Whilst our astronomical spring started here on March 20, my friends Down Under in the Perth area, had to wait and see if the  severe tropical storm MARCUS, an early autumn storm growing to cat. 5,would pass by or hit the coast line. [expected wind 285 km./h.]
There was hope MARCUS would stay well away from the West Australian mainland. It did !
“Our” time changed into summertime, so we had one hour less.
Down Under they move this upcoming weekend.

 

——OLC 2018;
have to get used to the new system/layout. Not very conveniently arranged in my opinion, but for sure better readable.
In the past you could see straight on ONE side all first 50 flights now you have to scroll.
Maybe I just have to get used to it.
The OLC shared this news the rest is on their site;
“As of now OLC will be available in a new format, perfectly laid out for smart phones or tablet computers. At first sight you will find our service has been completely new designed. The content, of course, did not change … OLC will continue the way it has always been working. Our virtual platform is still functional with its tried-and-tested system.

March 24 was a great day here. Blue skies , nice clouds and not TOO cold.
15 Eager pilots in Holland, saw the same great skies as I did and moved to the airfield.
419 km. for Sikko in the ASG 29E/18m.,not bad for a first flight in the beginning of the season. Former vice champion of the JWGC in Narromine Robin flew 325 in his Cirrus, not bad either.

 

——-Seminole;
The “oldies ” have left Orlando-Florida in the USA and the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix racers have arrived at the Seminole Lake Glider Port. Last Saturday on March 24 they started their 2 practice day’s to be followed by 7 races.12 Pilots entered and 2 of them are from Canada.
Sean Fidler is the event manager and he also flies his ASG 29 during the races. Busy bee!!!
As always there is live-comment and you can follow them in real time.

   

As shared by the organizers.

http://www.sgp.aero/usa2018/results-sgp/results.aspx?contestID=31090

The practice day’s were interesting.On the first one not everybody bothered to fly and those who did learnt from it as a few had penalty points they won’t make anymore.
Day 2 was interesting as only 4 finished and those who did n’t flew between 34 and 171 km. from the set 207. Local CD Sean won the day.

Race 1;cancelled due to frontal weather. They waited and hoped,…in vain.

Race 2; 214.8 km. … Cloud base around 4000 MSL…..and start at 13.30 …… Bill Gawthrop in the JS 1C got the very first 10 points, though the first 4 pilots each had a speed of 128 km./h. within 24 seconds . And 3 of them 127 km./h. So a big bunch flying and finishing together on this first race. But flying 127.2 km. only gives you 4 points.

1st: Bill Gawthrop (F8)  2nd: Sergei Morozov (M6)  3rd: Rich Owen (ZO)
As shared by the organizers.

    

Debrief -time!!
As shared by the organizers.

More next week.

www.sgp.aero

 

——–Tocumwal;
For ALL who have been at Sportavia in the past,….the bus still exists!!!!! Many have been sitting there, lot’s of talks and great moments after special flights . The tie-down area from the past ,were many WGC participants for the 1987 Benalla had their gliders during practice, looks brilliant again. Have a look as Sportavia shared a picture.

“The hardstand has been graded and some hard work completed by some dedicated people who have made the hangar and the grounds looking very tidy. Even the bus is a stand out iconic sight to welcome glider pilots.”

 

———Diana -2 New Generation;DIANA 3

As shared by Boleslaw Kawik.

We have the new JS 3 , the new Ventus 3 and for the next WGC there will be also the next Diana 3.
It will be an exciting WGC !!!
I remember from Tocumwal that the glider looks beautiful but a bit fragile to the tail and sometimes had problems with the start and landing,..breaking out.
I just looked at a video from the first landing of the Diana 3 and it looked great.No worries!!!

With test pilot  and WGC pilot Petr Krejcirik on the right …thumps up.
as shared by Diana -2 New Generation

     

with Petr in the Diana 3 for a test flight.
As shared by Diana-2 New Generation

Talking about the JS 3 and Ventus 3 ,…a very classic picture, Uys [Jonker] visits Ralf and Tilo [Holighaus] in Kircheim Unter Teck.

As shared by Jonker Sailplanes.

