Members' area

5 instructors, 3 two-seaters, 2 single-seaters but what a quiet Saturday. Everyone must've been on holiday! Barry flew our 2 ODC visitors, Andrew took a visitor for a couple of flights and Doug checked out another new member (already solo). Otherwise a morning without members. Once the sun came out in the afternoon there was a flurry of activity as the private gliders all arrived at the launch point. The period between 13:30 and 16:30 was well worth the launch with thermals to 3,300' some at 6 knots plus. Many thanks to our 2 winch drivers for making it all possible.

A strong west wind limited training possibilities which was just as well as once again we only had two instructors, one of whom was occupied in the briefing room and in the air with pre-booked cross-country training. This became mainly an exercise in cloud selection without much cross-country progress, although we did get into the wave for a time with a bit of cloud flying.
However first prize went to Ed Foggin who got to 5400 ASL in the private DG500 with a 16 year old German gliding visitor on a flight lasting 85 minutes at the end of the day. Picture below.

Slithery intruder:
Darren on his way down the clubhouse stairs encountered an 18 inch grass snake industriously slithering up. It was transferred to a more suitable habitat.

One of the best days for some time. Numerous cross countries were attempted and some lengthy tasks completed. However a lowish cloudbase and turbulent thermals didn't make it easy, resulting in several outlandings even among the experts.
At base there was a good turnout for instruction but with only two instructors until later in the day and two one day courses to run, things were a bit difficult for a time.

Dave Taylor, our winch driver, has to be away from AD on Monday the 8th. Chris Power has offered to stand in for part of the day, but would like to have someone else help out, probably for the 2nd half of the day. Any offers please let me know at chairman@cotswoldgliding.co.uk

Many thanks

DGR / chairman

A day with a lot of promise apparently, given the long line of private gliders on the grid. However I think that most experienced some extended local soaring until later in the day when the conditions improved with at least Doug completing a task and the visiting Libelle landing well after we packed up after a flight of several hours. Adam Mayo consolidated his flights from Saturday with some more exercises and a 55 minute soaring flight. Chris Power after spending the morning driving the winch asked for a check ride and had a 50 minute flight including following a cracking cloud street out to the Severn Valley, meeting up with Stephen Cook in the K23 overhead Nympsfield. Eugene looked after the trial lessons, all visitors went home smiling, some after climbs to over 3000'.
Thanks to the members who helped.

Ka 21 G-EENK was back on line last week following its annual inspection and some additional work on the tailplane fixings. Thanks to Robin Birch for turning this around. The PW6 (G-CKRX) has been delivered back to Essex GC, its purchasers, from Pete Wells' repair facility after the damage repairs were completed. So, the end of an era of PW6s and we now look forward to the new Ka 21 being collected from Germany at the end of August.

I went to the Club this morning to see for myself; all the grass has been cut and lifted, so normal operations (as opposed to landing on the runway) can re-commence.

DGR / chairman

We gave 7 days notice 14 days ago that we need the grass cutting by our farmer neighbour. Today the grass was obviously getting too long, as the Ka 21 (GBF) did a 180 ground-loop (no damage fortunately). This evening I have been told the grass cutting is under way and will continue tomorrow. There is over 110 acres to be cut which takes time, of course.

Talking of grass cutting, our thanks to Julian Eaton, our new(ish) member who "flies the duvet" (paramotor), Julian is becoming a regular user of the John Deere tractor with the mowing equipment. Over the last few days Julian had mown most of the areas we as a club look after, as opposed to the main landing areas which the farmer does. It is looking great. The only bits he hasn't done are around the few parked gliders by the tower and caravan park. So those owners know where the tractor is....!

The Ka 21 (ENK) is now at the main agent - Zulu Glasstek (Pete Wells) in Buckinghamshire for replacement of the tailplane bushes. Hopefully it will be back at CGC in the next 10 days or so. The PW6, also with Pete, is nearly ready for delivery back to Essex GC who bought it in January but we had to fix certain things that were wrong with it.

The new Ka 21 is now scheduled to be collected from the factory in Germany at the end of August. It will take a week or two to get the paperwork sorted on import.

DGR / chairman

Sunday - 10th July - A quiet day, well it was for members anyway, perhaps the forecast and RIAT restrictions kept them away. Adam consolidated his Saturday's flights with Tim with some launch failures, made more interesting by the blustery conditions and Matt took one of Lesley's U3A group for a 40 minute soaring flight. We had 5 trial lessons to fly, all from the local area so we are hopeful for some new members. Just one interruption for rain and no interruptions from Fairford, thanks to everyone that helped.