The Italian CHAMPIONS in 20 m.

The Italian 18 m. CHAMPIONS

The GROUP 1 winners from the C.I.M.

The C.I.M. GROUP 2 winners!!!

That’s it from the C.I.M.
It took me quite a while to publish the pictures , but after 3 hours I got it “right”.
Pictures were all published by Aero Club Rieti “Alberto Bianchetti”

CU on Wednesday, with some news from the French pre worlds in Montluçon-Guéret, France, … 16 August 2020 – 22 August 2020 …with 55 interesting pilots.
And I keep an eye on the next comps in Rieti.

cheers Ritz

“Rieti” is always such a great competition and this one, so to see and read is not different.
Not an easy one for pilots as I often hear [d]. It needs some experience to “deal” with the weather , specially unexpected sea breeze and the mountains, but,..when you are comfortable with that, it’s awesome.
The atmosphere is always good, from all 8 visits I only have super memories.

Here are the last day’s from the C.I.M.
They always confuse me in Italy, sometimes it is till the 13th, on other comps it’s the 13th included and that’s what happened in Rieti this year.
When I left you Wednesday tasks were not set for the one but last last day, but here it is;
Wednesday group 1…racing task 371.64 km.
145.88 km./h was the speed from the ARCUS M team Prodorutti & Pronzati , but for only 819 points. They started reasonable early at 2 PM whilst the runner up team Alberto left at 2.17.
All finished, but Fridolin [Hauser] in ASG 32 MI did not fly over the last 3 days.

Thursday ,very sure the last day!!!367 km;
Another FAST day; 144 km./h for team Alberto. Team Stefano was runner up with 139 km./h. They started at 14.43 which was as the last but one ,..anyhow 8 minutes after Alberto,..you have to try at the last day.
Team Prodorutti & Pronzati was 3d , the Bouderliques 4th and Katrin and Arnaud 5th.

FINAL results group 1;
1. Bouderliques from France in ARCUS M with 6.270 points.
2. team Alberto Sironi in ARCUS T with 6.198 p.
3. team Stefano Ghiorzo in ARCUS T with 6.176 p.
So very close scores!!!!
Number 4 had 5.954 …Katrin and Arnaud in the ASG 32 MI.

Italian 20 m. CHAMPIONS;
1.Team Sironi with 6.382 points.
2. Team Prodorutti with 5.599 p.
3. Team Brunazzo & Micheletto with 5.472 p.

Hopefully pictures next Wednesday!

Wednesday group 2…racing task 373.88 km.
Davide won another day…so 2 in a row….. now with 153 km./h!!! Good on him.Such a pity he lost around 500 points on task 2 .

Arne mentioned ;” Hot and fast day with friends and fellow competitors. Arriving on final across the mountains after intense 375km at 250kph+ raises the heartbeat a triffle but ground control and good discipline among the pilots and all was safe. “
I looked at the video from the finishes and they were quite spectacular.

Thursday ..racing task…413 km;
VERY interesting for the Italian title..this last day, as Giancarlo and Giorgio have only 30 points between them. Who is going to be the Italian National Champion in 18 m. class?
But first the CIM….
You are a former world champion,… you flew a few times in Rieti ,….you have been on spot 1 overall from the beginning ,…PRESSURE!!!????
NO not for Bert jr.
He “just” won the last day,…with 13 others he started at 3 PM and was back in a flash with 151 km./h on the “clock”!!!
Arne and Davide belonged to the same-time-starters, but were a tiny bit slower…148 and 147 km./h. Giorgio was 6th for the day.
5 Were out on this last day!

FINAL RESULTS of the C.I.M;
1. Bert Schmelzer jr. in Ventus 3T with 6.981 points.
2. Arne Boye Moeller in JS 3 with 6.836 p.
3. Giancarlo Grinza in Ventus 3F with 6.704 p.

ITALIAN CHAMPION in 18 m. class;
1. Giancarlo Grinza with 6.840 points.
2. Giorgio Galetto with 6.825….only 15 points!
3. Davide Schiavotto with 6.796 p. GREAT EFFORT!!!!
The “fight” was from the beginning between Giancarlo and Giorgio. Giancarlo leaded the overall list 5 x and Giorgio 3x.

For all scores have a look at https://www.soaringspot.com/

There are a few splendid video’s from this great competition on FB…have a look!!
Aero Club Rieti “Alberto Bianchetti”

The C.C.R [Coppa City di Rieti] starts straight after the CIM. 15 August 2020 – 22 August 2020

Hope I can add more pictures tomorrow,…it’s unfortunately not always working well.
CU then..

Cheers Ritz and CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, the CIM winners, the National champions and ALL pilots who have flown in this competition.

The CIM, started as you know already with 2 cancelled day’s.
But then the weather improved and soaring was a fact in good old beautiful Rieti!!
They started carefully in both groups on Wednesday with
Group 1;
Task 1 …2.30 AAT ; in this class lot’s of 2 seaters as this is the Italian 20 class m. National Competition as well.
Daily winner; Maldivi/Ferrero in ARCUS T with 224 km. in time 2.30 at the dot, [89 km./h.] followed by 2 ARCUS M.
Task 2…279 km;
Alberto Sironi/Bassalti was the best with a speed of 110 km./h. Not yet the fast Rieti weather,….. but building up…..
The Bouderliques from France were runner up in ARCUS M and on spot 3 Katrin Senne with Arnaud de Broqueville in ASG 32 MI.

Task 3….3 hour AAT;
2 Italian teams up front with 2 Swiss teams following. Vitorio [Pinni] flew around over 326 km. Alberto over nearly 350 but they needed a bit more time.
In this class also 2 single seaters ; a Discus 2A [Handicap 11]and 2 bWL.[109]
Task 4…2.45 AAT;
” Today the temperature varies from 31° to 34° depending on the area. QNH is 1016hPa, 10/15 knots from the north-east. Cumulus bases at 2000-2400m, good thermals but broken by the wind. The air is humid but getting drier. Wind from the northeast may create wave phenomena (unfortunately) on the eastern side of the Apennines. “
A “mighty” distance of 324 km. for the Bouderliques in their ARCUS M; time 2.51!!!AND,…not even for 1000 points…946.
BUT,….climbing from 4 to 1 overall!!!!
The next best performance shows the difference; 287 km. in time 2.52 by the Stefano [Ghiorzo ]-team;805 points.
4 Were out ..among them Vittorio dropping from 5 to 10 overall.

Group 2;
Task 2…2.20 AAT;
You remember for sure that task 1 was cancelled but still flown by Bert Schmelzer jr with big speed.
He repeated this effort for points now ,winning the task; 296 km in time 2.39 in his Ventus 3T.
He was followed by the UK pilots Pete Harvey and Steve Jones with less kilometers but better time;269 and 265 km in time 2.24 and 2.26.
6 Pilots had an airspace violation even pilots from Italy who have flown a lot in Rieti. Luckily it was in the last part of the task.
Task 3…339 km.;
AND ,…a 1000 points day and those points were for Arne [Boye Moeller] from Denmark in a JS 3/18m. [112 km./h] Followed by Bert in the Ventus 3T[110 km./h] and the UK pilots Derren[ Francis] and Pete both in Ventus 3.
Bruno Gantenbrink in the ETA missed out on 1 km.; he flew 338.17 costing him 100 points.
4 Airspace violations in this class.
“It was fun and interesting at times and difficult flights. The landings were safe despite the north wind, Bruno Ganterbrick’s Eta gave us the spectacle of his landing from the south! “

Task 4…3 hour AAT;
For today they expected” a maximum temperature of 32 degrees , QNH is 1016, cumulus bases between 1600 and 2400m. In the north, thermals will be powerful but broken, in the south they will be weak and disturbed by some coverages. There will be beautiful convergence but also some rains. “
377 km. in time 3.27 was flown by young German Lukas Blattmann in the Ventus 3T.
The ANTARES from Peter Hartmann from Austria was on his tail but has a handicap of 124 to the 120.5 for the Ventus.
Alvaro [Spain] in his ASH 31 MI was the first “not-finisher’ and only 1 pilot abused the airspace.
Giorgio [Galetto] only lost 19 points on the winner as number 3 for the day.
After 4 tasks Bert jr. still leads but Arne is on his heels ; 2.749 /2.735points.

