Booker Gliding

Aero Expo took over the airfield 14th-16th June with plenty of interesting aircraft to look at. We had another excellent display stand thanks to Chris Collett, and an enthusiastic team of club members to staff it. The first couple of days were a bit quiet - apart from registration spotters - but on Saturday we had lots of conversations with bored PPL holders who were interested in improving their skills and having more fun, so we hope to see some of them at the launch point in due course.

Ashley persuading Adrian Hegner of the benefits of gliding
Our display before the visitors arrived Many thanks to the team - David Fogden, Bob Sinden, Ashley Birkbeck, John Lambie, Nils Wedi, and a special mention for Nils's son Benjamin (age 11) who was brilliant, full of energy and very good with the visitors. Also to Chris for the stand, Graham Saw for helping with setting up the hangar and doing a stint on the stand, and to Bob Smith for trying very hard to get the sim running - and for helping to give it a good wash.

Squeaky clean - apart from the top which we couldn't reach
For anyone wondering about helping at events, it's a really good way to get more involved in the running of the club. It's good fun talking to visitors and other pilots and you will get a warm glow of satisfaction for helping your club to bring in more members. Ashley, for example, said he really enjoyed his shift and would be delighted to help out at future events.

A leisurely breakfastThen lots of flying
Southern edge of the Black Forest at SchluchseeMiddle of the Black ForestHohenzollern CastleSomewhere along the Schwäbische Alb

There was quite a lot going on yesterday, what with one thing and another. Mike Sheppard converted to the Junior...…..

Looking cool after landingAnd then a very large whirly thing appeared, hovered around a bit and landed on the gliding side, then departed again.  Aircraft spotters will recognise this as an Apache.



 

John and Nick took advantage of a bit of sunshine yesterday to rig and fly their new toy - a turbo Duo Discus. The vis was very poor but they managed to find their way back to the airfield.

Happy smiling faces
Ready to go
Phil practising for the tug of war

This weekend the Elite event is taking over the airfield, filling it with expensive cars and boats and planes. Booker has risen to the occasion with a new set of display materials, and a newly painted clubhouse.
The standClubhouse adorned with flags and banners
Meanwhile those who went over to Haddenham to fly had a fantastic day with Nils, Denis and Geoff completing a 515km task to Presteigne, Chipping Warden, Donington. Well done all.

Record breaking weather it may be, but it's not very good for cross country flying so most of the action has been training and trial lessons. Steve gave it a go on Saturday and dropped in on the ridge field on the way back, to be greeted by some handsome black cattle.


Today the hangar was emptied and the fleet parked out in the trailer park to make way for the event taking over the airfield on 11th and 12th May - our hangar will be one of the exhibition halls.

From Thursday 10th May to Sunday 13th May all solo flying will be at Thame, where we will be guests of the Upward Bound Trust. There will be a K21 available there for check flights.
Back to normal on Monday 14th May.

Today the forecast promised good XC weather - and it delivered. The launchpoint was busy with single seaters heading off on task and two seaters being used for training. Even the T21 came out to take to the air.

Meanwhile, John Hubb was working hard on the clubhouse, scraping off the peeling paint and applying a new coat of wood stain. He also renovated the picnic tables. There is still a lot to do, so anyone with a paint brush is welcome to join in. Thanks for your efforts, John,

One panel complete. The supervisor appears to be making tea.
Nice smart picnic table.

Yesterday the latest group of young people to join our successful cadet scheme came along for an introductory meeting. Amongst other topics they had a safety briefing.....and a long discussion about T shirt colours. Afterwards the experienced cadets have them a ride in the sim.





Meanwhile, Rob was up a ladder scrubbing the bus as prep for giving it a new paint job.



We suggested something along the lines of Jackson Pollock, which would be fun to apply, but it seems he has other plans. We'll have to wait and see.

Today there was warm sunshine, blue sky and cumulus - finally the instructor training was to be actual flying in real gliders. The day turned out to be soarable but with fairly poor vis. It was a very busy day for training, and some private owners ventured out to Bicester in the murk.

