Alphen aan den Rijn 18-06-2007

Yesterday we had a big opening in our gallery and everything went fine. Enough sold ; we are happy, so are the artists.
I am a bit worn out but still kept an eye on gliding.

Finland;
Last time I wrote that the Finnish Nationals for club class and 18 m. class were about to start, in between they have finished with a very nice party on a pretty cold evening. Katja, the web master will write a little article for us this week and as soon as I receive it , I will put it on. So you know from first-hand what happened.
In any case; the 2 winners and National Champions were Juha Sorri and Hannu Halonen.

Good and latest news for sauna -lovers:At Rayskala airport they still have the same building for the sauna, but it is totally renovated and as they proudly told me, ….the sauna is real BIG now.
In the next coming weeks they expect guests from the Netherlands, England and Germany. Lucky “them” as they can use the brandnew sauna already after some great flying over the beautiful Finnish country, with its lakes , trees and great little towns.

Austria ;
As written in the last article they also flew the Nationals in Austria between June 1 and 10 in Zell am See.
After 5 days of pretty marchinal weather Wolfgang Janowitsch was , as expected the new national champion in 18 m. class with an overall score of 2806 points. On day 5 he flew an AAT [ s[peed task with a 2 hour time limit] , with 153.8 km /h.
Other new champions;
Eduard Supersberger in 15 m. class [3245 points]
Hilmar Gassner in club class.[2862 points]
Michael Rass in standard class.[2898 points]

Russia;
It is time for the Russian Nationals now in Orel. Will try to keep an eye on it, but….to be honest, my Russian is not very good , better said NON existing!.

Norway;
They , I mean clubclass and handicapted, have started on the 15th in Elverum/Starnoen.

England;
The Brittish 15 m. class Nationals in Tibenham start on June 23.

Now you are up to date with all comps going on here in Europe. That’s about it! Time to clean the house as the grand children are arriving today! Cheers Ritz.

Alphen aan den Rijn 03-06-07

Australia;
This is the latest news from Eddie Madden former CFI from Sportavia in Tocumwal /Australia.

Hi All,
It is with great pleasure that Cheryl and I have purchased the 10 Hectare
property and hangar on the south side of the Tocumwal Airport, The property
was formally owned be George Piscorz and leased to Mike Burns and Chris
Corrigan to develop there Caproni Glider Jet.
So now we can start to put in place the measures to develop a viable Gliding
School and Ultralight Flight training centre.
Trusting you will give us your ongoing support
Regards
Eddie & Cheryl Madden

Wishing them well from all of us over the world!

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM:
Yesterday we had great weather here. If I see blue skies and nice develloping clouds my heart beats a bit faster.So of course I look then what has happened on the OLC. What a good invention this OLC is for all of us.
And….yes. Alfred-Paul a young pilot from Holland flew from his field Soesterberg more then 500 km.Lots of really nice flights between 300 and 500 km were flown in Holland and Belgium.
CANADA:
Invermere in Canada was also in the good weather area with nice long flights. Hope Ernst, Grant or Evelyn, all living and flying there had their good moments too.
GERMANY:
The German national comps for standard class and 18 m. clsass in Zwickau are over. They did not have the best weather either and as mostly happens on the prize giving day the weather is good.
Winner was Mario Kiesling, another young pilot who flew the World Juior Gliding Championships before.
Dr. Hermann Leucker was the winner in 18 m.
The new German National Team has been formed and good old pilots as Reinhard Schramme, Holger Back and Werner Meuser have said farewell to the National team with a 5th place for Holger, an 8th place for Werner in 18 m. class and in Standard class a 7th place for Reinhard.
Once top pilots STILL top pilots!!!!.
I know all 3 of them and they have been from immense value to the German Team.I think even that all 3 have been World champion. I was there when Holger flew his first 1000 km in Tocumwal in 1987 just after the preworlds in Benalla.Was crewing for George when Werner won and saw Reinhard in comps flying to the top and even with his son in a double seater. GOOD TIMES!!!!!!
AUSTRIA:
The Nationals in Zell am See in Austria have started with a non flying day on day 1 [June 2]from the comps due to the weather.
Here they fly in 4 classes.
15 m. class with 7 participants with names as Tilo Holighaus and Heimo Demmerer.
18 m. class with 17 participants and of course TOP PILOT and good friend Wolfgang Janowitch.
Club class with 12 participants and wellknown pilot Reinhard Haggenmuller.
Standard class with 13 participants and wellknown pilot Peter Hartmann.
Finland: They start next week. I have a very busy week then, but will try to keep you informed!
That’s it for now. Cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
Mai 28 2007

