First full weekend of good soaring weather. Lots of training flights in the sunshine and lots of cross-country flights entered on the National Ladder. The season has really started, though a bit later than usual.

The white stuff has descended on to the airfield so no flying today. There will be a talk this evening at 7.00 about navigation devices and software. Hope the roads are clear by then.

Returning to a hopefully more regular flying calendar, the wet conditions on Sunday produced this remarkable rainbow. Image (C) Craig Mustoe

A beautiful October day that saw Paul Gentil celebrate 50 years of gliding.

Coming to the end of a fascinating week. 70 gliders and around 130 campers came to Aston Down for the rally. More photos and a blog can be found at https://vgcrally2023.com/

Thank you to all who attended the club AGM last night, where we heard reports about the last year, plans for the next, and elected the new committee for 2023. Thank you to Chris Godding, Roger Banks, Doug Lawrence, Tim Barnes and Chris Gough for stepping forward to lead the club.

David Roberts is stepping down as treasurer, having served in a number of committee roles over the past 50 years. The committee wanted to recognise David's service and dedication to our club, and gliding in the UK and Europe, over many years. We were very pleased to present the 'David Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award', a new award named in David's honour. I'm sure you will all join us in congratulating and thanking David for all his work over the years.

Here's to a great 2023 with lots of flying, achievements and events. If you would like to get more involved in supporting the many things happening in the club, please get in touch with the committee.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A really nice day's flying today to kick off the new year. We did 38 launches, a mixture of winch and aerotow, and probably had a record number of members at the club for a winter weekend day. It even became sorable for a while with some extended flights in weak lift - not exactly the sort of thermals that could be climbed in, but just strong enough to hold altitude for a while. Ben Davies converted to the K23 and flew his first ever 3 flights in a single seater - well done Ben. The misting canopy effect stayed away today and the last flight landed 5 minutes before "official night".

After a keen start with a 9am briefing the airfield was all setup for a day of winter flying, though it seems the weather forgot to turn up! After a few hours of waiting the reluctant decision to scrub the day was made. Not all was lost though, Jack Helm sat his Bronze theory and passed, just leaving his flying test left to complete his Bronze badge. Chris Lee and Ben Davies spent a few hours starting to learn their Bronze theory too! We look forward to seeing them pass their theory tests shortly. A big thanks to everyone for helping out even with the bleak weather and to the instructors for taking the time to develop our pilots!

A small but keen group gathered in the fog to get the airfield ready for flying should a window present itself. When the fog cleared we got strapped in only for it to start raining for a couple of hours. Perseverance was the name of the game and at 1pm the rain passed to give much clearer skies.
UWE student James had his first glider flights and his flight simulator use showed. Also from UWE John continued his early training with us. Tim, Elliot, Jack and Matt completed the flying list.
Unfortunately rain stopped play again at 4pm.
Thank you everyone that came out on a day with such a poor forecast, especially Doug for stepping in to drive the winch and giving us launches to 2000ft.

Saturday was a blustery with wind straight down 03 giving good high winch launches. Three ODCs, flown by Tim, had a good day with a mixture of winch and aerotow launching and extended soaring flights. Finn was signed off for his first solo aerotow by Mike, a good achievement on a challenging day. Finn now leaves us to go to University but no doubt we will see him during the holidays. Good luck Finn! The day also brought out a few private gliders who seemed to disappear for a few hours.
Sunday was a much calmer day. Another busy one with five trial lessons and a mixture of other training. Etienne and Chris consolidated their solo flying, Colin got some aerotow training under his belt and the UWE students enjoyed the K8.
Thanks to all those who helped out, especially Roy who seemed to drive the winch all weekend!

An epic day and another Happy Ava!

A reminder to club pilots from the BGA that during the present weather conditions there is a need to be even more vigilant than normal about airspace, particularly as some navigation devices allow users to filter out high level airspace. It's likely those parameters will need reviewing on pilots nav devices.

Much of the UK has controlled airspace below FL100. However, the good news is that there is still quite a bit of class G above FL100.

There are a number of BGA-negotiated non-transponder areas above FL100. These are detailed as exceptions in the UK AIP under ENR 1.1 and 5.2. As previously reported, the CAA has advises that no exemption or permission is required for non-transponder high altitude glider flights in specified areas, based on the current rules, notified airspace, and the exception listed in the AIP. Please note that transponder equipage and use is required above FL100 when flying outside the notified non-transponder areas for gliders.

We had a good days flying despite worsening weather. After being put through her paces with simulated launch failures and out of position circuits, Ava Udwadia was sent off on her first solo by Tim Barnes. She acquitted herself with two excellent flights. The resulting smile could be seen in Cirencester. Meanwhile friends Paul and Peter enjoyed a good day's flying on the one day course with Don Brookman on the one day course. Towards the end of the day the wind picked up and the clouds rolled, but this didn't stop Ben Davies showing he is not far behind Ava. Many thanks to Craig Mustoe and David Breeze for driving the winch and Tim Andrews for a long stint on the tow car.

A bit windy for a comp, but spurned on by John McWilliam's boundless optimism the Rockpolishers were sent off to run the cloud streets from Castle Combe to Birdlip. The pilots had to batter their way into a 20knot headwind, but then enjoyed downwind legs at warp speed. Elliot Apperley and Tom Gooch joined in the fun in the DG500, doing a lap at 104km/h. Congratulations to the winners: Novice: Dan Hayday (Cotswold), Intermediate: Ben Payne (BGGC) and Pundit: Greg O'Hagan (BGGC). Many thanks to John for his task setting and Matt Page for scoring.
Ben Hilsenrath was kept busy providing extended flights in the club K21 and we were pleased to welcome a contingent from Nympsfield with their K21.
All in all a pretty good day.

The competition set up on the grid at the south end of runway 03 in the hope that weather would allow one last task. PE took off to check thermal strength and cloudbase while K21 LRT did club flying by aerotow. We’ll done to George for tripling the number of solo Aerotows in his log book. Chris took his daughter for her first flight and Jack did one of the shortest 2000 foot Aerotows I’ve ever seen with duty instructor Geoff; 10 minutes from start of run to landing. It was Jack's 3rd and the first one handled from the start of the launch. Next week back to “normal” operations with possibly good gliding weather forecast for Monday to Thursday.

PS a Vole has set up family home on the airfield. Now marked by a cone and stake.

Short competition task today so no club flying in the time between launch and finishers. We flew this evenng to do some BI training in a beautiful evening sky.

Pictures are: Tripple finishers landing together, K21 on tow and K21 landing after the last flight of the evening.

KNK at 17:00 hrs. Passing Malvern.

PS at update at 18:00 … they got back!

The talk about going for the electric air speed record the night before was a really interesting insight into how a dedicated team with a single goal can produce results and not be distracted. It was a great team effort and we’ll worth seeing Phill’s presentation.

Sunday saw a perfect competition launch starting at around 11:00 with everyone going on long tasks. That left us free to do a few Aerotows in the K21 with a small band of club members being flown by Tim Barnes and Geoff Dixon. Flights of up to one hour in nice soaring conditions and local cloudbase 3400 above site. Last landing at 4:30 just in time for the competition finishers to start arriving. If you’re around next weekend then come up to the club and see the action for yourself.

Not a great forecast today, so no high expectations but the day developed into a fine afternoon. A busy day with 6 aerotow trial lessons with plenty of candidates for instruction keeping the instructor team busy. Congratulations to Nick Tarasek for his first solo and to Tim Andrews who after soloing yesterday completed another couple of solo flights today. Thanks to everyone that helped today.

