Volume 37 No 1 Feb-Mar 1986.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

DIANE SPALDING
BEING
DEDICATED
Diane recalls last year's BGA Dedicated Soaring Course
which was run by Ken Stewart, national coach, for Coventry
Gliding Club members
AIter a successful soaring ~urse in 1984,
Coventry GC decided to arrange another dedicated
course for the HusBos members last
summer during the first week of July. Conditions
for enrolling were to bring a bicycle as well as a
glider! The course started with 15 pilots, 12 gliders,
six bicycles and bad weather; alter the first
two days we wondered ifour aim was to do more
kilometres on bikes than in gliders. We were able
to practice TPs at 60° to the road (pubs!) and
field selection and navigation, which became
rather difficult on the way back in the dark. However,
lectures on these two days kept our interest
prior to the start of the "good weather".
The "good weather" started on the Monday
with a total of 533km flown. Alter the initial outlandings,
the day ended with a final glide practice
from a dual-aerotow retrieve, one of which was
successful!
A promising forecast on the Tuesday meant
that most people tried for 300km or SOOkm
badges. Ken, in the club SF-27, took the wooden
gaggle (Cobra, SB-5E) round a 300km flight and
ended up on the club ladder. Several pilots
exceeded their longest previous flight. Four
pilots attempted 500km, one getting round and
one failing by a mere 7km. Our enthusiasm
meant that we even managed a 16km otR on
bicycles that evening, the number of bicycles
having swollen to 15 by now! Total kilometres
flown for the day - 3820.
On the Wednesday the weather became blue
and windy. An O/R task resulted in more
kilometres and more outlandings, but we still
managed 697km.
Thursday was also blue and very hot and
alternative TPs were set to the north, resulting in
landings at all airfields between HusBos and
Saltby, including Ken and his follower starring in
a TV car commercial, being made at Bruntingtt:lorpe
Airfield, in an attempt to get home.
By the time we got to Friday we were content to
watch the rain on the TV at Wimbledon, listen to
lectures and have a well-earned rest.
The good weather returned for the final two
days, Saturday having an excellent forecast
except for ,the tQa strong wind. The task was set
to the. west to t,y to reach wave flear Shobdon.
The wooden gaggle all landed at Uttle Rissington
(80km) who had seven visiting gliders that day,
IncludingsuotT distinguished glider pilots as Tom
(the Met) Bradbury. Like everyone else, he wondered
what he was doing there under such a
fantastic looking sky! Total for the day - 2257km.
The final day was the day of days. Again 500s
and 300$ were set and the number at briefing
had swelled from 14 to 401 The SOOkm task was:
Lasham, Lutterworth, Newbury and the 300km
task: lasham, 'Eyebrook. Th9 Twin Astir was
sent on a 220km ot.R tQ Newbury and on its
return at 1'500hrs, set off to try the task again with
a different crew, landing. 8kin short on the way
home. Several CQurse members achieved 300
and 500km with a total distance flown that day of
~km.
Ttiisenjoyable week resulted in over
12OOOkm, with manycourse members qualifying
for their Silver distance on bikes - anyone for
Gold this year Our thanks to Ken and all the
CGe helpers whose efforts and enthusiasm
were an inspiration to us all. Apologies from the
course for stealing all of 1985s weather - we
have already booked this year's dedicated
course!
Dear Agony Aunt.
ADDICTIONS
I am writing to you r magaZine to relay my
story to your readers so that they may find a
way to avoid 'some of the problems I have
recently had ir'l my life. I do ask that if anyone
can herp me, I am in desperate need.
I am "X" years old. I have done my 'share 01
drugs in the past and had 00 prOblem relieving
their grip on me. I was proud to know thalli was
no longef dependent on something to get
through the day. That feeling Ilasted until Easter
1984 when 1experienced my lirsl solo flight.
It is now October, and I have realised my
problem - I am addicted ta thermals. I find
myself calling the local weather report every
morning when I wake up. Like a neroin addict, I
roam the streets, looking up in the sky for that
cau'linower-Iike cumulus or tne sudden whisper·
ing and movement of otherwise lifeless trees. I
stare out of the window when I am at work looking
for signs of lift. Worse, :1 have lost interest In
the things ,I used to treasure - girls don't turn
my head, parties don't excite me, gone Is my
social life. I am dependent on the signs of lift to
get through the day. .
It hasn't stopped there, either. Used to be, I
was content with 2kt of lift. Now it takes a
minimum of 4kt to turn me on. Tomorrow it will
be 6kt. I don't know what the limit is, but I MOW
I will reach it soon if I, don't get help.
My question to· you and. your readers: Is
there a Glider Pilots Anonymous group anywhere
in the area Is there anyone who is
going ttlrOlilQh the same thing that 11 am right
now Is there any published material 'on this
dependency. Who can I turn to
IJ anyone has any information, or would like
to share the'ir story with me, please write. I am
confident that we will survive and Ilearn to live
with the lift.
(The Editor has the name and address but suffice
to say the letter came via Mike Smith of
HusBosI)
"Sailing clubs have commodores, golf clubs
have captains and gliding dubs have
scapegoats:'Retiring CFI heardin the Ulster,GC
clubhouse.
I'YOUVE GOT TO HAVE STYLE' I
I'AOI' A.
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20 SAILPLANE & GLIDING