Task 5…3.10 AAT;
The best daily 4, flew around 360 km. around time 3.08.
2 Italians, Giorgio and Davide, and 2 Austrians Peter and Christian[Derold]
12 Were out, virtual or by airspace violation and maybe in “real”. Among them the 3 UK pilots, who were doing so well and the winner from the day before, Lukas after 86 km. That hurts….dropping from 4 to 18 overall.

“ Today, August 9th, is the Official Rest Day.
There will be an informal briefing at 10.30 with meteo info and.. personal considerations.
National rules say that must be a rest day after a maximum of 7 consecutive flying days.
We have a total of 5 more available days (9 consecutive).
Forecasted excellent weather starting from Monday.
Towing and operations active as usual under the 2 local clubs’ management.”

Looking at the overall scores from the Italian Nationals after 1 week;
Alberto leads the 20 m. class with 3.115 points.
18 m.class Giorgio with 3.615 points.

So with just 3 day’s to go, [ 3 August 2020 – 13 August 2020 ]as it seems the 12th is the last flying day, we continue with
Group 1;
Monday..Task 5 …372 km;WOW,..what speed over those kilometres . Team Stefano flew around in the ARCUS T with 154 km./h!!!
So no 1000 points but “only” 766.
Vittorio in the Duo Discus XL was with 148 km./h runner up and Katrin and Arnaud were 3d with 152.82 km./h.

Tuesday..Task 6…351 km;
Bouderlique-day again !!! Speed of 129.55 km./h over the set task. Team Alberto and team Katrin were runner up and on spot 3.
With one day to go the Bouderliques have 4.842 points , followed by team Stefano with 4.673 and team Alberto 4.593 points.
Only 64 points less for team Katrin, so a lot is still possible in this 20 m. class National Competition.
Looking at the scores for the nationals…Team Alberto [ 4.777] is more than 500 points ahead of runner up as team Brunazzi.[4.237]

Wednesday;task 7 last day!!!No task yet so an update tomorrow!!!

Tuesday…Task 7…401 km;
Davide in the JS 3 won the day ahead of 5 x a Ventus 3 and 1 Antares.Nice speed of 143 km./h.
The UK pilots Pete and Steve starting and flying together, were on spot 2 and 3.
4 Pilots did not finish and Alvaro did not fly .
Arne mentioned; ” Complex 401km day in Rieti. Decisions, decisions, decisions. As an afterthought the met man mentioned there might be a bit of cb activity. A bit? But man, is this fun and exhilarating! “
And;” heavy rain and lightening, the occasional adrenaline moments, blue thermals and sheer wonder that all this is possible. What a great day and kudos to the pilots who just blazed through.  “
With other words wet,wet,wet. They needed shelter after the flight.
Sorry,..the picture does not fit anymore, will try tomorrow.

With one day to go;Bert leads with a bit more than 100 points on Arne.
Looking at the Italian comps it is Giancarlo who leads with 5.226 on Giorgio with 5.180 and Davide with 5.098…the rest is far behind!!!
Exciting!!!!

Wednesday…task 8...no task yet. so see the update tomorrow!!

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The GLIDING INTERNATIONAL is as you now already a monthly “happening” now. I must say it is so much easier to read it digital now. Not flipping over the pages, but just a download and scroll down over the nearly 60 pages.
What’s in it?
—A very interesting story about Benalla, AND a fascinating story from there about a Grunau Baby in 1948...Had not read or heard this story before.
“The glider and pilot were sucked into a mammoth cloud that took them to a height of 13,000 feet. “
Of course having gone solo in the Grunau Baby the story got some extra attention.
—Jonker Sailplanes...the story of the success from the brothers Uys and Attie and Dr. Johan Bosman their Chief Aerodynamic Design Engineer .
—-membership…As I know John, the chief editor is very involved with this issue.
“My interest in this subject goes back well over 35 years. In those earlier times, we had 120,000 soaring pilots which has dramatically fallen to today’s estimate of 79,000.”
—-the international accident report from June and July 2020, does n’t make you happy.
—The best “tug undergoes major performance changes.” ..all about the Super Piper Cup.
— lot’s of aviation news , “thing’s with wing’s” ….. Lot’s of claims for new world records!!!! …..and much more!!!

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I do realize that a lot of the young pilots flying great distances at the moment, are having [temporarily] no job as due to COVID-19 lot’s of staff including pilots have been sacked at airlines all over the world. An awful time for many,…I wish you all lot’s of luck and hope you are having your job back when possible again.

Last Saturday a 2-seater crashed in Belgium, not so far from where I live , with an 57 year old instructor and an 18 year old female student, as I read during a summer-camp , it……makes me shiver, certainly because my own grand children fly now as well!!!!
SO SAD!!!!!!

We are still in a 9 day heat wave here in Holland with up to 38 dgr. C. In my garden in the sun it was 49 dgr.C.
It’s the 29th official heatwave since they started ….we have the 2d regional here already now in 2020.
No fun as most of us have no air co’s. Normally not necessary.
By the way this has NEVER happened before!!!!The hottest EVER period here.
I hear , experts say so, that we are going to a more French climate now here in Holland.

Cheers Ritz CU tomorrow with an update of the last day in Rieti and then again next week.
Do have some problems with space on the server. Good “old” Bill is looking into the case again.

It’s August now..so the month of normally long flights from Fuente and nowadays also Villacastin.
It is at least 20 years ago that I was in Fuente ,so things have changed ,but I do see a lot of the same names still flying there.
With the much better gliders the distances are getting longer as well.
What about 1.384 km?! Speed 150 km.p/h in an ARCUS M. from Villacastin.
And Guy from Luxembourg, in his Quintus M, who I met there that year, flew 1.265 km[ 911 triangle], his 9th 1000 km and the longest till now!!
2 More over 1200 km. flights!!!!Good day!!!

In between those long flights from Spain, 2 long ones from Holland as well!!! Tim and Casper Kuijpers …yes sons from Frouwke and Ferdie flew in a much less fancy glider in not so hot Holland nearly 1000.
Tim flew in the ASW 20 a distance from 961 km and Casper in a DG 800/18m. 951.
Tim flew his 1000 already from Holland and missed out on a declared one on about 280 m., but Casper is still in the running for his first 1000.
They declared a 1000 out and return over the Harz , but before the Harz it was a bit slow,…. so they turned short, to find out that the wind “on the nose” was not even that bad as expected.
They added some km.’s to make the 1000 but “that was not there”.They started at Malden and Tim finished there ,Casper at Terlet not too far from Malden.
My grand kids were there with many others to welcome him back.
By the way, I just read that today it is 3 years ago that Tim was “crowned” as the new European CHAMPION.Time flies.

Last Friday a few more good flights and Pierre [de Broqueville] flew a 1000 in the EB 29D from Bordeaux Saucats in France and according to his OLC comment it was the “ first 1000 from that airport “. 1.068 km. he “hopped” over the border , flying the Pyrenees, direction La Cerdanya and back.

Last Saturday, AUGUST 1, it was a 1000-day in Puimoisson in France[3] and Gilles [Navas] flew 1 from Vinon in an 18m. ASG 29.
Nephi and Minden had 1 in the USA.