Just a nice day with hardly any wind for a change. Not a classic from the cross-country pilots' point of view but it was soarable from 11:30 until after 6 pm. Cloudbase rose to around 4000 feet above site as the cloud thinned leaving mostly blue thermals with just a wisp of cloud at the top. A tip from the experts, you needed to find the thermals in the blue bits and the cloud only formed as the thermal was finishing off.

Launching today was from runway 21 with both winch and aerotow available. A good line up of private gliders kept the tug happy and from the club fleet we had K21, K13, DG500 and K23 out. The Capstan was seen gracing the skies with its distinctive plan-form thermalling away.

Flying scrubbed due to high wind but very illuminating talk in the evening by Ian Macfadyen was followed by a curry dinner in celebration of Adrian Giles 50th anniversary of his first glider flight.

The weather gods smiled on us today. It was thermic by the time of our first launch at 10.30 and we enjoyed a good soaring day. Andy Smith and Jon Huband raced each other round a 500k (Busters Hill - Shobdon - Bicester), while pupils Nick T, Tom M, Ava and Ben D all enjoyed extended soaring flights of over an hour, with strong climbs topping out at 6,000'. I believe Austin Rose managed the first land-out of the year, but not too far from home. Many thanks to our winch drivers Craig Mustoe and Paul Roberts for getting us in the air.

After an early start, we managed a grand total of three flights before discretion became the better part of valour as the wind increased from "more than a little fresh" to "blowing a hooley" . By the time we called it a day, 70knot approaches seemed a bit on the slow side. The consolation prize was watching the antics of the herd of a dozen or so deer that seem to have taken up residence on the airfield.

Which started on Friday with a very bright and breezy day with fantastic views in the clear air. Club gliders reported 4 knot climbs to 4000' with Tony Parker venturing a little further west contacting wave to 6000'. The afternoon was busy with club instruction and 6 trial lessons brought along by Aaron, all had really good flights and left with big smiles on their faces.

On Saturday the first sign of activity was the sound of the bus brakes around 7:30, which had to be Tim! I looked out of my caravan to see a layer of frost on my car and a hazy outline of the tower through the very thick mist. Cups of tea were in order until the mist started to clear with the first launch at 10:08. A busy day with 49 launches in total despite a break from 12:00 to allow a Notam'd flight out of Kemble, a call to Brize and Kemble got us back in operation a little earlier than the hour in the Notam. A few private owners as well as the USK pilots were enticed out and there was some soaring available in the afternoon to between 2500- 3000'. We finished as the sun went down and by then it was getting rather cold.

Another busy day on Sunday, but this time it was bright from the start but rather than the expected SE wind, it was a brisk easterly so the operation was set up on 09, not long after the wind did change to a more southerly direction so the operation moved to 21. Again the Usk pilots joined us for the day and a winch problem meant an aerotow operation only , this was rather a surprise to Jonathan Apperley expecting to do just a couple of tows and a big thanks to Jonathan for coping with the conditions and enabling everyone to fly. The chairman joined us in the afternoon and took a high aerotow in the K23, the treasurer should be pleased with the last 3 days :-)

In spite of the uniformly dull grey overcast and 3 deg temperature in a chilling breeze, enthusiasm seemed unbounded. Paul Graham and Martin Hayward got the winch out and cables DI'd good and early, enabling quite a few members to complete their winter refreshers. Amazingly, Adrian Irwin in the K23 found a thermal under the complete 1000 foot cloud cover without even a glimmer of sunshine which gave him an intermittent 1/2 to 1 kt, keeping him airborne well beyond the normal circuit duration.

A misty start to the day compounded by misted canopies, the sun poked its head out of the clouds around 10:30 and after a bit of manoeuvring to ensure the sun reached all parts the canopies flying commenced at just before 11 am. Despite reservations regarding the mist returning ( which it did not) flying continued, last launch was at 16:10 and everything away by 17:00.

A hardy bunch arrived and got the gliders out. Unfortunately the North West wind was dead between the two runways and above the crosswind limit on both. After waiting until lunchtime with no improvement looking likely, the hardy bunch put the gliders away again. In the meantime they had made themselves useful by rigging the K18 and derigging a K21 for a little attention in the workshop.

A good turnout enabled much basic training, check flights for members who had joined from other clubs, plus annual and 5-year checks for several instructors by the CFI. The moderate N wind was nearly straight down the run. Although the winch run was shortened before we started, a gradual increase in wind speed during the day was enabling launches in the DG500 nearly to 2000 ft at the end. Many thanks to all who helped, especially Doug Gardner who responded to my appeal to make up for an instructor shortfall.
In view of the recent scare, everybody wore masks when flying dual. The start was delayed by the bus refusing to start, eventually solved with a piece of wire by that master of all trades - our CFI. The day came to a slightly premature end when the cable retrieve truck decided it had done enough for one day, refused to continue its journey back to the winch and couldn't be restarted.
The Eurofox agent demonstrated his latest 140 HP offering, causing amazement among the heavy brigade by towing their two-seaters to altitude in record time. Methinks It would leave very little time on tow for beginners to learn much, however.

Firstly, a big thank you to our winch drivers Adrian Giles Johns Sadler and Paul Roberts. Thanks to their efforts we had,,what was for mid November, an excellent day's flying. UWE students Jah and Lin had their first ever glider flights - I think they enjoyed the experience. Diane and Domenika (spelling?) also acquitted themselves well. Tim Andrews demonstrated he could fly with out an altimeter and Adam Mayo gave an excellent demonstration of how to handle a simulated launch failure on the cross runway. Darren Edge took yours truly up for two aerobatic flights - five hours later and I still don't know which way is up. Thanks to instructors Ben Hilsenrath and Geoff Dixon for helping out and to Jonathan Apperley for the aerotows. It would have been nice if the wind could have made up its mind which runway it wanted to blow down, otherwise a good time was had by all.

Yesterday started with a lot of low cloud which cleared early morning to give a bright day with broken cloud and a couple of showers in the afternoon. Robin and I were the only instructors on duty to look after two ODCs, a group of students and Tim Andrews. Unfortunately, we were delayed by a minor incident with the bus which meant we didn't start launching until about 11:45. Consequently, with Robin looking after the ODCs, I flew with the students and Tim, but I decided that two flights each would be sensible to start with given the limited time available. This worked well with Luca and Alvin having their first flights and Dacy getting to grips with using the ailerons. Teddy, a near-Bronze student from Wormingford, had a couple of check flights and then flew the K-23 for the first time; unfortunately, a steamed up canopy and reducing light prevented a second. I finished off with three flights with Tim before we packed everything away as darkness descended! I think the day worked very well because the students got stuck in and helped run the launch point as well as they could. Thanks also to Martin Hayward for driving the winch in the morning and Stuart Thackeray for taking over in the afternoon. Last, but not least, thanks to Joe for helping the students with ground activities and keeping the log LEGIBLY, assisted by Tim. Another long, tiring, but rewarding day.

The competitions have just ended at Aston Down and it was an extremely successful week for all. We had full entry lists with 40 competitors in the Juniors and 30 in the Regionals plus 2-seater training in our own DG500 and other visiting gliders.

The week delivered challenging weather for the organisers who did their very best to fly as much as possible. In the end we had competition flying on five days. Launching 80 gliders is no mean feat but with an efficient ground crew and eight tugs this was generally completed in about 1 hour 20 minutes.