 

——–USA-Wave;
Flying mostly between 6000 and 7.340 m. you can really race. And,…that’s what Dennis Tito and Tim Gardner did last Friday ,in the ARCUS J,flying from Inyokern in the USA;GREAT speed 243.9 km./h. [distance 722 km.] WOW !!!!

European wave;
lot’s of OVER 500 km. flights on March 26 from Sisteron,[602 km in DG 400/17 m.] Puimoisson, [805 in ARCUS M] Lienz Nikolsdorf [903 km.  in EB 29 ] and Serres La Batie [572k  in Ventus 2 CM/18 m.]

 

—–And to finish…..INGO ;

Still going Strong; Picture shared by Sportavia
I totally agree with their next words:
“Congratulations to Australia master of the skies and true gentleman Ingo Renner. During this Australian summer, Ingo clocked over 37.000k hours in gliders. I’m sure a good number of them shared with many pilots from around the world. Ingo continues to be a wonderful ambassador and inspiration our sport.…”

Not much happening, hence,..not much news. CU next week.

Cheers Ritz

After a few spring days , we were unfortunately back in “Siberian-winter-cold” again with minus 7 AND,… with wind- chill minus 17!! But,…that’s spring here!! Now it feels better with 6 plus.
By the way in the first very cold week, we had in the end of February nearly 4000 people who died in that ONE week.
A crazy amount. Most over 80 and main reasons flu and pneumonia.

 

——Talking about “the cold”,  this is truly cold,but they love it at the airport, where several pilots fly at the annual  VAGA wave camp in Norway. Arne Martin and Robert are 2 of them and they shared some great pictures.

minus 20 as shared by Robert

   

not the best visibility on March 11.
As shared by Robert.

     

As shared by Arne Martin

“Throwing up snow from the runway” by Arne Martin Guettler.
AND
of course the wave as seen and shared by Arne Martin.

“First thermal of the year as I worked myself up into the wave. Shows a respectable 2.7 m/s average here.

    

“Getting into the wave. Better lift here.”                   ” Climbing above the clouds.”

“cruising in the wave” with Arne Martin.

 

——The Seminole Senior Competition finished and as always this competition is a REAL one , but also a reunion for old and less old ,….but not for young ones!!!
AND,…it was cold there as well !!!Still 5 day’s of flying as during the day the sun was OK.
The limit of 60 participants is always early reached so sometimes you can not even enter , as much as you would love that. Booking early is a MUST.
The weather was so..so,  and as said COLD but pretty good during the day!!!
And the “very ” old ones did well. Look at former WGC champion Doug Jacobs [1985 in Rieti ] ,who after been REAL sick, performs still on the highest level.
He won day 2 in a Duo Discus X. Also Karl Striedeck flies a Duo Discus and Dave Nadler the ARCUS M. They fly with passengers to support the US soaring teams.
“These experienced competition pilots are offering their back seat during 2018 contests in support of our US Teams with a minimum $300 donation.”
After 3 flying days John Seymour in the 15 m. ASG 29 was on top, with Doug on 4 and Karl on 11 and Dave on 12.

This is a reaction on flying dual with Doug from a few years ago;
“Regarding Doug Jacobs, I also had the privilege to fly in the back seat with Doug last week during the Senior National at Seminole-LakeGliderport in Clermont, Fl.
This is one extremely talented glider pilot with a great knowledge of all elements of the sport. An inspiration and asset to SSA, the racing community, U.S. Soaring Team and “Joe Average” pilots like me.
Doug’s wife Martha also really knows the competitive side of the sport creating a very dynamic duo. They
say soaring is not much of a spectator sport, not the case when riding back seat with Jacobs in competition.
If anyone out there has the opportunity to fly with the pro’s like Doug, its a true lesson in soaring. This opportunity was made possible by giving a donation to the U.S. Soaring Team which I will now make every year, flight or no
flight. Thanks Doug & Martha Jacobs for sharing your talents and kindness.
Tommy Johnson

The crew from Bill Elliott during the 2012 WGC in Uvalde, Gary Carter is flying as well.
Gary mentioned ;”It’s been very cold in the mornings as in ice on our wings, but the soaring is turning out to be very good as it warms during the day. ”

Gary and his wife Chris[tine], lovely people.
As always a great picture by Bozena Michalowski.

