Friday 27 April

At least the winds have reduced in strength. However the rain continues and the ducks are having a great time.

Colin and his team are making great advances in the completion of the K13 repairs,despite the rotten weather The fin is now back on and the fabric and metalwork repaired. Next will be the rudder, wheel and lettering. So not too long now

 The venture is now almost ready for painting, but the damp conditions may not allow that to be done for a day or two.

Don

Thursday 26 April

Winds 20knots westerly. Showers forecast.

The day started with a briefing on weather, followed by a trek to the short hard. Alex Nicholls and Bob King continued their training---well done both, pretty turbulent conditions and a  strong wind gradient well handled.

Clive retrieved the last landing just moments before the heavens opened, so in true brummy style he got in the dry cockpit with Bob King and gave him an impromtu lesson on altimetry---now that is imaginative.

Needless to say it was still raining when we repacked the hangar, but a useful training  day.

Back in the workshop the K13 progresses well, it is just amazing how much work is involved.

Later in the evening, the children (Robin and Clive) were having helicopter dog fights in the club room, that was my call for bed---the giggling got a little too loud for me.

Don

Wednesday 25th April

And it continues to rain. Kath was observed checking out the field---yup definitely wet.

Kath was next seen painting the gents loo---and as she said---at least its dry there, except for the paint.

In the workshop Colin had concocted a little tunnel to direct the warmth of the heater onto the rebuilt end of the K13, to encourage the paint to dry.

Phil was, according to him, dashing around on his fuel thing. Dashing around obviously involves lots of tea and biscuits.

Lets hope for a better day Thursday.

Don

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Winds forecast at 340/10, and heavy rainshowers predicted for the afternoon. The rain showers did not materialise until much later.

Alan and Graham set some tasks in the hope that the weather would be favourable. They were right, and we had a great afternoon. Alan flew his 107km task with time to spare and Graham reduced his task to 200km from the original 300km and got around in good time.

Meanwhile club local soaring continued, with the K8, K6, discus, K13, DG300 hedging their bets as the wall of weather approached from the southwest.

Mini lectures included flight limitations and altimetry.

The day was complete with a beer and listening to the howidunnits.

Don

Monday 23 April

Monday 23 April 2012

Winds 135/10 with heavy showers and overdevelopment forecast later. Cloudbase 2800 QFE.

Hans, our German guest  led the way with a blistering climb in the K13. I dont know why, but I had pictures of those Magnificent men in their flying machines flash through my mind as we steadily climbed at 6 knots up to cloudbase.

Clive (our kid) followed suit in his K6, but was sensible enough to land before the rain started.

We just got the gliders away before the really heavy rain arrived, April showers---you are not joking.

Don

Meanwhile, in a parrallel universe...

Fortune favours the patient...
http://www.bgaladder.co.uk/dscore.asp?FlightID=35775&RC=

The Black Mountains (Hay Bluff and the Main Ridge)

The Breacon Beacons

Llangorose Lake

Evening Wave

Hi all

Saturday the 21st  turned out to provide  a better start  than expected  Graham had earlier, decided it would not be good enough to run a task so few cross country boys turned up. Dave was still busy mowing the grass.

The day started with a clear blue sky so we got started early. The first flight was a trial lesson aerotow and Mick took the visitor on a 20 minute soaring flight.The visitor was highly delighted and thoroughly enjoyed the experience

Second aerotow was Roger Tyrrell to 4000 ft to carry out is AFR.

During the day the big wings were out and a couple of soaring flights to entertain the troop.

Then Tez our treasurer took me to 2000 ft a couple of times as a prelude to him doing is first solo aerotow.From his second tow he successfully achieved a nice soaring flight of 30minutes with me sat quietly in the back with the occasional prompt. The thermals were not particularly strong and short lived but Tez's patience was finally rewarded with a good thermal to 3,500ft.

By this time the afternoon was progressing and so were the dark clouds, with heavy rain evident around the field.

Still we weren't getting wet so off on the winch with Roger to do some cable break practise.Having landed at the far end of 28 it was a prudent decision to pop Bruno's Ka13 in the top hanger and wait out the rain.

This soon passed so off we went to start flying again.With only one further launch heavy rain was on the horizon so it was time to call it a day.

Thanks also to Trish Langlands who drove the winch and Rowen with Dave Gould flying the tug.

A successful day and congratulations to Tez and Roger who achieved their objectives.

Also deserving a mention, Al Cooke and Lee, who with a bit of help, successfully laid the new floor covering in the club house kitchen and Tez and Trish got up to speed with some of our accounts.
Bruno was busy completing the ARC for Jon and Roy's glider

Liz and Mike went off for food for the usual Sat night cook in. And Alan, our chairman, and Martin entertained the us in the bar to an early evening  renditions on their Guitars clearly warming up for the final concert at the end of the soaring week. Some real talent.

Derrick

BGA Instructor Course

L-R: Rowan (Bloggs 1), Mick, Steve, Simon (lead coach), Ian (assistant coach), Richard, Paul, Bruno (Bloggs 2)

Shenington BGA Instructor Course Team



BGA Instructor Coach Simon Adlard

 

Last week saw the 9 day BGA Assistant Rating Instructor Course held at Shenington between Sat 7th and Sun 15th April.