CGC was represented in both competitions. Ben Hilsenrath was our sole entry in the Juniors (seen below looking far too comfortable in his little black dress), finishing 38th. In the Regionals the club was represented by Steve Noujaim (5th), Chris Gough (12th) and Adrian Giles (26th). Congratulations to them and all the other competitors.

A huge thanks to Matt, Brian and their extensive team who organised and ran the competition. Various comments were overheard about this being one of the best run competitions ever and the competitors and crews had a great time. Well done all.

BGA statement:

The Government is changing the law to remove most of the restrictions that were applied to address the Covid19 pandemic.

The BGA encourages clubs and their members to continue to comply with Government published guidance, and to consider others as well as themselves in maintaining a cautious approach to the ongoing risk of infection.

With this in mind, the club has prepared the attached document which is also on display in the clubhouse. Please stay safe and consider others so that we can continue to enjoy our sport as we come out of the Pandemic.

More pics of ENK's progress

Low cloud and drizzle had cleared by mid-morning to give a perfectly satisfactory training day. Members under training who were put off by the poor forecast missed out. So few were present that they enjoyed an unusual bonanza, getting in far more flights on K21 and K8 than they expected. A new member with experience elsewhere soloed on the K21 and K8. Two aerotow trial lessons were done, one of which resulted in the individual deciding to join on the fixed price to solo scheme.

A bunch of keen UWE students persuaded the sceptical duty crew to get a glider out, despite the promise of all-day showers in the forecast. The students turned out to be right, as we only saw a few short showers before lunch, after which it turned into a lovely afternoon. Everyone got a few flights each, and we also managed to fit in a winter refresher, and a re-solo - well done Jindra. An excellent day, and a perfect example of why it always pays to be an optimist! Many thanks to Phil Guthrie and Richard Burgoyne for driving the winch, and to all the students and cadets for helping out on the ground.

On Wednesday we commissioned a new radio and signalling system on the bus, replacing the old and unmaintainable system which has served us well for many years.

The new system is a slimmer version of the old system with a few new features. Firstly, winch and airband radios have been moved and are now hanging down from the roof of the bus, along with the PA system and the main power switch. It is worth noting that the handset for the winch radio is on the desk and the handset for the airband radio has been mounted on the roof, to avoid any confusion.

The light controls now consist of 3 separate buttons instead of the rotary control. These are a yellow button labelled 'take up slack', a green button labelled 'all out' and a red button labelled 'stop'. The take up slack and all out buttons must be held down for the signal to remain on, with the stop button being a latching button that you rotate to turn off. The idea behind this is to stop people from setting the lights to 'take up slack' or 'all out' and then getting distracted and leaving the lights on whilst not looking at the signaller.

Please note that the two emergency stop buttons on the side of the bus and the external buzzer are not yet connected (we ran out of time and daylight). These will be reconnected as soon as possible.

A short guide on how the new lights operate will be available on the bus soon. If you find any issues with the new system then please let Max Lazenby or Matt Page know.

Early start possibly helped by the clocks going back. We had a good contingent from the University (UWE) and a steady queue of pilots for the K23. The showers mostly left us alone but there were a couple of wetter moments. Conditions were soarable for a while with climbs up to 3500 reported. Not a bad day for late October.

Saturday morning saw the airfield temporarily used as a rally stage for the Lombard Rally Bath who brought over 100 cars from the 70s and 80s as part of their tour of the Cotswolds. As well as blasting around the airfield they were treated to refreshments prepared by Jacqui and Gail which was well received by the participants.
They had finished their fun by lunchtime and we got back to our normal operation. A select few taking to the skies.Thank you Andy for stepping in to drive the winch and all those who helped out.

There is a Chairman's newsletter by logging in to the members' area at:

https://www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk/members/newsletters

A very quiet day today with just a handful of UWE students coming to the airfield to fly. Ben completed another phase of his BI qualification with a visiting examiner, whilst Peter flew his Bronze GST to complete his Bronze endorsement. New student Rhys was treated to his first flights in a glider, and Olivia made some progress with her training. As there were no volunteers for the ground duties, Brian and I also refreshed ourselves on the winch by taking turns doing winch driving and instructing. All in all a very nice day.

A pleasant autumn day with a much longer queue for the K23 than any of the two-seaters. The K23 and K13 were kept busy for most of the day and the soaring weather attracted a few private single-seaters out of their trailers as well. Thanks to Ben and Caleb for driving the winch.

Today turned out to be a nice flying day despite the dubious forecast. Congratulations to Dan from UWE on passing his bronze GST and many thanks to Andy Smart for his excellent winch launches.

Sorry to say, no Eurofox tug this next week as it is poorly and going for recuperation. Hopefully it will be back the following week. If the weather looks really promising I shall see if we can get another tug in.

Instead of emailing all members like this, please check this website from time-to-time for any update on aerotowing this next week and for subsequent weeks. It’s also useful to use Whats App to check.

David Roberts
Chairman

Over Sunday to Tuesday we experienced some of the best flying days for some time. Club pilots recorded 12 flights of over 300km which included 4 flights of over 500km and 2 over 750km. The conditions on Tuesday were especially good with thermals up to 6500 ASL which also meant some airspace challenges! The views along the south coast of the convergence were amazing and fun for those that used it on tasks to the Brighton area.
Ben and Austin also used the conditions to gain their silver distances and part 1 of the 100km diploma with Austin also claiming his silver height, well done to both.
Thanks to Adrian and Robin for the aerotows, a few rest days now but hope for better conditions next week.

Big thanks to all who helped on Sunday....no matter in what capacity. We managed to get a sizeable grid away by 1230 and kept winch launching going throughout, despite some equipment problems. Mentions in despatches for Doug on the winch and Adrian in the tug.

Please book your aerotow plans for next week at:

https://doodle.com/poll/82ci5peuu3p5mmew

The CFI has informed members in the last day or so of progress to the finalisation of plans to re-start dual occupancy two seater flying for check flights / refreshers and instructional flights. We’ll communicate again as soon as those plans are activated, so as to give everyone a chance to book aerotows. Arrangements for dual occupancy two-seat winch launching will also be communicated a.s.a.p.

David Roberts
Chairman

After a few days of low hot blue conditions the Skysight forecast suggested a late start and early cut off but with a high cloudbase and cumulus. I think it got everything right except the early cutoff as it was still working into the evening. I think I counted 9 gliders that flew, tasks were set to match the forecast, Doug Gardner completed a 300 while the Nimbus(Jon Huband) and Arcus chased each other around a 258km task, my highlight was getting to over 6500' over Marlborough, Doug and Andy reported high climbs as well. Looks like the next few days are not as good.
Thanks to Adrian and Robin for the tows.

The Doodle poll for booking aerotows for next week (w.c 15 June) is at

https://doodle.com/poll/mnptnsukgn4vqqhy

Booking "Doodle" is now open at

https://doodle.com/poll/zv6it2n6hnudps5y

Ignore the 29,30 and 31 May columns - they were a slip which I cannot find how to delete. Just tick in the columns for 1 to 5 June.
If you want to make any amendments to this after initial booking, to edit your entry hold the cursor on the right side of your name to see the edit icon.
If on the evening before there are fewer than 5 pilots wanting to fly we may have to cancel to avoid our tug pilot driving a round trip of 140 miles. In that event we'll try to let you know that evening.

Here is a superb picture of the line-up of Ka13s at the annual Ka13 task week at St Crepin in the French Alps.

