Post 1.487 on March 13 2024
Though,….. The SENIORS are flying in Florida and there is 1 upcoming REGIONAL competition in South Africa end of April;
——–The season is about to start everywhere in this part of the world and at some places it started already. For some clubs reparations are still in full swing. Gliders will be in perfect condition, parachutes repacked and instruments “tuned”
SkySight shares some news /PR, as as well
“The wait is over – the Gliding Season is starting!
Another season is upon us and we want to make sure you don’t miss a single opportunity to take flight. 
That’s why we’re encouraging all gliding enthusiasts to set up their PFD alarms or route alarms with SkySight today!
With our smart alert system, you’ll receive instant notifications when the perfect flying conditions are forecasted, ensuring you won’t miss the chance to fly that bucket-list task.”
Here’s how to set up your alarms:
1. Visit SkySight.io and select the Potential Flight Distance (PFD) option.
2. Click “Create New Alert” and choose your preferred location on the map.
3. Set your desired threshold for notification and give your alert a personalized label.
4. For route alarms, simply click the icon next to your desired task in the parameter menu.
Matthew from SkySight is prominent in the WeGlide Magazine answering 5 questions on the new season.
He will be even in The Netherlands in June for the start of EUROGLIDE.
“To mark the start of the season we asked our founder Matthew Scutter on the upcoming season. We asked him on his plans and the updates for the weather model. Read it all in WeGlide magazine.“
magazine.weglide.org
——-Midland Gliding Club shares news about a, so to see, pretty nice weekend.
——-From the USA [Frauke]I got the next news about the German Magazine SEGELFLIEGEN. It is now available in English under the name SOARING INTERNATIONAL.
To subscribe go to ; https://soaring-international.com/download-online-edition/
——-Great flights from N.Z. USA pilot Kelvyn Flavall spend his season in Omarama in N.Z. Normally he flies from Seattle but nearly going home he said:” A great way to cap off an absolutely fantastic season flying out of Omarama. Big wave flight, but not easy. Very strong wave in places and quite moist at times.“
1.062 km speed 161.58 km./h. in an ASG 29E/18m
Gavin Wrigley an Aussie, also flying from Omara flew on that same Thursday March 7 in an LS4, 870 km/134.28 km./h.
Flying a 1000 in a Duo Discus is also REMARKABLE!!!That happened as well in Omarama on that same day; 1.011 km/156 km./h. by Milan and Richard.
——-Europe had some strong flights too early in their season.
A great season start for Werner Amann , on March 3,….he flew nearly 1.600 km [1.589] in the brand new AS33Es in the Alps, with 136 km./h. in the 18 m configuration. An out and return from Hohenems-Dornbirn in Switzerland.
On the same day Rainer Crohnjaeger flew in the ASH 31MI/21 m. a free distance flight from 1.124 km./ h. from Hausen am Albis.
Australia still enjoys great soaring and pretty high temperatures …38 dgr.C….for the beginning of autumn. The last couple of days they had an heatwave with 40 dgr.C even in Victoria, where it normally is not that hot.
Mac flew from Temora 759 km [500 FAI triangle] in the LS 8-t neo, Tocumwal still has flights up to 639 km ,so does Narromine up to 600.
On March 9 the skies were booming over Benalla, according to the Gliding Club of Victoria;”Twenty five launches in the Tug today and the sky is booming!”
Toby Geiger flew in the 15m Ventus 2ax an FAI triangle from 500 km. Mind you later starts and early ends of the days.
Tocumwal had 10 to 11.000 ft cloud base.
Argentina had superb weather on March 8 and 3 pilots noticed that , took their glider for a ride and what a “ride” it was for them.
Juan Pablo Verdura flew in his Ventus 2cm /18 m.;1.673.22 km with a speed of 193 km./h. They had wave up to 7932 MSL.
Federico Buscema flew in the Nimbus 3DM; 1.486.60 km, speed 169.73 km./h.
Alejandro Pettenazza flew in ARCUS M ;1.380,67 km, speed 176.12 km./h.
Zapala Neuquen was the place to be.
Germany had a great weekend on March 10 with 3 over 1000 km flights from Koenigsdorf and Trieben. Even 1,265 in Ventus 2cxm/18 m [ wave up to 5.388 MSL] and 1,289 km in ASH 31/21 m.
Flying from Koenigsdorf to the” Zugspitze” the highest mountain on the border of Germany and Austria [2962 m] is a great way to start the race over the “giving” Alps.
A flight in a Discus 2c/18 m should be mentioned too; 1.120 km.
From Austria Wolfgang flew that same day 1.116 km. from Wiener Neustadt in an ARCUS.
–——-TWIN SHARK news;
“TwinShark has on 6.3.2024 achieved EASA certification, a remarkable achievement coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Libelle H 301’s maiden flight.