Ready to go - againAll out
The airfield is drying out quickly but in places is still a quagmire, so occasionally a bit of extra effort was required.

Triple tow
Maddi has been working hard all week on patter and all that, this afternoon she went for a bit of R&R in the Duo, and came back with a pic of the vario showing 6.2kts.

George and MaddiWe packed up a bit early in order to get to the AGM.

For those that didn't fly their own glider on Thursday (ie everyone except me), it was probably better than you thought and anyone more adventurous than me probably would have gone somewhere - but not far.  Blue but soarable.  I feel I let the side down as there are now quite a few flights on the BGA Ladder and we should get a few Booker XC flights loaded. Here is one of those corny "look how good my thermal was" photos, just to prove there really has been nearly 4 knots for 20 seconds on one day this year.

The sunshine today brought out a fair few members onto the airfield, which was a bit soggy in places but usable. Amongst them was Maddi who did a bit of practice with Graham and then flew a solo sequence for her Standard Aerobatics badge. Well done Maddi!

Filling in the paperwork
The famous Easter Egg Cup aerobatics comp has been postponed from this weekend until better weather is assured. Watch this space.

 Evening flying starts again on Tuesday 17th April. The groups will, as last year, be run by:

Graham Saw - Tuesdays
Chris Rowland - Wednesdays
Symeon Economou - Fridays

Evenings are a great time to make progress with your flying - circuits, aerobatics (on Tuesdays), spot landing, aerotowing .......... or just enjoying a peaceful evening flight as the sun sets. It's also a good time for group visits - a (special price) trial lesson and a picnic, or maybe a trip to a local pub - just contact the office to make arrangements.

Don't sit indoors on a warm sunny evening, come on down to the airfield and make some new friends.

Friday was very windy indeed so the only flying was a couple of winch launches by the locals. We derigged the Duo Discus and LS7 in the shelter of the hangar and turned all the trailers round ready for leaving in the morning. Some of us then went for a bit of ground level sight seeing around the North York Moors, having seen a bit from above. This morning we said good bye and set off south to the Chilterns.

Many thanks to the Yorkshire Gliding Club for making us so welcome, and to Richard for organising us all.

Skoda convoy

Yesterday was a busy day with the wind in the west and opportunities for ridge, thermal and wave soaring. Having got his Bronze 1 hour the previous day Max flew again for 2 hours, congratulations Max. The day ended with Richard taking a couple of people on runs along the length of the ridge, just before sunset.

315 above cloud somewhere in Yorkshire
Max heading Bronze

Today the wind was westerly so we were launching on 24 - a bit different from Booker, off the edge of the airfield and suddenly the valley is spread out below. The ridge was working well and there were strong thermals so staying up was not a problem. We had use of the local DG1000 as well as the Booker gliders, so everyone had a go.

Yorkshire
Chilly launch queue
John's new career as a lollipop man

Those that arrived for the weekend had plenty of snow to admire, but not a lot of opportunity to fly.



On Monday the sky cleared and white stuff stopped falling so we got the toys out. Conditions were, shall we say, bracing with a stiff NE wind which flayed any exposed skin, but there were strong thermals and plenty of interesting scenery - and a circuit which required concentration. Excellent fun.
Spot the (snow)ball
Today started with rain but our CFI promised us a clearance and lo and behold in the afternoon the sky cleared and the wind dropped and the views were stunning.
The view from the tractorMore fun tomorrow.

The team had a good day yesterday with weak thermals allowing for flights of almost an hour. Everyone flew, including most of the single seaters. After a lovely sunset they retired to the Three Tuns in Thirsk for steak and quiz night - no word on whether or not they won!

Somewhere over Yorkshire
View of the airfield
Yorkshire looking a bit wet
Day's end
Local beer tasting

The Spring expedition to Sutton Bank is now well underway. The week 1 contingent made it up the 1-in-4 hairpin bend to the airfield in safety and yesterday they all had check flights to get the lie of the land. Today it has been wet, as it was down south, but they are expecting a good day tomorrow.

A fine view of the White Horse
The gang looking happy