I did get some feedback about this. I guess the $20 per month was starting point. However it is driven by supply and demand. Once upon a time we had more gliders than space available and in that environment we struck a price of $70 per month. It's now $80. However now there is plenty of space and only 1 or maybe 2 private gliders occupying space.
At $960 per year some owners have decided to keep their glider in it's trailer, or over at Matamata.
I gather some important people are striving to maximise the club's income but an empty space gathers no income...
But then I have a conflict of interest. And I also discovered its quite easy to keep GNM in it's trailer...and therefore it's easier to make the decision to fly at other clubs...and contribute to their towing income.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Martin Jetpack
Yip...we all saw it fly (climb? screech?? or whatever) to 5000ft over inland Canterbury...but who saw what powers it????
A 200hp 2 stoke low revving (although it sounds like a hummingbird on Speed) lightweight engine.
Most excellent...lets put one in the Cub...more horespower, less fuel, less weight, less cost...
Or even better...lets rip the solo turbo engine out of the Duo and make it a self-launcher....
I also noticed it's on the CAA register...ZK-JME.
Also its not a "Jet" as in Jetpack but rather 2 fans...so it's really a Fannypack...
On a different but more relevant note...I made to the club today...a rare event. Discovered that another local private glider owner maybe selling out (don't panic it's not me). So with Roy "Mr China" Edwards out of the ASW20, and 3 musketeers selling the DG400, and Maurice "the wave" Weaver still planning on lots of contests its going it's going to be a very tight fit in the LS4. Especially given the cost differential to fly in the Duo.
It's a shame there is no Discus CS's available to buy...
And there is going to be heaps of empty space in the Hanger. Might be time to drop the hangerage charge...perhaps $20 per month.
A 200hp 2 stoke low revving (although it sounds like a hummingbird on Speed) lightweight engine.
Most excellent...lets put one in the Cub...more horespower, less fuel, less weight, less cost...
Or even better...lets rip the solo turbo engine out of the Duo and make it a self-launcher....
I also noticed it's on the CAA register...ZK-JME.
Also its not a "Jet" as in Jetpack but rather 2 fans...so it's really a Fannypack...
On a different but more relevant note...I made to the club today...a rare event. Discovered that another local private glider owner maybe selling out (don't panic it's not me). So with Roy "Mr China" Edwards out of the ASW20, and 3 musketeers selling the DG400, and Maurice "the wave" Weaver still planning on lots of contests its going it's going to be a very tight fit in the LS4. Especially given the cost differential to fly in the Duo.
It's a shame there is no Discus CS's available to buy...
And there is going to be heaps of empty space in the Hanger. Might be time to drop the hangerage charge...perhaps $20 per month.
Where America goes...
We have a tendency to follow (although thankfully not to Iraq).
This from the US of A...http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-05-27_FOEsuit-Response2.asp
Essentially "Friends of the Earth" (because the rest of us have been de-friended) are taking the FAA to court over the continued use of lead in AVGAS. The above article is written from the US Aviation perspective however I'm guessing it's the start of the end for AVGAS.
Whilst the court may decide lead is still OK the fuel companies are going to read this very carefully. If they wish to give the appearance of "caring for the environment" then a very small part of their business (AVGAS) would be an easy sacrifice.
I'd be planning to do without these old Lycoming engines in the future.
This from the US of A...http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-05-27_FOEsuit-Response2.asp
Essentially "Friends of the Earth" (because the rest of us have been de-friended) are taking the FAA to court over the continued use of lead in AVGAS. The above article is written from the US Aviation perspective however I'm guessing it's the start of the end for AVGAS.
Whilst the court may decide lead is still OK the fuel companies are going to read this very carefully. If they wish to give the appearance of "caring for the environment" then a very small part of their business (AVGAS) would be an easy sacrifice.
I'd be planning to do without these old Lycoming engines in the future.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
More bedtime reading...
I'm constantly amazed at the volume of stuff people are willing to share on-line. Here's a chap in Western Australia who has put all sorts of stuff for all to read...so if you can be stuffed you can read his stuff...
http://www.jamescooper.com.au/Gliding/Articles.htm
I was interested in the coaching stuff...something we of Godzone could learn from our fellow ANZAC's.
Reading through his local club stuff I see they operate their club days with 1 instructor...gee they must be efficient. Locally we need 2 instructors each day...maybe so you know you will have some-one to talk to when there is nothing else to do....
http://www.jamescooper.com.au/Gliding/Articles.htm
I was interested in the coaching stuff...something we of Godzone could learn from our fellow ANZAC's.
