Post 1.492 on April 17 2024

Since yesterday we had 11 dgr.C and thunderstorms , rain and hail , wind up to 100 km./h better called AUTUM. Now spring is hopefully quickly around the corner again, we had here already here up to 25 dgr C, more and more nice spring pictures are shared . Here is one from the area I live in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

—-JUNIOR CUP was flown from Neresheim in Germany in ONE class between April 6 and April 13 with 23 pilots and so to see “helpers” in the Duo Discus.
They had reasonable weather with small tasks on task 1 and 2 but not flown and an even smaller on task 3 just 57 km!!!!!
8 Flew this task with a best speed of 99 km./h in a DG 300 and the less good one but still IN, from 34 km./h. [ ASW 15B] That’s what I call “stamina’.No valid day though!
These young ones will get there.
Task 5 ; was a good one ;369 km. 5 Gliders flew around with a speed of over 100 km./h BUT, in Discus, Nimbus 4 Duo Discus and ASH 26E.
17 Finished, and only 21 started.
Task 6; even better weather 4.30 AAT…..Toni Kittler in LS 4 won with 375 km /83.34 km./h. The Nimbus 4 with Nils, flew 467 km. and a speed of 94 km./h. and was on a daily spot 8.
20 started and 18 finished.
Task 7; 268.35 km.…won by Marvin in a Discus 2B. Speed 80 km./h. bringing him from 20 overall to 10. Only 7 from 21 finished.
Jannis [Discus 2CT/18m] who was 2 days on spot 1 overall dropped to spot 4 due to an out-landing.
Task 8 was cancelled so the winners of this event were;
1. Jens in a Discus 2B with 2.866 points, 2. Nils in a Nimbus 4 with 2.803 points and 3. Toni in an LS4 with 2.682 points.

—–FCC [Flight Challenge Cup] GLIDING from Prievidza [Slovakia] has started with 107 pilots on April 14 continuing to the 25th with a closing ceremony at 8PM. They fly in 3 classes club [29 pilots] combi [ 45 ] and 15 m [ 32] with some very good pilots from different countries as France, Hungary, Czech Rep. Poland [Sebastian Kawa in Diana 2 ], Germany and more.
On https://www.fccgliding.sk/ you can have a look every day about what’s going on.
Task 1 last Sunday, a 2 hour AAT for club and 1.45 for combi and 15 m was cancelled.
Monday and Tuesday ; NO TASK. They must have the weather we have !!!
For today small tasks are on the list , 2 hour AAT’s in each class, maybe a few windows could give them the first day.

——–DG Aviation GmbH is bij DG Aviation GmbH. announced the “FIRST FLIGHT DG-300neo.
“Following prototype construction and structural tests, flight testing has begun today.” April 12

–—Another heroic wave flight from Baptiste and Gil, 1.806 km in the Stemme S12. The set task was 1.752 km with 3 TP’s on April 10 partly over the Pyrenees
“The 9 of April we decided to take off from Aubenas, a very nice concrete airfield and very well located for waves. We wanted to explore the massif Central waves, then landed at home Perpignan. The waves in the morning over the Pyrenees were quite weak but became top in the afternoon. ” by Gil.

——-Last Sunday was good at several soaring places in Europe.
Germany had a flight from 749 km in an AS33es.
Terlet and Soesterberg [The Netherlands] had 4 over 700 km. flights in ASG 29E/18 m [x2] , ARCUS M and ASH 31MI.
87 Dutch pilots choose that day to fly! [OLC] Not bad!!! Only April 14!!!!!
In total on this early spring day the OLC had 552 flights!!!AND,..we know SPRING CAN BE GOOD!!!!
By the way, down under in Tocumwal, Grant and Swiss Chris still flew over 400 km yesterday, in a Discus and ASW 27!!!
When we are “sitting in the rain” YESTERDAY, Baptiste Innocent took his glider [ASH 31/21 m this time] at Fayence for a 1.744. 90 km ride a 1.128 FAI triangle.At 1 spot he nearly had 6000 m MSL.[5939]
it seems to be a new European distance record. Good on you Baptiste.
weglide.org or olc
Gilles Navas flew a 1.114 from Vinon and in Italy Ugo Vietti 1.066 k. from Calicinate.
So did our Dutch mates Boudewijn with Maurits in an Arcus T. Also Andrea Ferrero flew a 1000 from Calcinate in an AS 33es.
From Switzerland Davide Giovanelli and Daniel Frey , also flew a 1000 k!!!!

——A pity! Keith had great plans to make Corowa Soaring BIG again, but now it is for sale. Such a pity , Grietje and Francesco spend a lot of time and effort in the business through the years.
They built a beautiful club house with a pool in the front and a huge very, modern hangar.

——-The AERO in FRIEDRIFHSHAFEN is open today! the next 4 days they will receive MANY guests!!!!
Here is a picture already from Schempp Hirth ;

—–And one more excellent picture of the Total Solar Eclipse as shared by NASA.

SAD news!!!!Brazilian pilot Guilherme Purnhagen [48 years old and with a young family] ] has died due to a tragic and fatal accident in a glider on Friday April 12 2024. I never met him personally, but had a great contact with him about his activities in Brazil. A very out going mate.
“thanks dear Ritz or of course dear Ritz” I can still read on my FB news from him.
When you say Guilherme , you say Bahia Gliding. He really set up and was still busy with a top gliding center, with many overseas guests.
He participated in the Argentinian and Finish WGC and several National Championships. [FBVP – Planador Brasil ]
A TRUE glider pilot. He will be missed.
This is what I heard ,but could not verify.
“the first flight on the Caproni , the controls froze during take off. The glider rolled and and crashed inverted.“
My deepest sympathy for all his beloved ones, friends and guests.
“Pilots don’t die , they fly with their own wings into the sky”

CU next Wednesday
Cheers Ritz

By the way, …for those who still remember Kees Musters,the 2003 Hobbs WGC champion, …he would have turned 78 today. Sadly he died on December 27 in 1987 due to a fatal hang glider accident in France.