Post 1.489 on March 27 2024
Always interesting to see if everything is working again on the laptop, after they closed off ALL electricity, for 6 hours.
Pfff….IT WORKED!!!!!
The astronomical spring has started here and for my Aussie mates autumn.
We started with a lovely 19dgr. C but 2 days later it felt like autumn here.
Monday however looked here like 1000-km-weather, which of course ,it was n’t , but super skies.
In any case 16 Dutch pilots flew on that Monday and they really had a good time; 477 in an ASW 22BLE……420km in an ASW 20WL, 5 over 300 km -flights and 2 over 200 km.
Great start of the season. Luckily the gliders from the Narromine -WGC, were back home too, so pilots could straight away jump in ,when they wished.
In Germany they had 6 flights over 600 km. in Ventus 3 and 2, Discus 2b and ASH 26E.[FAI 500 triangle] One was even over 700 km.in Ventus 3M. [FAI 500 Triangle] Happy pilots!
A St. Libelle nearly flew 300 k.
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—-Soaring in Seminole Lake continued after the seniors were ready with the USA 20 m multi-seat NATIONALS.
AND…..luckily Bo and Rich stayed there as well,after their senior-experiences, so we are sure of great pictures and funny/good stories. When you want to read the stories in full and ALL pictures ,you have to go to https://www.facebook.com/SoaringSocietyofAmerica/
Day 1 was on Wednesday March 20 ;
It was a blue chilly day. Before flying the 14 teams had of course; “The Mandatory Safety Meeting was held at 9:45 am and many topics were covered. Staying out of airspace that you do not belong in was a top subject.“
Due to a later start , the task was changed to a 2 hour Assigned Area Task.
Not a flash day as there was weak lift and very low cruising altitudes, specially on the last leg.
“The scores for the day were very low due to the short length of the task. In third place was the team of Juan Mandelbaum and Phil Gaisford,[In Duo Discus] with Michael Marshall and Hal Woodruff in second. [Duo Discus] Winning the day with a blistering raw speed of 54.55 over the distance of 112.01 miles was Jim Franz and Jared Granzow. [Arcus jet] For their efforts, they obtained a total of 445 points. A win is a win, and this contest is going on for another 9 days. Stay tuned for all the action in this clash of the buses.“
Day 2; was again a prey for Arcus -Jet pilot Jim Frantz and team mate Jared Granzow; another 615 points, so 1060 in total now. Dr Mandelbaum in the Duo Discus T [ 5th for the day] is still on 2 overall,but they have to share this spot now with Arcus M pilots Lee and Bostik.
It turned out to be NOT an easy day!!!!!
“We had hit trigger temperature that should have gotten them to 2,500ft easily. After launching, there were very little comments from them until the CD made a query. Both were below release height and not climbing. This was the first of several launch delays of the day.” Rich.
With task C they left Seminole to go on track for a racing task. The early starters were caught by the gaggle , en route some got low , in the end nearly all found their OWN way home and found it “an enjoyable and challenging task.” Rich
RAIN on March 22…..so,….just such a great picture from Bo.
Day 3 on Saturday March 23; “It Was the Best of Times and the Worst of Times” Rich
Daily runner up was the ARCUS JET , with team Lee on spot 3 and as team Mandelbaum was on 8 there was no equal runner up spot overall anymore, but they are now on 2 and 3 behind Jim Frantz, who in fact won ,the 3d win in a row , as the daily winner flew an ASG 29/18 m, so HC for a 2 seater competition.
They had gridded, left the covers on, as it was not at all sure if they could fly,…. a 50-50% chance .
The day started with total overcast and the possibility of rain at noon.
” We spotted all the ships on the grid and the sun came out. Cu were appearing in the north where it was not supposed to be. Expectations for flying started to increase and soon, the order was given to launch the fleet.” Rich
Off they went for an AAT rather late in the day cause of the waiting and changes. Not too bad circumstances with a cloud street found by several, nice CU’s, but also blue “holes” and taking care of airspace was important too.[ the Disney World PTFR ….permanent temporary flight restriction.]
Rich finishes with :”Looks like we may fly the next four days in a row.”
No flying on Sunday March 24;
Why????