Reading through his local club stuff I see they operate their club days with 1 instructor...gee they must be efficient. Locally we need 2 instructors each day...maybe so you know you will have some-one to talk to when there is nothing else to do....
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Here's something new...and outstanding...
http://exls4pilot.blogspot.com/
Go have a look at the site...however here's a few shots taken from the site.
Go have a look at the site...however here's a few shots taken from the site.
Speed Challange
The Kaimai Speed Challenge
o Aims
- Have fun
- Achievable task, any QGP rated glider pilot should be capable of finishing
- Reduced possibility of land-outs
- Increase pilots speed on task
- Low cost
- Possible NZ record
o Date and Venue
- Matamata Airfield
- Every second Sunday from the 14th August to Labour Weekend
- Track logs will be accepted at another time during this period
- A Go or No Go will be posted on the website on Friday morning depending on the forecast weather
- Tow charges pilots responsibility
o Task
- Kaimai Road Crossing to Tirohia spur & return
- Distance – 100.7kms
- Suitable for a NZ out & return record attempt
- No controlled airspace required
- All on the ridge
- Simple scoring procedure
The rules are made to be as simple as possible. The contest will be open to all gliders and all pilots. All that is required is a logger.
1. Any glider, anytime and any pilot.
2. No classes, gliders will be handicapped based on the BGA handicap list.
3. Loggers will need to meet the same standard as required in
Regional contests.
Regional contests.
4. Multiple track logs will be accepted for either the glider or a pilot or both…therefore a club glider can be used by a number of club pilots during the day.
5. Start height not above 3000ft.
6. Maximum height on task – not above 4500ft –or else you’ll bust airspace.
7. Water ballast allowed.
8. Day prizes only for those who fly on the day.
9. A running score will be kept during the spring which will allow pilots to fly the task from other launch sites or on other days and submit them to the scorer.
10. Contest Director’s decision is final
11. Gliders must have current CoA, and parachute.
Contact David Jensen, Tim Bromhead or Edouard Devenoges for details.
Register your interest on the MSC website http://www.glidingmatamata.co.nz/msc/
Keep in mind the NZ record is 163kph for a 15meter glider, 172kph for an open class glider, 108kph for a World Class and there isn’t one for a Female 15meter glider. So it should be a breeze to beat these…
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Go faster....
The Kaimai Speed Challenge
How fast can YOU fly 100kms???
Come and find out…
This spring the Matamata Soaring Center (MSC) will be hosting a speed challenge on the Kaimai Ranges
It will be held every second Sunday from the 14th August onwards …and probably finishing on Labour weekend.
We will also be offering the chance to submit logs on any other day to see who the fastest pilot is over the entire spring.
All you need is a glider, a small amount of cash for a tow, and a logger.
See MSC website for details- http://www.glidingmatamata.co.nz/msc/
Got 3 and a half minutes to spare??
Have a look at this timelapse clips taken from Tenerife in the Canary Islands...
http://soaringcafe.com/2011/05/time-lapse-clouds-and-sky-over-the-canary-islands/
While you at on the Soaring Cafe site there is a very good article about the contests and the likely challenges in the future.
http://soaringcafe.com/2011/05/the-future-of-contest-soaring-classes-and-rules/
The most obvious one is the expansion of classes...Standard, 15 meter, 18 meter, Open class, Club class, 13.5 meter class (replacing the failed World class), 20meter 2 seat class, juniors etc etc. If we continue down this track we will have 1 class for every glider and no-one to compete against...it's the price we pay when the people setting the rules no longer fly competitively or have lots of money and reside in Europe..
This article is a very good companion to the summary our own Dane Dickinson wrote for the SRC...I post it up here after the GNZ AGM.
http://soaringcafe.com/2011/05/time-lapse-clouds-and-sky-over-the-canary-islands/
While you at on the Soaring Cafe site there is a very good article about the contests and the likely challenges in the future.
http://soaringcafe.com/2011/05/the-future-of-contest-soaring-classes-and-rules/
The most obvious one is the expansion of classes...Standard, 15 meter, 18 meter, Open class, Club class, 13.5 meter class (replacing the failed World class), 20meter 2 seat class, juniors etc etc. If we continue down this track we will have 1 class for every glider and no-one to compete against...it's the price we pay when the people setting the rules no longer fly competitively or have lots of money and reside in Europe..
This article is a very good companion to the summary our own Dane Dickinson wrote for the SRC...I post it up here after the GNZ AGM.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wave...if your really keen
I guess those people amongst us who are real wave enthusiasts will be able to visualise a task that;
Starts by climbing over Tauranga...
