Yes it WAS Hammerwetter in Bitterwasser with a new world record over an FAI triangle from 1250 km. flown by Lazlo Hegedus who flew with a speed of 151,6 km p/h. The old record was in hands of Steve Fossett, who is still not found after he got lost flying from the Baron Hilton Range to…… Steve flew with a speed of 149,2 km in the past.
Also 16 more 1000 km flights were made on this 19th of December 2007 in Bitterwasser. I got lost counting how many 1000 km have been flown in Africa this season. Another fabulous day. I congratulated already my good friends Bert and Hilde Schmelzer from Belgium. They are the mum and dad of Tijl and Bert jr, both flying the World Comps in Rieti in 2008. Their very FIRST 1000 km together in a nimbus 3D. They must have been over the moon!!!!
It pleases me more then I can say, how many pilots now fly again a set task and FAI task . It is not only “eating km” anymore, where the weather is the best! Great!
Also some bad / sad news. During the Grand Prix in Omarama in New Zealand, 59 year old German pilot Herbert Weiss died after his glider crashed 55 km north of Wanaka over a hillside.I wish his wife and both children a lot of strenght to live on without him.
The competition was cancelled for a day to pay respect to Herbert but today they were flying again and it was a good day for Aussie top pilot Bruce Taylor. There you see how close sadness and happiness lay together.
Another tragic accident in Gariep Damm, a few weeks ago, when a father/son -combination in a nimbus 4DM “just fell out of the sky” after a wing fell off /broke off. Investigation will sort out, how the 51 year old father and his 31 year old son, found their “end” while doing what they both loved to do ; SOAR! More sad family and friends I feel deeply for them!
Nearly 20 years ago [ Januari 3] I lost my own son flying a retrieve in a Bellanca Scout from Tocumwal to Jerilderie. Finley, the place in between was the tragic end of his too short life!Only 18 1/2 !!!! And…ONE powerline on the way!!!
BIG THANK YOU TO ALL FRIENDS WHO < EVEN DURING THEIR HOLIDAYS <THOUGHT OF ME ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for your calls, sms and emails. They came from 5 continents, of course Australia where I will have friends FOR EVER! But also from Asia, [Japan, Hong Kong], from Africa {Bitterwasser, Pokweni and Gariep Dam] from Canada, [where it is -37 , so I better be quiet with “my” -5 ] and from all over Europe.
I feel blessed and grateful, to have met in my life so many nice great friends and….to find out , I STILL have them, though I live a more or less anonymous life nowadays.
Due to the fact that I work tomorrow and celebrate my birthday on sunday , I write this post a bit earlier.
Do you enjoy those 1000 km flights as much as I do??? I love to see them and I “feel” the good weather. Great circumstances both in Africa and Australia. And don’t only look at the distance, but also to the speed, some are beyond believe, so it must be real ” HAMMERWETTER”.Congratulations to Bent who flew in Corowa his 1000 km. Well done Bent!!!!Good friends Bert and Hilde are this time in Bitterwasser and after a 600 km flight on their first flying day they NEARLY flew 1000 km in the nimbus 3D; 972 km. Great effort for this lovely couple.
I heard that Ken , good friend from Japan, ,yes the pilot with those ” beautiful old flying machines ” is back in Tocumwal flying even cross country in his Alpin . More or less an out and return from 163 km. with a speed of 55 km.p/h. Fabulous!!!!!!
We also look ahead at next year . Heard from Teresa that the Swedish Nationals called ” the Eskilstuna open” or [the famous] Eskilstuna International open is from the 18th to 24th of May 2008.Entries for all classes will be open soon and they reserve some places for European pilots outside Scandinavia.Keep an eye on their homesite which will have the news in the beginning of the new year. www.efk.nu
The club also celebrates their 70thiest anniversary.So reason enough to go for a great soaring holiday to Sweden, for a change. I remember the world comps overthere as if it was yesterday. Had a fantastic time ! Very nice people too!!!
Practise starts in NZ where in Omarama the Grand Prix will start on December 19. All toppilots have arrived for “their race of the year”. Anxious to find out which “topper” will win this time.
Will keep you informed! Surely all those pilots avoiding the cold and rain in Africa and Oz , will get tired from all those kilometers they fly.It must nearly feel like “work” ! Poor pilots!!!!!Just joking!!
Here it starts to get colder too. We have a bit of frost [minus 2] during the night, but today we had sunny circumstances and 4 dgr. during the day. Well my first winter since 1984 is not TOO bad till now, but they predict that Januari will be REALLY cold. Let’s wait and see!
