April – May 2005

Gillian Bryce-Smith, who edited Sailplane & Gliding from 1973 to 1998, is admired throughout the gliding world. Herfriendly and professional approach is what S&G still strives to emulate and, as the magazine’s current editor, I find her help and advice invaluable. So I’m absolutely delighted that her immense contribution to the soaring community has been recognised by the International Gliding Commission (IGC) of the Féderation Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) in the FAI’s centenary year. At its March meeting, the IGC awarded Gillian (pictured) the prestigious Pirat Gehriger Diploma for her eminent services to our sport. The citation from the British Gliding Association states: “Throughout years of tireless service, Gillian’s quiet and unassuming professionalism has encouraged and developed pilots who have had an important story to share but who perhaps lacked the skills to tell it. The result was twofold: classic articles on the theory, practice and management of gliding, and an appreciative and well-informed worldwide readership. In Gillian’s hands, Sailplane & Gliding became an international benchmark for gliding association journals, providing the highest standards of essential sporting, technical and safety advice to many thousands of soaring pilots in the English-speaking world – and beyond.” Gillian,congratulations and thank you from all of us at S&G.

It’s daunting trying to follow in Gillian’s footsteps, but we think you’ll enjoy the April-May issue all the same. We were thrilled to receivethree great stories from the RAFGSA’s Andes expedition, emailed to us before they even left the airport on their way home! Nick Smith sets the scene with an account of this unique soaring environment and his outstanding photography, Nick Morris explains from an early solo perspective why it really is all about attitude, and Rick Jones rounds off the treat with a look back at the first soaring flight acrossthese formidable mountains – in a Blanik by a Silver Badge pilot…
Talking of Silver, if you’ve a Cross-Country Endorsement burning a hole in your logbook, Debb Evans has pulled together some useful tips to help you prepare for flying fun as you head away from the club on those attempts at your Silver distance or 100km Diploma. For the private owner, Brian Brown explains why Borders GC’s new hangar is far more than a storage shed. Meanwhile, Eurofighter Typhoon test pilot Willy Hackett, in the first of a new series of interviews, describes why he still likes flying gliders.

Learning from a Canadian example, we’ve a special feature on gliding for people with disabilities: Wayne MacDonald shares hisexperiences as a pupil and Paul Moggach gives the instructor’s perspective, while Charles Petersen explains how the scheme has not only worked, but attracted sponsorship and media coverage, too.

Finally, back in Britain, we have an exclusive interview with the head of the UK Airprox Board, Peter Hunt, who explains how the system works. We’ve also mapped five years’ worth of recent airproxes to help give you the big picture.

With a bumper postbag of letters (check out those acorns!), our annual airspace update plus all your regular favourites, we hope this issue has something to amuse everyone – along with the summer soaring that, in the UK, is just around the corner. Are you fully prepared?