Lilienthal Gliding Medal – the highest soaring award in the world, established by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) in 1938 in honor of Otto Lilienthal, a German pioneer of human aviation. It aims “to reward a particularly remarkable performance in gliding, or eminent services to the sport of gliding over a long period of time”. The award is made at the annual FAI General Conference. Medal was designed by  Austrian artist Josef Humplik.

The first winner of the Lilienthal Gliding Medal in the world was  Tadeusz Gora for his record-breaking 577.8-kilometer flight on May 18, 1938, glider PWS-101 from  Bezmiechowa to  Soleczniki (near Vilnius] .”

  

PELAGIA MAJEWSKA:

“This Medal was created by the FAI in 1989, following a proposal by the Aero Club of Poland, in memory of Madame Pelagia Majewska, eminent Polish glider pilot awarded the Lilienthal Medal for 1960, and holder of 17 world gliding records, who lost her life in an air accident in 1988. The Medal is offered to the FAI by the Aero Club of Poland.

It may be awarded annually, on recommendation by the FAI Gliding Commission, to a female glider pilot to reward: a particularly remarkable performance in gliding during the past year, or eminent services to gliding over a long period of time.

All nominations submitted will be screened by the Awards Committee. Only those nominees found qualified will be submitted to the Board for presentation to the National Aeronautic Association who will make the formal nomination to the FAI committee by the end of the year.
It will be presented at the Opening Ceremony of the annual FAI General Conference.

  

More and pictures next week.

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Last Sunday young Bert Schmelzer had another great flight in the  mountains in the DISCUS 2 T; 805 km. from Hausen Am Albis [CH] .
He wrote about his flight;
“Early tow into the sunrise: simply beautiful.

The usual entry point (Eggbergen – Schächental) didn’t like me today: Wasting 3 hours of precious daylight.
Due to the cooperative controllers of Zürich Info/Delta and Innsbruck Radar, the main part of the flight was a blast.
On the way back from the impressive Grossglockner, extensive cloud cover forced me to leave the wave system. To make things worse, snow and rain showers nearly prevented to get back on the western side of Arlberg pass. Thanks to very weak ridge lift the Discus and I could get back to Switzerland.
Late in the evening it took me quite a while to enter the Swiss wave system near Sargans.
In general: a very nice flight above the autumn colors of the Alps “.

Preview from Bert’s wave flight:
“As seen from 7.300m”

Courtesy Bert Schmelzer jr.
The FULL picture story including video at;

https://picasaweb.google.com/101367179377196465151/13092015Grossglockner#6196613995491886850

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Australia’s spring sun is shining already , reason enough for “kilometer-eater ” Allan Barnes to try AND fly a 500 FAI triangle from Lake Keepit.
In Europe pilots, also some Dutch, tried the “Hang”  from Porta Westfalica and flew up to 415 km.
Wednesday one week ago [September 16]  great flights . 4 Times a 1000 k from 4 different airfields;
Rainer Crohnjaeger , flew in his ASH 31 MI a fabulous 1.303 km. distance with a speed of 121 km./h. He started from Hausen Am Albis in Switzerland . He mentioned there was ” more in the day.” Sometimes a bit TOO manu clouds but on the other hand great rotors.
1.265 for Jim Payne flying in Minden [USA] in the ARCUS M and part of his comment on the OLC was ;
“A commute from Minden to Rosamond.
The forecast said the FL180 winds between Lee Vining and Mojave would be excellent…the low level wind speeds would be less than optimum…the forecast Bishop sounding showed instability to 16,000 feet.
Blue except for a very few rotor wisps.
The Sierra in the June Lakes area had a good dusting of fresh snow.”
Young Benjamin Bachmeier  flew 1.114 km. from Koenigsdorf  in the DISCUS 2 and he called it one of the better foehn-days ; humidity OK, wind from the East just strong enough and in the west good. Only dissonant; the west component in the wind, which was as he called it apocalyptic large  ;210 as best and 250 in the worst case.
Jan Lyczywek flew from Unterwoessen 1.077 km in the Antares 18 T.

By the way; the 2015 OLC-season has closed!!!! Here are some stats!
JIM PAYNE is clearly the 2015 world wide champion. Congratulations to Jim, who will be present at the 3d of October- OLC -Liga-Final, when Germany celebrates their German, OLC stars in the townhall in Gersfeld.
Number 2 world wide  is Keith Essex and number 3 Guy Bechtold .
The CLUB- OLC shows 2 clubs from HOLLAND, VERY proud on that. The Gelderse as before , already since 2012 !!!! on 1 and the Amsterdamsche on 2. Great result.
107 Pilots from the Gelderse made 482 flights flying 171.520,00 km and the Amsterdamsche Soaring Club had 81 pilots making 346 flights , flying 144.927, 61 km.
BEST FLIGHT by Jim Payne; 2.907, 47 with a magic speed of 249,83 km./h. !!!! Flown from Minden.
Looking at all flights Keith Essex was the best flying from Minden .He raced over a total of 58.071,44 km.
BUSIEST AIRPORT; Puimoisson in France, with 290 pilots, making 1853 flights and flying 744.277,70 km !!!!!
Bitterwasser was 2d with 105 pilots, making 805 flights and flying 618.425,02 km.
With Serres La Batie as 3d on the list France had a  VERY busy year 2015!!!!!

Next week I’ll have a look at the OLC champions in the different parts of the world.

As you know Jim represents as well the PERLAN PROJECT . This week, today,  is important, when you are interested here is the link: CLIMATE RESEARCHERS PLAN GLIDER MISSION TO END OF SPACE!!!!!

“ Not a lot is known about the weather at 90,000 feet above the earth’s surface, so a team of scientists and aviators are going to fly there using an engine less aircraft to learn more about what the weather at such extreme altitudes has to say about climate change.”
http://perlanproject.org/press/climate-researchers-plan-glider-mission-edge-space

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I told you already Kerrie [Claffey] is a funny lady, very smart and she writes well too. This year she flew as a participant, in Denmark during the WWGC and she crewed for her husband Tom in Varese during the GRAND PRIX FINAL.
Last Monday morning she got a smile on my face again with pictures and words written to us, but above all Arne [Boye Moeller] who lives in Denmark.
Clear fact ; they did not have the best weather in Arnborg.
” Arne,…..now THIS is sunshine and THESE are cu’s – and see the distance from the cloud to the ground – that’s called ALTITUDE!!!! – and it’s only the spring equinox!”

   

Keep in mind JUNIORS Dubbo is close to NARROMINE.
On the sign ; left to Kilgandra ,right to Dubbo.

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Also in 2016 the Dutch Nationals will be combined with those from Belgium and Luxembourg. Looking ahead on that, as it will be close by for me this time @ Terlet , at the beautiful VELUWE.
For my Belgium friends; Great tent and caravan area AT the airfield, when you are not into that…..the Postiljon Hotel is ” around the corner” and you will find great food and lot’s of different beers in the by everybody well known Thermiekbel.

Period;May  17-27  2016.

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That’s it for now , not really so quiet,….having a good night rest to be fresh and new tomorrow.
Cheers Ritz