Post 1.397….On December 28 2022.

KROONSTAD SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS
16 December 2022 – 23 December 2022

They continued with
Task 5 on December 21; 247 km….and the young Philip and older Jonker Uys, started together and finished together, both noticed a speed of 102 km on their “clock” . Due to a light punishment of 10 points Philip was runner up Uys won the day. But with one more day to go Philip is still in the overall lead.
It turned out December 22 had no task 6, so it was ALL going to happen on the last day. Who would take risks ,…all or nothing….who consolidate and who was just unlucky on that day.
Task 7 on December 23; 220 km….later changed in 161.75 km. Weather for big wings like the Nimbus 4DM. The Scharf’s in it won with a nice speed of 133 km./h.
Oscar was runner up and Swiss guest Yves 3d. Not a lot of points to win or loose, but they got; 287, 228 and 211 daily points.

So not the most spectacular weather in South Africa ‘s KROONSTAD during this National Championship.
Several 2 hour AAT’s and the best day had a set task from 373 km.
But after 6 out of 7 days there is a CHAMPION and what a CHAMPION, and winners in open class;
1. Philip Jonker in JS 3/18 m. with 3.330 points.
2. Uys Jonker in JS 3 /18 m with 3.292 p.
3. Laurens Goudriaan in JS 3 with 3.129 p.
Congratulations!!!

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Good news from Schleicher;
The AS 33ME is NOW certified;
“Good news before Christmas: The AS 33 Me is EASA certified as of today. This makes the AS34 Me & AS 33 Me the first two certified 18 m electric self launchers in the world.”
https://www.alexander-schleicher.de/en/the-as-33-me-is-now-certified/

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Pre-Christmas- and Christmas-time great soaring flights!
Beverley in Australia has superb weather. Norm [Bloch] already flew a 1000 from there on December 18, on December 20 Don [Woodward] did exactly the same, not in a JS 3 but in a “dry ASW 20B/C.
He declared a 1000 from Beverly and flew it, without water ballast!!!

Namibia had top weather as well . December 22 showed a 1.374 km flight by Guy and young German pilot Nils. A day earlier they flew 1.295 km…what stamina!!!!!
Another young pilot Simon flew in the EB 28, 1.255 km!!!
Those young ones , there on invitation, are SO LUCKY!!!!
22 over 1000 km flights in Namibia that day.
My Dutch friends Alfred Paul and Mark spend their winter-holiday in Kiripotib.
“Nice last flight of the holiday, landed early due to CBs. We had a great holiday, with in 13 flying days around 100 hours and 13.000km. Thanks all at Kiripotib for the great time here, see you next season !!!”On December 23.
They had 7 flights, from over 1000 km, to be precisely; 1.277 km….1.320 km…..1.362 km and 1. 021 km.
December 24 had thriller-weather-again in Bitterwasser; 1.408 km. in the EB 28 with a speed of 156 km./h.
On December 24, Sven Olivier flew a 1.110 km flight in the JS 1B. GREAT SPEED; 163 km./h.
“A big Xmas gift – 1100km at 162kph on Christmas Eve – it was far better than the prediction“
A nice Christmas present at Worcester Airport, where the WORCHESTER MAGIC was turned on.!!!!
Also the 804 km by Tokkie Carstens in an LS 4 is perfect…speed 138 km./h.

By the way the Argentinian 1000 km/FAI triangle from December 20, I wrote about last week was ;
“The first declared 1000 Km FAI triangle in our pampas in thermal conditions!” by Damian….he calls it an early CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!!!All in all he had a fabulous ,intense and unforgettable year!!!

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CRISTMAS AT IT’S BEST!!!!!!
In the Netherlands they take care of all those who fought and died for us during the WW2. ALSO with Christmas….impressive pictures by ARJAN.

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The VERY cold and disruptive winter in the USA and Canada, with temperatures up to minus 27 and even worse ,minus 45 dgr.C., might be the coldest in living memory. Already more than 70 people died……..TRAGIC!!!
And that all happened during the Christmas days, so not every family was complete, so sad!
For some who lost unexpectedly loved ones, a real SAD Christmas!!

IN MEMORIAM
On December 27 yesterday, it was 35 years ago that our best friend Kees Musters died in a tragic accident with his hang-glider in France. Kees was the HOBBS WGC champion.
R.I.P. Kees.

Wishing you a great NEW YEAR in good health and spirit. Keep SAFE!!!!

Cheers Ritz with my annual ” proost- picture” on 2023.

P/S. This blog is a few hours earlier.
I kept my laptop switched on all day as it works now and I don’t know what happens tomorrow morning!!!
I do have problems with it.
On January 13 WINDOWS 8 will stop with updates. I still use that.
Since yesterday I have difficulties to get on internet due to synchronization problems with google chrome.
Maybe that’s already one of the problems, though they convinced me that working with windows 8 should not create problems straight away!
I have to figure out how to continue, so when you can’t find a post, don’t get upset, I am working on it.
Hopefully ….CU next year….on January 4!