Here is Rich:”The morning broke over Central Florida and already the pilots knew we were in trouble. I can tell when everyone starts waking up. Our internet slows to a crawl when the pilots start checking early morning weather. The skies were completely overcast, and the wind was blowing so much the glider covers looked like Grand Ma’s skivvies blowing on the clothesline. Today looked like a problem day for more than just the weather. First thing in the morning, the coffee pot refused to work until we hit it a few times in the right spot. However, coffee was not available for the pilots meeting, but everyone had their favorite donut, so all was good with the world.”
Contest day 4 March 25; with another AAT [3 hours] and this time Pete and Rich won the day, yes the ” back-seater who writes” and Pete who I know from Uvalde 2012. Nice fellow! 519 daily points and number 2 now overall in the “mighty” ASG 32 MI.
Jim in the ARCUS J still leads though his very good back-seater is leaving. Another reporter, with also a soaring-podcast ,Piet Barber is now 3d overall. And that in a Duo Discus!!!!They were 4th for the day, BUT they lead overall with ONLY ONE point over Team Mandelbaum.
The overall points are very close; Jim has now 2088 points, Pete and Rich 1920 , team Barber /Retting 1861 and team Mandelbaum/Gainsford also in Duo Discus 1860.[11th for the day]
Here are some parts of the long story from Rich;
“Today was to be an early start with good lift and reasonable top of lift. … the day was going to end early, around 3:30pm. .”
“The first and second legs were fast or very difficult depending on when you started. Early and late starters were not in the best position on these legs.“
“Sometimes the east side worked, other times the west side of the line was better. The key to this piece of the puzzle was to stay connected to the clouds in the upper part of the height band and not get low.”
“A safe landing ensued in the 15-20 knot crosswind. Today was brutal.“
“In the end we had 9 engine starts, 2 landouts and only 3 finishers, 2 of which had finish penalties.”
Contest day 5; a racing task. Daily winners Pete and Rich in glider 98 the Arcus J. A difficult day for some as there were 2 out landings and 5 gliders coming back with their engine.A late evening as most were back late.
Jim with a new back -seater has 2882 points. Pete and Rich have 2730 points and the Duo Discus T with team Mandelbaum/Gaisford holds on. 9th for the day but 3 overall with 2638 points.
More next week.
—–Matthew ,….yes Scutter….. shared an urgent update so I share it with you too;
——-Gliding Australia “Gliding Australia Magazine in Print – Last Chance – Subscribe today for the print edition Gliding Australia Magazine – Next Issue Out in April, so hurry. Deadline 30 March for print copies GA “Members Click https://tinyurl.com/yhvtt8bt to subscribe
——-907 km was flown by Ramy Yanetz , who made an incredible wave flight on March 14, up to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He started and finished at Williams in his AG 29/18 m. Ramy is a member of the Northern California Soaring Association.
“Fantastic off shore wave day. Skysight nailed it.”
—–E glider news; as shared by Aldo [Cernezzi]
“E6-Glide will take place in Varese, 8th to 14th of September 2024
All participating sailplanes must be equipped with an auxiliary electric engine. All pilots will have a limited quota of electric power they will use during the sporting performance. This opens a whole lot of new strategies, which makes the competition even more interesting. Competition flying will possible even if thermal conditions are less than optimal and the “chess in the air” feeling of normal gliding events will rise to a new level.
The previous edition took place in Saint-Auban, France.”
More info on the club’s website https://acao.it/attivita-sportiva/gare-eventi/e6glide/
——“A powerful wave day” Max Stevens called it. Starting from Wellington in N.Z. he flew 1.031 km with a speed from 150.95 km/ph and a height of just a tad under 6000 m. He had to open his brakes several times to avoid Vne issues. That was on Monday, on Tuesday another good wave day but with “less clouds and more sun”.
The mountains in Europe, have great wave as well; Koenigsdorf had already 2 early over 1000 km flights on March 10, one even 1.265 km. and yesterday another 1000 k was added in an ARCUS.
That’s it for today, it’r raining now , but last Monday gave us hope for a good season.
By the way, the Dutch Nationals will be flown between Mai 8 and 18 and as I read they have now 5 classes with in each class at least the minimum amount of 8 pilots to make the winner DUTCH CHAMPION.
https://www.nkzweefvliegen.nl/
HAPPY EASTER DAYS from Ritz