Please goto
https://doodle.com/poll/q83rnv9fnhz9ngsm

if you want to take an aerotow on Saturday 23rd and / or Sunday 24th May

Please see the email Saturday evening 16th May about aerotowing on Sunday 17th May. To fly you need to email chairman@cotswoldgliding.co.uk so we can guage demand,

The EGU newsletter is worth reading to see what’s happening in other countries as regards gliding (though some info is 4 weeks old).

Webinars - The club is putting on a series of webinars over the coming weeks to help us keep in touch whilst we can't fly due to the pandemic. Find out how you can get involved on the webinars page.

Online Payments - You can now settle your flying account balance online! Go to My Flying Account then click the payment button. Don't forget that the second half of your membership fee is due on 1st April.

Well, we flew at least! After all the kit was taken to the launch point, a slight drizzle set in. That lasted about an hour, then things cleared up with cloudbase rising well above 2000 feet. Some winch issues slowed down launch progress but we managed to fly with around 5 club members and the 2 one-day course pupils did most of thier flying. USK once again visiting with their Grob Twin Acro. Increasing winds stopped play but then anoyingly slackened off again after the hangar was packed.

Whatever name this 3rd of the weekly windy weather system has, the wind, gusts, rain and frankly enthusiasm means we won't be flying today.

Hope this info is useful for planning your day.

Paul Lazenby

Whilst the strong winds stopped play at Aston Down, the DG500 ventured northwest to the Long Mynd for the second weekend of the UKJG Winter Series. Around 100 young pilots attended the event and we managed to fly on both Saturday and Sunday in a sporty westerly breeze - the hill worked very well! A number of our own UWE students were part of the group of enthusiastic Juniors who enjoyed some ridge running as well as the fantastic social atmosphere that the Mynd never fails to deliver.

All in all a great weekend - many thanks to the club for letting us use the glider again.

The day started with a traditional Barnes runway dither: "Right, we're going on the cross runway.....err the winds changed we'd be better go on the main runway....ahem, I think we'd better go back to the cross runway. Winch driver Roy Christopherson took it very well.
The day went pretty much to forecast with early rain clearing away to give a good deal of sunshine. Launches were to a very decent 1,400 in the strong westerly breeze. Daniel Van Werf and Andy Smith completed their winter refreshers. Elizabeth from UWE and yours truly caught the only thermal of the day and climbed up to 2,000 for some spectacular views in the winter sunshine. There was a good turn out of pilots from Usk that made for a convivial launch point - they are very decent crowd and are most welcome.

We are hosting a Regional Championships in August 2020. Regionals are open to all cross-country pilots with a silver badge and are an excellent way to advance your cross-country flying.

Daily briefings on weather, tasks and airspace give you all the information you need to get the most out of your competition flights. Experienced coaches are on hand to offer advise after briefing and also lead de-briefing sessions at the end of every flying day. On top of all the flying (and you will get to do a lot of flying), there's always a great social atmosphere during competitions as well.

Keen to get involved? Enter now at https://forms.gle/djN76sbHsCRLNK8A9 or email entries@cotswoldcomps.co.uk.

If you don't wish to fly the competition, there will also be normal club flying throughout the week and opportunities for cross-country training in the DG500. We're also looking for volunteers to help with organising the competition, so please get in touch if you'd like to get involved.

And it felt it. A cold day but at least the breeze was straight down the runway giving excellent launches to 2000ft.
Three new UWE students took their first flights with us. At the other end of the age scale Ted and Ena (90 and 91 respectively) also took their first glider flights. Our friends from Usk had a good day too. Thanks to the ground crew for keeping things running so smoothly.

Another excellent training day after days of phenomenal rainfall.
Lots of enthusiastic UWE members got us going early - where would we be without them?
Lots of circuits but one member took off in his Pilatus into the blue, reappearing a very long time later.

The day started with some bright sunshine but still rather moist until the day warmed up a little to clear the condensation on the canopies.
LRT following its ARC was rigged and we had a busy day with 3 2 seaters active all day with an enthusiastic group of UWE students. There were some good cloud streets at times with thermals up to the cloud base of 2400' later in the day with some great views in the clear air.
UWE's Jindřich vaněk after a couple of launch failures was sent solo by Geoff Dixon, congratulations to him. (Beer was offered but we all wanted to get home, maybe next time!).

Thanks to everyone who helped, especially the Semichon clan who kept the launchpoint moving all day

A good day for October, we missed the showers, it was sunny and there were thermals, can't be bad!

Light drizzle in the morning dried up at around 11:00 am. From lunch time onwards the cloudbase was around 1200 feet and with 3 two seaters out we were able to give first flights to 7 of our UWE members plus some Géneral instruction and solo flying. The day was made more interesting by having a small scale filming activity going on. Go-Pros used on board the DG500 and as “targets” during some launches and landings. As usual a big thank-you to the dutyman crew who made it all possible.

The Cotswold Regionals will run from 22nd to 30th August 2020 at Aston Down alongside the Junior National Championships. Regional championships are open to any cross-country pilot with a silver badge. Whether it's your first ever competition or you're an experienced competitor looking for a fun week's flying, this is the competition for you!

Not sure? Here are a few reasons to fly the Cotswold Regionals:
- Coaching and mentoring for new competition pilots
- Very few airspace restrictions, offering excellent tasking options
- Mutual crewing to make sure everyone gets home every day
- Excellent on-site facilities, including campsite electric points
- Great catering service and a well-stocked bar
- The Juniors is a regional rated competition, so the grids will be rotated with equal priority

The entry fee for this competition is a very affordable £125, with a deposit of £50 due before 29th February 2020.

Entry form: https://forms.gle/djN76sbHsCRLNK8A9

If you're not keen on flying the competition, there will also be normal club flying throughout the week and opportunities for cross-country training in the DG500. We're also looking for volunteers to help with organising the competition, so please get in touch if you'd like to get involved.

A lovely sunny day for training with mostly local soaring. The newly acquired sleek Oliver/Breeze ASG29 showed its paces.
Two one-day courses and a lot of other training successfully completed.
UWE was back again in force after their summer break. At the end of the day they de-rigged the DG500 to take to their Freshers' Fair to entice even more UWE members to join.

We were pleasantly surprised this evening when the heavy showers cleared up, giving us time for some flying before sunset. Friday regulars Barry and Dave were joined by new members Tom and Justin for some flying training in the K21 on the cross-runway. The Friday flying evenings are getting more and more popular, so let's hope we can carry on with Friday afternoons over the winter. Many thanks to Max for driving the winch and to Harry for getting us all organised as usual.

We managed a few flights before the cold front arrived and although the rain was intense for about half an hour, the front passed quite quickly in the end. Beautiful afternoon with a brisk westerly wind. All the One-day-course flights were completed, some club instruction and lots of flying by the visiting Juniors. Hopefully a few Bronzes to come out of that! Many thanks to our 2 winch drivers and duty pilot for turning up and making it happen.

Today started much like yesterday with the rain and low cloud clearing around 10.00 am, but with a forecast for showers and strengthening winds and less soarable conditions.
Two K21's were kept busy all day with training and Trial lesson flights achieving duration's of up to 30 minutes, four private aircraft joined the launch Que.
With strengthening winds and with everyone flown we packed away at 17.00 hrs.

For the past week we have been hosting the British National Balloon Championships, an event that is entirely compatible with gliding because flights take place before we have got out of bed or after we've finished flying. Thirteen balloons took part but the weather was awful for most of the week with just two flights on one day. Both flights involved remote starts and finishes so Aston Down didn't see much action. The pictures show an early morning launch at Frampton on Severn and the balloons over a target on Minchinhampton Common.

