October – November 2007
It’s fantastic how the UK’s cross-country soaring pilots just keep on raising their game. And if you can manage that epic flight once, then you can do it again – or, at least, that’s what a handful of intrepid people proved this summer…
In the October-November S&G you can read exclusive accounts of some of this summer’s most exceptional flights. We start withDavid Masson’s impressive double: he not only forecast two thermal 750 days in a row but flew 750s on each. Or what about Bruce Nicholson and Graham Garnett, who flew similar tasks but shared the cockpit of their Nimbus on both days? Then, three weeks later, John Williams fought back for Scotland’s honour in his Antares, Z7, with two 656km flights in wave – on the same day. Apparently, to tease his fellow pilots, he called, after the second lap: “Z7 restarting”. Only joking… but less than a week later he topped his double 650 with a staggering double 750km in a single flight. You can read all about it in the October S&G – with a second helping to come in the December issue.
Still on the theme of exceptional achievement, the British Team retained its place at the top with three Gold medals from this season’s internationals: World Champion titles for Gill Spreckley and Sarah Kelman, and European Champion for Pete Harvey. We have reports from these three international competitions as well as reports on UK nationals – including Ed Johnston’s account of winning the Open Class in an 18-Metre ASG 29 and a dual perspective on the Club Class from G Dale and Pete Masson.
But gliding isn’t only about long-distance successes and racing triumphs – it’s also about the enjoyment we derive from our time in the air and the pleasure we get in meeting our own personal challenges. There’s plenty of that in this issue, too, from the 70-plus achievements logged by students in the Inter-University Task Week and the bumper number of club news pictures, to the fun time had at the VGC Rally in Slovakia or on Imperial College’s expedition to Finland.
Now that the thermals are fading away over the British flatlands, it’s time to start thinking laterally about how you might travel vertically – maybe some ridge soaring, wave expeditions or even a journey to places where S&G’s many international readers are happily anticipating the start of their season…
Wherever you’re flying – have fun
Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
Smile – we’re going soaring
Andy Perkins, Air League and BGA volunteer, reports on the League’s Flying Day, held at Bicester in August
Soaring ‘Mä Haluun!’
Phenomenal flying, great fun – Shaun Murdoch recalls icGC’s Finnish exped
Students just wing it
Paul Bendrey reports on the 2007 Inter-University Task Week, where students clocked up more than 75 achievements, from four first solos to a 500km
Paul Bendrey reports on the 2007 Inter-University Task Week, where students clocked up more than 75 achievements, from four first solos to a 500km
The British Team scooped three Golds in 2007. We start with Liz Sparrow’s story of how the women won their worlds
Teaming up for a win
Braving the French rain, Pete Harvey successfully defended his title of European Champion
Poor weather in Lithuania
Gary Stingemore reports on a wet and chilly time at the Club and Standard Class Europeans
What a couple of days
David Masson not only forecast back-to-back 750 days in July, he flew 760km on each. Our two-part series about 2007’s glory days begins with David’s analysis of the met on July 30-31
No great expectations
Bruce Nicholson and Graham Garnett went one better than David by sharing a cockpit for their two 750s. How did that work?
One 750 isn’t enough for this ‘ladder slave’
In a spirit of friendly rivalry, John Williams was piling up the ladder points: two 656km laps in one flight then, less than a week later, a 770km lap. “Mmmm, that was nice!” John thought, “Shall I do it again?” So he did. Here’s how he flew 1,540 declared kilometres in a single day
Vintage GC Rally returns to Slovakia
Nearly a decade after it first went to Nitra, the VGC visited again. Jochen Ewald reports on an event that brought together around 350 people and 86 gliders from 22 countries
A comp of two halves
Tim Milner reports on a nationals that managed to secure four days, including two 300kms, from the rain
The week of the year
Richard Smith recounts eight days of racing, when the big wings of the Open Class were beaten to the prize by a newcomer in an 18-metre sailplane
A substitute for span? In the red shirt
Open Class Champion Ed Johnston explains why he bought the ASG 29 that he flew to victory – and what he now thinks of his new acquisition
Two views from the top
S&G has been lucky enough to get two perspectives on this year’s Club Class Nationals, one from winner G Dale, who first took the title even before it was a nationals, and from the first Club Class World Champion, Pete Masson, who came third in the 2007 nationals
Five good racing tasks
Mike Young reports on a change of class that gave him a competition that offered good beer, reasonable weather and an agreeable place to fly. Oh, and a nationals win…
Wet wet wet
By the time we asked him, Chris Starkey couldn’t remember much about his win, so his crew, Graham Hinder, stepped in. Perhaps Graham should change his name from Mr Hinder to Mr Help
More than pleased
Kelly Teagle chose to develop her cross-country skills by entering a comp. She achieved lots of flying – and her 300km. Here’s what she learned
Also in this issue:
BGA news; BGA Development News; your letters; BGA Sub-Committees; BGA Executive News; Tailfeathers; Gliding Gallery – Fire and Water; club gallery; club news; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries; AAIB update
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