BOOKER GLIDING CLUB

BOOKER GLIDING CLUB

WYCOMBE AIR PARK, MARLOW, BUCKS SL7 3DP

INFORMATION SHEET

September 2005

CFI – Matt Cook is leaving Booker Gliding Club at the end of September. Matt has been working at Booker for 5 years and has been CFI for the last 2 years. On behalf of all the members and staff of Booker Gliding Club we would like to thank Matt for his dedication, hard work and enthusiasm and wish him all the very best with his new career in the “City”.

We are pleased to announce that Andy Henderson, who has been with us for the past two seasons, has agreed to become our new CFI. We would like to wish him all the very best for the future.

In common with gliding generally, the total annual number of launches at Booker has reduced over the past few years and the Committee has agreed that the Club does not now need to own and maintain five tugs. In addition an analysis of the usage of our gliders has shown that that single seaters have been under-utilised and that the K21 (FYV), which was purchased pending the refurbishment of K21 (ECZ), may well be also surplus to requirements. The Committee has, therefore, placed advertisements with a view to selling one tug, the Discus ( 316) and possibly FYV. These sales will reduce overall operating costs without adversely the affecting the Club’s operations and will provide the club with a useful cash boost following the unexpected costs incurred through the change of ownership of Red Letter Days and a very belated back rates demand on our hangars.

We are looking to convene a special meeting of the members in November to discuss the future strategy and direction of the club and I will write more about this in the October newsletter.

Once again a huge vote thanks go to Dave Byass who, after taking on the role of Chairman for the second time in 2004, has had to step down due to work commitments. Dave will be staying on the Committee with special responsibility for BAS. I have taken over as Chairman but intend to stand down at the AGM next year. Thanks go to Garry Nuttall who has agreed to act as Treasurer until the AGM. It is clear that we urgently require more help on the Committee – do not be bashful in volunteering!

Well, thank god for August! About time we had some decent flying weather. There’s been tons happening at the club over the month. Congratulations go to Chris North, Matt Evans on going solo, Jay Rebbeck for winning the Club Class Nationals, Tim Scott for winning the French 15 Meter Nationals (they don’t like it up ‘em!) and everybody else who achieved a goal this month.

Talking of achieving goals, the x-country soaring course proved a huge success. Well done to the ten on the course who not only started getting around tasks, but also got faster and faster.

The Duo Discus has recently returned from the Junior Nationals where it was helping the B.G.A in training young pilots to go cross country. The programme was designed about ten years ago to introduce young pilots still at university or school to x-country. 315 was flown by our members who were, or are, current national champions, and the whole thing proved a great success. It’s fantastic marketing for the club to the members of the future.. I personally found the club by exactly this route when I flew with a G Dale in the two seaters in 1997.
With September just around the corner, many people begin to wind down and think the season is over. September and October offer some great flying (I still do 300 at over 100kph in September!) so keep on the lookout for the days to fly, and don’t pack up to early. The seasons seem to go on longer nowadays. Now, with all this in mind a couple of us have set up a new “mini ladder” for cross countries during the months of September and October. This will be called

Every cross country made and scored on the ladder after the 1st of September up till the end of October can enter.

The normal ladder points count towards the score Plus an added point score per day after the first of September (5 times the value of the day after the 1st September i.e – 31st Sept gets an extra 155 points!)

This gives people a real chance of putting up some good scores from smaller flights in October for example! – The winner will be announced at the Annual Dinner, and given the bubbly!
So keep going!!

I’m sure most people are aware by now that I am moving on to pastures new at the end of the month. This does not mean you’ve got rid of me for good, simply that I will be doing my bit as a member from now on.

I’ve had a great time working at the club over the last 5 seasons, and have enjoyed helping and watching many old and new members alike develop in the sport. Having come from a rather humble beginning, starting at a club in the back of beyond where everybody pitched in to keep the knackered winch going and people launching in a K8, I have always appreciated what Booker has in the way of its ethos towards gliding, its’ kit, and infrastructure.

Booker is as close to a professional club as it can be without losing its club atmosphere, and that’s what I think is really special. However, Booker isn’t fully professional, and relies on the members which are on the rotas and help out the running of the club on a day to day basis. As well as thanking these members, I would like to show them as the example to which all members should try to become. One of my biggest problems as CFI was keeping all the plates spinning with less and less help. If everybody does a little something to help, the club will move forward into the future with a healthy heart and bank balance!

This list is open in the office for this years visit to the Deeside Gliding Club at Aboyne.

We will be taking 1 or 2 two seaters and single seaters to suit the experience level of members on the trip. Site checks, training and subsequent solo flying is all supervised by four fully rated instructors. Everyone is welcome.

Aboyne is a fantastic wave site, wave should occur in any wind with a westerly element from south round to north. The hills give good thermals and provide hill soaring opportunities as well.

We stay in an 11 bed log cabin in the hills near the airfield, there are also plenty of pubs, B & Bs and houses to rent in the area if you don’t fancy staying with the herd.

Each week runs from Sunday morning to Saturday evening. You move into the log cabin on Saturday afternoon, out by the following Saturday morning.

If you are interested, further information from me, 01494 529263, ring or call in to put your name on the list. There will be a couple of spare slots for private owners each week, or book your glider in direct with Aboyne.

When you book in, we need to know if you want to use the log cabin, bring your own glider and if you can tow a glider to/from Aboyne.

A £50 deposit will be necessary as we have to pay for accommodation and glider bookings 12 months in advance. The deposit is offset against your final bill.

After glider releases – gently set power to 200 RPM below climb rpm, gradually increase speed to no more than 95 kts.

After initial temperature reduction (usually about 40-50 seconds), gradually allow speed to increase to 110kts, adjusting power as required to arrive at a final turn for a glide approach.

You are looking for a low rate of cht cooling. It is preferable to drive the a/c back with some power, than returning with a low power setting.
On take off – open throttle smoothly to full power over about 5 seconds. Monitor temps & pressures during the climb, make all throttle changes gently when the engine is hot. Idle engine at 1200 RPM.

Thrashing the a/c back at high speed with low power will not increase the launch rate. The only way to a fast launch rate is lots of serviceable tugs operating & an efficient ground crew. If you are concerned about the launch rate, keep the log, do the radio, hold wingtips, hook people on, signal and move gliders off the landing area.

Approach no lower than 150’ over the hedge. You cannot stop abeam the bus on 17 & 06 without either approaching too slow or too low in still air.