Post 1.443 on Wednesday August 23 2023

Uvalde 18 m NATIONALS [Pre worlds] and UVALDE GLIDE.
14 August 2023 – 25 August 2023

“Why Uvalde? Why indeed?“ A long story from Gena Tabery , published by Bill Elliott and Rand Baldwin in SOARING CAFE a long time ago, [I worked with and for them a few years in the past] and published as well in  the May 2012 issue of Soaring Magazine.
Indeed a lovely story about Uvalde 1991 and 2012. I was at both events and wrote in 2012 exclusively for SOARING CAFE, though of course it was for EVERYBODY to read.
Got the most hit’s ever in that period, so did SOARING CAFE.
Though the hits we got in Sweden in Eskilstuna in 2006, where I was invited as comps -journalist, were immense too , as far as I heard from CD Robert Danewid and looking at his happiness after the last blog.

https://wgc2024uvalde.com/why-uvalde-why-indeed/

They fly in 3 classes, as it is practice for the 2024 WGC as well. But,…only 5 pilots in open ; Bruce Taylor and Jeff Banks in ASH 32MI , Jim Lee in his JS 1 C TJ in which he flew all long tasks in wave and John Cochrane and Keith Essex another “well-known kilometer -eater” in the mighty EB 29.
4 pilots/teams in the 20 m/double -seater and I only know Adam and Pasi, who fly in a Duo Discus and Pete Alexander, who flies his ASG 32MI.
I will keep an eye on them but it is mostly about the 18 NATIONALS.

Wednesday August 16 day 1 task 1 ;
18 m. class; 445.82 km…..Good old Gary Ittner won the first day in his ASG 29.
Rich Owen keeps a blog but flies as well, being in the back seat of Pete Alexanders ASG 32MI. ;#202318mnats #2023uvaldeglide
25 started and only 1 was out.
Open; 500.33 km….“Good grief! I’m glad that’s over! Day 1 looked pretty interesting when we checked the weather this morning, and again after the briefing. There was a cold front still oscillating up to the north and a sea breeze front forecast to be pushing in from the Gulf, and we were squeezed in the middle. The big question was when to start, and we could see some vertical development starting quite soon after launch. I think none of us thought the whole sky was going to blow up, but there was a high risk of some showers both north and south. Our task was a 500km rectangle, South-West almost to Mexico, then East, a long run North, back West then South home.’ more on this day as “we got over 10,000 feet, and I saw a couple of 10 knot climbs and plenty of 8’s,” on Taylor’s Gliding Page
Keith and Jim were on spot 1 and 2 ,Bruce on 4.
20 m; 411.36 km. Pasi from Finland flying with Aussie Adam in the Duo;
“Good system with Adam. 45min turns flying. Had good day around the task. Just a little bit trouble on north not really hitting the climbs as they were on unusual places. But trusty old Duo goes well. We beat the asg32 on true speed so can’t complain. 10 more days to come” 133 km./h.
Adam; “Another day in Uvalde paradise! Thanks to Skysight we were able to identify that it was going to be better to start earlier, rather than later due to slow & tricky 2nd leg if we were to leave closer to 14:30L. Without seeing the scores, I feel like this was the case.” Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures

Thursday August 17 day 2 task 2; ..
18 m.; 4 hour AAT..David Leonard flying for the first time his JS3jet ,at a competition, as his brother Steven and this time crew mentioned, , was on spot 5 on day 1 behind 4 ASG 29 gliders and was 3 today.Overall he leads with 18 points.
“This is a close contest with a bunch or REALLY good pilots!” by Steven.
I met them in Uvalde in 2012. Very kind people. All 25 finished.
20 m; 472.61 km…Good day again for Pasi and Adam…another 1000 points. Pasi;”Tough first 2 hours. Then great 1.5 hrs and bit tough final glide. Good result thoug, but could of done better.“
open; 545.90 km ….Keith is a story-apart! 2000 points in 2 days. Jim was again runner up and Bruce was on 4 again….but he was not well;”I took off with a little headache, which became a big headache. Part way around I pulled the pin and headed gently for home. I was really not enjoying the flight, but touched the remaining circle to at least grab a few points for the day.” more in Taylor’s Gliding Page

Friday August 18 Task 3…….A VERY BLUE DAY!!!!