Yesterday a TOP DAY in France;1.328 km. [1.092 FAI triangle] in the ASH 31 MI/21 m. by Baptiste [Innocent] from Fayence!!!!
From Vinon Gilles [Navas] flew one on August 1 [1.134 km.] and yesterday in his ASG 29 and from Puimoisson some young Germans are flying 1000 km. flights in the ARCUS M, also on August 1 and yesterday. Tobias Welsch even called yesterday one of his best flights with wave, thermals, convergence and “hang” and the Mediterranean Sea as back ground, what do you want more.
But also Holland had fabulous weather again. They say,….that today a new heatwave starts maybe even for 9 day’s!!!
Yesterday “we” had a 1000 from Hoogeveen by Peter [Millenaar] and 970 k. by young Jelmer Vis [ his longest flight till now in time and distance!] and over 800 by Tim [Malden] and Steven Raimond , 920 km by Alfred Paul [Alfers] and Bas [Seiffert] .[all from Terlet]

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It’s also the month of the CIM…in Rieti.
the COPPA INTERNAZIONALE DEL MEDITERRANEO.
3 August 2020 – 13 August 2020

Have been there several times …at least 7 times at WGC’s, JWGC and CIM’s….and loved each of them.
419 km. was set but,….Unfortunately day 1 had to be cancelled ;” Due to strong wind from ssw, the contest director and tow pilot chief decided, at 1pm, to cancel the task also for group 2: there are 13/14 kt from 220. After one hour in grid, all the glider are back to the trailers, relax for everybody! “
So there are 2 groups there and in both of them several top pilots from several countries,..so a real old fashioned CIM in Rieti.
A total of 30 in group 2 and 16 in group 1.
Group 1 (gliders with Italian hcap index between 0.98 and 117.5)
Group 2 (gliders with Italian hcap index = 118 and higher)

” We are proud to say that this year we have nine World and European champions among the competitors:
Louis Bouderlique, Bruno Gantenbrink, Giorgio Galetto, Stefano Ghiorzo, Steve and Philip Jones, Bert Schmelzer, Katrine Senne.
And around 10 pilots of this competition are in the first 100 places of the international ranking of sailplanes pilots! ” as said by Aldo [Cernezzi] who is the CD.
Even the pool is open and of course
“all participants, and in particular all the persons who require access to the “Pilot’s rest area” AKA Camping and Swimming Pool, must follow the national and local Covd-19 rules.”

The Italian national Championships of the 20m Double Seater class, and of the 18m class, will take place during the CIM. The results will be re-scored accordingly to national rules.
Only Italian citizens will be eligible for the Titles;
the 18m class will be scored with no handicaps, by extrapolation from the results of Group 2; the 20m class will be scored with handicap, by extrapolation from the results of Group 1.
The first mandatory briefing was on Zoom.us Meeting app.
Most paperwork [p.e. entries] is done and will be done on line.
All Daily Briefings in remote form will be via Zoom conference web based software.
The prize giving ceremony will take place in an open area.

Now you are up to date, so let’s see what they did on the day off:
” Competition day cancelled.
Decided to fly the task anyway: 419km with 165kph at only 48kg/m2 and not a single turn on the task “..as written by Bert Schmelzer jr, who clearly loves his wife Barbara BUT also his VENTUS 3T.
The ARCUS M flew 600 km!!!!
As Schempp-Hirth added;” When wind is blowing strong in Rieti, problem comes for towing and unfortunately organizers of the championship had to cancel yesterday for safety reason. “
Very true!

And yesterday for their first task.
BUT.….;” Day 2. Unfortunately, the situation is similar to yesterday for strong winds on the ground from south at about 12kts. In addition, very poor thermals, sparse precipitations.
So it’s no task today.
We have reason to think we will have good weather from tomorrow. “

So next week in the blog you get ALL the news.

No task yet so time to say goodbye
CU next Wednesday.
Cheers Ritz

Ostrów Wielkopolski Michałków, Poland
16 July 2020 – 26 July 2020

“NO task yet”, ….I wrote when I published the last blog, so I thought maybe after the long flights on Tuesday [3.30 AAT] they might have given a rest day , but NO they did not and with such fabulous weather ,NOBODY wants a rest day .
So off they went again, on Wednesday morning July 22 with 4 more day’s to go, with an early launch time at 10.45.

15m….
task 6…603 km.;
WOW, and it was easily flown by 15 pilots some with a speed of over 130 km./h up to 135 km./h!!!
Daily winner for 1000 points was Jacek Flis , in a Discus 2a.
Local, Lucasz Błaszczyk was runner up for 988 points in the same glider.
Sebastian was with 135 km./h the fastest on spot 4 , with Janusz Centka right behind him in the 15 m ASG 29 E.
Jacek moved from 11 to 8 overall .
Then.. ….NO TASK..
Task 7…3 hour AAT;
Last couple of day’s start now with 7 pilots close…. between 3.070 and 3.384 points …a lot can happen.
Whilst waiting for the gliders to finish the weather was still GOOD!!!
404 km. for Ukraine pilot Marius in time 3.14 so a nice speed of 124.85 km./h in the Ventus 2ax.
Runner up Sebastian flew 377 km. in time 3.06. Tomasz Rubaj remains on spot 1 overall after a 5th daily score. …..even gaining points on Sebastian who is at this stage on spot 2 overall.

Task 8….378 km;LAST DAY!!
Like me,….You might have expected already……3d and 2d is NOT good enough for Sebastian ,so WHEN he can win, he will try to do so!!!AND,…that’s what he did!!!
He won the last day with big margin; nearly 10 km./h faster …107 km./h.than the runner up , the local hero, Lucasz B.
On 3d place Jacek both 98 km./h.
So Sebastian went overall from spot 6, to spot 9, then to 6 then to 2 and finished on spot ONE!!!!
Tomasz who was first overall EVERY day, lost on the last day his top position missing out on 137 daily points on Sebastian by being 4th.
So the final results in 15 m. class are;
1. Sebastian Kawa in Diana 2 with 5.255 points and Polish CHAMPION
2. Tomasz Rubaj in ASG 29/15m. with 5.177 p.
3. Lucasz Blaszczyk in Discus 2a with 5,079 p.
CONGRATULATIONS to all!!!!
By the way,”good old Janus Centka was 4th!!!!![4.876 p.]
Good on him!!!!

club class …
task 6…455 km.;
More differences in club class…p.e. the daily winner Witold Czarnik in a St.Jantar 3 flying around with 113 km./h . He moved up from 24 to 14 with his 1000 points!
ll who started ,finished and the Libelle 201B, flew the task with a speed of 83 km./h., being the slowest…… but IN!!!!!
No task on Thursday.

Task 7…3 hour AAT;
With 21 points overall on Mikolai Szun, Jacub did his utmost best to stay ahead; 305 km in time 3.01 and a daily runner-up-spot was GOOD!!!
Mikolai lost some points [around 166] by being 16th for the day.
BUT,…he is still on spot 2 overall …. only 29 points though!!!!
ONE MORE DAY O GO!!!!!
Task 8…304 km; a day with 34 finishers and 10 out-landers.So not too easy. But for Jakub in the BRAWO the day was GOOD,; 88 km./h and 1000 points.
Mind you there were 2 BRAWO’s flying in this class and they finish as 1 and 2!!!!!
Mikolai had a last bad run [23 d.] and dropped from 2 overall to 4.
The best pilots and Polish club class champion;
1. Jakub Barszcz in BRAWO with 5.431 points.
2. Łukasz Kornacki in BRAWO with 5.181 p.
3. Remigiusz Gwiazda in St Jantar 2WL with 5.091 p.
Judyta was 17th!

Poland has and always had, very strong competitors at all comps world wide and mostly very good TC’s as well. So it was extra nice to follow this OSTROW GLIDE .
Here are a few pictures to finish the story, as shared by Aeroklub Ostrowski from top photographer M. Levitzky.

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Some newsy news:
It’s still “raining” 1000 km.flights.
Last Thursday Spain was “hot” and showed 12 from Fuente and Villacastin on the OLC. Up to 40 dgr. C I heard.
More and more 2-seaters , as EB 28 and Arcus M or T and ASG 32 MI, are flying long distances….. so “double fun”!
Guy Bechtold from Luxembourg, who I met once in Fuente, stays there for a longer period and till now he flew in his Quintus M, 8 x 1000 km flights since July 19!!!The best till now; 1.202 km.
Saturday was good in the USA [Minden and Ely] and Europe [Spain, Germany and France]
In Germany from Aalen a FIRST 1000 km, by Gerrit Illenberger, …always very special in an LS 8!!!
Also flying from Aalen, the German women team and great flying also by Chrissie [Grote] in a Discus 2A [ 962 km./750 FAI triangle] , Sabrina [Vogt] in Discus 2 [955 AND also 750 FAI triangle], Ulrike [Teichmann] in LS 8 [919 km and 750 FAI triangle] and Cornelia [Schaich] in LS 8 [ 829 and 700 FAI triangle]
So 3 new 750 diplomas.
Last time I saw all these girls, was in beautiful Lake Keepit in the beginning of this year, when we had NO IDEA about what we could expect this year with COVID-19.

