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On the same day, 50 pilots turned Snowdon, while later in the year a ‘big’ wave day at Deeside delivered many Diamonds. You can read about these flights in the Feb/March issue of S&G. Discover an affordable racing glider, and learn how to avoid ‘the clutching hand’

It wasn’t the fastest day of the year and the tasks weren’t the longest, or the best scoring on the National Ladder. So, what made 10 May a special day for many pilots up and down the country? The BGA Ladder revealed 50 gliders turning Snowdon that day, with flights from clubs all over Southern England. Something extraordinary was happening on the Lasham grid, with everyone heading to the same turnpoint. The prospect of turning Snowdon had pilots tearing up tasks previously planned. The combination of the long haul from Lasham, proximity to the sea and the terrain requires a very particular day. This felt like that day. Paul Fritche, Jon Gatfield and Ian MacArthur describe their epic flights.

An October day was shaping up as a strong wave day at Aboyne. WhatsApps started pinging around and, with lots of visitors at Aboyne from Lasham, Dunstable and Banbury, Sant Cervantes organised a briefing for the previous evening, giving weather forecasts and outlining likely tasks. Many visitors were hoping for Diamond heights; 500km and 750km tasks were planned. Alarm clocks were set for early starts on 9 October. On the grid, the sky wasn’t showing classic wave indications, but the forecast was good so launching began. The superb day delivered 11 Diamonds and two Golds. Two Deeside members completed their Diamonds: Steve Kenyon-Roberts and Steve Kentish reflect on their flights.

If you get the chance to fly an ASW 20, take it. That’s the advice from owners of this affordable racing glider, who say it is comfortable and easy to fly. Designed to meet the 1975 FAI 15m rules, the ASW 20 came second in the 1978 World Championships and first in 1981. It found a new competitive life in recent years when the Club Class handicap system was changed. Demand was so great for the ASW 20 that Schleicher licensed production to Centrair in France. However, Centrair changed the original ASW 20 design without Schleicher’s permission. They were all made with Vorgelat gelcoat which cracks with age. The Centrair version was formally disowned by Schleicher. The ASW 20 is an easy glider to maintain. Schleicher still sells most parts, but not for Centrair variants; Centrair no longer supports any of its gliders with spares or documents. The ASW 20 is an affordable racing glider that would satisfy any reasonably competent pilot. Look for the best looked after example you can, ideally with self-connecting elevator, nose hook, lift-up panel and other ASW 20C modifications. Regardless of how shiny the new paint is, get an expert to look closely at the innards to avoid future hassle and expense.

Gliding lore has long described a phenomenon known as the clutching hand, which in windy conditions appears to unsuspecting pilots in the form of strong sink on final approach. It’s cited in a steady trickle of BGA accident reports when it has caused a glider to run out of energy before reaching the landing area and land short of the airfield, hit an obstacle, or stall during the round-out. The reports commonly refer to The Clutching Hand as if it were the supernatural terror in a Victorian melodrama. It represents at least three different phenomena, some predictable and all somewhat foreseeable. All involve the flow of air over the ground, but the details of the airflow and how we deal with it can be subtly different. The BGA Safety Team considers some hazards on final approach in strong winds.

Also in this issue: Laura Martin is in the spotlight for our pilot profile. Philip Carpenter reflects on a stately approach to landing out. John Pursey reports on a return exped to Dornach after 50 years. Daniel Weston competes at the US Glider Aerobatic Nationals. Rose Johnson and Kate Bryne spell out the differences in the SFCL syllabus. Dominic Newton highlights plans to help the next generation of inspectors qualify for Part 66L engineer licences. Kevin Atkinson looks at thermals. Grimshaw goes west. Andrew Jarvis witnesses a rarity in flight – the Schweizer TG-3A. Alison Randle looks at stewardship of our airfields. Pete Stratten highlights the need for flexible ways to contribute to gliding. Plus, many more of your stunning images in the Gallery pages.

Fly safely and have fun