20-01-2021………. post number 1.248!!!!
Winter in Holland…but only for a few day’s.

All kind of unexpected “things” are happening here in The Netherlands.
We had SNOW. Not abnormal, but as you have spend 30 winters in Tocumwal or at other places in Australia, it’s GOOD to see snow again.

Only one day,…. but it was clear that I was not the only happy one, as sledges, “raced” out of the shops,…which are in fact not open…. so I guess from special DIY shops and via internet.
The snow here was about ONE cm!!!!So not REALLY interesting!

On top of that our Dutch government resigned!!!! In the middle of CORONA AND with only till March 17, to go for the new elections!!!!No fighting or so, but stupid/unacceptable behavior by some[ since 2013] treating people with social security allowance more than badly, accusing them of fraud and more or less destroying between 12 and 22.000 families.
Some of those families had to pay back up to 120.000 tax-Euro!!
The tax office now has deleted their debt.
On top of that they get 30.000 Euro.
NOBODY except for 2 in the government said something about it, so they unanimously decided , “full of shame” after a shocking report…to resign,…no other way possible!!!BUT all of them promised to back up the de-missionair- government’s plans to fight corona.
In between Trump will be gone today and Biden starts in the USA.
I wish him a lot of success AND support, which he needs after all that has happened .
My USA friends I wish a united country again.
Back to soaring!!!!

———————————————————

On January 11 the 67 National Multi Class Championships started at Adolfo Gonzalez Chaves and they continue till January 22.
Host; the Club de Planeadores Otto Ballod.
This is also the 90thiest edition of Copa Eugenio Ballester !!
16 pilots in open, 22 in 15m and 24 in standard class.
They started with pretty marginal weather and then “no” weather…..

Task 1 …160 km….in open counted only 3 from 16 finishers! The other 2 classes were cancelled!
Task 2…275 km. ….was flown by 14 and with good speed. Daily winner Alberto Garcia flew around with 131 km./h in his 18 m. Ventus 2CM.
Task 3…295 km….showed Damian Goldenzweig as winner with a speed of 124 km./h. Also in 18m. Ventus 2CM.

Then NO task on the 14th.
Task 5 a 2 hour AAT was not flown.
Task 6 and 7 were not flown as well,….. , BUT in 15m. a 1.30 AAT [task 7] was flown and won by Martin Vendura in an LS 6;366 points for him. Jose Dentone and Lucas Goldenzweig were bot runner up with 362 points. Both fly ASW 20.

Task 8 was set for all classes! Better weather again…..they hoped.
Good….. as till now there were only 2 flying days in St. Class and to have a National Champion you need at least one more day.
Tasks were set according to the expected weather….335 km for open, 306 for 15 m and 330 for standard.
BUT,….Prueba cancelada para todas las clases. We don’t need a translator..cancelled.
Then task 9 yes they really tried hard!!!
Open ; 2 hour AAT won by Raul Garda in the JS 3;152 km in time in 2.04! So slow…73 km./h…. but in!!!
15 m; 2 hour AAT …best distance 162 km in ASW 20 by Jose Dentone and speed 77 km./h but 118 penalty points brought him to only spot 10 for the day. 10 more penalties, depending on different heights.
St. class; finally a good day for them so 3 tasks now!!! 3x An ls 4 then a St Jantar and again 3x an LS 4.task 2 hour AAT and best for the day Gonzalo Riera in LS 4 with 138 km. in 2- hour- at- the -dot.
So they have their 3 tasks now!
Comps are hopefully not over yet , so more next week.

————————————————————–

News from Jonker Sailplanes;
The IDAFLIEG is the binding link between all Akafliegs (academic flying groups) based in Germany and organizes every summer a 3-week meeting to do aeronautical measurements and tests for research. During their 2020 summer camp in Stendal the IDAFLIEG team measured the performance of Matthias Sturm’s JS3 Rapture-18m. Relative sink speeds at various flight velocities and flap settings were measured, with comparison flights wing-to-wing with their “holy cow”. From the measurements a composite performance polar curve was obtained for the various flap settings. The results confirms the remarkable performance of the JS3, correlating very closely with the performance predictions made by JS, with a maximum glide ratio touching the 57:1 mark.“These flight tests show that the design effort paid off and the bar has been raised for the next generation of sailplanes. A big thanks to the Idaflieg for doing such great research work and to Sturmi, giving us his ‘Black Forest Edition 55+2’ for testing.” Uys Jonker said smiling.

And to finish… Always be only happy with the best safety…
Have a look at https://aeroflash.de (or .nl) – Sophisticated Visual Awareness Light Systems!
The AeroFlash team was founded in June 2020 by a team of very experienced glider pilots. Peter Millenaar [Junior World Champion in 2013 and owner of MillenAir Glider Supplies ] and Erwin Vorenhout, both Dutch.
NEW , VERY INTERESTING and INNOVATING NEWS about added retrofitting your glider with safety-enhancing light systems.
So I checked straight away with Peter and asked for more info.
Here you are.
Canopy Flashers… Mounted in the front part of the canopy. 6 extremely bright (3400 Lumen) CREE LEDs make yourself visible for traffic up to 3km away.
https://aeroflash.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/flasher-front-trans-1000.png

Fuselage Flashers… Mounted on the top or bottom of the fuselage, or BOTH. 16 extremely bright (8500 Lumen) CREE LEDs flash like a strobe and make yourself visible in every direction. They are super super aerodynamic and compact at only 110x15x11mm and require only ONE small 4mm hole to mount it. They can be mounted on a wheel door or engine bay door if you don’t want to drill a hole in the fuselage.
 https://aeroflash.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/fuseflash-side-1-copy.png

Both are extremely easy to install (only require 60-120 minutes). Everything is plug-and-fly and comes complete with everything you need!Highly suitable for aeroclubs as well: Activate and forget!Connectable to Flarm to have additional enhanced flashing logic. 
Have a look at their smart programming! They seem to know what they are doing.
https://aeroflash.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/nexus-fusion-1000.jpg

AeroFlash has some local dealers already like in AeroTechnics in France, who can arrange installation for you, and more to come soon!
Please support them, and let’s hope many people will be installing these over the next seasons! I think it would definitely help the safety in our beautiful sport. They can be followed on Instagram as well, where they posted a few installation stories, videos and pictures.

That’s it for now . Just got 2 messages from Bill;
1. Soaring.Eu is being transferred as we speak.
2. You are back on line. That means the migration is complete.  We’re done and you can go back to editing.
Pfff, what a job that was!!! Not for me I only had to WAIT.
So another HUGE THANK YOU to Bill in the USA.
By the way no items about the GLIDING INTERNATIONAL. They publish now every month as you know, except December and January .
“We have an extra special February issue coming out next week, which will fill you in on what is going on in our neck of the woods. “as written by John.

CU next Wednesday without the scary feeling will it work or not, can I get in yes or no. My writing life will be very easy
Hallelujah.
cheers Ritz …..off to see Biden being inaugurated. Hope it all goes without incidents.
AND to make your soaring-feelings rise again now spring here is not far away….. a stunning picture from the finish at the Dutch Nationals in 2019.