barbecue and salad meal in the evening which was well attended. The idea was for Jan Dircks not to have to do any cooking, but she couldn't help making a dessert!
All in all a really nice day for the time of year, good gliding and good company.
Jenny
Grey overcast weather, great for power flying, but pretty ordinary for gliding, and Friday was much the same. Spent a relaxing day at the club, just walking, sleeping and drinking cups of tea. Delightful!
On Saturday I was rostered instructor - not many were present at briefing - only Harry Medlicott, Ian Downes, Juho, Geoff Sim and Peter Kemp - a visitor who's wife was attending a sewing session at the Sport and Rec along with Wendy Medlicott. Peter is ex-airforce, and flew Carribous in Vietnam. He was also involved with the RAAF Richmond gliding club for some years and did some towing there in an Auster.
Later on Christian Linnet, Bob Dircks and Greg Smith (Tuggie) and Justin Smith turned up. Phil Anderton came out to work on his plane, which is now looking like a real aeroplane, with wings and an engine!!
The weather was looking reasonable, a high pressure but with a small wiggle in the isobars near Keepit which looked as if it might give us some instability. 4000ft scattered was forecast at Gunnedah. Not expectimg much we called a task Manilla, Boggabri Gunnedah and back, with 20km circles and a 2 hr time.
Ian and Justin got the Grob 109 out and did some circuits in it then I took the first aerotow launch in the Grob with Peter at about 12.30 pm, although there had been clouds about for quite a while earlier. We only managed a grovel for about half an hour, despite the good looking sky. However Peter had no problem taking off and landing the glider. Harry took off after me and got away much more easily than I - and went around the task twice.
On a second attempt, Peter and I did much better, and were able to fly out beyond the Carrols, and got to cloudbase at about 5000ft. After an hour or so, Peter was not feeling too well as he has a nasty cold, so we came back to the field, and he landed quite safely.
Meanwhile Geoff Sim and Justin took of in the ASH GSI, and had a nice flight out beyond Boggabri. You had see it on the OLC, because I showed Geoff how to post to it later in the afternoon. While we were at it, we posted a flight of Ian Barraclough's on 19th May, and it turns out it was the only one posted in Australia that day!
Christian had a decent flight in the PIK UMC., and I was able to talk Greg Smith into going for a flight in the Grob with Phil Anderton - which gave me the opportunity to do a tow. Greg and Phil had about an hour burning up and down a cloudstreet (convergence?) which parked itself right over the airfield.
Ian organised a Barbecue and salad meal in the evening which was well attended. The idea was for Jan Dircks not to have to do any cooking, but she couldn't help making a dessert!
All in all a really nice day for the time of year, good gliding and good company.
Jenny
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Last Post?
After the competition was over, things were still very busy at the club. We had quite a few overseas visitors, and some more very good weather and high cloudbases.
Rod Tizzard, Hamish Johns and Phillip May went solo. Peter Robinson got his diamond goal and gold height, and I managed to get my gold height some fifteen years after completing the other two tests for my gold badge!!
My partner John visited from the UK again and resolo-ed in gliding after taking microlight flying lessons in the UK. He also progressed to flying the Junior.
John and I, my Dad, my friend Val, Harry Potts, Garry Speight and Juho all spent Christmas at the club, with Christmas lunch on my verandah, while the rain came down. Oh, and Robin dropped in as well.
After that it was monsoon season, and it rained for a week, with widespread flooding in NSW.
It became obvious that Dad could not manage at home any more, so I reluctantly tendered my resignation from the club, so that I could move back to Cowra to be with him. Rob de Jarlais stood in for most of February, and then Ian Downes took over as manager.
My last week at the club was a busy one, with Matthew Phoo going solo on Australia Day. On my last day, Friday 29th Jan, Mary Gordon went solo, and most remarkably David Tam. David is nothing if not persistent. He has been learning gliding for 3 years and finally jumped that hurdle after over 200 flights - many of them winch flights. I cannot help but admire his perseverance.
February saw the inaugural Keepit Regatta, which I was unable to attend as I had to look after Dad after some surgery that he had. By all accounts it was amazingly successful, and was followed up by a "four day weekend" organised by Allan Buttenshaw and others which a similar theme.