The course was allegedly the first one ever where all candidates passed all sections of the theory test first time!

On course were Stephen P (Starford-on-Avon GC), Mick F (Shenington GC), Richand H & Paul W (Oxford GC). The BGA Coach was Simon Adlard, assisted by Ian Atherton (CFI SGC) with help from Rowan Griffin (DCFI SGC) and Bruno Brown (SGC Pro Instructor) who both played the parts of "Bloggs" to perfection.

Special thanks must also go to Winch Driver Kath Barnes and Tug Pilot Dave Gould for all their help during the week, as well as SGC Professional Instructor Don Puttock. Despite some challenging weather all cadidates performed well throughout learning lots, gaining good passes and having fun to boot!!!

Photos by Mary Meagher.


 

Mick gets ready for a spinning trip with Ian, whilst Richard waits to help launch.

Phil H with Don

 Friday 13 April

Winds VRB05, little cloud and foggy to start.

The fog delayed the start of flying, and first airborne was the instructor course who did countless launch failures. Launch failures must be addictive, because they didnt seem to want to stop.

The club training started with a talk on Altimetry before flying about 12 noon. Paul Halpin had a one day course and progressed very well, Alex Nicholls is a 3 month member just getting into the swing of club operations and Jason a solo pilot working on the bronze C all had a great day.

The K6E and the discus came out for another airing while Graham went off in his "starship" for a romp around the countryside.

Thanks everyone for making this another great day.

Don

Thursday 12 April

winds 340/05, with cumulus forming quickly Cloudbases 2000ft QFE and cu nims threatened.

The instructor course continued with spinning exercises and circuit planning exercises. Rain stopped play temporarily late afternoon but they managed to restart and then retire for an evening briefing.

Meanwhile club training continued with Bob King and Lucy Wootton, congratulations to Lucy for converting to the K8 very well done. Theroetical training included DIs, Nav part 2, and how to find, and stay in, thermals. A great day.

The K6E was brought out for an airing, and did some great flying just ahead of a rather large and black Cunim. Yes it did land in good time.

Don  

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Winds 300/15 with cumulus quickly developing and cu nims and hail forecast for pm.

Graham Paul set off with Alan on a 200k task and returned before the rains arrived at Shenington.

Spinning was the exercise for the instructors course, and circuit training in the Venture in the evening.

Well done Garry Bronze leg completed, persistence obviously works.

The 2 trial lessons both enjoyed soaring flights.

Don

Tuesday 10 April

Winds 280/20 with cumulus cycling quickly and heavy rainshowers developing pm.

The instructors course continues with aerotowing all day until the rain came. Welcome to Mike Fox, National Coach who popped in to see how the course was progressing.

Bad luck to Garry Weston who missed his 2nd bronze leg by 7 minutes, better luck next time.

Don

Monday 9 April

You can tell its a Bank Holiday monday, because its raining. Rain and low cloud all day didnt put off Simon Adlard and Ian Atherton and the instructors course----briefings all day long, and some pretty tired looking trainee instructors.

Meanwhile Gary Weston continued his progress towards bronze with a bronze C exam pass and theory "oral" test complete. Well done Gary, smart move to choose a wet day for this stuff.

Weather looks much better for tomorrow---oops, shouldnt have said that.

Don 

Friday 6 April 2012

 Wind light NW and a general overcast with occasional breaks. Welcome to Martin Bone who had his first taste of gliding with a one day course.

After lunch we had a period of quite difficult but interesting thermals, possibly encouraged by wave.

Well done to Gerry Weston who got his first bronze leg, he says there was nothing to it---but it was quite difficult.

Clive Smith had a workout in the K21 before setting off solo in it --for the first time.

At the days end everyone set to removing the tailskid from the K13 for a quick overnight repair---thanks yet again to Colin for keeping us flying.

Don

Don's Mid-Week Update

Monday 2 April 2012
The weather was surprisingly soarable, with strong thermals and winds 300/10. Graham Paul and John Le-Croyte set off cross country and reported climbs of up to 10 knots!
Welcome back to Harry Abrahams who hasn’t flown for 18 months. On his first flight he demonstrated he hadn’t forgotten everything and soared for 40 minutes or so before we got down to the hard work. His day ended with cable break refreshers.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

The sky overcast at about 4000ft with a few cumulus dotted around with bases at 1000ft. Winds 300/10.
Harry continued his training with an aerotow followed by spins and spiral dives before going off solo again. Very nearly a bronze leg, never mind---next time.
Alex Nicholls, day course, was handling the whole flight by the end of the day so very well done to him as well. By mid afternoon the rains arrived and stopped us flying.

Wednesday 4 April 2012
Low cloud and drizzle for most of the day. Cold?---I should say so. Harry Abrahams sat and passed his bronze C exam and started on the bronze oral test. Again very well done.
Meanwhile Cath Barnes was learning about aircraft maintenance.
The day finished with Colin and I retrieving the K13 DVX from the workshop at Booker.

Reports by Don Puttock.