After 5 days the final scores were as follows;
1.Rich Owen in the LS 8/15 m. who won the last day ;4746 points
2. Fernando Silva in the ASW 27, who was the winner last year and still in good form;4659.
3. Doug Jacobs in the Duo Discus; 4603, as mentioned former WGC Champion.

 

——In Chilhowee the weather was different and scary. Chilhowee is the home base from Sarah [Arnold] and Jason.

A normal day
AND
A scary day ; “We had some interesting weather near the Gliderport this evening! Everything is safe.”

As shared by the Chilhowee Soaring Association.
AND

      

Chilhowee {USA} March 18………And a stubble fire twister in Temora {Australia} yesterday.

 

—–Sad news from Justin Crouch from the Southern Cross Gliding Club in Australia.

“It is my sad duty to announce the passing of Richard Pincus this afternoon.Richard, as he usually did, had flown down from Sommersby in his RV6 to tow for us on Sunday. As the winds picked up, the club flying day was cancelled. Richard waited around for several hours and then headed off. Upon landing, he overshot the end of the runway and into the ditch at the end.”
R.I.P. Richard.

 

——-La Cerdanya in Spain, was the place to be yesterday for nice long wave flights. The pilots from the AKAFlieg Frankfurt Wave Research Camp were the lucky ones !!!
963 km in a Duo Discus in wave between 4000 and 5000 m. even up to 5749 MSL  [ 4356 AGL]
Also 944 km in the ARCUS T. and another Duo Discus with 876 km.
Even with the “cruel” cold wind [40-60 km./h.]  here yesterday ,some Dutch pilots saw the great skies as well. Those heroes flew up to 173 km. They even saw it before , I just read, as plans were made in the bar at Terlet the evening before.
One out-landed, on his first flight for the year, not too far from the airfield, which was picked up by the media,..so an exciting story about just a normal out-landing. Ha ha,…out-landings and media ……

CU next week

cheers Ritz

—— Heaven on earth;
As every time after a WGC has finished, some of the best pilots are invited to South Africa for the Helli Lasch event. As I told you earlier ,Mac was one of them and he wrote an article about it, which I am allowed to share. The Great pictures accompanying the story are from his wife Akemi, who flew JS 3 too. THANK YOU BOTH !!!

Tswalu airport and surroundings taken from above

  “South African friends organized 8th Helli Lasch Challenge (HLC) at Tswalu, about 100km west of Kuruman near Kalahari desert. This special event is by invitation to the selected top World’s pilots only.  I had never flown in this part of South Africa before, (we did not go to this area during the WGC 2001 in Mafikeng) so was very excited to go.

For this particular event,

7 South African team pilots were invited:  Laurens & Oscar Goudriaan, Attie & Uys Jonker, Nico Le Roux, Dolf Pretorius, AP Kotze.

Additionally, following 5 international pilots were invited.

Katrin Senne, Louis Bouderlique, Killian Walbrou, Peter Szabo and myself.

We were asked to give a speech of about 30 minutes on various topics of competition gliding, in the mornings.

Andy Davis was invited as facilitator/coach this time. (He was previously invited before as World Champion, too.)

“Super Team Captain” Carol Clifford was busy organizing everything, Martin Lessle from Douglas Soaring Center was the key person on the operation side of things and Rowan Hill was busy towing us all up in the Cessna from Potch.

Altogether we transported 3 JS1, 3 JS3, ASG32Mi, DuoDiscus T, Ventus 2cT, Janus, and ASH25 to Tswalu from different locations of South Africa.

Andy set us tasks every day from Sunday 25 Feb to Saturday 3 March. Task length varied from 218 km in the blue to 433 km with Cu and showers, and a few AAT’s were added to the menu towards the end of the week. The start was normally Grand Prix start. It was an extremely high-level racing environment, and we all learned from each other. It was great FUN!

   

Everyone getting gliders ready together in the morning.            and     …after [Mac’s] landing.

My  takeoff in JS3-18.