We have encouraged our small number of teenaged pilots to come and fly on Red Saturdays, in the expectation that they will form friendships with each other. Although wet and windy today Elliot, Holly, Harrison and our new cadet Finn enjoyed a presentation from Geoff and then spent several hours in a simulator. As a bonus Liz and Stuart Hayes, Finns parents, joined the club as well.

Today we welcomed another stand-in course instructor, Dave Munro, who is the BGA's SRE (Senior Regional Examiner) for East Anglia. He was assisted by a few volunteer club members, most of whom were called David or Dave. There was Dave Freeman, David Roberts and Dave Hart (a regular Monday morning helper). David Howell was at the airfield as well as course winch driver Dave Taylor. Sure there was another Dave lurking somewhere. It all got somewhat confusing.
Despite the lowish cloudbase, a Kemble NOTAM until 11.00, the Fairford departures and a transitting Swiss-registered light aeroplane at 10.30 flying very low NW to SE over the airfield, a good day was held by the course attendees.

David (not Dave !) Roberts

The only member on the two-seater list all day was treated to the duty instructor's undivided attention. It was just as well that there was only the one such member as there was only one instructor! Competitions claimed three of the blue instructor team and maintenance commitments another, although the CFI stood by in case he was needed.

The usual six trial lessons were flown by our most experienced BI.

There were short periods of good soaring interspersed with flat conditions which provided the spectacle of some normally expert pilots in advanced machines landing not that long after the tug.

At the end of the day the DG500 and the UWE K8 were packed in their trailers ready to go to the Inter-Uni competition at Saltby.

Forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far but also forecast to be a poor soaring day. It meant that only one or 2 private gliders came out to launch. This was fortunate because with all club gliders at the launch point and the tug, we were able to pace the launch rate to suit the heat - as far as I know, no one suffered from heat induced issues and the sun cream dispenser on the bus was used to full effect.

Our 2 one day course visitors had 1 to 1 instruction thanks to Chris and Doug in DG500 and K13. The club list was short, with both winch and aerotow instruction in LRT. Our keen bunch of junior and student members made good use of the single seaters with another conversion to the K18. Mike Weston had a fun day taking family and friends up in the Capstan for Aerotows. Thanks to all who turned out today - i’m sure that like me, you slept well.

* If you’re confused as to why 32 degrees is not enough for good thermals, there are many books about Gliding Met that cover this subject. Suffice to say in simple terms that heated surface air can’t rise in air that is hotter still at height. (We did get thermals to 2000’ later in the afternoon by the way)

Winds 210/20 with weak broken thermals cloudbases around 1700ft

The course welcomes back 3 serial course members. Brian McDermid, Marcus Williams and Phil May. A busy day today for them getting back up to speed after layoffs of around 8 months each.

The grass in the South field is now cut in readiness for the Spartan event.

Many thanks to all the assistance given on the field by the Culdrose expedition, it is very much appreciated. The instructors took over ENK and nensured the guys refamiluarised themselves with winch launches (Seahawk use auto tow and aerotow).

Looking forward to lighter winds tomorrow and possibly showers pm.

winds 230/10 low cloud rising during the day and showers developing.

Start off in the classroom with a briefing on met. Well done Clinton and matthew who have completed their bronze oral test.

We managed some flying later in the morning dodging some heavy rain showers.

Good to see Brian back from warmer places for a few weeks.

The white truck is back on line thanks to Richard and Tom, today they were giving the buggies the once over.

We said goodbye to the Southdown boys, who were leaving after a very disappointing week. Who would have thought this was June!

winds 020/05, low cloud to start lifting pm.

A morning of launch failure practice, well what else with 400ft cloudbases. All the course guys became familiar with the ASAS procedure and more comfortable with the whole idea of launch failures.

Well done Matthew who resoloed today. Clinton and Nick making very good progress towards solo and bronze C theory.

Cloudbases rose in the afternoon with some thermal activity Enough for some upper airwork and for Matt to do a couple of solos.

Thanks to Barrie Taylor for the great pictures

winds 050/10 with several fronts and yellow weather warnings for rain.

We welcome Matthew, Clinton and Nick on this weeks course. Matthew from Culdrose and local lad Clinton are serial course members, Nick is new to the sport and had a PPL many years ago.

We also welcome the Southdown club expedition. The hardened veterans accept the weather as part of life---very pragmatic.

Despite the rain we managed a full days flight training, followed by classroom briefing on approach control and the problems associated with wind shear and clutching hand.

Many thanks to Barry who has joined us to help train the course on the ground tasks.

winds 200/15, showers at times, good thermal day

Temporary class D airspace around Kemble stopped airfield activity for an hour in the middle of the day, otherwise a quiet day.

Many thanks to David Hart for driving the winch in the morning and Simon took his CFI hat off and donned his winch driver hat for the afternoon. Adrian Giles managed the winch driver cover remotely from the wilds of the north

The course continues to go well, all 3 trainees are now managing unprompted flights and just beginning to practice launch failures.

The outlook for tomorrow is poor as a low pressure is passing over the country with its associated fronts. Fingers crossed we will manage to continue with the course training.

Dave Breeze gave 21 grass left a trim with the grass cutter, looks a lot smarter now, thanks Dave.

winds 100/10, cloud and showers predicted. Some thermal activity around midday.

09 operations to start, with launches to around 1200ft. At the start of the day we often found ourselves above the lower layers of scattered cloud. later in the day the winds shifted to southerly and then finally to a steady westerly and so we finished the day operating on 21.

All of the course are now flying the launch and landing and are working on circuit planning now. Well done to them.

Chris Power and David Hart did a fantastic job keeping the winch cables coming, thanks chaps. Barry Taylor spent the day with us helping out at the launch point.

The evening group cancelled because of the unpredictable nature of the weather, probably a very wise decision.

We are steadily picking up the litter from the airfield, and the place is steadily getting back to normal. everyone can help us with that, so next time you are here make a point of disposing of some of the debris around the place.

winds 250/10, good thermal day, blue at times and climbs to 5000ft QFE

The superfox gave us a demo of its performance today, and a few free aerotows for those that were here. Echo India is an impressive microlight tug (it has strange tundra tyres though). Thanks are due to Adrian for making this trip possible and thanks are due to the owner for his generosity.

The competition preparation continues as people start arriving with gliders and caravans.

Avro visited us from New Zealand, the happy little dog was content to inspect the driving controls of the bus!

The course continues to go well, David Potter consolidated his conversion to single seater by completing his 2nd soaring flight for the cross country endorsement, Mayur Bodani started to get the hang of thermal centring with a climb to 4990 ft--shame about the last 10ft, Ethan Maya has now completed his aerotow training and is polishing his soaring skills.

The evening group took over and flew a group of visitors.

We are looking forward to another great day tomorrow.

winds 330/10, good thermal conditions with high cloudbases

A new course starts today, welcome Ethan, David and Mayur. David resoloed today, Mayurs first day gliding and landing already, Ethan finished the day with a thermal climb and then a side slip approach. Thanks David Hart for all the tutorial work.

Lots of other activity,preparation is underway for the competition, the farmer fertilising the grass, caravans have started to arrive and tomorrow should see the new hangar doors installed.

Another good soaring day tomorrow.

A warm front passed from East to west last night and another front is due during the day bringing light rain and showers on and off through the day wind 060/20 (operating off 03).

Flyable but soaring and cross country unlikely. Evening club flying planned from 1600 onwards.