Only 2 km. short on a 1000km!!! Yes this happened to Daan in Pokweni last week, but…..no worries, yesterday he “DID ” it again with a 1110 km . in his ventus 2. A few great soaring days over there in Africa, with many just under 1000km flights during last week and yesterday another 6 real “THOUSANDS” shared by Pokweni and Bitterwasser.
In between some of my friends travel to New Zealand to prepare for the GRAND PRIX over there. Giorgio Galetto, Pete Harvey and Michael Sommer have qualified for this exiting and very interesting race in Omarama. They fly together with some more top pilots, between december 19 -24. Good luck to ALL of them and safe flying. If you are interested look at ;www.gpgliding.com
By the way, the NZ Nationals will be held in Matamata in February [4-15].
The multiclass Nationals in Australia will be held in Temora in Januari from 14-25 . They have 65 entries the absolute MAX and a waiting list for late pilots. I saw 4 overseas pilots as well on the list.
Enough flying overseas, not yet here in Europe or you have to go to the mountains for height -flights. Here in Holland , it ONLY rains; I nearly get crazy from it!But some dry days with minor frost and FINALLY NO WIND, are predicted. With a bad cold , I better go back to bed now. See you next week Ritz
The metereological winter has started here , which means summer on the other sides of the world. And YES summer has started in Africa and Australia with great weather and atleast 16 “1000 km” flights on December 1 and 47 flights between 693 km in a “small” ventus cm 15 m and 1043 in a Nimbus 3 DM.
I know the feeling of happines going with the achieving of that still magic distance of 1000 km. Also the tension, “ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE IT ” ???????????And when I see that Hans and Uwe have flown another one[ they must have lost count on how many they have over the years!] , I KNOW they still feel that special touch in their gliding heart and that they still feel happy with it. They move temperarely from home , family and friends to achieve long flights ” chasing their dreams”, in other parts of the world and luckily thye weather is great at the moment, so they can make them.
Which means that pilots who are not yet that far to fly a 1000 km distance, enjoy great weather too, with special first long flights for them. Is n’t gliding great!!! ???I specially love the long declared tasks and FAI distances as this proofs even better the quality of weather [over a bigger area], glider and pilot.
Winter here has started with storm, heavy rain and dangerous gusts of wind! We had the exposition -highlight of the year 2007 in the gallery, with a lot of guests, neglecting the bad weather but complaining about it, after arrival. ARMANDO , our best Dutch after-war painter, arrived through the bad weather, to see lots of guests and enough buyers to make him and us happy.
The club , with Ingo as instructor, at Toc. airfield had a discussion about buying a double seater for instruction before they had their annual BBQ with a visit from Santa Claus yesterday on sunday.
Still tired, so next week more news and I keep an eye on all flights and love to see AND feel happy, that most of “our” guests found great places to fly after the demise of Sportavia.
I always enjoy 1000 km flights . Not that I not recognize a first 300 or 500 but a 1000km+ is and remains special.
I noticed on OLC that Hans Wiesenthal flew another beauty in Gariep Dam,to be honest I lost track of all his 1000 km flights! Lots of 1000 km flights over the last weeks in Africa and now also the FIRST one in Corowa Australia. Congratulations to Rien Bastiaanse from The Netherlands , flying their brand new ASG 29/18 . A good beginning of a hopefully long and splendid carreer for this glider.
Hope you enjoyed reading the story about the first big overseas competition from Simon Holding from the Alice Springs gliding club.
A huge week with a huge art exposition on December 2, so busy busy and not back on sunday the 2d due to this vernissage, but….I will keep you informed! Cheers Ritz
Yes the DAY , was a great day! I did not know that I knew such a lot of glider pilots and to be honest I was amazed to see how many more know me and a few times I had a problem to find out who they were. But in the end I could place ALL of them!
VERY nice to see was how many of the 300 guests have been in Tocumwal in “my” Sportavia period!!Lots of young ones, who worked for us! Sorry to hear that some got married and split up not long after. A bit confronting:You clearly see that you really are getting older, but what’s wrong with that.
We were welcomed with ” vlaai “, the real Limburg traditionel baked round flat cake,[ more or less,] with rice or apricot or prumes. Just yammie!!! After the opening words a very intertesting item about safety presented by Belgian pilot, flight instructor and examinator, Rik Moons. He spoke in a very open , direct and honest way about Human factors in flight, the pilot and his restrictions. A full hour of things to learn from!