The evenings were busy with a sundowner and game drives and special dinners (We were even invited one evening to the new residence of the Oppenheimers!). Some people went to game drives starting 5am or so in the morning! So we never had enough time!!

It was a week of gliding paradise. I must confess that we felt all the hard work of Benalla WGC (which was mostly weak blue and lots of gaggles) was more than rewarded by this fantastic week.

There was a very special camaraderie amongst all participants. We all got to know each other much deeper during this event, which is unfortunately difficult these days during serious Internationals.”

” Morning briefing. Everyone listening seriously to Andy Davis, the coach for the week.”

Thank you Mac, [he was runner up at the last WGC in Benalla !] for sharing your thoughts with most of us who will NEVER be there. Now we have at least a bit of an idea!!

According to Uys from Jonker Sailplanes ,Katrin Senne was the very first woman to fly their JS 3.
“Katrin Senne, current Women’s World Gliding Champion 18m class, had the opportunity to fly the JS3 Rapture during the recent 2018 Helli Lasch challenge in Tswalu. She is also the first women to fly the JS3 and we hope she is the first of many .”
I hope so too!!!She loved it….fantastic!!!Her first cross country flight , years ago, she was 17 then,  was in a Club Libelle and the handling of the  JS 3 with the “small and high  wing’s” like a Libelle was easy and she flew the glider with a smile from ear to ear, she said to Uys.

 

—–Seminole Lake Gliderport; As every year the “oldies” [with much respect !!! ] fly their competition and more and more toppers from the recent past, but also from the far past, participate . The far -past as in Doug Jacobs and Karl Striedeck and from Canada Ed Hollestelle with a Dutch background.
It ‘s a feast of recognition !!!
And there is still fire in these pilots, as some only go “for the win”.
60 Eager entrants [ the max for this competition]  and  25 of them are flying the more modern motorized glider, even  with jet engines !!
They started on March 8 with a 2 hour-practice task won by the champion from last year Fernando Silva
Task 1 was cancelled due to the weather after launch. So till now March 13 they only flew one day won by the SSA chairman Ken Sorensen, [15 m. Ventus 2 cxa] who was the 2012 CD at Uvalde. Fernando was runner up in his ASW 27.
They continue till March 16 so more next week.

 

—–Stonefield  in South-Australia, about 110 km. North East of Adelaide as well of course as North East of Gawler and South West of Waikirie, is a for most of us ,  relative “young” airfield [ with an elevation of 350 m. MSL] and home of the Adelaide University Gliding Club.
Konrad Maierhofen from Germany started a few years ago his own operation there; Fly Down Under.
In the past I wrote about it when young German pilots visited to broad their horizon and they loved it there.   [Soaringcafe 2013]
Not a lot of good landing-spots in this pretty rural/remote area, but serious fun when you “cross” along the hills.
Last week Konrad flew in the NIMBUS 4d with Aussie Leigh Stokes during a nice “ride” over 622 km. they even “visited the beach” from high up in the air.
On Thursday they did it again now with 708 km.
They nearly topped the OLC list  that Wednesday, as the ASH 31/21 m.with James Cooper, flying from Cunderdin in Western Australia flew a 778 FAI triangle [ extended to a total of 824 km.]up to over 3000 m. MSL .

 

——Aussie Adam Woolley,  I got to know, when he was still a very active junior. He even worked a few months for us at Sportavia as tuggie, but left when he got a job-offer. Nowadays he is an Airline pilot based in Japan and he has the best contract ever!!! He can take off when he wants to “soar” instead of flying intercontinental.
Now he has time off for 7 months!!!
“This year I’ll be flying 3 big practice comps, then representing Australia at both World Champs! First comp will be in Slovakia in a months time – to watch my progress it’ll all be found at Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures  ”
So you can follow all his actions in his blog.
Before he left ,he flew from Kingaroy together with his mate Jim Crowhurst and another mate Mark Chambers, made this great “bye-bye-Australia- ” picture.

Picture courtesy Mark Chambers.

 

——-Gliders from Kiripotib arrived safely in Austria. Lucky the weather was sunny to unpack as a day earlier there was still 10 cm. snow I read. So after a great successful overseas winter ,the season can start here now.
hopefully as good and as successful.