Graham Allinson went solo for the first time, Nigel Payne is now able to fly a safe circuit without instructor aid and Colin Parker resoloed today. A very chilly day lots of jumpers and hot tea.

Meanwhile Tom and Richard were busy repairing bug 1 which seems to be burning a lot of oil ,and the grass cutting tractor. All this behind the scenes support is fantastic.

The first friday evening flying session started this evening. Very well subscribed with a bunch of enthusiastic university students. The winds picked up during the evening as can seen on the photos.

Well done Matt Page who now has a full instructor rating.

We have a new letter of agreement with Kemble. It's on the documents > briefings page.

winds 090/10, blue, thermals pm to about 3000ft

Another good day for the course, loads of flying and everyone getting the hang of landing on the runway.

The standard cirrus and libelle came to join us. Andy Davey managed a decent soaring flight in the local area.

Good to see another visitor from Dartmoor Gliding Society, Colin Boyd popped in for a few days.

Grass collection is almost complete, the airfield now looks like an airfield again. many thanks to Jules who spent the day cutting the grass around the camping areas and hangers before cutting the landing strip 21 grass right. barrie Taylor brought out the 2nd tractor and cut the cable runs.

Briefing after flying covered launch failure procedures and mcReady. A pleasant meal afterwards of an Indian tapas (well thats what I think it was)

Club day tomorrow looks much the same forecast.

An excellent day for both the cross country brigade and the more local activities. Some exceptionally strong thermals persisted for most of the day under wall to wall cumulus. Even when it went blue locally late in the afternoon it remained possible to get away every time from a winch launch (for some at least).
Our University of West England members made full use of the conditions for their training weekend and were especially active and helpful on the launch point. We managed to cope with the scheduled 7 trial lessons in spite of grass cutting and a winch tangle. Many thanks to those who kept us going in spite of that and one or two other little difficulties.

winds 240/10, showers possible and some excellent soaring.

Adrian brought the tug out for us which allowed Tim Bralesford to complete the spin training for his BI rating, David and johnathan were also able to experience and practice an aerotow launch. Thanks Adrian.

Charles Linton took over the winch for a few hows which gave Dave some time to get the new mower out and cut some of the landing areas. Richard and Tom got on with repairing the 4X4. All this background work is appreciated and is what makes CGC such a great club.

As is typical for the last day of the course, the members were doing a lot of solo consolidation and practising soaring.

Simon Lucas and team were here to lead the friday evening training session with David Roberts taking over the winch.

Good to see the K23 rigged and back on line. Hopefully not too long before the K18 weighing is completed and that will be back in service.

low cloud and rain until around 11am. Winds freshening to 180/15 by the end of the day.

The day started with a briefing on Altimetry, everyone now knows the difference between their QFEs and QNHs.

Practice launch abandonment started the day, followed by some stunning soaring in the rapidly cycling weather. Flying at 70 knots with the brakes open and still going up!!

Tim Brailsford undertook some preparation for his BI training which included ultra low launch failures.

Thanks to Richard and Tom for securing the lights on the bus---try to guess who is the supervisor?

A very good day had by all.

winds light to start, cold front approaching from the North. heavy rain forecast later pm.

Brian Goodspeed found himself flying above the lower cloud on his first flights. Cloudbases went up and he resoloed after a 2 year layoff. Well done Brian. Jake completed the final exercises of the instructor B module, and then took Tom Coles on a soaring tutorial (when the conditions finally became suitable). Tom is now very current and his winter refreshers completed.

Mike Weston spent the day taking John through the BI syllabus.

Eventually the rain arrived, with towering cumulus all around. Matt Page didnt care though ---he was cutting a grass strip for the motor glider through the knee deep grass. Thanks Matt,

winds 230/05, some thermals through the day, cloudbases rising from 1400ft and isolated rain showers.

The morning started with first breakfast while I demonstrated my culinary skills!

Pat and Roger looked after club activities, well done to MikeFarmer for first solo in K23 and Paul for converting to the K8. Showers at midday gave an opportunity for Jake to brief on thermal soaring (part of his instructor training). After the shower it was all men to the task of wiping the gliders down.

The course continues to go well, Jake is steadily working through the B module, Brian is now on launch failure practice and Tom had the longest flight of the day as he gets back into the groove with the K23.

winds light and veering to the SW during the day.

The landing strips have been cut now, the grass will be collected on Tuesday.

The new course week has begun, and now well under way.

The weather brought out a few private owners, and one ASW20 landedfor a relaunch from Nympsfield.

The weather is looking good for Tuesday and a possibility of some rain showers later in the week.

winds 180/20, showers of rain and some towering cumulus

Another great day, well done Ian, some perfect landings now. Soaring with amazing climbs of 8 - 10 knots tp around 3500ft.

This strange image appeared on the runway! Has the invasion from Mars started?

Tha day finished with pleasant dinner at the Canal Tunnel inn (perhaps the ghosts followed us there..

poor visibility winds light easterly, cloudbases high with overcast

Lloyd Ian and Alan have joined us for the week. Launch failure practice today to get Alan and Ian back into the groove, Alan resoloed later in the day.

Many thanks to Ethan Mayo who spent the day with us helping to keep the launch rate going.

The first flying evening today,

Busy day today with over 60 launches, a mix of winch and Aerotow. Steve Glassett took a tow to over 9000ft (see Picture) because he could and others took advantage of the limited soarable conditions. We were visited today by Pete Harvey flying Steve Jones's new Ventus 3T after the engine failed to start, landing with the engine out. He then took an aerotow to fly back to Lasham, a good day with unusually warm weather for a bank holiday weekend.

winds VRB 05, poor visibility and cloud.

launch failure and conversion to the K13 for Mike and Stephen, while John learns how to launch and land.

many thanks to our volunteer club members Dave and Barrie for helping us achieve such a high launch rate. This helped get the course well on track.

David and Barrie also took the opportunity to fly a circuit or two and keep themselves current.

The day ended with a delicious meal at the Rose in Frampton Mansell.

Club day tomorrow promises to be good, so get on up here nice and early. The rest of the week also looks fine for soaring, David and I will be away over the bank holiday so any help to keep the flying going would be appreciated.

winds easterly and light, cold and thermic from around 11am.

The course continued to make good progress. Johnathan went solo for the first time and Alistair completed his soaring flights for the cross country endorsement.

The more experienced course members were shown some soaring techniques to help find these sometimes elusive thermals.

Aertotow training for Collin and Lawrence was started today.

meanwhile the Sportability group, headed by Mike Weston and supported by Robin enjoyed themselves. Thanks to everyone for making the event a success.

Lets hope these good soaring conditions are here for the summer. The first picture shows John after his first solo---dont ask him to talk about the stick song!

Winds 070/15 cloud bases rising to 3000ft QFE , Good thermals from around 11am.

A busy day on the airfield with 2 courses and the club members. Tony Hayes dusted off the DG500 and took the club pilots for a trip i that, meanwhile Doug and I continued to look after the 6 course members.

Winchie Dave struggled through all day without a break, I think we need more winch drivers roll up guys Dave can show you how to winch.

A couple of more adventurous pilots went off cross country Phil Walker checked out the Welsh hills and ken took Lawrence on a little local cross country.

Thanks to the UWE students who energetically helped us keep the launch rate up, we couldnt have managed without you.

The day ended with a brief on launching followed by Pie and chips in the clubroom.

Another good day is expected tomorrow.

winds 090/15 reducing through the day. poor visibility and cloudbases around 400ft QFE

6 people on the course this week, and Doug gardiner is helping with the instruction.

