Volume 32 No 1 Feb-Mar 1981.pdf - Lakes Gliding Club

OV.ERSEAS:;;:u'~::t: t~n~:X:;::r:~~sNEWS·:~~~:: , . . Editor: A. E. Slater, 7 HighworthAvenue, Cambridge, CB4 280, England.The final momellts before crossing the finishing /ine during the Spanish Nationals. All triangles were south ofMora which brought '/hem in over the 200m hill covered in olive tras. Photo: Rafael Serras.SPANISH NA'fIONALSThe Spanish Nationals, at Mora from June25-29, were described by the Open ClassChampion, Angel Anglada, as a "miniChampionship" with seven in the OpenClass, nine in the Standard and three in theClub Class. But he asked readers to takeinto account that there are only 19 glassfibregliders in Spain.On one 01 the five competition days a513km triangle was completed by Angel(ASW-17) at 64.6km/h.The final results were: Opef'1 Class, 1. A.Angl1ada (ASW-17) 5000pts; 2. P. Ayesta(ASW-17) 4245pts; 3. A. Lopez (ASW-20)3796pts; Standard Class, 1. J. J. Gresa(Std Libelle) 4542pts; 2. J. L. Meijide (StdCirrus) 4510pts; 3. F. Hajek (LS-1f) 4409pts;Club Class, 1. J. Lopez (L-Spatz-55)5100pts; A. Mur'ioz (pir.at) 3694pts; 3. J. A.Ysac (Pi rat} 830pts.Record breakersAfter the C'hampionships, ambitiouscross-countries were attempted resultingin National record claims, but as tneweather service isn't suf'ficiently developedto offer help to glider pilots, it was a matter01 using their own jUdgment in picking thegood days after watching the TV forecaststhe night before.On July 1 An~el declared a 540km goalland return 10 Alcantara (near the PortlcJgueseborder), which he completed in5hrs 45min at 93km/h ·for a National goaland return record claim.The day after Angel attempted a 750kmtriangle, Alpera, Belmez (which i,s actually766.6krn) in company with hlis friend. PabloAyesta, also flying an ASW·117. P,abfo completedthe flight at 91km/h in 8hrs 40min to22claim a National distance record whileAngel landed 40km west of Mora.SOARING AMONG THE VIKINGSCARL ULRICH writes about gliding inDenmarkThe population of this country is only fivemilliGn, but nevertheless the Danish GlidingAssociation has 41 clubs with 2000members. We have 360 gliders, one third ofwhich are· glass-fibre and almost 50% arepri\lately owned.All glider pilots are linked to the Associationas members 01 a club and are taught tofly by instructors trained at the AssociationSoaring Centre.Financial support from public (and pri·vate) resources is very scarce with only s,small interest free ·108n andl an annual sumto keep the buil'dings in good repair. Pilotsunder 25 also have smal'l support fromlocal authorities, enough to redyce theirexpenses by 10%.The. number taking' part in competitionsis rather small with about 60 in last year'sNationals, though more join in regionall andlocal contests.Because it is very flat, the highest pointsbeing about 500ft asll, wave flying and slopesoaring are impossible and as cloud flyingis prohibited, it is rarely possible to gain aGold I;lei.ght. However cross-countries arevery common and in 1976 more than 2000registered fligmts accounted for 240 OOOkmwith a total of 24250 soaring howrs. But tneshape of the main country makes it impossibleto get more than 35 miles away fromthe sea, so 500km triangles are very rare.Danish gUder pilots usually go elsewhere inEurope when they want to gain Diamonds.Most of our clu'bs do a lot to make theirsites attractive for families as well as pilotsLATE NEWSBRITON WINS SA NATIONALSMike Carlton, the British Team Manager, isthe new South African Open Class winnerand will be claiming two British Nationalrecords - the 500km goal and returnat 152.8km/h and the 500km triangleat 142.6km/h. Brian Spreckley, flying amodified Ventus, was second in the 15Metre Class with fellow British Team member,Bernard Fitchett, in fourth place in aVega.The Championships, at Vryburg, endedon December 31, afler 114 contest days.Early in the Camp Mike's ASW-17 broke intwo after finding a rough spot on landing,but with Brian and others as.dedicated theyworked through, the nlgM and had theglider ready for the following day.Klaas Goud riaan (ASW-17} was second inthe Open and Lsurens Gowdriaan (ASW-20)won the 15 Metre Class - a father and sonwho were competing in tne Nationalstogether for the lirst time and are membersof the South Africanl Team.Boboy Clifford (ASW-20) was third in the15 Metre Class, Brian Vaniererk (ASW-17)tnird in the Open Class and Maurice Ottowon the Standard Class - all SouthAfricans. A full report will be in the nextissue.1250kl1'l TRIANGLE WORLD RECORDSThe first claimant for the world tecord of a1250km triangle (introduced in 1979) is, notsurprisingly, Hans-Wemer Grosse of Germany.On December 9,1980 he flew his ASW-17around a 1271.96 km triangle starting fromAlice Springs, Australia.Blue thermals to abOl!Jt 3000ft as far asTP1 "reduced" his speed to 9Okm/h withlittle hope at tnat stage fo complete thismammoth task. Improvinlg conditions,however, turnedl the day intoa near classicwith well developed thermals and risingcloudbase to about 1500011. lhis enabledHans-Werner to return to base in under tenhours to claim a speed of 133.24km/h.This flight also lays claim to the triangulardistance record.MOTOR GLIDER WORLD RECORDS, Two-seater world records for a 500 and30Qkm triangle at 111 and 133km/h onDe.cember 5 and 12, 1980, respecHvely arebeing claimed by Otto Wegscheider ofGermany. The flights were carried out in aJanus-M starting from B.loemfontein, SouthAfrica. His passengers were Katl Zuleck onthe 500 and Mr Ascher on the 300km mght.by modernising facilities, making children'splaygrounds and allowing membersto build their own cabins.Although our gliding movemen,t is noncommercial,pilots from other cOllJntries areusually welcome and treated! just likemembers 01 other Danish clubs who canget cheap winch launches and sometimesa flight in a two-seater.SAILPLANE & GLIDING