     

As shared by Kiripotib Soaring.

 

———-Another 2 great wave flights by the Perlan Project pilots. 2 Gliders this time and flying from Minden [Nevada] with Dennis and Tim Gardner in the ARCUS J [156 km./h.] and Jim and Alan Coombs in the ASH 25 [ 170 km./h] ; distances…..1.760.22 km. and 1.681,47.
Aussie pilots Morgan and guest Matthew Scutter [Junior World Champion in Narromine at the 9th FAI JWGC] flew a shorter run over 540 km. but with with a speedy-speed of 170 km./h in the ARCUS J.
Guess the fastest flight for young Matthew, who lives his life to the fullest. Talking to the guests at the Reno SSA conference a couple of day’s ago and now visiting  good old Minden. Later he travels to Europe again.

Matthew in Narromine after winning the JWGC in 2015.

Talking about the Perlan Project, ….just got the message that  the “ Perlan Project has been nominated for the Smithsonian Air and Space Trophy, and was recently named a finalist for the Collier Trophy “for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America in 2017.”
“Perlan 2 reached 54,000 feet pressure altitude (52,221 feet GPS altitude) in September of 2017 on a research flight over the southern Andes. This is the highest altitude ever reached by a glider.”
There are 10 nominees in total.

 

–—–Remember Brad Edwards? An Aussie who won the 1991 Uvalde WGC in Texas. Great guy, and playing then nearly every evening the guitar , surrounded by many who loved the relaxing music as well.
Just read in the “Armidale Express” , that his business, Edwards Aviation, saves lives !!!
Brad was in the buss-business before. He bought the Citizen Jet from Mr Terry Snow , bought more jet’s and started private flights. NOW he is doing organ retrievals and helps to save lives !!!!!
“There’s only four hours that the heart has to be transplanted so we have to move pretty quickly, that’s why they use private jets.”
Brad mentioned in the article, that “Aeroplanes with organ donations are given priority at airports across the country.”
Of course I would say !!!!
They transport transports livers, lungs, kidneys, “nearly everything these days” and work together with  St Vincents Hospital or Westmead [in Sydney].
Fabulous job , as said I know [ already for many years ] Brad as a lovely guy!!!

It seems Brad [to be honest I guess it is this Brad]  bought a JS 3 and at this stage John “Butch” Buchanan is flying this glider in Potsch. Butch has one himself already ,but was more than satisfied with this one as he mentioned in his OLC comment;
“Hey Brad. Your glider is amazing. Not great wx, 250 kms in the blue and still 131 kph for 620 kms. Go Js3!”

 

And to finish 2 very great pictures from Roy Pentecost, who flew with us at Sportavia in the past with some of his Lasham mates as Patrick and David .

As shared by Roy,who just stood  on the Roof of Africa, around 0815 Thurs 8 March accompanied by my Nordic Walking friends Steve Ellis, Dave Myers and Dave’s delightful children, Charlotte, Lily & Ben.
Hardest thing I have ever done, climbed 1200m in 7.5 hours, mostly in the dark.
Could not have done it without the fantastic guides and porters, who carried my rucksack from the mid-point and kept us motivated with some fantastic singing.
The 4 hour walk down to Base Camp was nearly as tough with lots of snow. Kili weather is also challenging, from blue sky at the summit to heavy continuous hail for the last hour of the descent.

As shared by Roy second left above.

 

AND,.……..R.I.P Professor Stephen Hawking. A truly inspirational man, died at age 76 !!!!!!

Cheers Ritz

——The first day of the new meteorological spring, March 1, was here ,in Holland,….. the coldest EVER.
The last day of February had great and already warm sunshine from a strong shining sun, but my goodness me, it was still SO cold. It was “only” minus 10, sunny,  but the feeling temperature with the 6 Bft NNE wind,[wind chill factor]  made is feel up to minus 20 and even 27 in the N. That IS cold for Holland.
Ye,…. I know not for the Scandinavian countries .
So finally some marathons on natural ice here, which is special and as long as there is no “11-town-tour” , this is the second best in Holland and from all directions enthusiastic people go to these events…3 days in a row .
Europe ,all over , suffers from the cold and some countries even more than we. I feel for them !!! Several people died from the cold specially the older ones.
A German weather station on the highest mountain in the N. of Germany [1.141m.] showed MINUS 55 on the thermometer !!!

