February – March 2004
Imagine that a landscape and a way of life you love is suddenly taken from you – apparently for ever. For more than a decade you live without it. Now imagine that, thanks to an inspirational pilot, you find your way back to it. That’s the story Steve Derwin has to tell. In the February-March issue of S&G, read how he touched the Finger of God.
The same issue contains the latest gripping instalment from Guy Westgate and Paul Barker. On their out-and-return from Southdown to Sicily they have made it to Mt Etna… now they tackle the 2,500km return journey. And Chris Davison, known to regular readers for flying big distances with little wings, describes another type of journey – a voyage of discovery. In his own distinctive style, he explains what he’s found out in his quest to become a contest-winner (and why top pilots hate thermals).
From the beginners to those who are unquestionably leading lights of the sport: Andy Davis gives his own account of that world-beating final day at Leszno while Justin Wills reflects upon the achievements of one of gliding’s pioneers.
Also in this issue you can read Afandi Darlington’s analysis of a century of gliding technology (it provides a few pointers on where the next performance points will come from, too). Jochen Ewald tries out the all-new electric Antares, Tony Cronshaw describes his first 300km, and Edward Gardener concludes his series on emergency parachuting. And, of course, you’ll find out why Robin May is smiling…
Helen Evans
Editor, Sailplane & Gliding
Electric charger
Jochen Ewald flies the brand-new electric Antares, a battery-powered motorglider complete with a woman in the cockpit
The leading edge
Justin Wills reflects upon a recently-published book about and by the New Zealand gliding pioneer, Dick Georgeson
Racing uncertainty
Aspiring contest-winner Chris Davison has been on a quest to discover what makes a racing pilot. He shares his discoveries
Reaching for the heights
Steve Derwin describes how last year, after more than a decade, gliding showed him the way to regain a world that he thought he had lost for ever
100 years of technology
The Wright Brothers may have stopped gliding but motorless flight didn’t end there. Afandi Darlington examines a century of development and anticipates the next leap in technology
The Italian Job
Guy Westgate and Paul Barker have managed to take the ultimate TP photo – Mt Etna – on an epic out-and-return. Now for the homeward leg … all 2,500km of it
Three London GC 1,000kms
When Paul Watson, a relative newcomer to gliding, went on his first expedition with fellow club members, he was impressed to witness three 1,000km flights in one day
Time to bale out?
In the second of his two-part series, Edward Gardener of Mendip GC looks in detail at the emergency jump
First time lucky
Tony Cronshaw, who belongs to Cambridge GC, explains how he planned – and achieved – his Gold Distance
Last day at Leszno
World Champion Andy Davis gives his own account of the flight that clinched Gold
First impressions
Our anonymous contributor offers advice to new CFIs on how to make an impression
Also in this issue:
British Gliding Association and general news; BGA Technical News; your letters; BGA Development News; BGA Communications News (National Gliding Week); BGA club annual statistics; club focus (Midland GC); club news; BGA Badges; incident and accident summaries
Tailfeathers: Plat points out what’s been happening to the value of your glider (and, by the way, he wouldn’t land there if he were you)
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