Join us in celebrating this momentous occasion as we continue to push the boundaries of aviation excellence. Elevate your flying experience with the TwinShark!‘
HpH Sailplanes
Talking about the Libelle, here is more news from Glasflügel-Glasfaser Flugzeug Service
“Today is the 60th anniversary of the first official flight of the Libelle H 301. Eugen Hänle wanted to check everything would go smoothly, so he did a flight the day before!
Our website has plenty to read about everything Glasflügel, but here is a link to take you straight to today’s focus, with lots of rarely seen photographs.”
https://streifly.de/en/home/glasflugel/h301/ – English
https://streifly.de/h301-de/ – German
We had WORLD WOMEN DAY on March 8 and several gliding clubs with female club members, had their own” Women of Aviation Worldwide Week” and there was more on that day.
When you have 5 minutes and 43 seconds to spare have a look at the great video ““Women carry half the sky”…from Jerolamo Radman who shares pictures from women in gliding “during a championship, gliding meetings, you have crossed my path, from 2008 until 2023, perhaps you will see yourself in one of these photosThank you for these meetings, these smiles, these good times of laugh and friendshipand if you don’t see yourself in this little film… be sure that I still remember you.”
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/vocXEW982bDSimaP/?mibextid=a6qBZl
AND,…..“Gliding Australia celebrates the women who take to the skies. It’s a team effort from our girls, from the instructors to the pilots, students, airworthiness ladies, tug pilots and supporters making it all possible. Let’s celebrate overcoming obstacles, fulfilling dreams, and welcoming more women into the gliding community.”
Talking about the Libelle AND women, more news from Glasflügel-Glasfaser Flugzeug Service
“Today for International Womens Day, we would like to celebrate two exceptional women.
Ursula Hänle was instrumental in the creation of Glasflügel and the development of the Open and Standard Libelle. Later, in her business Start + Flug, she became the first (the only as far as we know) woman to design and build a glider, the Salto.
Barbara Streifeneder worked for Glasflügel as a Draftswoman and her name can be seen on the drawings for the Standard Libelle and Kestrel. She was a partner in the Glasfaser Flugzeug Service until she passed away in 2003.“
——–The 2024 pre- registrations for FAI SAILPLANE GRAND PRIX have been closed and a record participation shows the success of this type of soaring. When there are cancellations you might be lucky to still enter .
I know Terlet in The Netherlands is already fully booked and that is only in Mai 2025.
The following 2024 events pilots pre-registration phase are officially closed for :
- Spain : but still some places available (2), first arrived first served rules is now applied, visit the event page to register.
- Norway : event is full but if any pilot cancel her/his participation, waiting list is small so you can still apply and have a chance. Go to event page to register.
- Germany : event is heavily overbooked.
- Italy : event is slightly overbooked, if any pilot cancel her/his participation, waiting list is small so you can still apply and have a chance. Go to event page to register.
- Slovenia : event is slightly overbooked, if any pilot cancel her/his participation, waiting list is small so you can still apply and have a chance. Go to event page to register.
- France : event is full but if any pilot cancel her/his participation, waiting list is small so you can still apply and have a chance. Go to event page to register.
https://sgp.aero/news/2024registrationsclosed
——–Some IGC plenary news; Aldo was so kind to sent me some dates and news on awards.
TABOR Czech Rep; has the WGC for the “small ships” between August 3 and 17 2024.
Uvalde USA; has the WGC for the big ships between August 14 and September 1 2024
Aalen Germany ; JWGC in 2026.The bid included extremely favorable conditions for renting some gliders.
Slovenia gets the WWGC in 2027.
The 13.5m WGC will be discontinued. The last one will be in Ostrow this year when they have enough pilots and nations to fly it.
The Lilienthal Medal was awarded to Tomas Wala.
The Pirat Gehriger diploma went to John Wharington.
The Pelagia Majewska medal. Not awarded this year.I got mine in 2015!!!!!
Shared by Bo but courtesy picture goes to Jared Granzow
To finish the start of news about the 34th edition of the 2024 Senior Soaring championship flown from Seminole Lake in Florida.
Always very pleased to see the pictures from Bo. I share 3 already here, with enough gliders and great skies and some pilots .
Practice was on March 8 and they fly between March 9 to 15.
Many “oldies” with HUGE respect, have their holiday competition in Seminole.
“What started as a friendly competition between friends have turned into a highly competitive event pitting some of the best pilots in the country and beyond. We welcome World/National Champions, Junior Racers as well as first time competitors to Seminole-Lake Gliderport. “
Till now they only flew yesterday. A 3 hour AAT with 4 TP’s ; Sam wrote;”light S wind, cu over entire task area all day. Ave lift around 4 knots.” Pretty good day.
More next week
Cheers Ritz.