VGC News/Newsletters - Lakes Gliding Club

were excellent with temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius
and c10udbase averaging seven to eight thousand feet every
day, with occasional 10-15 knot thermals, however on four out
of the seven days this was accompanied by 25 knot winds and
on the remaining days averaged 10-15 knots.
To add to our frustrations the winch the club had provided
for our use broke down completely after the first three days
and could not be repaired. Aero towing was availJble by
Pawnee as the clubs professional operations continued during
our presence but this unexpected additional expense was only
taken up occasionally although the high winds precluded
flying on most days. As always the day before the rally finished
the wind abated and we experienced a magnificent day
when everyone could have stayed up all day if they had
chosen to.
Short Span Kookabura with Tighe and A/an Patching and
GeoffHearn by the nose. Photo Ec/win Shack/eton
The 23rd Annual General Meetillg of the VGA was held on
the 12th January where the President, Alan Patching, reported
that after many attempts the VGA has now been recognised as
a formal Gliding Federat,ion of Australia Committee and will
in future be reporting its achvities to Council and the Executive.
The Council however indicated that the word 'Association'
in our name would not be appropriate under the circumstances.
Discussion on this matter took place and it was agreed
that the term VGA be retained partly for historical reasons and
also to save expense in dlanges to stationery, lette"heads,
logos etc. A decision was made to change the name to Vintage
Gliders Australia which satisfied aIL counts.
During ,the year a steering committee had been formed
resulting in the creation of the Australian Gliding Museum
Inc. which amongst other things aims to establish and operate
a public museum to collect, preserve and display items of
sports aviation historical interest with a division in each State.
The Museum Commiuee has al~so been recognised as, a formal
Gliding Federat,ion of Australia Committee. Gliders are
already being donated to the Museum and worked on, while
Bill Riley has made his hangar available at Tocumwal in
southern N.S.W. for storage.
Some support has been obtained for our participation in the
Intemational Vintage Rally at Harris Hi:ll, New York State, in
July 2000 and five of our members are definite in their planning
to attend. The decision has been made to take the Golden
Eagle despite the cost, however our American colleagues are
organising help with transport in the USA.
The Far North Queensland Soaring Centre, having been
disbanded, have gellerous]y donated their Schleicher K4
Rhonlerche glider VH-IKK with trailer to the VGA together
with the sum of $500 to help defray costs associated with its
delivery. Thanks to Kevin Sedgman, the club's Patron, the
glider is being brought Ito Lake Keepit and will be trailered
back to Bacchus Marsh in Victoria where it will be kept ready
for flying at future Rallies. (Photo of the halldover was ill
VGC News No 99 Ed)
Ray Ash handed over to the VGA, constructional drawings
of the Hiitter H17, Grunau Baby, Cherokee, Eon Olympia and
Chilton Olympia which were passed on to him from the estate
of a recently deceased member Ron Meares. It was reported
also that in the past 12 months, efforts by the VGA have
resulted in six older gliders being restored and returned to the
register, with several more under way.
Despite the windy conditions a number of good cross
country flights were completed although nobody ventured
further than 50kms from the airfield. John Fleming completed
all legs of his Silver C in his K8B owing to the generosity of
John Ingrarn from the Bm·ossa Valley and his foresight in
bringing his barograph with him. Alan Patching ran a contest
every fflyling day where each pilot was given a two hour period
of hb own choosing to attempt to fly as far as possible. Each
aircraft was handicapped according to its performance, and
penalt,ies and bonuses applied if landing before or after the
prescribed two hour period. Photos of turning points were
asked for although in most instances the pilots word was taken
as to where he had been and photos olllly called for if a protest
was made by another pilot. This was difficult however as one
of the rules of the contest was that protests were not allowed,
which made for a very friendly contest.
Those who attended the Rally were as follows ...
A,lan Patching. lan and Ruth Patching. Tighe Patching. Geoff
Heam, Golden Eagle, Victoria. Kevill Sedgman. Don Burnell,
Rhonlerche, Queensland. Wally and Sonya Wolf, Grunau 4,
Victoria. John and Sue Fleming. Ray Ash, K8b, N.S.W. Ralph
Crompton, Ka6, Victoria. Wally Stott. L10yd Hodges, Ka6,
N.S.W. John Ingram. Kevin Barnes, Schneider. Ted Bowdell,
Super Arrow, South Aust.
Flying Hors COrtcours were:
Graeme Belts, Carbon Dragon, N.S.W. Terry Whitford.
Malcolm Bennett, Monerai, Victoria. Peter Raphael, Woodstock,
Victoria
Also in attendance was Ged Terry from the U.K. making his
18th annual pillgrilnage to Australia /tying ill the back seat of
Ithe Rhonlerche with whoever cared to fly it. He also flew
Zephyrus and Doug Lyon Photo Edwin Shackleton
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