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.

 

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

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

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