Heads up the Coromandels...
Then heads south to connect with the wave system near Taupo...
Then connect with the wave behind Ruapehu...
Then into the Hawkes Bay down to Lake Ferry...
Then you wake up...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Would an outsider know what the new Duo looks like???
Not likely as no-one has taken the time to put photo's up on the club website...
So here we are...in full colour...no expensive spared...
We seem to forget that those soul's who might be interested in gliding, but don't know where to start, will google us...Gliding in Tauranga...perhaps. Those lazy days when punters would drive all the way to the airfield to enquiry about becoming a member have gone...nowadays their are as likely to use their fingers first.
Hence...keep your website up-to-date, topical, interesting and inter-active.
But I've said this numerous times before...to little avail...
So here we are...in full colour...no expensive spared...
We seem to forget that those soul's who might be interested in gliding, but don't know where to start, will google us...Gliding in Tauranga...perhaps. Those lazy days when punters would drive all the way to the airfield to enquiry about becoming a member have gone...nowadays their are as likely to use their fingers first.
Hence...keep your website up-to-date, topical, interesting and inter-active.
But I've said this numerous times before...to little avail...
Monday, May 9, 2011
And the PIC is????
An electric self launching four seater...
At least there is 3 other people to blame when you land with the wheels up...
Friday, May 6, 2011
Bloody weather...
Making it real hard to get kiwifruit picked. 30% of the way through...still another 8 ha's to go.
Poetry anybody??? Found this from Clive James...ex-pat Australian living in the UK.
The Falcon Growing Old (2010)
Opening Stanza...
The falcon wears its erudition lightly
As it angles down towards its master's glove.
Student of thermals written by the desert,
It scarcely moves a muscle as it rides
A silent avalanche back to the wrist
Where it will stand in wait like a hooded hostage
And towards the end...
Catching the shifting air the way a falcon
Spreads on a secret wave, the outpaced earth.
Left looking powerless.
Correcting for the wobble in the lisp
Of sliding nothingness, the whispering road
That leads you to a dead-heat with your shadow
At the orange-blossom trellis in the oasis.
Actually I'm running out of stuff to add at present. I noted some E-mail traffic last week...member suggests new way of doing things...member gets beaten about the head for presuming to know more than the committee...e-mail traffic stops...So all's well in the world...
For those who watch the regulatory issues that surround aviation, and gliding in particular, you will know CAA have been trying to force Part 115 on adventure aviation.
You just gotta love Gov't bodies...instructors with passengers who are trialling gliding (trial flights) we would need a CPL (G), Class 1 medical and to carry and axe and fire extinguisher...in a glider!!!
Interestingly in all the years we have been doing trial flights, at all the different locations around NZ, in all the varied weather conditions not one passenger has been injured, or worse, killed.
Unfortunately people have been killed parachuting, ballooning, para-gliding...so therefore by typical desk bound logic gliding must be equally unsafe...go figure. I think the reason we have an excellent track record is the standard of our instructors...especially our instructor trainers...well done.
Poetry anybody??? Found this from Clive James...ex-pat Australian living in the UK.
The Falcon Growing Old (2010)
Opening Stanza...
The falcon wears its erudition lightly
As it angles down towards its master's glove.
Student of thermals written by the desert,
It scarcely moves a muscle as it rides
A silent avalanche back to the wrist
Where it will stand in wait like a hooded hostage
And towards the end...
Catching the shifting air the way a falcon
Spreads on a secret wave, the outpaced earth.
Left looking powerless.
Correcting for the wobble in the lisp
Of sliding nothingness, the whispering road
That leads you to a dead-heat with your shadow
At the orange-blossom trellis in the oasis.
Actually I'm running out of stuff to add at present. I noted some E-mail traffic last week...member suggests new way of doing things...member gets beaten about the head for presuming to know more than the committee...e-mail traffic stops...So all's well in the world...
For those who watch the regulatory issues that surround aviation, and gliding in particular, you will know CAA have been trying to force Part 115 on adventure aviation.
You just gotta love Gov't bodies...instructors with passengers who are trialling gliding (trial flights) we would need a CPL (G), Class 1 medical and to carry and axe and fire extinguisher...in a glider!!!
Interestingly in all the years we have been doing trial flights, at all the different locations around NZ, in all the varied weather conditions not one passenger has been injured, or worse, killed.
Unfortunately people have been killed parachuting, ballooning, para-gliding...so therefore by typical desk bound logic gliding must be equally unsafe...go figure. I think the reason we have an excellent track record is the standard of our instructors...especially our instructor trainers...well done.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
What every club needs...
