From the CFI

As I write this we are only 19 days out from the shortest day, and then it’s down hill to the soaring season!...not that I’m counting of course! To be fair to November, it’s been one of the kindest months to us with respect to weather all year, with even some soaring being done! As the weather has played ball many people have achieved something.

Congratulations to Andy McKee and Ben Janson on going solo. Also my congratulations go to Symeon Economou on becoming a full category instructor, and Julian Saakwa- Mante on joining the team of instructors on gaining his basic rating. Symeon will be running the Friday evening group next year when the clocks go forward, and will be welcoming anybody who wishes to fly and help out.

The winching weekend held at Bicester was a huge success. Around twenty people attended over the course of two days, with several people going solo on this launching method. I think I speak for all concerned when I say thank you to Mike Phillpot for organising and running the event. No mean feat I can assure you, with that amount of people to organise over the weekend! Thanks Mike.

Finally, I was reading a newsletter from 4 years ago, and felt some of the points made by G were valid every year around this time. Have a read and try to bear them in mind:
(All can be viewed from this website - Alan)

A few seasonal reminders for all pilots now winter is here again.

The airfield is a little bit short for us when the grass is wet and muddy and the wind unfavourable. Please think about your take off run and if you expect to be marginal over the hedge, move back. This especially applies to the K21.

Don’t carry on flying until it is dark! Stop whilst you can still see.

Beware of the low sun in the afternoons. Landing into a low sun is very tricky, at least be aware of the potential problem.

Look after the grass. It’s going to be wet and soft. Don’t spin the gliders round on the spot, this action digs a hole in the grass….move them forward as you turn them around.

Please clean the gliders and tugs after the day’s flying. This takes ages and your help is required with this unpleasant task.

Tug pilots will find helpful information on winter ops on the notice board. Please read.

If the canopy keeps steaming up it is time to stop flying.
Instructors meeting – 22nd of Jan ‘05 16:00

This will be taking place in the briefing room in the clubhouse. Can everybody who is an instructor please make every effort to attend. I have a very important topic to discuss which needs everybody’s input.

Dinner Dance and awards – 5th Feb ’05 18:30 for 19:00

Tickets are now available priced at £25 per head. Please get yours from the office now before they all go! The awards for 2004 will be given out during the evening. Please read the sheet explaining what the trophies and cups are given for, and if you qualify for any of them, submit the flight.

Missing loggers

The club is currently missing 2 EW loggers. Their numbers are B0034 and B0069.
Can everybody who has used a club logger please make sure that they have not still got it in their car, or accidentally left it in their glider etc. If they are not returned shortly we will be notifying the BGA that they have been stolen and to render any claim from them useless.

Glider tool kits

Can people please stop taking out the tool kits from the wing roots of the K21’s. Recently, I have found tool kits for the gliders all over the place, from on the ground out in the field, to the floor of the bus. They will get lost.

They are perfectly safe in the root of the glider, as it’s root is designed to have things stored in them. In order to have the tool bag come out sideways at a velocity to cause trouble, you would already be in big trouble! The tool bag clipping your ear would be the last thing on your mind!

Final Note

When returning from the airfield, whilst it is still very wet and muddy, could you refrain from scraping the mud from your boots on the doorstep of the clubhouse. Two main reasons – firstly, it still gets walked into the clubhouse as everybody else walks through the mud and secondly it does not create a very good impression for visitors if they have to walk through or step over a muddy step. Apart from that, when it gets wet again it is very slippery and could cause somebody to slip and fall, possibly injuring themselves. In this age of compensation claims we would not wish to even contemplate going down that route.

Many thanks, in advance, for your co-operation.