Most of the day was used to put Rex and John lampier through their paces with launch failure practice. Doug took Alistair and Jamie Lomax off to the simulator, where they happily flew circuits in the bright sunshine!

A slight hiccup today when one of the winches decided not to work, leaving us with cables out and no working engine. Thanks to everyone Richard, Tom and dave for stepping in to help us out of that fix.

The day ended with a convivial meal in the clubroom, looking forward to better weather tomorrow.

Winds still strong SE but easing through the day with thermals to a 1500ft cloudbase.

using runway 09. the weather was too unreliable for Peter Francis to make the trip up from Kent, so he sensibly decided to reschedule.

Meanwhile lots of trailer repairs going on in the butts and Roger Smith, Etan Maya and David hart ventured out to fly and brush up their skills.

Picture shows Roger explaining to Etan the general principles of a daily Inspection.

Don

winds 310/10 visibility 30K possible showers of grains of snow low cloud to start

Quiet day with many members put off by the unsettled forecast.

Well done Paul Roberts on his first solo today, (picture shows david taylor giving him a congratulatory hug)

Robin Birch pulled the T21 out so Simon Willis could release the ashes of Harry Willis over the airfield. Harry was an ex member with a varied and distinquished flying career, including a WW2 tail gunner. Thank you Robin for organising that sad event.

Gill persuaded Wayne Rawlings (a member of the fire sevice) to change his plans for a trial lesson into a full membership. Wayne then spent the rest of the day learning the ropes and getting his first flying lessons. Wayne, we are delighted you decided to join us.

The first of our Wednesday night cheap and cheerful dinner was pie and chips, put it in your diary for a wednesday and come and join us.

The end of another great day, hopefully more of the same tomorrow.

Don

Chilly day with forecast winds 140/10.Good visibility and cloudbases at 3000ft

no course this week, so come on down if you fancy a day on the airfield,

The course went very well last week a photo opportunity presented itself. See below.

Talgarth was great fun, glorious weather and some exciting rock polishing.

The outlook for this week is for some excellent soaring prospects with perhaps some heavy showers on Thursday pm.Tuesday and Wednesday both look good. Soaring conditions tomorrow between 11 and 3 are rated as excellent, 2 seat soaring training available if required.

Don

Turned out to be a busy afternoon with thermals to 2000ft+

linda and Jim enjoyed their first flights, marten Woodcock completed his refreshers and Alan Thomas converted to the K18.

A convivial beer followed Alan need to learn how to pour beer properly!

Should be good tomorrow after a damp start.

After a run of excellent flying days this week, the weather gods decided to mark the start of official summer time with an overcast sky and fresh wind from the East. As the cloudbase went up in the morning, we were able to get the gliders out for some flying on runway 09. A group of keen students kept the launch point running smoothly, making sure everyone got a chance to fly in the challenging conditions. There was a brief window of soarable weather in the afternoon which gave a couple of students their first soaring experience. Two members also completed their winter refreshers. Many thanks to Martin and Richard for driving the winch.

A surprisingly good soaring day. Cloudbase 3300 above the airfield and thermal strength up to 3 knots average in places, when the sun came through fully. Upper cloud came and sent which caused the thermals to diminish from time to time. Plenty of soaring flights in the Ka8 and Ka18. 2 private gliders out to play as well.

wind 210/05, low cloud to start, visisbility 25Kcloud bases rising to 1500ft QFE

Another really good day.

the course doing well with Howard getting to grips with circuit planning and Alistair reinforcing his solo flying.

good to see some club members here. Adrian Giles took the opportunity to try out the K18. barry Taylor popped in for a few hours to say hello and lend a hand.

the evening briefing was Spinning and how to recover, ready for tomorrow,

A convivial dinner in the club room cooked by david, most enjoyable

winds 250/15, low cloud to start lifting pm.Early mist.

Another great day, Alistair and Howard are now flying unprompted circuits and have practised a wide range of stalls and unusual attitude rcovery.

Eric and David flew the K18 for the first time, well done to them. many thanks to Robin for help and advice.

Club day tomorrow, and spag bol for those that fancy it (after flying)

Strong winds, 40 knots at flying heights and gusty.

Despite that, I am always amazed at the many different activities happening around the club.

Dave Roberts , Roger Bagley and directors of Aston down farms are deep in conversation unravelling the intricacies of the club finances and CASC.

Simon our CFI meanwhile giving us guidance on various changes within operations.

Richard fixing stuff and planning what he is going to fix next.

Robin Birch quietly humming to himself while he fettles gliders.

A few club members chatting amiably in a corner,

Mike and assistant from Skylaunch now servicing the 2nd winch.

Welcome to Grant Needham who has returned from his overseas travel in his mobile home (5000 miles worth of travelling).

Dave, Gill and I continue to prepare for the season start on Monday.-----A quiet day really! Thanks everyone, where would be without you.

Sorry, no chance of flying today, rain with strong winds later.

A busy Wednesday with two K21's, K23 and K18 enjoying the bright sunshine, Given the forecast this looks like the last of the run of sunshine. The Wednesday group were joined by five UWE students who took advantage of the calm conditions to practice circuits.
Sam and Dan added to their solo count, George and Ben notched up more time in the K23.
After flying Ben passed his Bronze oral test to complete his bronze, We hope we will get more sunny weather soon.

Congratulations Gwilym

The DG500 went away to Denbigh for the weekend to fly with young pilots from across the country as part of the UK Junior Gliding Winter Series. Over 80 Juniors attended the event, including a good number of our own UWE students. The weather didn't disappoint and we were able to give many Juniors their first experiences of hill and wave soaring. Many thanks to the club for letting us use the glider and for the continued support of UK Junior Gliding.

Today several members took advantage of the fact that it was not raining or blowing a gale to get some Aero Tow practice.
The K21, Pirat, Olly, Arcus and LS3 took tows totalling 25000 ft, Cloud base was around 3000ft and varied during the day and later in the afternoon Doug Gardiner managed an hour and a half in his LS3 Landing a 4.00pm.
We hope to organise more days like this and intend to publicize then with a bit more notice in future

A misty drive over but when I arrived the sky was already starting to clear. The first hour was spent on the Winter Refresher presentation for 8 club members (and a couple of instructors) and by then there were breaks of sunshine. Robin took the 'new' K18 for its first flight and was flown by a number of members throughout the day, all seemed to like it. Tom rigged the ASW 27 for a few re-familiarisation flights, enjoying some soaring in the process, as did a number of members in the K21. It got a bit colder later in the day as the sun disappeared, so we let Roger complete his BI checks with Simon in the K21.
Thanks to Steve Purkiss and Dave Freeman for winching.

A picturesque day's flying over a white winter landscape for (mostly) the younger members. 23 launches to 2,000 ft + in the cold dense air. Thanks to Steve, Tim and others for the winch & lorry driving.

Apologies but Sunday is suffering from flatulence. We are currently gusting up to 35kts with areas of severe turbulence around the airfield so we have decided to scrub the day.

Congrats to John McWilliam for his 1000k and Also Andy Smith who completed his 1st on the same day..I've just spoken to Andy about the day and he and others have said it was the best day they had ever flown on..
Andy's flight can be found on 'skylines glider log'

The honours for first flight of the new year went to Robin Birch, test flying the new (to us) K8 - an aircraft older than any of us on airfield. He managed to get it down in one piece and several others tried it out. The rest of us enjoyed aerotowing the K21 behind the newly uprated Euro Fox. Here's hoping for a great soaring year.

