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

PERHAPS MORE OOs THAN YOU THOUGHT
Dear Editor,
In the last issue, p294, Doug Edwards
reported difficulty in unearthing official observers
when needed. Let us analyse his problem.
There are currently 1600 DOs appointed by the
BGA, which is equivalent to about one member
in six, or about one DO/glider. Ilndeed at Doug's
own club, Booker, there are theoretically 69
DOs in a membership of' approximately 400
(again about one in six).
Whilst it is not BGA policy to limit the number
of DOs (preferring instead to 'leave the initiative
with individual clubs to request appOintment Of
the number they feel they need), it is however
not desirable to dilute the status too much, for
generally the best DOs are those who perform
the function most frequently.
Doug's suggestions regarding the appointment
and conduct of observers merit consideration,
although every instructor or Silver C pilot
does not necessarily make a good 00, who
ideally is a patient, reliable and conscientious
person not already encumbered by the pressure
of instructing duties or other organising
work.
The immediate solution to any difficulty in
finding an 00 is ,for clubs to review the names
and numbers they need. then pUblicise the list
of their DOs on the club notice-board and in
club newsletters, so that members can at least
know whom they are seeking.
GORDON CAMP, FAI certificates officer
APPRECIATION OF OUR NEW LOOK
Dear Editor,
I had intended writing, to express my disappointment
with the cover photograph of the
October issue as I always look forward to
removing the magaZine from its plain brown
wrapper and seeing a superb photo of a glider,
but I never got around to writing my complaint.
But this month I must write!!
- A superb cover photo.
- A greatly improved layout and appearance
inside.
- A brilliant centrespread colQ\Jr photo of a
beautiful glider in splendid 'light.
Great. And let's have more of the same.
VICTOR CARD, Monmouth, Gwent.
TRY A BGA COURSE
Dear Editor,
May I add a belated postscript to Brends
Snook's article in the August issue, p165.
last summer, I was organised 'by enthusiastic
friends on tQ; olle of the BGA's ,courses, and
as aA indifferent pilol with no competition. ambitions,
whO hadn't read the Ilarge, let alone the
small, print, I was horrified to lind, On arrival al
Husbands Bosworth, that we were in the hands
of the national coaches, no less! If I hadn't
already paid, (my middle name is Macdonald) I
would have, quietly towed my appendage and
self away; as it was (and the weather was foul
throughout) I stayed on - for a thoroughly
36
stimulating and entirely ,enjoyable week.
Far more lectures than envisaged, of course,
because of the rain, but spiced with John WiIliamson's
reminiscences and Ken Stewart's
anecdotes, and the excellent use of slides and
video, one grasped, in spite of oneself, ,obvious,
and less obvioUS, points on very many
aspects at gliding. At the first hint of a dry interval
we were out and up, and though 'I may
never differentiate between "tilt" and "lift", my
flights with John were exhilarating ventures into
new aerial pastures - cloud flying, sma~ field
landing, and' cross-count!)' speed flying.
We were a mixed lbunch, but youlhfulkeeneyed
ace or over-relaxed oldie, no one was left
out or made to lOok silly, and there was something
- in fact as much as each could assimilate
- for all of us.
So, for a first class holiday, providing new
ideas, companions, horizons and pubs, whatever
your age, experience or aspirations, get
out your diary, and write 011 now!
JOANNA DANNATI, Cambridge
MIDLAND GC's WINCH
Dear Editor,
As the operator of a retrieve winch system over
many years, pertlaps I, am as biased towards it
as John Jeffries (see the last issue, p295) may
be towards the van Gelder winch, for which he
is the agent, or for similar reasons, Gordon
Peters towards the Supercat. 'Bob Rodwell
(October issue, p224) has justifiably championed
Ol,lr system ,having used it - and he
probably knows, as the annual statistics show,
that around 11 000' winch launches lake place
here on single 3,.611'111'1 stranded cables, each of
which accomplishes 3-4000 launches of
1600-2000fl with very few breaks. K-6
launches in still air at summer/winter temperatures
from 3300ft of cable are regUlarly
achieved,
Equally regularly achieved, without any special
prior organisation apart from pilots being
ready, is a 'launch rate of 20+1hr, though this
has been exceeded for task launches by an
athletic and orderly ground crew. During one of
our open days, I'm assured by none less than
our chairman, gliders timed over a significant
period were departing to at least 1000ft every
1~min. This would doubtless be acceptable at
the Dutch Nationals, as long as they didn't
mind launching on 'grass, and it would have the
possible additional advantage over multidrum
launching of a regular interval between each
launch rather than rapid bursts of six followed
by a longer interval.
The lightweight al1d uncomplicated launching
winches at this site are powered ,by high performance
petrol engines running, on propane at
the equivalent cosl of red Diesel. Coupled to a
standard automatic transmission and torque
convener they are capable of rapidly lifting a
glider through, the wi'nd gradient after a very
short ground' run, with the climbing sector of
the launch then optimlsed for given conditions
by a rapid response to the varying power
requirements during t/:lat sector whichonly a
petrol engine will allow. No cable parachute is
needed in the cable system, .since the {lesoont
of the cable catenary is sufficiently retarded by
the thin retrieve wire "g