And talking about the “girls from Lake Keepit”, also in the USA was activity! Kathryn [Fosha] declared a 750 as well and flew it , an out and return this time. It also was a record attempt. Good on her.
” Wild day, great time flying with all of our friends from MVA [Mountain Valley] and IYK. “

About the great Spanish weather-conditions…..
YESTERDAY another TOP day in Spain, where it is still “bloody hot”.
The first 14 flights on the top , added to the OLC were all from Fuente or Villacastin. From them, 8 were over 1000 km.
1.224 [ 884 FAI triangle] was the best distance in an ARCUS M.

News from the UK junior team;
”  last week the Junior Development Squad traveled to Issoudun, France for an intense coaching week. Making full use of the relaxed rules on international travel, 7 squad members set off for a week of competitive flying, briefings and debriefings with coaches Brian Spreckley, Tim Milner, and the senior club class team of Tom Arscott, Jake Brattle and G Dale. The weather was fantastic, and everyone enjoyed six days of racing, honing the skills required to compete at the very top .”
Unfortunately the rules are getting stricter and stricter again whilst I write.
Some squad members are on their way to the Czech Republic now for the Pre Junior World Gliding Championships. 

And to finish…..747’s disappear from the skies. Lufthansa brought 5 to the Dutch military base of Twente.
As you heard the QUANTAS 747’s are retiring as well:
ABC had this news and this “great” picture.

AND this great picture ,which I found on FB and was shared by many, I dedicate to our “girls” who just passed away; Marlinde and Christine.

Most comps here in Europe have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Yesterday I heard that also the Keiheuvel competition [mid august in Belgium] has been cancelled.
They still hoped for a- maybe-1-day-competition,but the virus sadly enough is back .
Next year however they celebrate their 65th anniversary, so time for a big party …..hopefully corona is history then.’

And,..last but not least.Not sure if I overlooked this ,…BUT… Dutch pilot Peter Millenaar flew on Monday July 20 an epic flight in a Nimbus 4M;1.157 km and mainly over Holland starting from Hoogeveen more up N. Special.
Have a look that day on his flight on the OLC with many pictures.
” Wow. What a day! New Dutch OLC distance and points record!
Couldn’t find any thermal on the first leg so I just continued.. “

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz

Indeed …life continues, also for the glider pilots.
They try to give all tragic events a place, have spoken with each other and will do so for many more months and years and …they are looking at the skies again, as they have too because they are beautiful at the moment …., they feel the passion again and they fly again.
Also the club members from Marlinde, Sjors and Lars,..it is as it should be,…that is …when you can do it!!!
The reactions from the world wide soaring community were heart warming and will support the families, friends and club members.
Some reactions;
“our thoughts are with the Dutch gliding community the whole world gliding community feels this loss.” Australia.
” our hearts are with the Dutch gliding community on such a
tragic loss .” Australia
” Deepest sympathies to you all during these black days. ” Finland.
” This is tragic. My condolences to the pilots’ families. ” USA.
” So sorry Ritz all my condolences to family and friends ” Belgium
” A cruel weekend, Ritz. Thinking of you xx ” the UK.
” I am so sorry. That is truly awful. By last night, the news of both of these accidents had made it to New Zealand. The whole gliding world is a family and we are all in mourning with you. ” New Zealand.

On Monday I opened the blog to start again,…..I had a quiet weekend, BUT, ….on Monday Morning I heard that the Dutch lost on Sunday afternoon Carribean time ,one of their NH -90 Marine helicopters during a coastal- patrol between Aruba an Curacao ,our Caribbean Islands . Most of you know I lived at Curacao for a while, so I was extra alert. The marine base is a big place in town.
2 Survived the crash, 2 did not,one of them...Christine Martens, the captain of the helicopter, AND,…..she was a Dutch glider pilot only 34 years old.
She and the coordinator were in the cockpit, the other 2 in the belly. They could get out by their selves.
I read that the mariners at the ship saw it happen and straight away went in a boat to the helicopter which was already under water and got the other 2 out,..but re animation did not help anymore
They found the black box, so hopefully they find out quickly what went wrong. Till further notice they keep all those NH-90 helicopters on the ground.
R.I.P. Christine and R.I.P. Erwin, father of a 1 year old daughter.

Back to “work” again;

The 10th POLISH 15 m. Nationals,
The 18th Club Nationals
Ostrow Glide 2020.
Ostrów Wielkopolski Michałków, Poland
16 July 2020 – 26 July 2020

In all classes quite a few pilots in this Corona time. All with mouth masks in the briefing.
20 In the 15 m. class and 46 in club .

15m;
Day 1…cancelled.
Task 1…..232 km.; and..Tomasz Rubaj in his ASG 29 was really in a hurry and flew 137,6 km./h and that was quite a bit faster than the runner up …one of the Lukaszes..this time Lucasz Grabowski with 123 km./h. flying a 15m. LS 8. The other Lucasz [ Wójcik ]had 122.98 km.h. in an LS 8a.
Janusz Centka [ ASG 29E 15m ] was 5th and Sebastian Kawa in Diana 2 6th after a penalty.[ no Event Marker recorded ]
Task 2….292 km; a great day for Lucasz [G] Lucasz [W] Janusz and Tomasz…1-2-3 and 4. Speed between 121 and 125 km./h.
2 Out and 3 did not fly.
Task 3… 1.30 AAT was set but NOT flown/cancelled.
Task 4…1.30 AAT;with 116 km./h “good old “Janusz was for a little while the daily winner.He flew 174 km in time 1.29,20.
Janusz was WORLD CHAMPION in Uvalde in open class in 1991 and in Borlange in Sweden in 1993 both in the ASW 22.
In 15 m class he was world champion in Eskilstuna also in Sweden in an SZD 56-2 Diana 2.
I was at all those comps!!!
But later it was Lucasz Blaszczyk , the local Lucasz, who flew 177 km. in time 1.26. He started very late and clearly had the better weather.
Enormous differences in start time; the early birds started at 11.38 and the winner at 13.51!!!
Bad day for the other Lucaszes; 14 and 15 with one just in and the other just out!!!

Then they had the REAL soaring weather and of course the task showed so:
Task 5..3.30 AAT; Top pilot Sebastian showed as world champion from the most WGC’s, his class in the Diana 2 ;473 km. in time 3.39 so a good speed of 129 km./h. Tomasz was also over 120 km./h. ; 122 km./h.
Lucasz G and Lucasz W were 3 and 4.
No tasks yet for today!!!

Club class;
day 1 was cancelled.
Task 1…177.13 km. flown by all 45 who started. Many, many Jantars and SZD 55 gliders in this class.
Mikołaj Zdun was the first winner in a St Jantar.[106 km./h.]
Task 2..249 km; Mikolaj won again and again 106 km./h. And also again…. all 45 pilots finished. Stanisław Wujczak was 3d.
Task 3 was cancelled.
Task 4…1.20 AAT; New names all difficult ,new winners and Judyta Czyz was 4th in ASW 19.
Aha I saw her in Lake Keepit. She was 7th at the WWGC over there and really flew well.

Task 5..3.30 AAT, so a long one for the small gliders!!! NO worries, only 1 out from the ones who started and 350 km. in 3.32 for the winner!!! Flying a BRAWO…and the runner up was a BRAWO too.
Judyta was 10th.

No tasks yet for today!

