Last weekend several European countries enjoyed cold, but lovely soaring weather. The Netherlands was one of those countries. Looking at the sky both on Saturday and Sunday my soaring-heart went “boom- boom”!!!!
Swiss pilot Davide, who likes long distance flying, flew 1.320 km. in a Discus 2!!!!!Wave up to 5930m MSL,[his highest point] but also ridge-soaring , over Switzerland, France and Italy, created the good result during an 11 hour and 44 minute flight! And indeed a Nord-foehn was blazing over the mountain tops.
On that Saturday 4x a 1000 k was flown. One in an ASH 26E. The Swiss had their SGT camp[Training] in Valbrembo in Italy, with these very good circumstances.
On Sunday some Dutch pilots flew up to 876 km [ASG 29] and 815 in Duo Discus .
Nearly 1000 pilots loved their flying for a goal or as important for joy and fun and shared that with us via OLC or WeGlide.

In the UK , most probably, the first declared 750 for 2022 was flown by Pete Harvey in the Ventus 3 on April 9.From Lasham Andy Aveling and Garry Coppin flew 696 in the Arcus M and Roy [Pentecost] flew 641 in his ASG 29E.
The Lasham Gliding Society added;
“Another busy weekend at Lasham is complete with close to 250 launches and flights of 750km+ at speeds of well over 100kph average! Our gliders flew cross country as far west as Plymouth and as far east as Dover! Sometimes enjoying some glides over the water and climbs to over 6000ft.Plenty of training and introductory flights during the weekend too! We train new student pilots all year round. “
Visit www.lashamgliding.com for more details.

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Interesting to read that Simon Schroeder, who I saw in Uvalde in Texas in a restaurant with his family, when he was a teenager, now 10 years later, won the WORLD SOARING CUP. Good on him!!!
At that time his dad Robert flew the WGC.
As Gerd Marzinzik wrote on the OLC news ;”He got the cup for his outstanding performance at the 2021 Standard Class Gliding World Championships in Montluçon, France. He got the most achievable points there in 2021 at world championships. The year before the today 25-year-old won the Junior World Championships in Szeged, Hungary, in the Standard Class.”
Talking about the WGC this year in Hungary; I heard, it has moved due to the war in the Ukraine, to Szeged again. The other place was too close to a military NATO base, which is needed now!!!

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Busy enough at the Tocumwal Airshow…great weather fabulous planes and demo’s and lot’s of enthusiastic people.

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Yesterday evening young Radek Krejcirik had nice news on FB.
“Good evening, let me welcome to this group AS33 sn 33033 CN 12. Yesterday 11.04. pickup at the factory. Evening CAA check in Prague (to be honest impressive work done by the officers). Today first flight at the LKCM in Czechia. Lets go for PribinaCup beginning at the end of this week. Thank AS for wonderful work, everything works smooth!”
Good luck in your new glider.
When I remember the many new gliders we had and when they were just ready before an important competition , it always gave smaller or bigger problems with wires or instruments. I hope that does not happen to him.

Vladimir Foltin , the The Sporting Director from the Pribina Cup, [ April 15-April 23 2022] always flown in the Easter weekend, that is ,when there is NO CORONA, wrote in his welcome post:
“Dear pilots,
We would like to inform you about the decisions to continue with preparation of the competition. However, there is another tragedy happening in the neighboring country, that could not be anticipated before. We monitor the developments closely and we will inform of any noteworthy aspects that may affect the preparations for the event.”
Today on the 13th the practice is starting and 117 pilots will be ready to go for it. .
There are 33 pilots in CLUB class, 25 in 15 m. class, 11 in the 20m multi seat class and in open 48 , including Radek.
Last time winners and due to Covid that was in 2019, were Simon Briel and Enrique Levin [Germany] in the Duo Discus, Mark Travner from Slovenia in Club in a DG 300, Tomasz Hornik from Poland in Discus 2a in 15 m. and Sebastian Kawa from Poland in the Diana 3FES in open class .

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When you are in the neighborhood don’t forget the best and leading show for general aviation in Friedrichshafen in Germany between April 27- 30 in 2022.

CU next week with more news and results from the Pribina Cup the first BIG European competition of the season.
By the way the Dutch Open Military Championship will be flown from Malden between June 13 and 17.From Friday April 15 the registration is open.
Cheers Ritz