August – September 2008

From beginner to Gold in just six months to a 30-year journey to solo, from choosing a pair of sunglasses that will protect your eyes while helping you detect thermals to staying established in wave, there’s something for everyone in the August-September issue of S&G.

Our front cover shows Gold medallist Matt Plumridge and Jon Ross putting Lasham’s K-21 through its paces. With memories of summer and thermals fading fast, Matt was looking for something to maintain his interest during the winter. Then he discovered aerobatic flying and how perfecting aerobatic skills leads to greater self-assurance in handling gliders and greater safety in the air.

The weather has been pretty rubbish for the early summer and not just in the UK. Untypical Spanish weather also made for someinteresting flying in the Overseas. Shaun Lapworth gives us the inside story on how canyon capers turned what should have been simple into the retrieve from hell. Predicting the weather for competitions can be challenging but rewarding says Hugh Brookes, who has been forecasting for glider competitions since the early eighties.

Everyone’s journey to solo is different. Peter Robinson went for a four-day gliding course at Dorset thirty years ago. Erratic progress resulted in a switch to hang gliding, but gliding felt like unfinished business. Peter finally soloed in the scenic surrounding of Australia’s Lake Keepit where he swapped difficulties with winch launching with the problem of roos on the runway.

September sees the UK qualifying round of the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix taking place at Lasham. Mike Birch looks at how the competition format could transform people’s perceptions of gliding and Grand prix competitor Pete Harvey warns that if we are not careful we will all become fuddy-duddies enjoying our flying but not having the youngsters coming through to keep it vibrant.

Also in this issue: BGA Chairman Patrick Naegeli thanks those that have taken the time to submit their thoughts on Mode S to the CAA. BGA Chief Executive Pete Stratten provides an update on airworthiness transition and emphasises the importance of getting your transition application in by the deadline of 28 September. There’s another great article on wave from Gavin Wills. This time he offers some top tips on remaining established in wave and harnessing its power. Freelance test pilot Hugh Woodsend puts the PW-6 through its paces to see how it rates as a basic trainer. From August all new glider designs in Europe will be required to have acrashworthy cockpit. Tony Segal, medical advisor to the international OSTIV Sailplane Development Panel, looks at the new legislation that should considerably improve the protection of the pilot from injury. British Juniors have been training in Spain becoming more independent, more adventurous and a lot more confident in their ability to find climbs in the blue.

Well I hope you enjoy my first issue. Thanks to everyone for your contributions – your words, photos and especially your support have been much appreciated. Safe flying.