I had hoped to attend that one as well, but was stricken with terrible back pain that kept me out of the air for almost a month!
Since being back in Cowra I have been studying to be an ultralight instructor, as this is something I can do locally, but the back pain has slowed me down for that as well. My new plane, the Brumby, is finished and I have actually flown it last weekend, but it suffered an engine failure on Monday. Lucky I am a glider pilot - it was simple enough to glide it in on the main runway at Cowra! A new engine has arrived, and will be installed on this Monday19th April.
I visited the club for the first time this week, got my car and trailer registered, reinstalled the wheel on the mosquito and took it for a fly. Brilliant day - few cu, and 7000ft to be had - and I didn't take off until 3.30 pm. Managed to prize Juho out of the tug and did a tow - just to keep my hand in. Ian Barraclough was at the club working on the instruments in the ASH, Matthew Atkinson flew the LS6, Oyvind (?) from Norway flew the Junior, and some ex instructors from Southern Cross became current again without much trouble according to Ian. Gerhard flew his Jantar. I am really sorry I forgot their names, because they helped me heaps getting the wheel back on the Mosquito. I blame the red wine in the evening.
Friday was another good day - Oyvind flew the LS7 and I heard him on the radio at 8000ft. Lauren and Warwick Goddard came out to the club too. I spent most of the day going through all my stuff in the hangar, and packing the Jabiru with as much as I could fit in to take home.
Hope to be back soon - maybe by Brumby next time.
Rod Tizzard, Hamish Johns and Phillip May went solo. Peter Robinson got his diamond goal and gold height, and I managed to get my gold height some fifteen years after completing the other two tests for my gold badge!!
My partner John visited from the UK again and resolo-ed in gliding after taking microlight flying lessons in the UK. He also progressed to flying the Junior.
John and I, my Dad, my friend Val, Harry Potts, Garry Speight and Juho all spent Christmas at the club, with Christmas lunch on my verandah, while the rain came down. Oh, and Robin dropped in as well.
After that it was monsoon season, and it rained for a week, with widespread flooding in NSW.
It became obvious that Dad could not manage at home any more, so I reluctantly tendered my resignation from the club, so that I could move back to Cowra to be with him. Rob de Jarlais stood in for most of February, and then Ian Downes took over as manager.
My last week at the club was a busy one, with Matthew Phoo going solo on Australia Day. On my last day, Friday 29th Jan, Mary Gordon went solo, and most remarkably David Tam. David is nothing if not persistent. He has been learning gliding for 3 years and finally jumped that hurdle after over 200 flights - many of them winch flights. I cannot help but admire his perseverance.
February saw the inaugural Keepit Regatta, which I was unable to attend as I had to look after Dad after some surgery that he had. By all accounts it was amazingly successful, and was followed up by a "four day weekend" organised by Allan Buttenshaw and others which a similar theme.
I had hoped to attend that one as well, but was stricken with terrible back pain that kept me out of the air for almost a month!
Since being back in Cowra I have been studying to be an ultralight instructor, as this is something I can do locally, but the back pain has slowed me down for that as well. My new plane, the Brumby, is finished and I have actually flown it last weekend, but it suffered an engine failure on Monday. Lucky I am a glider pilot - it was simple enough to glide it in on the main runway at Cowra! A new engine has arrived, and will be installed on this Monday19th April.
I visited the club for the first time this week, got my car and trailer registered, reinstalled the wheel on the mosquito and took it for a fly. Brilliant day - few cu, and 7000ft to be had - and I didn't take off until 3.30 pm. Managed to prize Juho out of the tug and did a tow - just to keep my hand in. Ian Barraclough was at the club working on the instruments in the ASH, Matthew Atkinson flew the LS6, Oyvind (?) from Norway flew the Junior, and some ex instructors from Southern Cross became current again without much trouble according to Ian. Gerhard flew his Jantar. I am really sorry I forgot their names, because they helped me heaps getting the wheel back on the Mosquito. I blame the red wine in the evening.
Friday was another good day - Oyvind flew the LS7 and I heard him on the radio at 8000ft. Lauren and Warwick Goddard came out to the club too. I spent most of the day going through all my stuff in the hangar, and packing the Jabiru with as much as I could fit in to take home.
Hope to be back soon - maybe by Brumby next time.
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