A pilot willing to demonstrate what a glider can do...and showing the rest of us what "big girl's blouses" we really are...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUIidefCaA8
Check out loop number 2...effectively stalled upside down...in an ASH25.
So why can't we loop our Duo Mr CFI???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUIidefCaA8
Check out loop number 2...effectively stalled upside down...in an ASH25.
So why can't we loop our Duo Mr CFI???
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Just for you...Keith
Not looking good.
It appears the drizzle is going to pile up against the Kaimai's for most of the day. Cloud base 2500ft...just below the high point. However patches of real low cloud blowing through from time to time. On the positive side the ridge should work all day. Tomorrow looks better.
It appears the drizzle is going to pile up against the Kaimai's for most of the day. Cloud base 2500ft...just below the high point. However patches of real low cloud blowing through from time to time. On the positive side the ridge should work all day. Tomorrow looks better.Monday, April 18, 2011
Thumbs up...but some work required
Looks like the Sprint Race Series got a qualified "thumbs up" from the Soaring Center.
A few questions and issues to sort out...need to hold the doomsayers off to one side.
Expect to see the series advertised on the MSC website over the winter.
A few questions and issues to sort out...need to hold the doomsayers off to one side.
Expect to see the series advertised on the MSC website over the winter.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thinking thinking thinking...
The only comments I've received about a sprint series have been of a positive persuasion...
SO.
The first cut of a task looks like this;
A start and finish line between the Radio mask (by the lookout point) and the Woolshed/stock yards half way up the passing lane.
Turnpoint is the fertiliser bin on the last airstrip on the Triohia spur just before the Waihi gap.
Distance 100.7 kms.
To clarify a few questions;
Open to all gliders, club and private owners.
We might break into a few class's - 15 meter, 18meter/open class/duo's etc
The class can decide if it's wants to allow water ballast.
The glider or the pilot can fly the task as often as they like.
Because of the the need for the right weather perhaps we should advertise the planned weekends, and then call the day on Thursday night...I think we can forecast wind direction and strength 2-3 days out.
If its off...we'll try for the following weekend.
More thought required. Support from the Soaring Center is essential.
SO.
The first cut of a task looks like this;
A start and finish line between the Radio mask (by the lookout point) and the Woolshed/stock yards half way up the passing lane.
Turnpoint is the fertiliser bin on the last airstrip on the Triohia spur just before the Waihi gap.
Distance 100.7 kms.
Start height below 1800ft, finish must be above 2000ft. A small safety margin to keep pen pushers happy.
Reporting points at the radar dome, waterfall, Thompson's track, Te Aroha township - eg -GNM 1500ft Waterfall heading North.
To clarify a few questions;
Open to all gliders, club and private owners.
We might break into a few class's - 15 meter, 18meter/open class/duo's etc
The class can decide if it's wants to allow water ballast.
The glider or the pilot can fly the task as often as they like.
Because of the the need for the right weather perhaps we should advertise the planned weekends, and then call the day on Thursday night...I think we can forecast wind direction and strength 2-3 days out.
If its off...we'll try for the following weekend.
More thought required. Support from the Soaring Center is essential.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sprint Contest
I note with interest that one of the French Clubs is running a "Sprint" series. As I failed French classes at school I'm struggling with the translation..."Yes", "No", "A beer please", "Do you speak english?", "No no no - too expensive madam"...is about the limit of my French.
However there is the shred of an idea here.
A sprint series on the Kaimai's.
100km task.
Fly it as many times as you like.
A glider can be used by as many pilots as you like.
No water.
Handicaps apply...I guess. Given it will a ridge task...wing loading discount probably needs to be included.
Great for club gliders as many members can have a go on the day...or days.
The winner will be known by the end of the day.
Other issues...
The doomsayers will need to be locked in a room for the day...it's unsafe, we'll wear the gliders out by using them, lots of gliders beating up and down the ridge etc etc.
Once we get past this nonsense the great unknown is the weather.
We need a ridge day...any ridge day will do. A strong day will give fast times, but a light day will be just as useable.
So it's a contest that will be on short notice.
I'm suggesting it's timed for any weekend from Late September to December.
What do we need on site?
Tow capacity...probably a tow plane from Tga as well as the local one.
A task...easy
A scorer...not so easy but we have the skills
The weather...we can probably forecast 3 days out
I'll give it some thought...
However there is the shred of an idea here.
A sprint series on the Kaimai's.
100km task.
Fly it as many times as you like.
A glider can be used by as many pilots as you like.
No water.
