From the CFI

Flying has got off to an amazingly good start despite the weather doing its best to hamper the early season efforts. Several people have made some reasonable x-country efforts, and the ridge has been used on several occasions to full effect. Now is the time when everybody needs to be keeping an eye on what the weather is doing and be ready to get up and go! It’s also the time to get your plans for this year underway. Anybody who needs field landing training should really be booking in now as to get this done as early as possible to not waste the season. Please book a good week in advance if possible as only a few instructors can do this and time needs to be made in order to do it. By the time you read this we should be fully professional again for the season, so mid week flying will be back to full strength, should you need a really intensive burst of flying to get the season underway and your checks done. Book your slot now!

PR should be back with us by the time this is at print. I would like to thank all the members who helped put her together again, and to Dave Richardson for taking on the organising of the project. A good job done in time for the season.

I hope everybody enjoyed the club dinner (as this was the last time I saw many of you before disappearing off on holiday) and it was great seeing so many of you there. I hope to have the same success again next year.

Booker inter club league

Booker will not only be putting a team together for this year, but will also be hosting a weekend. We will be hosting this fun competition along side the Regionals during the first weekend, i.e 25th and 26th of June.

We are desperately seeking pilots to compete for us in this comp with all classes needed from novice to pundit. More information and the other dates and venues can be found on the notice board, or through our team captain Paul Copland.

The idea of inter club league is to enable people with little or no competition experience have a go in a fun, not too serious an environment.

The pundit class must be flown in a two seater. I am allowing the duo to compete with suitable P1’s. This means there are several places up for grabs at the various venues for a P2 to fly with the pundit, and experience cross country competition, or get some instruction in this element of soaring.

Airspace

A grumble I’m afraid.
people straying “very close” to the airspace boundaries. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW where the boundaries are, as anybody found entering airspace could be liable for prosecution, and would bring the club into serious disrepute.

We are in the process of trying to improve our airspace around Booker and any infringement could damage this process. Any member found straying may be grounded and subject to some remedial training. Please don’t let this be you.

Evening groups

Evening groups are now up and running, meaning flying now takes place 5 days a week up until dark (weather permitting!). New members are always encouraged to come up and fly with a group. The groups are run by the following people:

Monday – Roy Highfield
Tuesday – Graham Saw
Wednesday – Chris Rowland
Thursday – Alan Smith
Friday – Symeon Economou

If you wish to get in contact with any of these gentlemen, please contact them through the club.

Regionals HELP!

Running the regionals is a great lot of fun, but quite a lot for one guy to do. As the club flying will be continuing around the comp, I need help from any member who can offer it. There are numerous roles that need filling. If you can donate your time to help, please contact me at the club.

Tug pilots

Recently, it was discovered that the cub had two cracked undercarriage bolts, one of which had its nut totally missing! It was clear that it had been flying for a while like this, as corrosion was evident inside the crack. Can everybody please do thorough DI’s and make sure the tugs are put away clean. It’s down to us now to catch problems early, and many of these can be solved quickly if reported. If the aircraft is not kept clean it’s difficult to find faults, and dirt tends to accelerate any problems. Please feel free to grab a squeegee and polish, and clean your aircraft on the next scrub day!

Instructors

The summer rota has now been produced. Please try to turn up on your duty days, or alternatively, arrange a replacement.

Some instructors are due there checks this year. They are as follows:

Year 3 checks

D Richardson A Perkins G Alison
P Clark R Garner M Hardwick
A Jenkins R Starey

Year 5 checks

Me!
R Martyn

We have all year to do these, but please do not wait until the last minute. Arrange to get them done early!