June has proved not to be as bad as it can be with some wonderful flights being made. The month also proved to be a great bit of timing for the regionals with eight out of a possible nine competition days flown! This is very rare. My thanks go to the team who run the week along side me, as well as all the members who turned up to help. Congratulations to Dave Watt for winning the comp, and to everybody who achieved a goal during the comp!

With the regionals in mind, I am trying to source some members who would be interested in forming a team to run a competition themselves. Obviously I would be around to help and train, but I think a couple of teams to run comps though a season would be great fun! If you are interested in the idea, and fancy being involved or directing your own comp, come and talk to me.

At the time of writing, the Club Class World Gliding Championships draw to an end in Norway. Two club members have been representing the Nation in this comp, and both have had great success. Richard Hood narrowly missed the podium this time around coming in at 6th having made it to silver twice in the two previous worlds, and winning the national title 4 times. His team partner Jay Rebbeck, a new member to the club, took silver, adding to a string of successes nationally and internationally. Well done guys!

August task week

We will be running a task week the first week of August. Hopefully we will have some weather this time! I’ll be around to do some lead and follows if needed as well as brief and task set, and as always, the duo is available for training. Anybody with a goal to achieve be there!

Foreign expedition

I am hoping to run an expedition next year to Spain. The site I plan to use is Ontur. This site is awsome, with its mountains to the west and plains to the north, not to mention the incredible 1500’ ridges just 5 km’s of the end of the runway. The flying out there is great, with it being safe enough for everybody to get something out of flying there, even early solo. Accommodation is good with very cheap hotels only 5 miles away, or bungalows available on site.

The aim is for us to take the Duo out to train people and do check rides, whilst there will be single seaters from Brian Spreckleys fleet available for hire. Dates will follow nearer the time, but I am aiming for mid to late April ’05.

If you are interested please put your name down in the office. Please be aware there will be a small charge to come (around £50) as a deposit.

Instructors please remember:

All solo and instructional flying launches and hours need to be completed by the 30th Sept and in to the club by way of a renewal form by 30th Oct. Now is the time to get them done!
If you are unsure of your hours and launches requirement, please check the instructor board in the clubhouse. People still requiring checks for this year please contact myself, Andy Perkins, or Graham Saw in order to get them done.

Bookings for our annual visit to the Deeside Gliding Club at Aboyne are being taken now at the club office.

We take a K21 and Duo Discus with three fully rated instructors and one or two single seaters depending on demand.

We have a log cabin in Glen Tanar with 11 beds for the first two weeks and another house with 6-8 beds, subject to demand, for the third week.

Private owners are welcome, please book your glider in with Aboyne as early as possible: phone number from our office.

If you would like to take part, book in with our office as soon as possible. The only necessary qualification is a tow bar on your car to enable us to get the kit to and from Aboyne. You will need to decide if you want to use the club organised accommodation or book your own, and pay a £50.00 deposit to confirm your place on the trip.

Further details from me, Dave Byass, Tom Moutrie or Matt.

The lists are half full already and only 11 weeks to go!

David Richardson