Down under, I heard,[ in Toc. ] it was still around 30 when autumn started.
Autumn in Lake Keepit started on the OLC with a 555 km. by Allan [Barnes] and Harry [Medlicott] in the ARCUS M. On march 3 still over 500 km. flights/triangles in the BCT triangle.
Europe started the OLC list in freezing conditions with a 232 km. wave flight from St Girons An Gld in France in a Pegase.
And Africa with 490 km. by Mac in the new JS 3 . He was one of the 2017 WGC- champions, who were invited to Africa for the Heli Lasch event flying from Tswalo Game Rese.
“Fantastic day. We saw giraffes on the way to airfield, we flew very fast race of 2:30 AAT close to 160kph, and then saw lions on the way back home. Special thanks to South African friends for inviting us to such a special place. And the new glider goes super fast.”
On March 3 a very fast day at Tswalu from Oscar in the JS 3; the actual speed was 175 km./h.

 

—–The last day’s of the 2018 Lake Keepit Regatta were GOOD, but I read, some not as good as “advertised”.
Task 5 was set last Thursday ;3.30 AAT.
Dave Shorter [JS 1] won the 1000 points with 448 km. in 3.30 at the dot  [127.52 km./h.]!!! Great result as well for Speed Astir pilot Jason Kath who flew 365 km. with a speed of 102.52 km./h. He was 3d.
Jenny [Mosquito] was 7th and Kerrie [ASG 29/18m.] 12th from 27.
Out-landings as well; Robert [Smits born in Holland] flew 316 km. in his St .Cirrus ,but then as he said:”Under cooked the final glide…. Went a few extra km’s in the time soak as I was just a little early….. And then I didn’t find the expected lift and just didn’t make it...”

“Bugger….. Same paddock as two days ago….. What’s wrong with me?????”
as shared by Robert.

Task 6 ; had another 3.30 AAT. Bruce Taylor [ASG 29/18 m.] showed up and straight away showed his class AND how to do it; 436 km. in time 3.42 [speed 118 km./h.] He flies HC.
Runner up and overall number 1 Dave flew 394 km . Jason in his speed Astir earns extra credit flying 368 km. in 4.05 , slow with 90 km./h. but with this glider against the hot-shot-gliders he did well; 3d. AND,….on spot 2 overall with one day to go.
Task 7 and last day; with a 3 hour AAT and …ouch…it was a difficult day. I am not sure if it was real courage or maybe a problem, but Jason in the Speed Astir started last and nearly 20 minutes behind Dave !!!
The ASH 25 /26 m. won the day,…but Dave and Jason were 2 and 3. Only 10 finishers.
Winners from this fun but still serious competition;
1. Dave Shorter 5.764 clear win. 2. Jason Kath 5.280  3. Alan Wilson in the LS 8 with 4.982 points.
The “girls” practicing for the WWGC were on spot 4 Jenny in the Mosquito [4.563] and spot 8 Kerrie in the 18 m. ASG 29 [3.675]

As said the next WWGC will be in Lake Keepit but more  news!!!!
“Great news!! The BGA Women Gliding Project has won the bid for the 2021 Women’s Worlds – looking forward to welcoming you all to HusBos any time between now and August 2021.”
“We are looking forward to welcoming women pilots of all nations to the UK in 2021. If your nation doesn’t usually take part, please contact Womenglide now and we’ll work with you to help you get a team to the competition.”
I was in Hus Bos in 2005 for the JWGC and that area is just beautiful ,so is the airfield and the people!!

 

——-Matamata Nationals; you remember I wrote about these NZ Nationals a few weeks ago. I was impressed with the young ones winning the title in racing class in the Duo Discus.
Matamata shared some more news which is, I think, very inspiring for young pilots.
Allie, Alexandra Thompson is only 15 years old and still a school-girl in year 12 at the Sacred Heart College!!!!.
Here are parts of it:
“Thompson had flown with 22-year-old Auckland-based McIver as part of Youth Glide New Zealand (YGNZ) – not-for-profit organisation that provides under-25s with education, tuition and training in the skills necessary for gliding in New Zealand.

