June – July 2005

Whether you like it or loathe it, you can’t say that Wolds GC’s new launchpoint control vehicle lacks imagination. If their converted Shorts 330 airliner fuselage seems a little excessive, just be thankful they turned down the offer of a Boeing 737! For the full story, see the June-July issue.

While we’re on the subject of impressing the assembled crowds, we’re delighted to publish Guy Westgate’s advice on flying gliders at airshows. Guy is best known to S&G readers for his jaunts abroad (last year, he and Paul Barker flew to Mount Etna and back), but he is also one of the UK’s leading aerobatic glider pilots, holding a BGA aerobatic instructor rating and serving as a CAA Glider Display Evaluator. There has been a lot of discussion recently about airshows as a means of promoting gliding, so his article is a timely contribution to the debate.

Every two years, the exhibition halls at Friedrichshafen, Germany, host Europe’s largest trade fair, AERO. At AERO 2005 last April, two halls were entirely devoted to gliders. Hall A2 (pictured) contained a range ofbeautiful vintage aircraft courtesy of the Vintage Glider Club, whose president, Chris Wills (pictured, left, with BGA Chairman David Roberts) was presented with an award in recognition of his pioneering contribution to the world of vintage soaring. Meanwhile, Hall B2 featured the latest offerings from European manufacturers and suppliers, ranging from the new Duo Discus X fresh from its maiden flight, to HPH’s plans for a jet-powered 304s. Our third picture shows Tilo Holighaus, MD of the Duo’s makers, Schempp-Hirth, talking to and one of the software design team for the anti-collision system, FLARM, and Switzerland’s new LAK agents. For many more pictures from the show, see the magazine.

Also in the June-July issue, George Rowden describes an unexpected and enjoyable flight along a squall line; Pete Stratten outlines BGA Safety Initiative thinking about some factors that help make clubs safer; Debb Evans talks to Jack Harrison – Weatherjack – about why he glides; and British Junior Team member Mark Parker explains what he learned from training in Spainwith Worlds Gold and Silver medallists Pete Masson and Richard Hood. With one eye on the forthcoming National Gliding Week, we also examine what gliding clubs can do for charity, and print our regular update to the BGA club map.

Finally, if your ambitions are fixed firmly on badges rather than medals, you mustn’t miss Basil Fairston’s comprehensive article. As the BGA’s Badge Officer he explains what you need to do to ensure that your badge qualifying flight really does qualify.
Whatever your soaring ambitions for the next few months, we hope you fulfil them. Happy flying.