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We just had a great soaring weekend including Monday!!!
Several 1000 km. flights on Sunday from Fuente where Guy Bechtold flew 2 x a long flight in a row; 1.202 on Sunday and 1.089 on Monday and a 1000 from Villacastin in Spain.
MONDAY, was a booming day again in Holland, but also in Belgium.
Peter[ Millenaar ] flew in a Nimbus 4M a distance of 1.157 km. mainly over our “small” country.
Peter shows a very good photo story on the OLC. Have a look!!!
Jeroen[ Jennen] , who started in an LS 8 from Keiheuvel, just over the border here, flew 1.001 km. and…totally unexpected!!!Always nice.
He declared an 850 triangle flew it but the day was SO good that he added “some more ” kilometres.
He flew over Holland and Germany.
Jef [Kell] flew with him yesterday , he in a Discus 2.[1.006 km.] HIS VERY FIRST 1000 km. back after more than 10 hours….extra congrats!!!What a happy chappie…looking at the video!!!!
Jeroen flew 999.72 km.yesterday. Maybe a bit disappointed,…but that is OLC km.’s, his oudi and LX mentioned 1.003 km. Uncle Eddy [Huybreckx] mentioned…280 m.short….he was already worried that this could happen.
Tijl {Schmelzer} flew his 18 m. Ventus 3 T ,over another 1000 also from Keiheuvel , this time an out and return far into Germany and back, whilst his dad flew the 18 m. Ventus 2 CT,over 815 km,..
From Terlet Steven Raimond flew a declared 816 triangle !!!
The last 3 day’s have been really great again.

And to finish,…one of the UK young ones, who converted to the junior. Well done!!!!
Here in Holland the summer soaring camps are busy so lot’s of also young ones have the possibility to fly for a few weeks.

CU next week
Cheers Ritz

This is a pretty personal blog , mostly written in the weekend , so may be at times too emotional,…but I decided to leave it as it is after reading it again this morning.

The DUTCH SOARING FRATERNITY is in mourning, in deep mourning!!!!
Last weekend we lost 3 soaring mates, starting their happy Saturday or Sunday, with hope for a great daily flight, as the weather looked very hopeful for the whole weekend.
Sjors [25] and Lars [29] …… 2 young pilots and former Dutch Junior Squad members , went last Saturday ,each, for a nice cross country flight on a pretty good looking day.
Lars a member of the Aeroclub Salland, and Sjors member from the Amsterdam Soaring Club choose as TP ,Borkenberge, a by the Dutch pilots much used TP 50 km. over the border from Winterswijk. [Holland]
One of the flights from Holland to this place; A frequently used 300 km. out and return….Veendam..Borkenberge…Veendam.
Under investigation by the German authorities is WHY they crashed over Dulmen after a midair. People on the ground heard the collision .

UNBELIEVABLE,…..They have flown in thermals at comps with sometimes too many gliders,….but here ALL space was for them.
Both very experienced!!!! Both young and good looking, very talented and passionate for the sport …nearly born and “living” at the glider field…and popular at the several fields/comps they visited!!!!
A tremendous loss.
Sjors was a competitor in the Pocuinai [Lithuania] JWGC in 2017, where he was on spot number 9 from 32 in standard class!!!!That year they celebrated the JWGC standard title from their team mate Sjoerd van Empelen, so great fun!!!
He also flew the junior world championship in Szeged in Hungary.
He now was already a member of the Dutch senior squad.
In 2018 he flew in Ostrow in Poland his first WGC in standard class; he was 35th from 47 and again in that year they celebrated a Dutch world champion; Sjaak Selen.
Lars flew Dutch Nationals, as well as international [Bailleau] comps.
The German authorities are busy with the investigation, so we wait for what they will find.
I know already more, but wait till that news is a fact.
Speculations are not appropriate certainly not at this moment.
Will inform you after the investigations.

I had a bad night. So the next day I went for a long walk and had a cuppa in a nice restaurant in the forest. I looked at the skies ….fabulous… but I knew a lot of pilots , certainly from both clubs, would not fly this Sunday.
Normally great looking skies give me lot’s of pleasure ..they did not now.
Before leaving I checked my mobile for news.
NO !!!!!!……another fatal soaring accident now at the Military Airbase Gilze. Sunday at noon… ????!!!!!!
This year they celebrate 75 years of soaring at Gilze. Nothing ever happened…..How is this possible??!!! What’s going on???
This is unheard of…. 3 fatal crashes in 1 weekend,don’t remember that this has ever happened before .
A very experienced 37 year old female pilot flying an LS 8,was this time the one who “lost” her life during soaring!!! Straight after the start ,…which was on a winch….something went terribly wrong!!!
Members of the club followed her with their eyes, when she went up and saw it all happen.
Can’t believe it!!!!! She is a mum of 2!!!!!!A highly valued club member and her family accompanied her often to the soaring field.
All very much engaged!!!
A very popular teacher in the Dutch language at a high school in Tilburg as well.
Dutch authorities both civil and military are involved in this investigation .

R.I.P. dear soaring mates!!!
From experience I know how the parents from the 2 boy’s feel…I wish them a lot of strength. Of course all family and friends as well and for sure the girlfriend from Lars, Marleen and from Sjors , Lizzy , who is a member of the junior squad now.
And what about the feelings of a husband and kids ,….as a granny I do not even want to think about it.
Also the members from the 3 club’s..it’s tough on them as well. Very tough……for sure for those who saw it happen.
We all grieve in our own way……
So did the Dutch junior manager Lex Venema…he flew their last task on Monday to honor his best friends.
“ Veendam..Borkenberge..Veendam
To see what you saw, to feel what you felt , to be where you are, to be able to hopefully enjoy the sport you both lived for in the future again,…in tears the TP rounded where you did….this one is for you“. with his permission.

The soaring fraternity is in cases as this a warm blanket…they ALL are there for you as ONE BIG FAMILY.
That got me through bad times as well; I am sure it will help the families and friends too. But the pain for the loved ones now is HUGE .
The boy’s enjoyed cloud street racing,as it was such a day. For what it is worth,..they had till THE moment a GOOD/HAPPY day.

On top of all that sadness, our 27 year old world champion on the 500 m. short track died last Friday.
She was with the Dutch short-track- team [speed skating] in France for training on height. She did not feel well …. was brought to a doctor… then hospital… intensive care…coma….and died on an auto-immune reaction, within 2 weeks. Such a strong healthy and sportive girl. Very down to earth and social. Too sad for words ……

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Back to the regular blog, which partly was written before the accidents, so the tone is “lighter” and more enthousiastic:

I had some problems with my blog last week but now I have a bit more space again I can show you the pictures I could not show last week about the closure of the border in Tocumwal between NSW and Victoria.

Last Wednesday I also had to delete a lot of nice pictures from the Italian comps, as my word-press gave up on me. Too many pictures, too many words,no room anymore on the server…. I gave it out of hands and Bill is having a look.
I quickly could write down 25 x a 1000 in Germany. That’s pretty normal for Namibia, sometimes in Australia , -we had it on a couple of day’s -, but not so much ,as far as I know here in Europe.
Though Fuente sometimes has a lot as well. Mostly in August when their season is full on. I noticed by the way their very first 1000k last week , so early in their season, in a Stemme S 12, flown by a very happy pilot, Gil Souviron from France;
” My first 1000km with the S12. What a glider!”
Even Schempp-Hirth was pleased with all results on that remarkable Tuesday, especially with the best flight for the day on the OLC by young Matthias in the Discus 2b.
On Thursday July 9 Schempp-Hirth wrote;
“What a day yesterday in our area! Many 1000k and very likely a new German record for the Arcus-M “20” with Mario and Tilo!
But congratulations especially to Mr Matthias Arnold, from the Weinheim gliding club, who performed 1163,6km in a Discus-2b, winner of OLC day ! Impressive distance!”
Tilo from Schempp-Hirth, flew himself that day with Mario, it turned out a great flight but unfortunately not  a new record.
 I counted all over 1000 km. flights again, as sometimes they add a day or 2 later; 25 !!!!
Michael Sommer flew 1.263 km in the “mighty” EB 29R, on a “mighty” good day. He was one of the 6 who flew the 1000-triangle.[1.195 km]
Stefan Langer flew that too in his ASG 29/18m., 1.132 km with a speed of 110 km./h.[1.031 km. triangle!!]
Great results also for Uwe Wahlig in the LS 3 with 992 km. [770 FAI triangle] , Eric Schneider in an LS 8 neo with 998 km[746 triangle] and Henrik Theiss with 1.058 km [766 triangle] in a Discus 2 CT/18m.