After that there were parallel sessions and with applying you could give your perference. I decided for ” Coaching ,a succesfactor with a European or world competition. ” This time it was about the Europeans were Ronald Termaat won the title coached by Baer Selen former 2 times world champion. Of course I knew as TC a lot about it , was even pleased to see that a lot I started was /is still used. Great story by both.
Time for lunch and time to talk with Leonardo and Ricky who were going to present their story in the afternoon. My friends from Belgium were there all 4 Schmelzers and happy . They just heard last Tuesday that both Tijl and Bert jr are selected by the Belgium authorities to fly in the 2008 World comps in Rieti. The Dutch are hopefully going with 4 now, as I found out that Bas Seijffert will fly too.Only “minor” problem, he needs a few days off.
The afternoon I selected a meeting with the people involved with the new European rules. EASA is busy with new rules for licenses , medicals maintenace etc all in ONE European regulation. Interesting, it should be all working in another 4 years and it starts slowly in spring 2008. I was impressed by Matthias Borgmeier.
Then another interesting item ” Competing in gliding-Winning with your mind” , by father and son Brigliadori who both wrote the book with the same title. They spoke about their experiences in gliding, with winning and even compared gliding with a business ; how to manage, how to anticipate. Great story.
After prizes were given for the OLC winners in Holland and the clubs. Also prizes for the best pictures made by amateur photographers and all published in de “Thermiek” , the best Dutch gliding magazine!
After a drink with many, even Eric who lives in France now ;he still flies KLM and was runner up in Sweden during the World comps. He told me he was leaving today for “his boss” to Africa and was going to pay a visit with Boudewijn to Dick Bradley in Bloemfontein. Of course he took my best wishes for the WHOLE Bloemfontein team! My Belgium friends Bert and Hilde move to Bitterwasser soon and Daan has left for Pokweni….and I am still here, sitting in the rain!
Back home after a 2 hour trip, at 1.30 AM after a fine dinner with nice friends, including the Brigliadories. At least 2 world champions on ONE table. Baer and Leonardo.
I was fortunate to be offered a position on the Australian Team to fly in the Pre Worlds in Rieti. Others have covered the blow by blow flying of the contest. I thought I would attempt to write about some of the ‘feel’ of an international contest (now that I have been to one).
Why would anyone want to spend considerable money and effort to go to the other side of the world and fly in a gliding contest?
Because you get to live in another culture, and be accepted by the people – and they were wonderful. We met people whom we never have encountered otherwise. We flew over countryside, and saw the back blocks of Italy from a perspective that few will ever see. We flew in the company of the Gryphon Vulture – priceless. We flew over castles, ruins, mountains, ancient towns. We flew low through picturesque valleys, hoping to never see the terrain from that perspective again, ever. We encountered weather that left us in awe, and in touch with our own insignificance.
The pilots flying at the standard of the Pre Worlds generally have a positive can do attitude. They were a fun group – highly motivated and proper talented. It was a great experience to mix with people where there was little class distinction. Just to be at the event meant that there was an assumed ability, and we were treated as equals.
As I had an Italian license I was able to hire one of the local club’s DG505 and take some of our crew for a quick tour of the Rieti site. This was a privilege for me, as it was an opportunity to give some of our team a taste of what we were experiencing as pilots in the contest. What I quickly discovered was that non pilots make far better passengers – the pilots know enough to recognize the potential danger – and squealed. I was astounded at what a few days of desensitization had done for my willingness to work the lift in the hills.
Early in the week the girls in our crew had voted the airport fireman as the most arrogant, personality devoid individual on the planet. Big call, given that he didn’t speak a word of English. Clearly his body language was not up to scratch. Lisa Trotter during our coaching had told us it was important to try to get on with everyone – it has measurable contest benefits. So, setting the bar high, I set myself a goal to win the fireman over within a week. It was with great pride as I walked down the taxiway smoking a big cigar, and although I conceded the habit was disgusting, this cigar was special. Smugly I told the crew that my mate the fireman had given it to me. Mission accomplished….
Not every day was perfect. The end of my contest came when I got caught with no lift in a steep valley with limited landing options.
I landed the glider on a steep hill, and came to rest undamaged. My face developed that surprised (really surprised) look when the glider rolled backwards about 50 metres (31 kph on the trace), coming to rest in a dry creek bed. The result of this backwards inglorious trip was a broken rudder, ailerons and wing root.
I climbed out, shook myself off, and assessed the damage. The mobile phone was working so I reported in, and set about exploring my new found environment. About 100 metres up a very steep hill stood a huge man with his arms crossed, looking mean. I smiled, told him my name was Simon, that I was from Australia, I didn’t speak Italian, I was sorry to land in his paddock, and shook his hand. Thank Christ he smiled. Trouble was, he spoke no English, and I spoke no Italian.
