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December – January 2008

If you’ve only just discovered gliding as cold weather sets in for the UK, don’t despair – it’s a great time to give yourself a headstart for the fun days of next summer.

When the weather really is too bad for flying, it’s also a great time of year to daydream about what you’ll do next summer – and then to plan to turn those hopes into reality. One way of improving your skills, says BGA National Coach Mike Fox, is to take part in a competition. You don’t have to be out for a place in the Worlds to benefit from the fun and facilities comps offer. There are of course the BGA-rated contests – see the provisional ratings list and the comps calendar in the December issue if that’s where your interests lie – and then there are all the other options, too. Enterprise, the Inter-Club League, the Mountain Soaring Competition, the Wolds Two-Seater Competition, aerobatics – whatever flavour of flying you like, there’s a comp to accompany it. All you have to do is enter and turn up.

Also in this issue, Jochen Ewald reports from the summer Idaflieg research meeting, Devin Giddings explains how an Air League Scholarship helped him towards his goals, Charlie Jordan looks back at a rainy Junior Nationals and Nick Gaunt describes some Enterprising flying.

Finally, we linger longingly on the glory days of 2007 with the second in our series on the subject. Kay Draper, Bernie Morris, Andy Wright, Bruce Cooper, Phil King and Martyn Davies explain how they did their 750s. Ed Downham updates us on what the London GC’s EB28 syndicate has been up to (flying one-and-a-half times round the world, if you must know). And John Williams, winner of the On Line Contest’s flight of the year, creates a new turning point – in the North Sea, where else? – to widen Scotland enough foran east-west 1,000km in wave. In this issue, his non-gliding partner Wendy MacPhedran reveals the personal slogan behind his success…

Season’s Greetings, enjoy your flying – and don’t get your feet wet.

Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
Probing glider performance

Jochen Ewald reports on the research conducted at the Idaflieg summer meeting at Aalen-Elchingen, near Stuttgart

 

Achieving long distances

We start the second in our series about the glory days of 2007 with
Ed Downham’s tales of travels in 13 and his tips for longer flights, followed by more 750 tales from Kay Draper, Bernie Morris, Andy Wright and Bruce Cooper.

 

First 750s for club and pilots

Phil King and Martyn Davies describe how they flew their club’s first 750s – from early winch launches on August 8

 

Don’t waste your winter

If you’ve only just discovered gliding as cold weather sets in,
don’t despair – it’s a great time to give yourself a headstart for the fun days of next summer, explains John Marsh

 

Up and away on an Air League award

Devin Giddings of Nottingham University GC explains how a flying scholarship helped him towards a long-standing goal

 

Coast to coast – and beyond

Scotland too narrow for your 1,000km? No problem. Just invent a turning point – “North Sea 1” will do – then fly there via the Hebrides. At least, that’s what John Williams did in wave to earn his water wings

 

Getting the most from your sport

Mike Fox, the BGA National Coach, outlines why flying in competitions is a good way of learning more and having fun

 

Day one – of one

a rain-drenched Tibenham

 

Hard work but worth it

A flight of 625km and another day win at 207km/h – that’s Enterprising, says Nick Gaunt

 

Settle down to winter reading

Christmas is approaching, so why not get yourself a present you really want? Even better, you could persuade a loved one to treat you. We’ve taken a look at some books you might add to your wishlist

 

Also in this issue:

BGA news; 2008 Competition Calendar; your letters; BGA Development News; BGA Executive News; BGA Technical News; Tailfeathers; Gliding Gallery – the ends of the day; BGA Provisional Ratings List; Competition results; club focus – Kestrel; club gallery; club news; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries

 

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