The Dutch and Polish Nationals have finished and it is great to see that “our” under- 25- junior Bart Berendsen was winner in the club class in his ASW 19 w.He will fly the world comps in Italy in Rieti and this “WIN” must a great boost to him. They had 6 days, number 7 never happened.

Other interesting winner was Sjaak Selen in the combination class. He flew in an LS 8. He is the younger brother from the two-times-world-champion Baer Selen, who won in Chateuraux and in Uvalde in 91. I had the honnour of being the team manager that year.
Runner up was Dick Teuling. Interesting news about him is that he was my “teacher-in-gliding ” , and dared to let me go solo during a camp from the ZES [Student aeroclub from Eindhoven!] in 1967.All those years he flew in the Dutch TOP. Great guy, great pilot!

In open class a Dutch National -team -pilot Hadriaan van Nes [ DG 800s ]won with as runner up another team-pilot, Roland Termaat.

The Polish Nationals had winners I did not know, though Centka and Jarysz,as well as Wujczak were participating!

The German Nationals are still going strong till Thursday.

In June lots of other Nationals will be flown in different classes;P.E.
Finland, England, Norway, Russia,Austria and the German clubclass comps. Will try to keep you informed!
In Norway they even flew a 1000 km . a few days ago. Great effort!

Rain here, cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
26-05-2007

With National championships in Poland, Germany and Holland [= in Germany] it is pretty busy with gliding, though weather circumstances are not always the best. Lots of thunderstorms today and foggy circumstances in Germany cancelled the day for both the Dutch and German Nationals. Last day tomorrow for the Dutch comps and with 7 flying days not TOO bad, but no really nice long flights.Still interesting winners if tomorrow will be cancelled too, which is not impossible. Of course everybody hopes for a last good day!
Look for the Dutch info and results at www.nk.zweefportaal.nl/2007/
Look for the German info and results at
http://dm2007.acz.de

The German Nationals started for their 4th day , but as said the day was cancelled due to the expectation of thunderstorms.
Their last day will be on Mai 31, so a few more days and chances.

Poland , has had as far as I saw on TV very heavy rain with a little town even “locked off from the world.” But they also had great flights,but no long flights , 365 km was the best one!, but still 8 days of flying.Look for info at http://smpo2007.gliding-leszno.pl

Norway has better weather and former competition director of the World comps in Sweden and friend, Robert Danewid, flew a 500 km. from Elverum Starmoen.[NO]
But….what beats all is a flight yesterday in a Kestrel 17 with 2.715,89 km. Amazing!!!!The flight was made in the USA, Warner Springs and flown by Bill Richardson.No comment by the pilot, not by the OLC not by me! Look for yourself!

That’s it for now!Thanks Brutus, for your info!Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
May 22 2007

With the Dutch Nationals flown in Stendhal close to Berlin, a lot of Dutch pilots left for Germany. Not that the weather is so much better there.On their first flying day they flew around 300 km while a Nimbus 4 DM from our National Gliding Center Terlet a distance flew ,from 653 km. But today , for sure they are better of there , as it is FOGGY here.

After 2 days it is very interesting to see that our young and upcoming pilots are doing well! When I started gliding in 1967 I met Willem, a member of the ZES , the Dutch student aero club from the University of Eindhoven. He is still flying, even flies the nationals, but….his son Maurits is flying too and WON a day! Good on him!