The black Saturday showed 4 fast long flights in the USA from Moriarty between 1.172 [ JS 3 /18m] and 1.250 km. [Ventus 2CM/18m] with speed of 153 km./h.
Also Europe had great weather 1000 km-flights from Germany, France and Belgium.
Our black Sunday turned out to be a top day, specially in Germany. As I told you we had stunning conditions too, but most of our pilots needed to be together and reflex on what had happened.
Members of other clubs flew 102 in total and pilot Thies Bruins flew in a DG 400/17 m. a distance of 914 km. from de Voorst and Steven and Alfred Paul flew a 1000 from Terlet. Steven just missed out on the declared 1000 .
More than 3000 flights were added to the OLC.
Have a look at the OLC it was indeed a HAMMER-day. Over 70 1000km.-flights in Germany only. Several were triangles as well.
Alexander Mueller flew in his EB 29 a distance of 1.319 km. [1000 triangle] and mentioned it could have been much bigger when the Oberpfaltz , later in the day, would have co-operated.
Bert Schmelzer jr.declared from Hausen an Albis a 1000 FAI triangle and flew it in his ASG 29/18m.
Monday still was good in Germany with over 20x a 1000km. flight. Have a look!

This weekend , really had an impact on me. When I read in the paper how people passing by heard the “big bang” of the collision, I could not do anything else than think of the accident we had in Tocumwal , when we just started as owners,when a glider pilot happily came back from a flight …pulled up….and just flew under in the fuselage of the Blanik who just had started with our co owner Jeff and the 25 year old Kirsten.
Never forget the bang….. Never ever……
All 3 were dead on one beautiful sunny and hot afternoon in January about 15 years ago.
On a Sunday…..
And our Dennis and Kees …..both within one week,[ Sunday December 27 1987 and Sunday January 3 in 1988] an impact most glider pilots from that time still feel and NEVER forget either.
This weekend will have the same impact…Lars, Sjors and Marlinde will never be forgotten….
R.I.P .

Cheers Ritz ……. Next week I will be more gay again.

This is how soaring should be AND normally is,…happy and exciting faces.

Ferrara in Italy
Standard class nationals and Ferrara Cup 2020.
26 June 2020 – 5 July 2020

They continued after 4 cancelled day’s on July 3 with a 1.30 AAT for the 23 Cup-“fighters”.
After 3 days of soaring, 4 non-flying days and 3 day’s to go ,….the overall scores looked like this with 5 pilots between 1.849 and 1.934 points.
Riccardo [Brigliadori] in the JS 1 had 1.934 p.
Peter [Hartmann] in the Antares 23 E had 1.873 p.
Giancarlo Grinza in the 18m. Ventus 3 had 1.863 p.
Davide [Schiavotto] in the 18m. JS 3 had 1.856 p.
Giorgio [Galetto] in the Ventus 3 had 1.849 p.

Task 4 for the CUP-FIGHTERS, was a prey for Riccardo/Ricky who flew 164 km. in time 1.32. Only 417 points for the winner, but those are POINTS….so good for his top position.
Task 5…. 276 km.;won by,…yes Ricky…he is doing WELL!!!! Speed 111 km./h quite a bit faster than Giancarlo who flew around with 103 km./h. About the same as Peter.
Only 1 out. No secret that with 1 day to go Ricky leads with about 250 points!!!!
Task 6….268 km; so a nice one to finish this CUP. A blue day with 32 dgr.C. so blue thermals.
With 119 km./h Peter won the day just ahead of Ricardo.
Great 3d place for young Davide.
Maybe not that young anymore as in Husbos he must have been under 25 and now we are 15 years further…time flies!!!
I even heard he has a family as well.As said…time flies.

The final results for Coppa Citta di Ferrarre.
1. Ricardo Brigliadori in Js 1 /21 m with 3.832 points after 6 tasks.
2. Peter Hartmann in Antares 23E 3.590 p.
3. Davide Schiavotto in JS 3/18 m. with 3.510 p.

The Standard class pilots had the same “pattern” in day’s and started on July 3 again as well .
Also a 1.30 AAT for the 11 pilots.
Task 4; both Fergnani’s did well. Brother Nicola won for 107 points and younger sister Michele was 3d with 102 p.
Sister and WWGC CHAMPION Elena was not flying.
Guido Dalla Rosa ,who is at 1 overall, just made it back for 87 p. He flies a 15m LS 8.
Task 5…242 km. Luca [ Urbani] showed his experience over many years and won the day with a speed of 100 km./h ….the only one over 100 km. h.
Luca [Monti] was runner up with 95 km./h.
Task 6….227 km; Guido Dalla Rosa won the day. He won 3 day’s in total but on task 5, when he was still leading overall, he was the only one “out”. Dropping from 1 to 5…..That hurts!!!!
So the final results for the standard class are:
1. Luca Urbani in Discus 2 with 3.075 points and Italian Standard class CHAMPION.
2. Lorenzo Monti AND Luca Monti equal on 2!!!!with 3.008 points.

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CELJE in Slovenia.
27 June 2020 – 4 July 2020

The Slovenian gliding nationals and open gliding championship at Celje airfield had less “off-day’s” ……. only 1 with no task.
Club class;
On July 1 they even had a 3 hour AAT , task 5, won by Andrej [Kolar] in the DG 300;255 km. in time 2.59.
The next day was for Ales Fink also in DG 300. He flew during an 1.30 AAT, 142 km. in time 1.30 at the dot!!!
Only 10 finished.

Open class;15 pilots and 7 HC pilots.[Ukrain, Belgium, Austria x2, Australia, Germany and Italy]
Local pilot Bostjan Pristavec in LS 8/18m. was the winner of the 3 hour AAT; 313 km in time 3.17.[982 p.]
Pierre [de Broqueville] in the EB 29 flew 340 km. in the same time for 955 points.
The 1.30 AAT the next day, was won by Pierre with 190 km. in time 1.30 at the dot.
Matthew [Scutter] in Diana 2 and Katrin [Senne] in JS 3 followed….all 3 fly HC.

On July 3 the message from SkySight was …..
“Slovenia Soaring Forecast 03.07.20: 100% chance of being able to kayak to your tent. “
And,…indeed that happened. A kayak “peddles” through the camping and kids “splash” in the water.
That meant THE END of the CELJE CUP 2020 as they could not fly anymore.

Winners in Club class;
1. Jože Verdev in DG 303 with 3.156 points and National Champion.
2. Andrej Kolar in DG 300 with 3.099 p….from NAVITER….Good on him.
3. Boris Žorž in St. Cirrus with 3.074.GOOD!!!
They were the only 3 pilots with points over 3000 during 5 day’ s of flying.

Winners in Open Gliding Championship;
HC 1. Gintas Zube in ASG 29/18m. with 3.863 points.
HC 2. Pierre de Broqueville in EB 29 with 3.757 p.
1. Sebastian Ramšak in Ventus /17.6 m. with 3.711 points.
2. Boštjan Pristavec in LS 8/18 m. 3.661 p.
3. Uroš Krašovic in Ventus 3 with 2.930 p.

