December – January 2005
We must surely all have at least one of those flights in our logbooks: a flight stolen on a winter day when, despite poor soaring prospects and freezing temperatures, it was just too glorious to stay indoors. Then you found yourself skimming low along a ridge, or gently soaring up the face of a wave cloud – or simply admiring the snow-covered countryside from the top of a winch launch. This issue’s Gliding Gallery records just such happy moments, and if it’s winter where you are, we hope they inspire you to add the fun factor to your gliding experience.
Wave soaring is, in fact, something of a theme of the December-January S&G. As well as Marty Taylor’s New Zealand update on the Perlan Project’s plans to soar into the stratosphere (check out those photos!), we have John Williams’s cloudy 750km in Scotland and a story from the appropriately-named Gerry English, who went north of the border to convert wave height to cross-country kilometres.
We also look back to some of 2004’s highlights, with Jochen Ewald’s pictures of the Vintage GC International Rally in Poland; Russell Cheetham’s account of how he rounded off his hat-trick of success with a win at the UK Open Class Nationals; a report on the Inter-Club Finals; and the annual round-up of competition results and ratings. And on the subject of highlights, if you’ve read Mike Terry’s previous articles you’ll know that he has a unique perspective on events, something confirmed by his (highly) personal account of the Wolds Two-Seater Comp. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “competition scoring”.
Finally, if you’re stuck for Christmas present ideas, we’ve rounded up some of the options you might like to add to your letter to Santa… or your list for your Significant Other.
Season’s Greetings to you all, whichever hemisphere you’re in!
Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
What do you want for Christmas?
It’s that time of year, so why not get yourself a present you really want? Even better, you could try to persuade a loved one to treat you. We’ve taken a look at some new arrivals you might add to your list
Winter flying
Don’t sit inside huddled over a radiator in the UK this winter: photographs from S&G readers show the fun you could be missing
Soaring over Silesia
A warm welcome and some unusual Iron Curtain gliders made this year’s International Vintage Rally memorable. Jochen Ewald reports on the event’s first visit to Poland
Norfolk Racing proves its worth
Mike Jefferyes reports on an Inter-Club League final where Pocklington’s old eagle and Tibenham’s young hero stole the show…
Salutary Soaring: Two minutes under a cu-nim
Our anonymous contributor recalls the frightening moment when his glider was engulfed by torrential rain…
Hebridean Overture
A long wait for the weather and some good forward planning finally paid off for John Williams, chairman of the Scottish Gliding Union, when he achieved his 750km on a cloudy wave day last September
How to convert feet to kilometres…
Lasham pilot Gerry English made the pilgrimage to Aboyne with TK, his self-launching DG-808b, this autumn. His goal? To learn to use wave to soar cross-country distances
Exploiting the Polar Vortex
Marty Taylor updates us on how the Perlan Project plans to soar 100,000ft into the stratosphere
The next Junior Worlds
Standard Class World Champion Andy Davis, who is chairman of the forthcoming Junior event’s Joint Steering Committee, explains how the UK is preparing to host its first Worlds for 40 years
How to score best at Pocklington
Mike Terry of Dukeries GC gives a (highly) personal account of this year’s Two-Seater Competition
Russell’s 2005 hat trick
In 2004, as well as achieving the UK’s first FAI 1,000km, Russell Cheetham won two Open Class contests: the Europeans, and the Nationals. Here he reports on the latter
Also in this issue:
British Gliding Association news; your letters; BGA Technical News; BGA Development News (Chairmen’s Conference); Provisional BGA Ratings List 2005; Competitions Calendar 2005; Competition results for 2004; club focus (Stratford on Avon GC); club news; obituaries; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries
Tailfeathers: Plat reveals how they REALLY train BBC weather forecasters…
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