It all started when she was gifted a flight in early 2015 at the Hawke’s Bay and Waipukurau Gliding Club at Hastings Aerodrome in Bridge Pa – and it almost instantly became an obsession. Before then, the Taradale family had no contact with the world of flight but just hours before she turned 13, Thompson took to the air on her own.

Now 15, she has lost count of how many hours she has spent in the air – well over 100, she reckons.

“I love the whole uniqueness of it and the fact that when I get up there it is a completely different world and I can be myself,” the keen flyer said.

“Once you’re up there you can pretty much do anything in your limits and it is a whole different side to the world that you never really get to see from the ground and it is quite stunning when you are first up there.”

Allie with  principal Maria Neville-Foster .
Courtesy Paul Taylor for  nzherald.co.nz

 

———More and more pilots/clubs are finishing the last “bit”  of the winter maintenance on gliders ,instruments and trailers.In the middle of March these gliders will have their last check ready for hopefully a fine summer and great spring.
Here are some pictures from February 25 in Germany.

    

Still very cold, but gliders “sniff” already some fresh [Siberian] outside air.
Segelfluggruppe Donauwörth-Monheim

 

—-SSA convention in Reno in the USA;

As shared by US Soaring teams.

As shared by Jonker Sailplanes with up front the Perlan Project glider.

with many, speakers as Tony Condon  speaking about Downwind Dashes and Sarah Kelly Arnold US team committee and WWGC silver medalist in 2017.
Tony also got 3 Awards for one of his “dashes”  AND for the story he wrote about it in the SOARING. Love those great looking awards and to see them well I enlarged them all 3.

as shared by Tony and CONGRATULATIONS!!! It looks like the Tony show as he got ONE more!!

As shared by Tony.

Karin Schloesser [in the past like me a member of the ZES] and her husband Heinz showed together with Benjamin [Neglais] and Biko [Berger] the new Ventus with the FES. Sarah tried it out.

Sarah and Heinz

     

Biko [Berger] , who I have n’t seen for ages and Benjamin [Neglais] explaining .
Pictures courtesy Karin.

More news from Reno; Paul Remde [ Cumulus Soaring Inc.] well known for his books , video’s and other soaring related objects, added a new “wing”  to his business.
https://www.cumulus-soaring.com/
“I am very excited to be the new DG Flugzeugbau representative for the USA and Canada. They make DG and LS sailplanes. This photo shows me with Stefan Göldner from DG in my booth at the Soaring Society of America Convention in Reno, Nevada yesterday.”

as shared by Paul [to the left.]

And last but not least RENO ,of course showed the JS 1C /21 m. too ,with “eye-catchers”  as Jennifer [Benetti-Longhini] and top kilometer eater Keith [Essex].

As shared by Paul.

 

——More meetings ;the IGC meeting in Freudenstadt where it, so to see, was COLD.

As shared by Marina Galetto.

 

——An interesting international OLC top on March 4:
1. Damian [Goldenzweig] in a Ventus CM with 534 km in Argentina.
2. Jiri Fousek from the Czech Rep, flying in Narromine [NSW]Australia …590 km. in Discus.
3. Ramy [Yanetz] in the USA with 562 km. from Byron CA in a Discus
4.Claudio Eduardo Schmidt in the ARCUS M with 465 km in Brasil.
6. Mark [Bland] instructor at Mount Beauty in the Victorian mountains in Australia 415 in an ARCUS.
7.  Yves Gerster from Swiss in Europe in a DG 400/17 m. with 347 km.

 

——And to finish this great picture ” FINAL APPROACH” at Sculptures by the Sea shared by John Welsh.
March 2 – March 19……· Cottesloe Beach, Perth.

Photo: Davis Walmsley
#sculpturesbythesea #finalapproach

And during the opening it was busy from morning till evening with fabulous glorious autumn weather.

     

pictures shared by John Welsh.

More next week, also about the “oldies” [seniors] and their annual competition in Seminole Lake in the USA
CU Ritz.