—-First things first!!!! WHAT A DISASTER!!!!! The poor Notre Dame …gone up in flames. I could cry and was frustrated that nobody could do something because it was so high.Helicopters with bambi-buckets might have been the solution!!! But you have to have them close by.
No words can describe the loss of culture and history. SO TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY SAD!!!!!!
HEARTBREAKING!!!!
As I write they have already over 850 million Euro, VERY good in such a short time. If it is realistic I don’t know, but Macron wants tho have the renovations/rebuilding, ready in 5 years, when the Olympic Games are in Paris.
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— Parts of Europe including Belgium and Holland had fantastic super-early-spring-polar-conditions , specially in the weekend starting with Friday ; Belgium from Geraardsbergen with 767 k [695 FAI] in an ASW 27 by Daan Spruyt.
2 Long distance flying friends from Holland, Mark and Alfred Paul flew in their ASG 29 E’s [18m] 769 k from Soesterberg.
They planned to fly to NORMANDIE, which they did and turned 20 k. before Rouen.
At 8 in the evening the engine was started for the last 35 k home.
Great flight and not easy but as I read with top co-operation from the French and Belgium air-traffic- controllers.
21 Dutch pilots noticed this good weather and flew that Friday.
In the night from Friday to Saturday we had minus 4 here!!! All roofs turned white with frost. Luckily I had my pot plants inside.
The weather however on Saturday was booming again. From Keiheuvel in Belgium , just over the border here, Tijl [Schmelzer] flew nearly 1000 km!!904 to be precise and he flew the new VENTUS 3E.
Daan flew another long flight this time 767 in his ASW 27. How cold he must have been!!
Woollies, lot’s of woollies only help and thermo socks.
COLD was the most read comment and yes the snow flocks they saw I saw here too.
Neil [Deijgers] took his St. Libelle out for a flight from 519 km.
Many over 500 k’s that day from Holland and France and even the UK where Roy and Andy flew the the ARCUS T from Lasham over 538 k.;”Nice Polar air in a typical Spring day.”was their comment.
Our Dutch junior Robin Smit flew in his St. Cirrus 582 km. and have a look at the OLC ; an out and return to France with a snowy final. His flight went to the beach in France…and back. He loved it…a dream came true.
There was that day, the very famous flower parade in Holland in the Bollenstreek [in the neighborhood of Haarlem] and even with the cold 800.000 people visited. For the first time in the 72 year history of this famous parade, the cars had to be inside during the night as otherwise the flowers would freeze and turn black. Who had a big stable or hall, opened on request the doors to help the organizers.
Sunday felt a bit better/read less cold and with the knowledge of a forecast for 25 dgr. on the Easter Sunday we all stood this cold, as we knew it would be MUCH better.
Down under from Benalla Tobias [Geiger] still flew nearly 500 k.[497] in the Ventus 2AX /15m.
Europe still had great circumstances but not as good as the day’s before though in Holland flights up to 582 in an LS 8 by one of the juniors and 520 from Tim Kuijpers former JWGC champion in an ASW 20 are worth mentioning.
Still 75 flights that day from Holland only at the OLC.
Yesterday the weather was TOP in the Alps and from Koeningsdorf , Unterwoessen and Lienz pilots flew between 730 and 938 km.
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Unfortunately no great soaring conditions in Torino. They started there on April 5 with the 47th City of Torino Throphy 2019.
14 Flying participants some with a “great” name in soaring.
The weather only contributed with 2 AAT’s from 2 and 1.30 hour in the beginning from the comps and the last day on Saturday had a 1.30 AAT, but it was not flyable , 23 k was the best try, so a final party was there for the social moments and the prize giving.
Only 938 points for the winners Peter Hartmann and a mate [Marino] in the ARCUS T.
Aldo [Cernezzi] in the DG 600M was runner up with 908.
On Monday however, Riciardo [Brigliadori] flew 786 [600 FAI triangle] from Alzate, in his 21 m. JS1CTJ.
It looks the Pribina Cup will have much better weather, that is when they have the weather we expect. Their unofficial practice started on Saturday.
