I am still trying to find my way in “soaring.eu land”.But don’t worry things are happening behind the scenes.
Not long and the World Club Class and World class will be flown in Vinon [ France.]
I will not attend, but surely somebody will do the daily bulletins.
Marina Galetto, will be there for her second steward job and I wish her well. She did already a great job on her first one in Eskilstuna, as I could see that with my own eyes.German pilot, Peter Ryder will be her boss this time.
Pilots have started in Vinon with the practise and temperatures seem to be really hot, up to 36 and 38 dgr. You can follow the news on Enjoy! Though it is a bit complicated at this stage to find it all and not very organized, but I am sure they will do better when it really starts.Anyhow I wish all pilots and the organization, good luck and safe flying.There is no [ at least not yet] competitor list, but if you look at the results from the first practise day, you can see who is who and which pilots are flying in both classes!

Good friend and top pilot Daan Pare spends part of his summer in the USA after flying the Euro glide in Europe and Amstel Glide [in Holland.]
After retiring as a KLM captain , he enjoys life now flying gliders on different airfields in the world. He has also spend a lot of time with us in Australia at Sportavia in our summer time, where he flew several 1000 km flights, even 2 in a row.Last year he flew a double seater in Gariep Dam and flew 5 or 6 1000 km. flights from there.
Now he is in ELY [NV] and though the weather is not as spectuculair as last year he is not complaining.On July 8 he flew 705 km with a speed of 120.5 nkm /h.
On July 10 however, 4 pilots flew over 1000 km from Ely and Daan was one of them ;1062 km.this time with a speed of 122 km/h.
Look for flights and more info on the International Online Competition 2006.
In April he did ridge flying in Pensylvania where the weather was n’t that good either but from Moriarty [NM] he flew 2 very nice flights; 2 from 1125 km. BUT, with a speed of 153 km/h. That is just fantastic! Enjoy the rest of your stay Daan!

Still have n’t heard what is going to happen with Sportavia in Tocumwal[ Australia.] One of the most visited gliding fields in the world ! The place were I ran “the show” to gether with George and our great team of very experienced instructors and other staff, for 10 years. One of them is the one and only 5 times World champion in gliding Ingo Renner, who after his retirement as instructor in Oerlinghausen [Germany] finally can spend all his time in Tocumwal, but…..will they still fly there???
Will Don and Eddie, the CFI, be back ??? Unfortunately I do not know. We can only wait fore the answer of the sole owner since 2 years, Richard Cawsey and even I hope , though I will be not involved anymore, that they will continue from this fantastic airfield, with its WW2 hangar where you can easily fit about 60 rigged gliders. Where you can sleep in a motel at the airfield and have your dinner and drinks in the Bomberbar and Grill.It would be terrible sad , if this most friendly aiport closes for gliding!!!!It should NOT happen !!!!

Spain has, as a lot of other countries in Europe, very good gliding weather too. This year is certainly NOT a bad year for gliding!!! Several over 1000 km. flights with speed over 110 km//h. have been flown in Fuentemilanos this weekend. A small airfield compared to many others, but with great weather and lots of summer guests, sometimes up to over 100. I had the honnour of staying there too and loved it. Very experienced people running the show and fast launches with enough tugs and lots of self launchers lined up for quick departures.

It is also great to see how many junior pilots are flying SO well from different places.Where you are, if you have great weather or not so good , enjoy your flying to the fullest, but SAFE. Ritz