18 m; task 3….505.02 km….3 Canadian pilots are flying in this 18 m. class and 2 of them I met earlier Jerzy and Dave. AND,….He won already practice day 1 ,now Jerzy Szemplinski won task 3 ; speed 126.40 km./h. for 1000 points . Runner up Ron Fletcher also in ASG 29, had ONE point less,[ they started and finished together]999 and to complete the top 3, Sean Murphy had 996 points.[JS3]
David did well again in his brand new JS 3 , he was 4th. Both he and Steven are true ‘grey’ gentlemen!!!
20 m;task 3….474.56 km….won by and story from Adam and Pasi “Suddenly it dawned on me, they changed the grid launch order without me knowing.. Only that, the grid order hadn’t changed, we just got it wrong ” on; Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
open; task 3…. 553.39 km…..This time not Keith but Jim won the day but ONLY JUST.
All in’s and out’s on the day on Taylor’s Gliding Page
The stories on the SSA site from Rich are hilarious, great reading stuff;
https://www.ssa.org/racing-results/ and go to the reports; this one is called Let’s Go Drive a Tank

Saturday August 19; NO TASK in all 3 classes. RESTDAY!!!

Sunday; August 20; Task 5
18m; 4 hour AAT and Andy Blackburn [JS3TJ] won the day with 549.77 km,speed 135.66 km./h. The weather was not as good as hoped for , pretty challenging they called it .
Overall David in his new JS 3 is still in the lead but just with 25 points. Only 100 points difference between number 1 and 4.
20m; 4 hour AAT...after 3 “wins’ Adam and Pasi were 3d but still with a huge lead. No news on the day but a full story on the rest day in gorgeous San Antonio, where I spend 3 days as well as THANK YOU for my contribution to the news on soaring cafe.
open; 4 hour AAT…..594.55 km was the best distance and it was flown in just over 4 hours.
speed 145 km./h!!!! By Keith...
Bruce is trying to get the hang of his flying there;
“So, I’ve been finding every single flight here really challenging.” Taylor’s Gliding Page

Monday August 21; task 6 4 hour AAT….
18m; 4 hour AAT.…They hoped for better weather , but it was worse than the day before. With a rather late start [as in 2.12 PM] Jerzy raced over 585.39 km with a speed of 139.90 km./h just a tad faster than Rick Indrebo in an ASG 29; 139.38. Rick started 14 minutes earlier than Jerzy and flew 577 km .
As David was “only” 14th for the day, he moved to spot 2 overall, [4810 p] behind Sean Fidler [4835 points]
20 m; 4 hr AAT. “Max distance was 325 miles. We did 323 and 2 min under time Task was bit off.. by Pasi and Adam even had more to say, it turned out an interesting day; They flew 519.72 km with a speed of indeed 130.88 km./h.
“What a fabulous day! We got dealt the task on the grid, which gave every competitor in the first 5 to launch, only 30min to plan & to get the glider ready. We realised this straight away & went straight into flight planning mode, which is where we made our money. Straight away we realised we needed to max out the task, so that we did, flying 2nm less than the max, coming in 2min under time for a guaranteed win at 130kph for the day”. much more on Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
open: 4 hour AAT; at their first TP they were in rain but all went well as all finished.
Here is Bruce about how this day went on;
“We had another 4 hour assigned area task, in weather that looked like it could throw up some challenges. Indeed the first part of the flight was tough with very weak climbs, and some difficulty getting high. After that the day really fired…” much more on Taylor’s Gliding Page
Still a few days to go but the “rivalry” between Keith [EB29R] and Jim [JS 1/21 m] will be exciting, only 150 points difference in favor of Keith.

Today August 23 shows poor weather, so the day was cancelled for all classes to have a day to recuperate.
It seems “left-overs” from a tropical storm might spoil the rest of the fun. Still 2 more days to go.
Will keep you informed.

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CCR in Rieti
13 August 2023 – 22 August 2023

Mixed class;
Wednesday August 16; Task 3…2 hour AAT.…still 250 km. was possible with a nice speed of 121.33 km; Prodorutti & Montemaggi in the ARCUS M flew to a daily spot 1.
17 started and 15 finished.
Thursday; Task 4…2.45 AAT....Austrian Team Altrichter & Schwan in the ARCUS M , got the daily win. They left high and stayed high , following the other pilots who had started 5 minutes in front of them. Then they saw more to the West a convergence line and tried their luck . It was there for them. They flew 401 km with a speed of 144 km./h., which was 10 k faster than most of the other pilots.
Only the Duo Discus was out.
Friday August 18; Task 4…2.20 AAT.…The Austrian Swiss combination Hartmann & Passardi in their ARCUS T had the honor to win the daily prize . They were 3 km/h. faster than Alberto.
17 started and 14 finished!

