Alphen aan den Rijn              12-10-2008

Yes indeed, we had weatherwise a very pleasant week. Not so much a nice week at work as , having an opening in the gallery means , working for 12 hours atleast, a day!!!!And that for 4 days.
It seems autumn has chanced its mind and has gone back to give a bit of summer weather here in Europe another chance.
Which means that even in Holland a 300 km triangle [in a Nimbus 4D,] cross country was possible.Unterwoessen had over 300 km [ ASW 20] and Dunstable [ the London Gliding Club –ASW 27] also.
Today we even seem to reach up to 22 dgr.!!!!Though at this stage it is still foggy.

Very pleased to see that Sportaviation has some pilots flying already and even more pleased to see that Bendigo pilot Terry Bellair headed the OLC list yesterday with a great 602 km flight in his DG 400. We will see and hear more from him.He is one of those “real -kilometer-eaters”.

Good weather also in Israel where friends Arnon [ASW24]and Raffi [PIK20 E]  flew over 300km cross country tasks!
Kingaroy has, as you know already , the first official comps from the season in the southern hemisphere and after 3 days of flying the “more-or-less-top-pilots” are indeed in the top!In sports class Bruce Taylor [Ventus 2cx/18.m]who flew in the worlds in Rieti and in Club class Phillip Ritchie in an LS4, with former world-participant Paul Mander in Standard Libelle on 3d place.

Per Oberg {Sweden} has died in the end of September at age 84.He was the IGC delegate for Sweden for many years and even more important the “founder” of the club class . The first official European Club class championships were in Sweden in Orebro in 1979. And as you know we have club class comps on world level now too. I met him once in Sweden, nice fellow, who did A LOT for gliding!

Off to work now with a headache, but never mind! Enjoy the upcoming week, for now you are up to date. If you fly…fly safe!

Ritz