Another young guy is Tim, who also won a day. His dad flies very good , already for years and is in and out of the Dutch National team. His mum flies and is coach from the junior team and was /is Team captain for the Dutch team .His sister Maaike is a good pilot and will be the team manager for the Dutch team during the world junior comps in Italy starting in July. Young Tim got the “gliding-spoon” in his mouth and he loves it!And….it turns out ….he is good too! I remember him as a little baby in the pram, “hanging” around on our national gliding center where mum and or dad were flying.
It means I am getting old!

Dieter Bottcher is/was in Hahnweide and helps the organizers with the comps over there. Dieter Dundee, arrives here in Alphen today for a short stay and to help with a few things in my new house.Friend Daan is still in the USA and Harry had a HUGE operation on his back and hopes to be fit for gliding in the new season.

Had some problems with my computer but will keep in touch Cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
14-05-2007

The weather was not good for gliding in Holland but ….extremely good in Austria and Switserland. Young Stefan Leutenegger , who will participate in the world junior comps in Rieti in July, flew in na discus ,a distance of 1164 km according to the the OLC with a speed over 96 km/ph.Great flight! What will he “do” in Rieti this summer? I know he is an excellent and very dedicated young pilot.Surely we can expect a lot of him and his mates from Switserland.

In Austria 2 more 100km-plus flights were flown this weekend and in Germany some long flights , just under 1000.Even up North , the weather is improving and friend Kari flew a 500 km. plus from Rayskala!A few days earlier Antti flew from the same place 853 km.Good old Hannu flew 369 in his PIK.
Another friend Daan is in the States at Ridge Soaring and made a nice 586 km flight.Evelyn flies in the Rockie Mountains so is Ernst, all good mates!All having fun!

No we did not have this great weather here. After 1 month of very nice weather we suffer from wind, rain and cold temperatures as 14 dgr.
Good weather to visit an artfair! Yes I spend last week on the Art Amsterdam. Due to the weather we had 2500 people more then last year, making it 18.000 visitors. There is still money between “us” as they spend for 5 million, 16 % more then last year.We had our share!
I have soar knees from the concrete floor, a soar back from carrying around “huge” paintings and I feel so tired that I can’t think anymore.
Good thing is that it is over tomorrow and with the knowledge that we had a very good fair we can be proud and drink champagne tonight with fresh aspergus, something we do every year.

Got the news from Eddie Madden from Tocumwal that they will collect their new Sportstar this week, flying it from Brisbane to Toc. I know Eddie and Dom LOVE such a flight!!!!So next season they will have 2 tugs again in Tocumwal.

Have to rush again to finish of paperwork from the fair and to go for drinks. See you next time. Will have a bit more time now! Cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
29-04-2007

With the Queens birthday in Holland tomorrow we have a long weekend and lots of pilots spend their time at the gliding field with absolutely great weather!
Flights up to 450 km have been flown and “apres-soaring” is nice too.
In Belgium the weather was even better! Yesterday Begium top pilot Yves Jeanmotte flew in his Ventus 2 cm/m a 920 km flight with a speed of 119 kmp/h. Great Effort!!!
Patrick Stouffs , another top pilot, had a great day flying 657 km in a duo discus T.

We had a very interesting day here, specially when you like soccer. 3 Teams were ready to win and all over Holland people had radio’s and mobiles to keep in touch with what was happening. Men who never met before, forgot to look after their children and were discussing the goals made on the 3 soccerfields.Tension and laughter as still evything was possible till the last minute!
I was in Amsterdam in a beautiful park with my grand children, and faces from men changed with the news!!! As I am from the South of Holland ,PSV is my club. They lost 11 points over the last couple of weeks, so gave it out hand, but still MADE it today with a 5-1 win, just 1 point more then Ajax Amsterdam. My happiness “in the hole of the lion” was not understood by the real Ajax fans, so I just showed it once.But…..had a great day!

Though I still do not understand the rules from cricket , even listening and looking at it when I lived for over 10 years in OZ, I am happy that Australia won a record third successive world title!
I remember in 1987 when the world glidingchampionships were in Benalla , that all our youngsters played it. The Clockies against the Pommies.The young English kids even learned the Dutch ones, how the rules were played. Some of those kids are top pilots now and one , young Leigh Wells, even WORLD CHAMPION in Sweden in 2006 in standard class.

Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
27-04-2007

“My” webmasters in Oz have bent over the problem and what is “hacking” in the photograph and comments sector is NOT a VIRUS, but spam track backs.
Phill is migrating the blog to word -press, which is a multi-user blog with better comment/spam protection.
So now you know too.
It will not take long before it is changed!
Keep reading!

Got a nice mail this morning with great pictures from the Japanese cherry blossom trees. Hisashi send me the view from his balcony.I will check for you if the Japanese gliding season has started already.
They are VERY active but as it pretty difficult to stay up there for a long time and to make long cross country flights, some of them visit places outside of Japan [USA, Australia]. So more “chapeau” for the still many,pilots who MADE /MAKE long flights IN Japan.
Quite a lot of them fly in Australia. I had the honnour of meeting many , many Japanese pilots, being involved in Sportavia ,all very nice people.

I was invited to Japan a few years ago, welcomed like a queen and had the privelege of visiting 3 different gliding places and they are all situated at the river banks, pretty small but good. Pilots have good material and nice towplanes.Nothing wrong there! Also lots of members and nice club houses.They even flew me from one field to the other in a nice motor glider.
I know we are soaring.eu but it is nice to hear about other pilots in the world too.

That’s it for now see you soon again.Have to work. By the way , weather is superb here. 28 dgr. is predicted for today and it is ONLY April 27.
The first accidents with BBQ’s have been mentioned. Sad! Specially youngsters get into hospitals with burns. NO GOOD !
Further on the coca cola company can not handle the big demand for soft drinks and on top of that they have a problem in the factory with a new system here in Holland.So we drink something else for a while.
No worries for me as I do not drink cola.
cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
24-04-2007

Sorry but due to the fact that virussen have “entered” my blogg I have to stop writing till it is fixed. It seems that the photo section and comments sector are full of them, so better action first to get rid of it.
Sorry about that. As soon as they have fixed it in OZ, I will be back on line.I hope they CAN fix it!

Weather here is great. Holland has the driest and warmest April ever, with the most sunshine ever. I love it!!!
The farmers here start complaining now as they have had no rain for 1 month. They should go and live for ONE year in OZ to find out what drought is!!!!
CU soon again. Keep an eye in between on Rieti and Luesse and all other places to read about top gliding.

If you want to buy a good gliding place close to Tocumwal; Corowa ‘s Australian Gliding Centre is FOR SALE.

Sorry but I was not able to place the picture from the army cadets, as promised.
Cheers Ritz

Alphen aan den Rijn
12-04-2007

Hope you enjoyed a happy Easter time, with not eating TOO much easter eggs!
Gliding weather was rather good here in Holland and even better in the rest of Europe.
In Germany and France pilots flew over 700 km on Easter Saturday and an even more interesting flight was made that day in the USA by a pilot flying 972 km in a KA 6 E. Wow, that IS good!

On Easter day the results were even better !What about John Williams who flew in the UK in an Antares 1243 km so early in the season!!!!
Is this the first 1000 km flight in the UK????? Can somebody tell me!!!!!Superb!!!!Congratulations JOHN!

Good friend Bruce Cooper flew nearly 800 km. Congratulations!!!!
In Germany Holger Back had a long flight and in Italy Giorgio Galetto did very well. YES gliding in Europe was HOT over Easter! And so were the temperatures!!!
In Belgium and Holland , pilots managed to fly nearly 500 km. They surely have had a GREAT Easter sunday!
Look for all results at the OLC on www2.onlinecontest.org and click on gliding! Enjoy!!!But….there are also very good flights made by pilots who do not want to be on the OLC, don’t forget that.

Back to work as combining Art and gliding is , as said before , not so easy.

Oh, not to forget; Gliding in OZ still continues but mainly from Kingaroy. Tocumwal had their annual army cadet training and they had a fantastic time , even after the changed situation. I will try to put an article from a news paper on the site later Cheers Ritz.

Cheers Ritz