Open class;
Wednesday August 16 Task 3 ..2.25 AAT...295.75 km with a speed of 119 km./h for Jon Gatfield in his AS 33es.
19 started and 14 were in. Alvaro flew 89 km after a very early start and I reckon he just “motored” back.
Thursday; August 17 Task 4….344.80 km....and another Austrian pilot is doing well in Rieti; Christian Hynek in the beautiful EB 29DR; 138 km/h , so his mates in the mixed class were in their Arcus faster.
Friday August 18 Task 5…. 2.20 AAT..A German winner Klaus [Kalmbach in his JS 3 ] this time. He started 3 minutes behind Jon , was back at the same time flew 328 /322 km with a speed of 139/136 km./h.
17 started and 1 was out.
Saturday no task and
Sunday August 20; 2.30 AAT; The ASH 31 MI is with 2 pilots in the top 2. Roberto with a speed of 122.51 km./h over 317 km and Alvaro with 118.68 km./h over 302 km.
17 started and 16 finished.
Monday August 21;  381.02 km…..Christian Hynek from Austria in his EB 29DR was 10 k faster than the runner up; Stefano Cavallari….147.25 km./h for 136.69 km./h!! Swiss pilot Fridolin, good friend of “our Tocumwal Swiss Chris was 3d.
Tuesday August 22; 2.45 AAT.... Stefano Cavallari flew on this last day 353.43 km speed 128.58 for 800 points. An exciting last day for him as he moved from 3 to 1. Great job! He flies an ASG 29.
Also here a ” jump down” for Christian Hynek in the EB….he did not finish! He dropped from 1 to 5.
What is that in Rieti that toppers have a bad last day?????
Final scores;
1. Stefano Cavallari in ASG 29 with 6,273 points.
2. Jon Gatfield in AS 33es from the UK with 6,235 p.
3. Ugo Pavesi in ASG 29e with 5,638 p.

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FRENCH Junior Nationals in Club and standard, 15m and 2-seater class.
10 August 2023 – 19 August 2023
Mantes Chérence

Also in France enough young pilots at their JUNIOR NATIONALS; 25 to be precise in club and 19 in standard class.
After 3 Practice days they started on
August 13 with task 1, a 2 hour AAT won by Amélie Boulanger in her Glasflügel 304; 148 km., speed 61 km./h.
In the end only 20 started and from those 20, only 8 finished.
August 14; task 2…1.45 AAT, this time 25 went “up” and only 6 were out. Daily winner; Paul Merlaud in Pegase with 143 km . speed 75 km./h.
August 15; task 3 …1.30 AAT.CANCELLED.
August 16; task 4 ….2.45 AAT....Won by  Bastien Redondo in Discus 2; 226.66 km. speed 80 km./h.
24 started and 2 did not finish.
August 17; Task 5…265.58 km….a 1000 points day AGAIN for Paul , with a speed of 79.43 km./h.
24 flew the task and 5 did n’t finish.
August 18; Task 6 CANCELLED.
August 19…last day! 2.15AAT.…The last couple of days it was 3x a Pegase on top with Mathis, Nicolas and Paul. On this last day Mathis was 3d, Nicolas 5th but Paul was “out” after 144 km. Ouch! so no 3d spot and bronze for him but an 11th place. He flew well though with 2 daily wins. He will get there!!!
Bastien Redondo won the day in Discus B, he won task 4 as well and moved up from 4 to 2. Not bad.
In this CLUB class the final scores are
1. Mathis Peronnet in Pegase with 3,216 points.
2. Bastien Redondo in Discus b with 3,136 p.
3. Nicolas Douchet in Pegase with 3,063 p.

Standard was also combined with 15m. and 20 m.class, though I counted ONE DUO DISCUS, flown by Anaiis Gaubert from the female French team.. She was 6th in Garray this year at the WWGC.
Further on in this class, one of the French de Péchy family, this time Clement. His brother Thibaud is there as well , he flies in the junior class.
They flew 4 days in a row with 19 pilots and 1 HC pilot Noud Kaaij from The Netherlands, who just finished Bailleau. Also small tasks from 2.30 AAT, 2 hour ,1.30 , with starts after 4 PM and 2.30 AAT.
Task 4 was a 2.30 AAT won by Victor Mallick in LS8; 258.99 km., speed 98 km./h.
Alizée Petit, a member of the French female team as well , she was 10th in club in Spain a short time ago] was runner up. She still is a junior as well.
Task 5 was finally a good one ;308.21 km....and again it was Victor Mallick [LS8] who flew around with a speed of 91.91 km./h .
18 started and 3 were out.
“Our” Dutch Noud who flies HC is doing well with another 3d daily place .Edgar Lagorio in his LS 8 won day 1 , flies very consistent and is 1 overall after 5 tasks, but ONLY 3 points as Victor is on his heels; 2.549 and 2.546 points and for Noud 2.524 p.
Task 6 CANCELLED.
Task 7 and FINAL DAY; 2.30 AAT…..Exciting day full of “jitters” …..237 km and a speed of 90.44 km./h by HC pilot Daniel in the AS 33es. The top 3 was close as said before. What happened?
Edgar was 13th, unfortunately not enough to stay in the top 3. He finished as number 4 dropping from spot 1.
 Lucas Oyaux was runner up moving up from 4 to 1 with only 2 points difference!!!! Alizee did well with a daily 5th spot.
Overall scores for this standard class;
1. Lucas Oyaux in Discus a with 3,154 points.
2. Victor Mallick in LS8 with 3,152 p.
3. Alizée Petit in ASW 20 WL with 3,135 p.
Noud was on 4 with 3,120 p.

