August – September 2003
Amid the publicity for the centenary of powered flight, another pioneer has been gone comparatively unsung. Fifty years before the Wrights, Sir George Cayley’s hapless coachman took to the British sky for the first manned glider flight. Although the coachman wasn’t impressed – resigning his job on landing – the Wrights were. “Sir George Cayley,” said Wilbur in 1908, “carried the science of flying to a point which it had never reached before”. In the 21st century, businessman Richard Branson (photo by John Jones) has done his best to commemorate Cayley by sponsoring the building of a replica and dressing up in 19th-century costume to fly it from the original site. Before he took to the skies, though, the aircraft was test-flown by glider pilot Allan McWhirter. We have superb pictures from the white planes picture co. to accompany the test pilot’s exclusive story.
Fast-forwarding 110 years, Jane Randle took her first glider flight in 1961. In this S&G she reports on how she completed her Diamond Badge – 42 years later. Is this a record, we wonder? And if you’ve forgotten all the trials and tribulations of learning to glide, Toby Walker’s well-observed article in this issue will remind you.
The increasing trend of including engines – or at least engine boxes – in sailplanes is reflected in this S&G with two reports. Jochen Ewald tries out the new Ventus 2cxt, while Iain Evans reports on flying the turbo LS8 in the Bidford Regionals. We also bring you news of the merger between two major German glider manufacturers, DG and LS.
Finally, this S&G has an exclusive report on the latest tests by Dr Tony Head of Cranfield University into glider conspicuity. If you’re interested in the science behind lookout, this article is the first thing you need to see.
Happy reading
Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
Flying the Ventus 2cxt
Jochen Ewald reveals why an X marks the spot where the new Ventus differs from earlier ones … and wonders why they didn’t call it the Ventus 3
One day at Omarama
Is 42 years between your first flight and your Diamond Badge some kind of record, Cotswold GC’s Jane Randle wonders…
See and avoid?
Tony Head from the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield University reports on the outcome of recent research into conspicuity, conducted at Bicester
150 years later
Wolds GC’s Deputy CFI, Allan McWhirter, has been flying a newly-built replica of the Cayley Flyer, which he put through a series of test flights at Pocklington
Weatherjack’s perfect day
Jack “Weatherjack” Harrison explains why he recently experienced the perfect gliding day
LSt8 wins turbo comp
Iain Evans raced the UK’s first factory-produced turbo LS8 in the Bidford Regionals in June
It should be easy
Late starter Toby Walker outlines what it’s like to be in the front of a two-seater, something experienced pilots can forget
Psychology for pilots
In the latest of his five-part series investigating human performance limitations for glider pilots, Ian Atherton looks at some psychological factors: personality and behaviour
From Senasa to NASA
This year Cris and Claire Emson took part in their first Overseas Nationals since Leszno. They describe the experience – and reveal why it was the NASA rather than the SENASA challenge…
Lessons I learnt at my first Worlds
Liz Sparrow took to the skies of Central Europe for her first women’s worlds. She tells us what she gained from it
Treating engines badly
Phil Phillips describes how Lasham Gliding Society solved the problem of thermal stress cracking tug cylinder engines
Also in this issue:
BGA and general news; your letters; BGA Development News; Reviews; club news; club focus (Black Mountains GC); obituaries; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries
Tailfeathers: Plat tries to hire wheels in the US of A
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