Mario was greatly confused as to how the glider had got to where it was, backed into a creek. We walked together back down the hill and I did a bit of pointing and miming to demonstrate my flight path, and showed him the wheel marks – up, and down, the hill. At this point he was mightily impressed and pointed at me declaring ‘numero uno’.
Alessandro (the CFI) back at the club that owned the glider would more likely consider me from the aspect of a number two rather than a number one, after what I had done to his aircraft.
Mario was most concerned that I was not hurt, and I managed to get that idea across that I was fine. Then he was upset that I would not be found by the crew. Despite showing him our coordinates and trying to indicate that the crew had GPS, it still required another call to Franca (our Contest Director) to explain in Italian to Mario that all would be OK. A couple of hours later,
Tim Shirley (my crew) was not so sure. When ‘Bitchin Betty’ inside the GPS announced to him in the car ‘you have arrived’ he admitted after, that he thought I was either dead, or he was in the wrong valley – there was no where here to land. He was a bit disturbed to drive around the next corner and find Mario and I.
During the wait for Tim and my wife Margot to rescue me, Mario and I sat on his verandah drinking wine and enjoying the sunshine. Looking across the valley at Mt Terminillo in the distance framed by a saddle in the hills, I laughed out loud and saluted Mario with his glass of wine ‘to life’.
Despite us sharing no language, Mrs Mario explained that she had two grandkids one 600mm and the other (a boy) an 800mm version. Their cat was called Katerina. She was very proud of her son, who I gather works in IT. I admired their magnificent vegetable patch, and we compared the difficulties faced with growing tomatoes back in
Alice Springs.
Damaging the glider put me out of the contest at that point. Tim and I did have an opportunity on the last contest day to help retrieve Bruce Taylor. At 4 pm we set off to collect his glider 90 km away. We got to the presentation at midnight…..
Our work was not quite finished. Margot and I had to deliver the glider that I had injured to hospital up near Bologna.
We delivered the glider to a repair shop in the North of Italy, and then spent a week traveling around and enjoying ourselves. Paul Mander assured me that touring the
Amalfi
Coast was the best way to recover from damaging a glider, but Italy was in the grip of a heatwave, and so we stayed in the cool North. Food, wine, white water rafting and just plain relaxing was kind of neat, but reality called, and we had to head off home.
On the way back to Rome we dropped in to Rieti to say a few goodbyes. Early in our stay in Rieti, I tried a few times to engage the publican in some mimed conversation. It took the gruff Carlos a few days to ask me in perfect English what I was doing in Rieti? He was pleased to find out that we were flying in the contest. When I asked why he had not spoken to me before in English, Carlos said he couldn’t be bothered talking to tourists. Apparently I had been promoted up the ladder from tourist in his eyes, and we became friendly. We got inside running on the gossip about the piazza, and a great insight into how the locals interpreted events around them.
The local festival of St Antonio was deemed a far more important topic than the crippling garbage workers strike over in Florence. Local police were held in poor regard. The Mayor was popular. Planning laws are not. We agreed that my problems back home were about similar – with small variations. Carlos told us not to say good bye – he and his wife are coming to see us in
Alice Springs.
Anyway, the point of all the above, is to illustrate how wonderful the experience of contest flying is. Getting an Italian perspective that few would, from the air (sometimes close up!)Meeting the people not as a tourist, but accepted as a guest in their country. Finding out about your own limitations, and how we react under pressure in different arenas.
Six years ago when I started gliding, it never occurred to me that it would be possible to compete offshore. But within the Gliding Federation we have such a generosity of spirit, a knowledge base and a willingness to give people an opportunity that a remarkable experience can be had in contest flying. If presented with the opportunity, I would urge everyone to give contest flying a go. Who knows what tomorrow brings?
A great sunday morning here in Holland, full of sunshine and a bleu sky, a morning to just feel happy. Specially cause I do not have to scratch the ice from my carwindow. It’s my day off!
Still have to get used to scratching ice from windows and to be honest I am NOT good in it and too impatient. Don’t forget that I had no winters since 1984!!!!! I surely will get used to it.Though I heard that there is a “magic bottle” ;spray the stuff from the bottle on the window , use your wipers and the problem is solved!!! Have to buy such a bottle immedeately.
Never underestimate Klaus Ohlman , THE best long distance pilot in the world. In Argentina he made a few nice long ones again. Also Bitterwasser pilots flew long distances and OZ had great weather too.