Congratulations to all! Felicitations aux nouveaux champions!!!!

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UK JUNIOR NATIONALS
19 August 2023 – 27 August 2023
Gransden Lodge

50 pilots in the UK are ready for some good flights.
The UK had some tragic accidents last week with a midair which killed 1 pilot , the other one escaped by landing safely and 1 pilot had a bad start and died a day after the accident. R.I.P
Life goes on , but some EXTRA concern is always good.
Competition director is young Finn Sleigh ,current World and National Junior Gliding Champion. Very nice young man!!
August 19 Task 1 ;174.76 km….Henry Inigo-Jones in his LS8 showed his class by winning day 1 ; speed 92.24 km./h. Jordan Johnson in an ASW 20 was runner up; 81.71 km./h.
39 started and ONLY 12 finished….
August 20 task 2;  152.41 km…. Another ASW 20 pilot George White was the daily best; 116.87 km./h. Quite a bit faster again than runner up Jordan; 104.96 km./h.
41 started and 24 finished.
August 21 task 3;  178.38 km….2 pilots flew over 100 km./h ;George his 2d win in a row and Henry;103.63 km./h and 100.88 km./h.
A pity George was out on day 1.He moved from 25 to 17 and to 10 after task 3.
August 22 task 4; 205.71 km….Improving weather, longer tasks! Toby Freeland was the daily best and another already JWGC pilot was runner up; Henry.
After 4 tasks they lead the overall scores with quite a big margin, BUT the margin between them is not that big. Henry on 1 with 2,683 points and Toby with 2,663 p.
They continue till the 27th.
More next week.

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—–News from the The Perlan Project;
“We proved the forecasts were correct. On Aug. 11, 2023, Perlan 2 took to the skies over Patagonia. We were prepared to soar high – only if the forecasts were wrong about no soarable lift until 60,000 feet. Well, best achieved lift was only 3 knots for only a few minutes. But it was a great test of environmental cold conditions as the temps were -60 C (-76 F)“
More on #AirbusPerlanMissionII or https://perlanproject.org/perlan-2-soars-over-patagonia-2023/Airbus

—–AND YES,…Finally I found one……..pffffff. The club class WORLD champion, the runner up and bronze medal winner from Arnborg in Denmark;

In the middle Kim Toppari from Finland, to the Left runner up Toby Freeland from the UK and Alexandre Fierain from France.
FFVP – Fédération Française de Vol en Planeur

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AND,……a bit more about the KEIHEUVEL; I asked last Sunday how many times this Keiheuvel CUP has been flown. At that stage they did not know. Bert Schmelzer sr. investigated this matter together with Stijn Jansen, who was for many years the CD of this “CUP” and the first one was in 2007. Before they had a full week. I remember as both Dennis and George flew there ,as well as Gerrit Kurstjens and Kees Musters. That was before 1987 as Kees and Dennis passed away in December 1987 and January 1988.
So there is a LONG history of flying at the Keiheuvel.
En passant Bert sr mentioned that in 2007 his son Bert jr. got the best” junior award “…a memory on his dad, called the “Albert Schmelzer junior trophy”. Awarded by his grand ma ,Bert sr.’s mum. In 2014 Bert jr became WORLD CHAMPION in standard class in Rayskala .
AND..during “the 8 days” in 2002 it was the new CD Robbie Seton, who got that prize .
As said before, there is a huge history at Keiheuvel, on the Schmelzer and Huybreckx families.

———Not long and Pavullo is the place to be for the finals of the 11th FAI SGP. 20 pilots will try to be the BEST. 2 pilots flying now for THE CUP de Rieti , Alberto and Jon , will participate in Pavullo too.
Mind you they have a new website; https://sgpfinal23.sgp.aero/world-final-2023

It has been very busy in the air specially over THE ALPS.
Have a look”