With Peter /Marino in the middle and Aldo to the right and Ciancarlo Grinza to the left.
As shared by Aldo.
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—One of the former Narromine and Tocumwal Blaniks left after many years to Alice Springs , BUT, for a lease period in the off-season-time ONLY.
Hope they have many safe flights in it. In spring it will be back in Toc.
Safe travelling. LOOOONNNGGG long way.
More news about the good old Blanik at the Friedrichshafen Aero Messe. It seems the A L-13 life extension station may come to USA. As you know many have been grounded over the last years and for a load of money you could make them flyable again , but again for a short period. Hope this works as an extension of 6000 hours sounds OK to me.
as shared by Soaring Society of America
And ….talking about the USA…
Minden Nevada ,was on April 9, the place to unload 4 JS 3 gliders for USA buyers.
Many happy chappies!!!!
as shared by Jonker Sailplanes
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News from SoaringNZ
“Issue 56 is live on ISSUU. Subscribers, check your email for your link to see it for free. Everyone else, follow the link and check it out.
Enjoy.”
issuu.com
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—News from France;
Hello ! From July 30th to August 9th this summer, will be held the 45th Bailleau International Gliding Contest, a classic flat-land gliding contest.
And like every year for 22 years now, Bailleau International will be accompanied by the now famous “Amical” Contest, one of the best ways for a pilot to take his first steps in competition …
This year, the new Competition team wishes to improve the admission conditions in the 3 classes of the competition by limiting excessive performance gaps between gliders. We therefore remind you the following principles :
- Speed Race : This class is optimal for Standard, 15 meter, 18 meer and 20 meter twins
- Long Flights : This class is optimal for 18m and Open class gliders with a minimum handicap of 117
- Amical : This class is optimal for Club class gliders and twin gliders with a crew of which at least one pilot has never participated in an IGC approved competition
The website http://2019.planeur-bailleau.org is now open, you will find there all useful information and the online registration form …
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—News from Tocumwal;
Attention race fans,
The entry list for the 2019/2020 Australian Multi Class Nations is now open.
Head to out web page to register or to see who will be racing this December.
www.tocumwalsoaring.com
Info and details will be updated regularly ! Tocumwal Soaring Centre
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—Some sad news as well this time from the BGA.
April 15 2019.
“We regret to report the very sad news that Mike Bird has passed away. Following a long period of poor health, Mike died peacefully at his home with family present.
As a major figure in British Gliding, a record-holder of distance flights, a frequent entrant to both National and regional comps, a friend to many, and as the perceptive and highly amusing author of the unique Platypus Papers, Mike Bird will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with friends and family.”
A long, long time ago I met Mike as well and loved his Platypus Papers.
R.I.P. Mike.
—-News from the WWGC;
As shared by 10th FAI Women’s World Gliding Championships
Our new website is now live
https://wwgc2019.com/
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And to finish the maiden flight from this huge “monster”!!! With a span of 117 m. this jumbojet flew successfully around with 305 k speed on the “clock” over the USA Mojave desert.
This plane has been designed to launch rockets from 10 k high, instead of from the ground, to make the trip from a satellite cheaper.
Paul Allen , one of the co-founders of Microsoft with Bill Gates and as rich, is a key-person in this project of strato launch systems.
A good man as I see ;” He gave more than $2 billion to causes such as education, wildlife and environmental conservation, the arts, healthcare, community services, and more.”
He unfortunately passed away before the plane flew.I heard later Thanks Nick.
As shared by Stratolaunch
With the text;
“Today, for the first time in history, the Stratolaunch aircraft took flight ✈ Thank you to our partners at Scaled Composites, LLC for their hard work. Learn more about this important milestone here: https://bit.ly/2VIv49d
CU, cheers Ritz,
Just to let you know: TODAY April 17 is the day Kees Musters would have turned 73.
HAPPY EASTER DAY’S. Enjoy.
Spring and soaring. Great picture for Easter.
Courtesy Sophie Mahieu
14 avril 2019 : G-DJAC DUO DISCUS at Sisteron
© Sophie Mahieu
L’album de Mamz’ailes SoFi