What could this mean???

Tonite's the nite...

No it's not the Neil Young song but the club decision about a new two seat glider. The key judgement call to my mind is..."will a new two seat X-country machine help grow membership???". I've heard suggestions that current members should show some committment to the club by providing debentures to help fund any new purchase. Bollocks I say...members need to commit to using any new glider as a base for driving membership. If we purchase a Duo XL then it's probably more about retaining newly solo'ed members by providing X-country training (something we don't do very well) than attracting new people. However more activity around the club usually helps attract new members. We'll see. I have returned from Omarama is record time. 22 hours door to door, and we could have shaved another 2 hours off that as we arrived in Piicton 2 hours too early. The target for the next trip is 20 hours door to door - 1200kms. The Cook Strait Ferry is the major obstacle...5 hours to cross that very short piece of water. Interestingly the Interisland crowd were cheaper than BlueBridge - $405 vs $435 for a car/trailer and 2 passengers. Thats the first time that's happened. From my point of view the Bluebridge is still better as it has more room inside to turn the car and trailer around. The Arahura wasa tight squeeze. Wave in Omarama.

Doubting Thomas's

Ok...for the record. Yes I talked to Mr Plane. Yes we discussed DG1000's. Yes I had a full and frank discussion about the difference. So Mr Edwards don't be a life member...and you will notice I'm not using the kindergarden approach of bulk e-mails...time for some happy pills.

Which one to buy????

So the debate is heating up...I arrived down here in Omarama and decided to download my e-mails...that was a mistake...15 e-mails about restoring the Janus or we can't afford a glider or we should buy a single seater so a few can go contest flying...and on and on it goes. So to more productively use my time I went and talked to some real pilots who fly gliders and have some experience training X-Country pilots. The parameters were; we are looking for a easy to handle, sensible two seat glider that is tolerant to some mis-handling especially near the ground (landing out), x winds, rigging, comfort, easy of getting in/out and lastly performance in the air. After a couple of hours, a good look at GQQ (Duo XL) and a coffee here is my humble opinion. Buy a DuoXL. Forget about a DG1000... Why - Duo's have better handling, shorter stopping distance, better vis from the back seat on finals (due to landing flap), more cockpit room, easier rigging (very important esp given our constant drama with GPZ/GEO), probably better long term support from the manufacturer, slower minimum speed on approach, greater options for water ballast (max AUW of 850kg's), getting in and out is no worse than a DG, at speed the polar is better (for you racer types), one piece canopy, and it looks better. There are some down sides - the DG has more aerobatic options (but who wants to fly upside down anyhow...), it spins better (yip I want to do that in the mountains), the tail ballast is fixed which in some cases in a better option, there are probably second-hand ones about, the Duo's have had a couple of under-cart problems which I think are almost sorted, at 50-70 knots the performance is probably similiar to a Duo (and 50-70 knots is the speed most club pilots fly at...). The manufacturer issue should not be over-looked. DG/LS haven't produced a new glider in some time now. Think LS10 and DG1000/808...at least 10 years old. The other surprise to many has been the suggestion that the DG factory is going to charge for annual maintenaance releases for older gliders next year...hmmm...not a move that inspires confidence. Shempps have changed the Duo 3 times in the last 15 years, are using the XL fuse for the Arcus and Nimbus as well and are therefore more likely to provide support long term...but then again who knows in this topsy world??? Have I flown the XL...no cos it's so bloody windy you wouldn't really get a good sense of the glider while you fight to stay airborne. Maybe tomorrow... Should the club consider a single seater instead (the cheaper halfway decision)...not in my biased view. If you want a flash single seater go buy your own one. There are plenty available and plenty of joint ownership options. We are a club, we provide training (GPZ/GEO), we provide early entry to base level contests (PW5's), we provide help in X-country training (Janus til now), and we do trial flights (GPZ/GEO). I hear the suggestion that the Janus is still a good X-Country trainer...it was once but times change and the world moves on...if we use that arguement we would still have a K7 for X-country training. Anyhow I'm off to take my happy pills...find a gun and shoot some bunnies on the airfield. As look out the window there is strong wave over the Benmore's, two glider on the way to Mt Cook and another few waiting for a launch. If my partner in crime gets here some we're off to Mt Cook or Twizel...TTFN.

Of Duo's and other things..

We should test drive a new glider every month. Best turn-out of members old and new I've seen for a while. For those of you who thought GDX looked good on finals from the clubhouse, you should have seen it from the Bunnings carpark. I expect the 636 X-Country kms to be ticked off this week. I given the keys to GNM to Paul...he looked so enthused I expect him to try some X-country flights in the rain... I'm off to Omarama in the morning...Maadi Cup, test drive a Duo XL, endless chatter about gliding with the locals, overnight tramp into the Dingle from the Ahuriri, catch-up with some locals (including Roy's favourite farmer), and maybe a wee tour of the district in GUO - Omarama Gliding club's Duo. I'll keep you updated...

636 kms to go

Come on X-country pilots...we are only 636kms away from a 10,000km summer. Two good flights will do it given that we are getting too late in the season for a 500km plus flight. We are well ahead of last year which had a grand total of 7090kms. Yours truely leads the board with 2300kms followed by Adrian at 2100kms.

Saturday and Sunday

Yesterdays flights for GNM and GKM. Bog standard ridge day...had hoped to go further south to Bennydale but the "murk" appeared.

Task had been Okoriore to ThamesA/F to Bennydale to Tirohia to Okoriore. 425 kms. Got the start and Thames and just over halfway to Bennydale...

Today...go back to bed young grasshoppers...or earn some brownie points...or both.

I'm off to play tennis...my once a year tennis engagement.

I feel the need for speed...

Looking good. Inversion in place at about 4500ft over the Bay but nearer 6500ft over the lower Waikato/Taupo area.

The SW should stay in place all day so the ridge will work and there maybe wave on and off during the day.

Still working on a task but it'll include a bit of ridge and a push south.

New product. windrose for the Te Papa area...just south of the Kaimai road crossing out on the plains. Shows a fairly consistant SW all afternoon and evening.

Let the games begin...

Buying new gliders - always an emotional issue for some. I see the E-mail traffic is ramping up...the test will be whether people can keep the personal attacks out of the debate. It's not looking good so far... The challange will be to keep the debate focused on the big issue we face as a club...membership. Good luck.

Wednesday

People should go flying today. I can't but it'll be 5000ft cloud bases inland and sea breezes at the coast. if you are early enough you'll be able to get out of Tauranga, otherwise you'll be beaten by the sea breeze.

Sunday 7th March

There is a big inversion in place although it's quite high at 5000ft. If the temperature goes to 24 degrees (as forecast) then thermal height will be above 6500ft but the thermals are likely to be blue. Maybe not over the higher country but certainly around the coast. Winds won't be as strong as yesterday in which case the sky won't "cycle' as fast. However as I look out my window the wind strength looks quite strong a cloud base.

Should be better then yesterday but "blue-er".

Easterly Storm???

I'm not convinced. We might get some wind but not much else. Interestingly the squiggly lines for today forecast a cloud base in excess of 6000ft in the Bay and around Taupo. Upper winds of 20 knots from the SE. Could be worth a go for anybody who is interested.