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Other news;
When will Namibia open again?
In Europe we generally survived the corona wave. Germany is loosening up and travel within Europe is allowed again. But many ask can we fly to Africa again in winter? In any case it does not look bad for Namibia. Namibia is also loosening up. With the exception of the hot spot Walvis Bay travel is free again within the country. And on September 18 they want to open the borders again
Preparations for the coming season at the Bitterwasser gliding center are ongoing. The planning is currently going through everything that could be possible with regard to conditions and how they can be implemented in the lodge. Director Rainer Hog: “We are doing everything we can to fly in Bitterwasser again in November.”
In any case there should be no savings for young pilots. Wilfried Großkinsky sees his 1000 k training camp as set for the young pilots he has invited. And the young glider pilots, who are now fighting for the invitation of Bitterwasser AG for a week of long-distance gliding in Namibia in the Europe-wide Bitterwasser Cup will not make any efforts in vain.
The Namibian tourism initiative will prepare a basis for how and under what conditions holiday traffic in Namibia can start again this summer: In mid-July, Namibia will launch the “tourism revival initiative” for an overseeable number of tourists. This first tentative opening will show how holiday traffic, this important source of income for the country, can be revived.

Ely Arpt, was the place to be for 1000 plus flights. I counted 6 in 2 day’s. You think that pilots are over the moon , certainly for the first one, happy with the so maniest , so looking at the comment from Keith Essex I was a bit confused…you fly for fun…or…
His comment over his 1.202 km flight [912 FAI triangle] made me think;
” Uwe, it was awful. 19k cloud bases made me want to give up and go back to the airport. I had a scary 15 knot thermal that made me want to go home too. I wish I would have been driving instead. “
By the way his 12th 1000 plus since Mai 24 2020. The longest was a yo-yo on June 28 when he flew 1.618 km. from Minden in a 15m. JS 3 with a speed of 217,59 km./h.!!!!!!!.

For my Aussie mates;
On behalf of NSW Gliding, Lake Keepit Soaring Club is pleased to host the 2020 NSW State Championships. A great place to go to!!!!!
“ It’s been a tumultuous year, what better way to shake the shackles of 2020 with a week of fast & fair competitive gliding at
your favourite social club with a gliding problem, LKSC. “
Registration: https://keepitsoaring.com/comp…/2020-nsw-gliding-state-comp/

Talking about Australia,…today they closed the borders between 2 states. Victoria and NSW. Melbourne has a lot of new corona patients so for every bodies safety they closed the borders.
As you know I lived for several years in Tocumwal and the Murray River is the border between NSW and Victoria.We lived in NSW but often shopped just over the border in Victoria.
Very tough on my mates but for their own good… I then hope .

As promised…..Tijl’s blog about the in’s and out’s on his 1.250 flight very interesting to read….lot’s of great preparation.:
http://aboutgliding.com/009-1250km-from-bretagne-to-the-lower-saxon-hills/

6 x a 1000 in France from several fields, last Monday!!! 3 in open class gliders and 3 in 18m.Ventus 2CM….18 m.,ASG 29E….ASH 26E!!!!
25 x a 1000 in Germany yesterday ….6 of them FAI triangles!!! Have a look at the OLC. Whilst we are sitting in the rain at least till next Monday.

The by now monthly Gliding International “arrived” digital on my laptop. With news about
….the Schleicher AS 34.
…after 3 moths Sebastian Kawa is recovered from his up hill landing after an electric failure.
…More problems with engines of ALL kind, are a “sorrow” !!! OSTIV looks into it too.
….PERLAN pilot Jim Payne about the record flight in the Brazilian made and designed [ by Brazilian born professor/aerospace engineer Paulo Iscold] NIXUS
…Hydrogen fuel’s future..
…the worlds biggest wind tunnel company
…international aviation news for glider pilots
AND MORE.

Enough to read so CU next week
Cheers Ritz

July 1 2020;Holland opens more facilities in this COVID-19 period. Europe opens borders from and to safe countries and in Holland the donor law starts today…automatically you donate your organs to somebody else IF you have not reacted on the government mail.

As promised,…..Yes…. indeed we had a heat wave last week!!!! Not in the whole country but in a few states and “my” state was one of them.
Friday we had 33 dgr. C and the change arrived in the evening and what change!!!
Never ever in my life I have seen such heavy weather.
Hail, rain, thunderstorms and storm,…we had it all and for at least an hour.
That caused a lot of disaster in my town. The street in front of my house was a wild river.
Car’s tried to go through the high water, but got stuck. Luckily somebody organised the traffic, which was really good as when a bus passed by earlier, the water went to the front of my door.
The damage is huge..I was lucky…only 5 cm. of water in my shed,.so Saturday was cleaning and mopping day.

A sport hall and ware house lost part of their roofs, many cellars were under water so the firebrigade was busy all night and Saturday to get rid of the water.

I remember one such day when the roof of the sun-room at the SSC in Tocumwal just collapsed after a down burst.
What we had now was a huge super-cell, not happening a lot in Holland.

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Ferrara in Italy…Standard class Nationals.
June 26-July 5 ..2020

Competition soaring has started again.
Norway was one of the first as I could see, with their nationals and they flew 5 days.
To be read in the new Nordic Gliding & aviation magazine by Executive editor Jens Trabolt.

Italy has the standard class Nationals in Ferrara. They started on June 26 with a 179 km. task for the 11 pilots.
Among them 2 from the Luca family, 2 from the Fergnani family and “good old” Luca Urbani.
Last Sunday ‘s news [June 28] ;
” There is a not a great sky today, gliding conditions will be weaker than yesterday but there will still be enough thermal activity to complete the tasks of 205 km for the Standard Class and 236 km for the Ferrara City Cup “

At the same time the Coppa Citta di Ferrara is flown by 23 pilots among them toppers as Giorgio Galetto, Ricardo Brigliadori and Peter Hartmann.
Day 1 with 228 km. was won by Davide [Schiavotto] in a JS 3 /18 m.who I met for the first time in Husbos at the JWGC. Leonardo was his TC then.
4 Pilots were “out”.
Day 2 with 262 km. was for Peter [Antares 23E] with a speed of 121 km./h. Ricardo was runner up Js 1/21 m.They started with 1 minute difference and finished together, so a difference of 3 points for the day.
All finished!
Day 3 with 240 km. was for Ricardo and Peter was runner up.
Day 4 showed NO FLYING.
Day 5 today has been cancelled. The great weather is “off” in Europe hopefully not for too long.RAIN!!!!!

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CELJE CUP 2020 in SLOVENIA
June 27-July 4.

“Aeroclub Celje organises international competition Celje Cup 2020, as part of XXIX. Slovenian national gliding championships in club, 15m mixed and open class.
Competition is organised in association with Aeronautical Association of Slovenia. “
They fly in club [ 22 pilots and 3 are flying HC] and open class with 22 pilots, among them Katrin Senne , Pierre de Broqueville and Gintas Zube all as HC pilots.
They started with 2 x a 3 hour AAT in open. Gintas won both day’s in his ASG 29E/18m. He also won day with a 1.30 AAT with 162 km in time 1.29.
Pierre flew 169 km in his EB 29 in time 1.40.
No flying yesterday and no task yet for today,..but if it rains there as it does here,..I do understand!!!

