A wet weather update...

Rain, rain ,rain...not gliding weather. Looks like things might pick-up for the weekend but probably not enough wind for wave.

The club is having an internal battle as some private commercial power pilots want to build hangers next door. How close is too close for hanger to be on the side of the grass runway? It's been a while since we've had a groundloop on take-off of any consequence. It's also been awhile since we have had a engine failure in the tow-plane that causes a glider to have to turn hard left or right to avoid running into the back of the tow-plane.

Do we want powered aircraft taxing across the runway unannouced?

As is always the case with gliding clubs asking questions seems to generate emotive responses...

On a more positive note we had a 14 yr old student go solo 2 weeks ago. Great effort.

Another Accident

Sad news...the local training camp had accident involving two pilots. The front pilot are badly injuried unfortunately and I hope he has a rapid recovery.

But this reminds me that I know more people likked flying then in car accidents. Don't believe anyone who says "the trip to the airfield is the most dangerous part of the day..."

It also rasies the issue of instructor age. Tricky one this...but when is too old to hold aninstructors ticket. This may not be a factor in the above accident but people will ask the question when it was reported the instructor was 77.

On a positive note, another photo from Omarama...

Some back ground photos

The family in Omarama. Spent 5 months here over the last 5 years. Great place, great people, awesome flying.

Above is a land-out last year. Note the blue sky...little thermal development and really hot. Nice friendly farmer.

Finally getting started...

I've been meaning to do this for ages... This will be a log of gliding activities from the Tauranga Gliding club as well as my own flights and issues. What issues you may ask?? Airspace is always a big one. So is club management and the reduction in members So here goes... The last flight of the summer season was a short trip over to the Waikato and back...160kms. Light thermals and big gaps. Best climb about 4 knots. I was accompanied by Roy in GYR. We ran into Karl in his Cirrus out on the swamp.