Current Issue

From an ideal first glider to an epic 7,000km flight by two motor gliders to the heart of Arabia, you can read about it in the June-July issue of S&G. There is valuable advice on reducing the chance of a mid-air collision, plus how one pilot made history turning Tongue in a pure glider.

In 1979 a young woman flew her Grob G102 Astir over Pike’s Peak, N America, to an altitude of 41,460ft – an FAI women’s record that still stands. More recently, you need to have a fairly thick skin to fly an Astir. Comments like, “Ah yes, the old Concrete Swan,” are water off a swan’s back to owners of these durable machines that have launched many a gliding career and still form the single-seat backbone of many clubs. Adrian Morgan flies an Astir CS 77 Jeans and has collated honest opinions from Astir owners on variations of this glider, from comfort and build quality to price and potential problems to look out for before buying one. It is an ideal first glider, and you’re getting almost the performance of an ASW 19 for about a third of the price. This article is the first in a planned series looking at the more affordable gliders to buy that still have much to offer. Next issue the focus is on the Kestrel.

Guy Westgate and Rob Barsby are the Aerosparx team specialising in night-time formation aerobatics shows with fireworks. They are no strangers to taking part in events in Dubai, but the latest invitation came too late for the usual sea container crossing. The display was planned for the spectacular finale to the Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race in the world. There was only one thing for it – an epic 7,000km flight for two motor gliders to the heart of Arabia. Every leg had to be meticulously calculated to get the most out of each daylight hour, but the biggest concern was being pinned down by bad weather. The trip involved 50 hours’ flying over eight days, navigating international bureaucracy and experiencing some unforgettable sights from the cockpits of the Grob 109s, including pyramids. As Guy says: “The best journeys are not just about where you land but about everything you experience along the way.”

Meticulous planning is also essential for circuit planning. Not surprisingly, most mid-air collisions occur when aircraft fly close together. Half of UK glider-glider collisions are in thermals. A tenth have occurred while ridge soaring, despite long-established rules for turning, overtaking and giving way. A further fifth of glider-glider collisions occur in or around the airfield circuit – and, at circuit height, as on the ridge, it’s usually too low to use a parachute. Some clubs permit different circuits at the end of the day to allow gliders to return to the hangars or trailer park. There is great scope for conflict with normal circuit traffic and with gliders heading to other parts of the airfield. For an orderly, predictable flow of circuit traffic that minimises the risk of collision, three things are necessary: circuits and procedures must be well designed; pilots must be aware of and understand them; and then they have to be followed.

Jordan Richards had been studying others’ flights and scouring satellite maps for possible landing options for a long time before setting out on a flight that was a first from Aboyne. Tongue has inspired pilots due to its remoteness and, quite often, fierce conditions. It has a rather exclusive club of pilots that have turned it, a club of similar size to those that have stood on the moon. Jordan’s flight on 2 March in an ASW 20 was the first time that a pure glider had turned Tongue. Jordan says it is a flight that will live long in his memory and hopefully inspire others to push their boundaries. As he says, you don’t always need a motor to visit the far flung and remote reaches of this beautiful country we call our playground.

Also in this issue: Jordan Johnson is in the spotlight for our pilot profile. There’s a report from Europe’s largest aviation fair, AERO 2025. Richard Roth experiences a landout from hell. Chris Booker looks at how we can all benefit from the introduction of modern technology into our sport, with a look at Clubstar. Andrew Jarvis reflects on the timeless appeal of the T-21 and says that everyone, young and old, should experience a flight in this historic glider. Kevin Atkinson looks at weather forecasting. Pete Stratten urges you to submit your conversion application, with SPL requirement just months away. Plus, many more of your stunning images in the Gallery pages.

Fly safely and have fun