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.

Another Fox story

Well what to do? that was the question I tried to find the answer most of the day. Having decided to attend the briefing on flying the Fox, I felt reasonably well prepared.

During the day I was doing a duty and watched with interest the preparations and flights of those already on the list.

I did think at one stage I would be robbed of a chance to fly by what appeared to be a major problem with the tug, but a false alarm and it was now my turn.

Having seen other flights I must admit it was with some intrepidation I stepped aboard,well to be honest I was helped into the cockpit by Guy and Val, the old man's syndrome

So off went after a refresher briefing by Guy. What a super glider to fly smooth and responsive and not really as twitchy as I expected.

So it was time on the downwind leg of the aero tow to had over to Guy for rolls on tow. That was a super experience. I don't think I have ever been upside down in a glider with me hanging the straps and that came as a bit of a surprise.It was after that I realised that most of my body weight was hanging on a couple of lap and body straps, no wonder it felt unusual.

All was well and I really looking forward to the rest of the flight. Up to 4000 feet and off the tow to commence a number of manoeuvers, loops, rolls inverted flying and finally a bit of demonstration flying by Guy, Stall turn half roll out, barrel roll and final approach to land. The last manoeuvres at a height normally reserved for the final part of a gliding circuit.

All in all a fabulous experience and one to be repeated when coffers are again full.

Derrick

Foxing About!!!

Guy (front) & Ian flying the Fox

Getting on line.

An exciting week of aerobatics with Guy Westgate and the GliderFX Aerobatic team culminated in a beautiful high pressure weekend perfect for the training  that his team provided. Further details on the GliderFX website blog at: http://www.glideraerobatics.com/

Guy withour new Course Instructor Val before their flight.

Tug Pilot Gary in the Pawnee.

Guy makes a confidence inspiring entance to the Fox...!!!