Handicaps apply...I guess. Given it will a ridge task...wing loading discount probably needs to be included.
Great for club gliders as many members can have a go on the day...or days.
The winner will be known by the end of the day.
Other issues...
The doomsayers will need to be locked in a room for the day...it's unsafe, we'll wear the gliders out by using them, lots of gliders beating up and down the ridge etc etc.
Once we get past this nonsense the great unknown is the weather.
We need a ridge day...any ridge day will do. A strong day will give fast times, but a light day will be just as useable.
So it's a contest that will be on short notice.
I'm suggesting it's timed for any weekend from Late September to December.
What do we need on site?
Tow capacity...probably a tow plane from Tga as well as the local one.
A task...easy
A scorer...not so easy but we have the skills
The weather...we can probably forecast 3 days out
I'll give it some thought...
Monday, April 11, 2011
Can we get the $100???
A reminder to those "in charge of being in charge"...GNZ is offering the usual $100 discount to the first 3 clubs who register for the AGM. Tauranga scored this discount 3 years running a few years back...can we do it again? You'll have to hurry...cause other clubs will have read this now...
Well spotted...RebelliousSoarer
A database of the airstrips that Lands and Surveys once updated...back in the day when we had a Lands & Surveys Dept. The farming bit went to Landcorp...I guess the survey bit went elsewhere.
It's good resource albeit a bit out of date...as illustrated below.
The Internet...adding value.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Bits and Pieces
Decision made...GNM is in it's trailer, the trailer is parked in the garage, the batteries are off the charger, I'm off the roster, and my logbook is closed until October. Summer is over...for another year.
And what average summer it's been...
Highlight was the second place in the National Club Class contest. I got to bank a cheque for gliding...only the second time I've managed that whilst gliding, the other was a month being paid to fly a Duo out of Omarama. Usually it's all about paying in...
Total gliding hours this summer - 65...fairly low by my standards.
So what's the plan for next year??
Well the multi-class Nationals are in Matamata in Feb. And the Club Class nationals will be in Omarama...could I squeeze both in??...not sure yet.
The 100km out and return record for a 15meter glider beckons...need to beat 164kph...or do the 100 kms in less than 36 minutes. I think it's possible on the Kaimai ridge...Kaimai Rd Crossing to the base of the Tirohia Spur (avoiding going out the Spur as that'll slow you down) and back. 101kms.
I will need to look for a very strong ridge day...so strong in fact that the tow-pilots will be reluctant to fly. Will need every once of water...100liters a side, 50 liters of drinking water, no loo stops for the preceeding 12 hours etc.
As I look out the window it's blue...blue blue blue...
Why??
If you look at the squiggly lines (although Maurice won't be able to as he hasn't mastered his computer...seems the photo's don't come up) the predicted temp for today crosses the dew point line on the LHS...no clouds to mark the thermals. Any thermals will top out at 4000ft maybe. The skinny blue line shows how warm it would need to be to get clouds...30 plus degrees...I don't think so.
And lastly, another bites the dust...or at least fails a medical. Seems one of our more educated tow-pilots, Contest Director, Duo rated glider pilot, past President (enough clues) has retirement on the horizon. I guess it catches up with all of us in the end. However it would give him more time to administer to the Club's finances, structure and rules, and build the membership - something that has flown under the radar (excuse the obvious slip) a bit in the last few years...that has to be a good thing.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Start your engines...
Wednesday or Thursday might be a very fast ridge day...could even be good enough to tackle the 100km Standard Class out and return record. Need to beat 163kph...or less than 36 minutes to fly 100kms.
Could be a challange...I might even get GNM out for that...
Could be a challange...I might even get GNM out for that...
Heavy showers and TStorms...why???
Unstable air...a look at the squiggly lines show that if the temperature at ground level gets to 20 degrees, or there abouts, parcels of wet air will rise all the way up to where Terry Delore lives...whence forth heavy rain and/or TStorms may abound.
Of course it might be wrong and the day will just be grey and cool. We've had a enough rain so it can bugger off for a while.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Gliding changes your perspective...
Instead of looking at the focus of a picture you tend to look at the sky...
Apparently there is something interesting about the stacking of these bales of straw...but all I could see was the sky in the background.
Likewise this picture of "Strawhenge"...who'd want to go gliding on a day like this?? Oh I forgot - this is what most contest days look like...
Before we had Stonehenge I guess we had Strawhenge and then Woodhenge...no-one knows what a henge is...
Likewise this picture of "Strawhenge"...who'd want to go gliding on a day like this?? Oh I forgot - this is what most contest days look like...
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