Booker Gliding

Yesterday we rigged the single seaters and tried the ridge, which didn't work too well as it was affected by local wave. Later in the day the wave became more workable and KSM had a good flight.

Denbigh
River Clwyd
The seaEvening sunToday started calm but after lunch the wind got up and with it the wave and lots of people had a lot of fun. 315 with a brace of Jims on board made it as far as Bala.

Odd angle on the local bit of the ridge
Nice bit of wave
Moonrise over the ridge

The journey up here was a bit taxing because of the wind - in fact Simon had a bit of difficulty getting out of the trailer park.

Dodgy valve - task for a no-fly dayOn Saturday the rain was horizontal and it was tricky standing upright, the stream running past the airfield is now flooded and the airfield itself is a tad marshy.

Water water everywhereSunday was still fairly breezy but the ridge was working well and everyone had check flights, with excursions out to sea at Prestatyn for some.

Happy Jim...
...and Maddi

The turbo Eurofox got us off the ground
Denbighshire

Prestatyn
Prestatyn sunset

Treasure at the end of the rainbow
After a long day the team met for dinner at the Llindir Inn in Henllan which gave us strength for another day.

Today the wind was too light for the ridge to work and showers spoilt the fun a bit but there were more check flights and a bit of fettling so we are ready for tomorrow.

Uneventful journey up punctuated by two fabulous stops:

http://www.mughousebewdley.co.uk/1) The Mug House in Bewdley. Lovely pub right on the Severn by the bridge in the middle of Bewdley. Sorry, nowhere to park a trailer but awesome pub grub.






2) The Corn Mill at Llangollen. Old water mill on the Dee which was in full flood. Now a pub with grub and a fabulous pot of tea. https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/cornmill/

Now to the weather: Last night it blew a right hooley with dog sized drops of rain. Still a bit blowy but clearing up as I speak. No flying today so off to the seaside!

View from our kitchen windowSee you later...

Following on from Jim's excellent Psychobabble lecture last week, Nils and Jeremy will be discussing flight planning, analysis and boosting performance. Discussions will be centered around some of Nils' great flights last year and we will looks at analysing the data obtained to see how we can use it to improve our x-country performance. We will also look at how to put flights on the ladders and why it helps the gliding community, and us to have fun together in our club.See you thereNils Wedi and Jeremy Gilbey

https://www.facebook.com/delobelglidingchannel/videos/566129357238783/?t=104

The club's ASW19 took part in Virgin Atlantic's Future Flyer and Exceptional Engineers event at their headquarters at Gatwick today.

The objective of the event is to "inspire children and young adults to showcase the amazing opportunities available to them by sharing our wonderful world of aviation".

Organisations supporting the eventOver 800 people attended the event over the course of the day with opportunities to fly Virgin Atlantics Airbus simulators, try out their training escape slides, meet and talk to various aviation related organisations and crucially sit in a real glider and find out about gliding. 319 was a popular attraction with a constant steam of 'future flyers' throughout the day.

319 on display in front of Virgin Atlantic's training rigs
Highlight of the event had to be Maddi giving a group of Virgin Atlantic pilots a very practical lesson in weight and balance....
Maddi's take on "Catch me if you can"



help us inspire tomorrow’s talenhelp us inspire tvarious’s talen

While the briefing room was sheltering those who attended Chris Rowland's lecture on Aircraft General Knowledge, a hardy few set up on 35 for Graham's aerobatic course and some check flights for those wanting to get current - after we had managed to get the frozen hangar doors open. The airfield was surprisingly clear of snow but the fields round about were well covered and the views were stunning.

Attaching the triangle for aeros
Maddi launching the first flight, Bob D in the tug
Luke looking for the airfield
Ah yes, there it is
A good warm hat was essential
Hangar packed, off to the clubhouse for a hot drink

The room was well-filled yesterday to hear Henry de-mystifying radio comms in the third of our Winter Series of briefings. Next week Chris Rowland will be tackling the subject of Aircraft General Knowledge.

Henry keeping calm

There's been a bit of snow here in the Chiltern uplands, but not enough to stop us having fun.

Still smiling

There was some gliding today at Booker in the fine morning sky, but the day was cut short by a heavy snow shower. Jim Roland managed to get the tug away just in time.
Booker tug pilots remain cheerful whatever the weather throws at them.

Today the Kosogorin family took advantage of the glorious sunshine to come to Booker to see 14 year old Sacha do his first solo. Sacha did his training last August, mostly with Graham Saw, but he had to wait until his 14th birthday before he could go solo. His younger brother is hot on his heels!

Congratulations Sacha!
Mum, Dad and younger brother with Graham
The traditional instructor handshake

Club member and DCFI Steve Williams is currently enjoying great weather in Australia.
Here are a few pics that he has sent to cheer us all up while we await the arrival of Spring.
Looks like the Discus 2 fits.
9000Ft Climb in convergent air.
9000 Ft in convergence above mountains North of Lake Keepit

If you are working towards Bronze or just want to brush up a bit, here is the 2019 programme of Winter Lectures, all at 10.00 in the briefing room.

Congratulations to Phil Binnee and Nik von Merveldt on completing their Basic Instructor ratings.

Congratulations to Jeremy Gilbey on completing his Basic Instructor rating today in glorious sunshine.

Cadet Basel Hammond took time out from his duty day today for his first solo, well done Basel.

Congratulations to Ed Skipsey (far left) who was sent solo by DCFI Steve Williams, and also to Stuart Whitehouse who completed his Basic Instructor Rating yesterday.

You can catch up with all of 2018's achievements, expeditions, comps and other activities in the latest newsletter, up on the website here.