Saturday 7th Flying High

A quieter day than usual, Saturday saw many pilots away at the Bidford Regional gliding competition.

Those pilots that arrived at Snitterfield however had a purpose in mind.

Soon after her check ride, Emily launched in the SZD Junior attempting both her 2 hour bronze duration and her FAI Silver height gain.

The Silver height gain achievement requires a climb of 1000 meters (3281 feet) above the lowest point recorded on a flight logger after the glider’s launch.

Emily succeeded in gaining her height gain during the day’s early soaring conditions and stayed up to complete her 2 hour soaring duration for her Bronze endorsement.

Emily’s father Ed also wanted his Silver height gain and launched in his current favourite glider the club’s Standard Astir. Ed had difficulty contacting the lift initially. He came back for a couple of relights but kept trying for the goal.

The third launch got him away with a solid climb taking him toward his height gain but also on a task around local turnpoints totaling 43km. Once Ed completes his Bronze Cross-Country Endorsement , he will be able to fly further afield in the club’s gliders.

Later in the day, Emily also flew through a series of checks of her general handling and launch failure handling with senior Stratford instructor Steve F to clear her ‘off checks’.

All new solo pilots at Stratford are required to complete at least 20 days of check-flights with instructors each flying day before they can fly solo. Once the check days are completed, the pilot can be considered for the ‘off-checks’ test. If they meet the required standard, they will be signed off and will be able to fly solo on subsequent days without a check flight subject to conditions and the duty instructor’s discretion.

Later that weekend, with a shortage of winch drivers at Snitterfield, newly qualified winch driver Ed was pressed into service as a fully-fledged cat 1 winch driver which includes daily inspection, towout and set up of our 340bhp Skylaunch 2 winch.

Peter C’s first cross country.

Well done to Peter C who flew his first cross-country flight on Saturday from Stratford on Avon Gliding Club at Snitterfield to Windrushers Gliding Club at Bicester!

The flight distance of 50km in Stratford’s Astir CS77 gives Peter his FAI Silver distance. The flight was flown on Saturday 26th which was say fairly tough local soaring conditions.

Peter at Bicester with Stratford's Astir

Derigging Astir at Bicester

The only other Stratford glider to task on Saturday was Mike C who flew 203km in his LS10 (18m).

Achievements 6/9/15

A truly busy day today at SoAGC!

With Andy B running the show, we had every club aircraft including G-CHXK plus a T21 in the air at the same time!

Many new visitors to Stratford were flown while some significant pilot development and goals were achieved.

Peter C and Kit B achieved their 2hr duration flights which are required for their Bronze cross-country endorsements. Peter’s endorsement is now complete and we are hoping there will be a suitable day in the remaining soaring conditions for him to complete his silver distance flight this year.

Phil C set off in Stratford’s new Astir CS77 G-FECO and made it down to Bicester for his Silver (50km) distance leg. Many thanks to the friendly folks at Windrushers GC and duty instructor AJ who let us derig ECO at the back of the their launchpoint.

Minions derigging Astir Derigging Astir at Bicester Rigging Astir CS77 G-FECO at Stratford

Bronze Theory Lectures 2014

Stratford on Avon Gliding Club will running Bronze Theory Lecture Evenings again in 2014 for aspiring Bronze/LAPL(S) pilots and those pilots wishing to refresh their theoretical knowledge.

There will be an opportunity to take the Bronze Theory Exam on the final date.

The dates are as follows:

DateSubject
16th JanuaryPrinciples of FlightSteve F
23rd JanuaryPrinciples of FlightSteve F
30th JanuaryPrinciples of FlightSteve F
6th FebMeteorologySteve P
13th FebMeteorologySteve P
20th FebAir LawPete
27th FebNavigation Part 1Andy B
6th MarchNavigation Part 2Andy B
13th MarchAirmanship & RadioSteve B
27th MarchExamSteve B

If you wish to attend the lectures, please add your name to the list on the board in the clubhouse.