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Some pilots REALLY love their long distance flying. One of them Tijl Schmelzer!! AND,…for what ever he does or flies he is the best prepared pilot I know!!!
Tijl;”After many years of planning and waiting for the right weather constellation, the stars and cloudstreets aligned.
If the paperwork works out, this will be 1250km Diploma nr. 32, and the 7th flown in Europe.“
Here is part of his OLC comment and you can see the track there as well;
” After a takeoff and tow under 8 octas altocu, I made it narrowly to the first cumulus clouds, which gave a choppy 0.5m/s. After the connection to the cu was made, things quickly improved. The altocu field transformed into wide cloudstreets. From Le Mans towards the South East of Paris, everything went on rails with XC-speeds of above 150km/h. The Champagne area, the Ardennes, and the Eiffel were all equally brilliant with few difficulties. The Sauerland, as usual with this type of weather, was not as good, but cloudbase was luckily 2000m. The turnpoint was reached with an average speed of 128km/h, in the middle of the 123 km/h (thermal) and 137 km/h (rolls) forecast. I then had to choose to either go for 1250km diploma, or use the altitude to just glide 35km towards the north east for the Belgian free straight distance record. I decided to take a risk and try for the diploma. After taking the turnpoint, I carefully maneuvered to the slopes. Unfortunately, the wind forecast turned out to be quite correct, and against the headwind still with the heavy glider, it was hardly possible to retain altitude ridge running. So it was necessary to continue using thermals on this leg. This took a large amount of time. A bit South-East of Porta was the last thermal, and ahead were only dark grey skies. I could just reach the last turnpoint, and immediately opened the water valves. Then the empty Ventus 3 showed his efficiency and excellent feel for the airmass. The vario didn’t move above 0.5m/s on the slopes, but the tailwind pushed in direction of the goal. Only at Bisperode, where the wind fully hit the slope, climb rates were a bit better and I could make some altitude. From the last good slope near Ithwiesen, a glide ratio of 75 was needed to reach the goal. On the last stretch, the rarely used low and shallow slopes towards Northeim and the airfield Sultmer Berg made it possible to complete the task with a small but sufficient margin. What a fantastic experience! “
The full story with pictures will follow in a few days in his blog aboutgliding.com

Look what the French wrote about it last Monday!
“Monday 29.06.2020 : an amazing day ! On Sunday, we received a message from Tijl Schmelzer “Can I fly from Saint-Sulpice tomorrow with a very early launch?”. Positive answer, of course. Tijl started his long drive from Belgium to Brittany.
Monday @ 7:15, we met Tijl and his parents at the airfield. His beautiful Ventus3T “2X” was already rigged and full of water.
Unfortunately the sky was disappointing 8/8 of grey, but thermal activity started at 9h45 east of the airfield Tijl had very well prepared his challenge. He quickly and cleverly adapted his task and changed his start point. I towed him at 9:56 to La Gacilly where Tijl took his start. He landed 12 hours later in Germany near Hannover after a 1254km distance.
Since the flight of the Herbaud brothers (Vinon-Fes) it is the longest straight flight ever made from France and the very first one enabling a 1250km FAI diploma. And that’s from Brittany .
Congratulations Tijl ! What a blast “! shared by Philippe de Péchy

So a goal flight from 1.264,29 km. in the Ventus 3T. Congratulations to Tijl for his flight and the family to bring him back home from close to Hanover, after the flight .As you know they are a REAL gliding family!!!!
Here is in short their story...they heard Saturday evening from Tijl’s plans.
Straight away they drove that evening to Keiheuvel to pick up the glider and bring it to Antwerp.
Next day they drove the 750 km to Rennes put their tent at the field for a short sleep , rigged and put water in the Ventus 3 and waited till Tijl was airborne after a change of plan.
Tijl;
” the early morning satellite pictures showed a high moisture plate coming in from the ocean, which wasn’t forecasted by any of the weather models. This meant a 45 minute delay, and moving the start point 55km to the east. So sadly, no startpoint over the Atlantic Ocean. This required a quick change of plans and stretching the turnpoints to the limits of the weather and airspace window (and it turned out to be very tight). “
Keeping an eye on the OGN, they left at 11 AM and drove with the empty trailer over 1.400 km. via Parijs, Vallenciennes, Liège, Aken, Keulen, Dortmund, Porta-Westfalica !!! Mum 2 hours , dad 2 hours and so on!
At 23.30 they caught up, …glider in the trailer and back home another 420 km. to arrive there at 5.30 AM , to open their practice at 9!!!!
Tired but happy and satisfied!!!!
When you do not love soaring,…..you can’t do this, this is pure dedication to soaring and to their son’s, as Bert has done in before too.
Bert jr. has the 28th 1.250-diploma. Tijl now the 32d world wide.
CHAPEAU for the family.

From Holland the 700 km flight in his LS 4 from Robin [Smit] last Sunday is worthwhile mentioning too.His goal was an out and return to “douce” France, but there was a lot of wind….45 km/h.!!!So he changed his plans .
It took him a while to fly 215 km out, but the way back with the strong wind “blowing” him back was fast and within 1.5 h. he was back at Gilze were he was launched by winch,…he put the winch AND the cables out before his flight.
So as he said 800 km would have been in it as well.

Also ..last Sunday. ..an epic day for the pilots in the Nixus.
Jim [Payne] flew the glider over 2.270 km. from Minden!!!!Even with a “crash” of the flight recorder!
” I declared a 767 km out & return which we completed at 215.9 kph (134.1 mph), beating a 72 mph record that my brother, Tom, and I set 16 years ago from Ely. “
It turned out a much longer zig-zag flight, as you can read in his OLC comment.
That day Keith [Essex] ..who else…flew 1.618 km. in his 15 m. JS 3. Also a zig -zag-flight in mostly high wave!

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To finish a picture from all kind of activities in a hangar/workshop in Japan as shared by Takeshi Saito

CU next week, oh and about the WWGC,…..the tribunal for the appeals exists out of 3 persons one from Sweden, one from France and one from Greece.
It will take I guess a few months before we know the final results.
I’ll keep you updated.
Cheers Ritz

Last weekend was “special”.
First of all of course summer started in this part of the world and winter for my mates down under.
WE had the longest day…so on our way to winter again…and THEY the shortest with in a few months…. longer days and summer again.
Our Scandinavian mates celebrated MIDSUMMER NIGHT.
Do I remember such a night??
YES I do…it’s some kind of magic evening around the fire and as it nearly stays light all night you feel some kind of “lost”.
I spend a few of those nights in either Sweden or Finland and always something special happened. Great memories!!!!
Also very special, at the beginning of this summer 2020 …a solar eclipse was to be seen,…unfortunately not here… .

Our summer started really well with …if we still have the fore-casted 31 dgr. C next Sunday …a HEATWAVE!!!
Last Saturday was nice warm but they need 1 week here for a heat wave with temperatures above 25 dgr. C and from them 3 should be over 30. That started yesterday with great clouds over my garden and 28 dgr.C.. So we are in the middle of a heatwave now,…. over 30 here today,… if it is local or for the whole country I tell you next week.
The weather is definitely changing, we have many more sunny day’s than 10 years ago and drought??? We did not even know about it here.
Now they have vineyards in Norway!!!!!

Back to Saturday Tim Kuijpers flew NEARLY a declared 1000 km from Holland in his ASW 20; 999.98 km!!!Mind you over flat-land.
Another young pilot Robin Smit flew 915 km in his LS 4!!
Both flew JWGC’s. Tim was JWGC CHAMPION in 2011 [Musbach] and Robin vice- JWGC champion in 2015.[Narromine]
My Belgian mates flew from Keiheuvel 721 km in LS 8 [Jeroen] and 840km. in Ventus 3E [Tijl].They both flew JWGC’s as well.

Sunday was another great day with 5 x a 1000 and
MONDAY was very special, at least for ASH31/21m pilot Hermann Eingang from Austria who manged to fly 1.408 km. from Noetsch.
1.251 km. was flown as well in a DG 600M/18m. !!!!
And 1.099 in an LS 7 WL!!!
Just over the border in Slovenia a few 1000’s as well…. one in a St. Cirrus and 2 in a DG 300!!!!! Well done!!!!
Worldwide 12 new 1000 km. flights .
Skysight shared the picture from the Slovenian situation.

AND YES,…Holland had another 1000 as well now by Alfred Paul from Terlet in his ASG 29 E/18m.
My grandchildren had Sunday a great time at Terlet as well, with nice young mates and instructors at the Gelderse and 3 starts each!!!
A total of around 40 pilots added their flight from Terlet on the OLC.
Dutch weather impression by Frank

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Fresh news from Matthew Scutter. ” Please welcome the newest member of the #skysight family. “
Congratulations,…..talking about former JWGC pilots ,Matthew is another one ,..he even was world champion at the Narromine JWGC.

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Some different skies in the UK yesterday. VERY interesting and huge lenti !!!

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That’s it for now. The world slowly opens up more here on this side of the world. Let’s hope no new cases are going to ruin a bit more freedom.
Stay safe
Cheers Ritz