I am more then pleaesed with the very good flights from Terry Bellair from Bendigo in Victoria Australia.He flew several times in our Tocumwal-Outback-Shootout and was eager to fly the longest distance. He never won , but I see that he still improves and flew another over-700 km flight this time from Narromine in his DG 400 17.I am really impressed and pleased!!!!!
This afternoon the young Rieti team from the junior World comps meets in Noordwijk on the beach for a beach walk and a nice dinner in an Italian restaurant.Looking forward to catch up with them again. One of them, Bart , will fly in 2008 in THE WORLD COMPS, together with Jelmer and Robbie , as said in an earlier post all junior world pilots! Maaike , yes good looking always smiling Maaike, will be there as TC and she has got some practise now too. She was my assistant in Hus Bos and did the job by herself last year in Rieti and….she did a good job. Pilots are mostly a bit jealous on the dutch team , because of their dedicated TC s’. Yes we have a few good ones here and Maaike ‘s mum is a great ,very experienced TC too.
Talking about World comps! The first bulletin of the Luesse world comps is online.[www.wgc2008.org] since november 15. 130 Pilots are max. allowed to fly or 50 max. per class.Lufthansa will be the main sponsor, more to follow ofcourse and nice news is that ” under circumstances special conditions may be available exclusively for ALL_LUFTHANSA _flights.
Next week is the Dutch Gliding Day and all 300 allowed guests got a ticket. Even some have to wait on a waiting list.Will give you the news after. Read in the papers about a special English meteo-prof. who predicts that around that day, between november 24 and 28 we can expect extreme weather in the NW part of Europe touching Holland too with 12 b. wind and lots of rain. The Dutch meteo says “nonsense”, waiting anxious now who is correct.
Last but not least ! I was wondering where the Japanese pilots have gone after the demise of Sportavia, but I saw that Yoghi is back in Toc and flies with the Sportaviation team in Tocumwal. For sure Junzo is there too then!
Eddie and Don are very busy building up the new center and their website is under construction; www.sportaviation.com.au
The club in Toc has their annual Christmas party on December 2 with a meeting before with as main ” item ” to buy yes or no a glider for joy flights and instruction, which they lease now.
Just saw that this is POST—- ONE HUNDRED—- . Not too bad, is it?
After the demise of “our” own gliding paradise Sportavia Soaring Center in Tocumwal, it is great to see that our many guests/customers/friends have found their ‘new homes” in Africa and Australia.I worried about it a lot, but it all looks fine! That pleases me more then I can say!!! I wish all friends great flights and good times. I write a bit about them!
Great flights already in Gariep Dam were Uwe flew nearly his so maniest 1000 km. flight in his Nimbus 3DM. But also very nice to see that Lothar flew in a DG 600 some nice long flights from Tocumwal airport. The Murray Border flying club is active there with Ingo Renner as their instructor.
In Corowa they have had the first briefing and good old friend Harry has made a few real nice flights already in his own ventus and I know how special this is for him now. Great Harry!!!!!Also Pepe has arrived there and made his paella as ever before and …already a great flight;FAI, yes that’s what he wants!!!!Good on him!
Terry who always flew the “OUTBACK-SHOOTOUT -comps” from Toc is as busy gliding , but now from his home field Raywood [Victoria ], where they have great weather too as he made a 789 km. flight in his DG 400 [17m].Super Terry!!!He is a “go-er”.
From the 8th of November onwards, we will see many long flights from Corowa as the gliders have arrived in their containers, after a short delay ,so pilots had a a bit of a forced rest but could go straight up in the air after , under good circumstances.More good friends will arrive there over summer!
But even my friends in Israel are doing well. Rafi , who flies at world comps, made in his own area , some nice long flights. We had of course many, many Japanese guests and I have to find out what happened to them; were have they gone for flying!
So keep an eye on the OLC [On Line Competion] if you are interested in the longer flights this summer overseas. But be aware that NOT everybody wants to be on it and some pilots only want to fly with FAI rules, which makes it more difficult , then “following the weather” to make the longest flight.
Art, another guest from Canada, will be in Rieti to help out on the technical site. Great news! Keeping in touch with him, brought me back to another “old” friend, Jos , who flew in the same club as we did , 40 years ago .He moved to Canada and I never heard from him again. Now we are on “writing terms ” again. Is n’t gliding great for friendships!!??
That’s about it for this week!Absolutey appalling weather here in Holland with storms, rain , hail , thunder and lightning, so be happy if you are somewhere in the sun. If not ……enjoy life anyhow, as I do!