We were more hopeful of being able to fly today, but the persistent low stratus made this impossible so we cancelled flying at midday. We used the morning to DI the cables and run through the Winter Refresher presentation.

In reverse order; Sat 22nd was actually a nice flying day. LRT and the K23 came out to play, joined by the “new” Pirat syndicate. Twenty-odd flights done. Thanks to winch and truck volunteers. Good to meet Doug from The Park who dropped in to fly with us. Have a jolly good Christmas Day.

Met office aviation forecast is showing 310deg / 30-45kts at midday which suggests best to cancel the trial lessons (which I'm in the process of doing) but waiting to see if it calms down for Club flying. We'll get the kit out and DI'd in case we get a weather opportunity but I'm not that optimistic - so if you make the journey, be prepared for some "out-and-returns" to the kettle and maybe an early scrub.

Paul Lazenby

Strong winds and forecast rain have not stopped us getting the kit out.

Let's see what happens

Adrian

Cleanup day for the DG500 trailer

Following its trip to Sutton bank for the Juniors winter series round one a group of UWE students and explorer scouts decided to give the big trailer a jet wash. It wasn't just dirt from the A1 that they had to scrub off! Well done guys.

If anyone else wants to wash their trailer or a club one we have a club jet wash which is available for you to use. If you don't know how to wash a trailer there is a training course available.

Adrian

Photographs by Jerome Semichon

I was pleased I’d flossed my teeth this morning – on the One Day Course were Dentist Martin and Dental Technician Andrew. They were good sports and didn’t mind a bit being turned upside down on their last flights. Club members Philippa Roberts and Andrew Mugleston were getting married today down the road in Tetbury (I heard Philippa had a puncture going down the aisle, but I'm sure that’s not true). We wish them a long and happy life together – it ain't going to be dull. Luckily the weather gods got the memo and the clouds cleared around 11.00 to give a sunny if somewhat chilly day. We had a good day’s flying off the west end of the cross runway – there was even a bit of lift about. Many thanks to the UWE students and others for washing the DG500 trailer and to Dave Howell , Pete Laws and Stuart Thackray for driving the winch.

A small band of enthusiasts and helpers turned up including Tim Brailsford, all the way from Staffordshire. We had a good day with sunshine, mostly blue skies, some thermals, no rain and winds 220 / 20-25kts giving cracking launches for the 2 x Ka 21 and Ka 23 on the line. The head-on sun in the afternoon made landing alongside R/W 21 slightly tricky. Several trial lesson visitors enjoyed their flights and a Bristol University 3rd year aeronautical engineering lady student (“Georgie”), who is Silver C level and currently flying at Nympsfield, dropped in to see our operation. She left duly impressed, and we hope to see more of her.
Tim Brailsford last week gained his helicopter pilot’s licence, which will make his round trip from home in Staffs easier if more expensive (!). But the main good news today was seeing Adam Mayo back in action flying with instructors Darren and Simon, following his serious biking accident in Switzerland in the summer and subsequent hospitalisation for head injuries. He has made such good progress we are all relieved he’s fully on the mend and will be able to take up his role as a valued member of the active student / youth contingent at the Club.

DGR

Portmoak So Far

All 11 pilots and aircraft arrived safely and by Saturday evening and most got their paperwork signed ready for the week.
Sunday was forecast for rain in the morning, the forecast was correct and the airspace and weather briefing was well attended in the morning. The weather cleared lunch time and all the visiting gliders were rigged and enjoyed an afternoon on the ridge and very fickle weak wave.
Monday was forecast to wave with the winds strengthening in the afternoon, all except one launched in the morning and the wave worked, unfortunately the gaps kept filling in so 8000ft was the most we could get.

winds 060/05 good visibility.

Interesting NOTAM for Kemble,

L6982/18: Kemble: Aerodrome : miscellaneous plain language
Q) EGTT/QFAXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5140N00203W005
RESTAURANT CLOSED
FROM: 12 Oct 2018 13:46 GMT (14:46 BST) TO: 19 Oct 2018 16:00 GMT (17:00 BS

Soaring possibilities today.

Another great day.

Barrie Taylor joined us for the day and had a currency flight in the K23. Lesley popped in for a cuppa and chat, the LS3 and ventus ct came out for an airing, and the lawnmower came out to trim the grass.

Some fun flying for the course, with loops chandelles and cloud recovery practice.

A good area of grass was cut today, now it is getting cooler we hope the grass will stop growing so quickly.

The day ended with dinner and some red wine at the old Lodge. After all the Kemble restaurant was not available.

The pictures show david on sandwich making duties, the tractor off to the launchpoint, and a flight above the clouds.

winds 200/15 with fog to start and low cloud for most of the day.

The K21 has now had a polish and looks a lot better for it. Thanks to Collin, Lawrence and Ethan for your efforts here.

The flying incorporated launch failures and eventually circuits learning how to interpret a turn and slip and how an ASI may be used as a crude attitude indicator. At least we got the annual refreshers completed and had some fun---despite the weather.

The day finished with a debrief on the instrument flying and then a glass of wine and dinner in the club room. Another great day

Morning, looking out the window and at the various met websites we can expect the current rain to persist until at least 1500 when it will go to showers.
There is not really any hope of good flying today so flying is cancelled. Enjoy your Sunday, maybe a lie in or quiet coffee somewhere...

Forecast winds 190/50 with rain.

Not a good day to go flying.

upper winds 140/20 and surface winds 100/10 visibility poor

Operations were from 09 today, a very busy course day with very productive training and plenty of practice landing on the runway. A total of 28 launches including 2 self launchers.

A few club members turned up but the wind direction was a little off putting.

Many thanks to our helpers Andy Davey and David Hart.

Outlook for tomorrow, winds 170, so probably on 21. Fresh but workable winds and the possibility of rain later in the day

Andy Davey and Pat at launch point control.

winds 230/20 cloud BKN at 2500 QFE

Welcome to 4 course members. Marcus Williams, Matthew Veals, Pat Lyengar and Nigel Payne.

A very busy course day that demanded an efficient turnaround to get everyone in the air. That was achieved so well done everyone, and particular thanks to our helpers, Colin Stringer, David Hart and Andy Davey for helping get the field set up and the team up to speed with the procedures.

John McWilliam was seen disappearing in his PIK 20E, other than that it was all quiet on the club flying front.

The outlook for Tuesday is much the same as today with slightly lighter winds.

This is the penultimate course week of the year, so make sure you keep current and at least fly a circuit or two.

winds 220/15, low cloud drizzle to start then clearing to CAVOK

The morning was spent in the classroom with lectures on Met and Altimetry.

By midday it was flyable with weak wave tantalizing the pilots.

Well done Mike Farmer for his first solo flights today, and to Dave Potter for his unprompted flights.

Dave Howell and Colin Stringer joined us, thanks very much for all your help.

The day ended with dinner at the old Lodge. On our return we met the cheery aero modellers, enjoying their meeting in the club bar.

We hope for another good day tomorrow.

winds 290/20 cloud bases around 1400ft QFE.

2 club single seaters and the K21 out today, operating on 27. The farmers bales are now gone, so no obstructions on the field now.

The course team managed an extremely crisp launch rate and so everyone managed plenty of training flights.

Rex is now flying the K23, while Colin Stringer kept current with the ASW19.

The course guys practised launch failures, too fast signals, various stalling exercises and circuit planning---great progress being made.

The outlook for Wednesday is similar and Thursday and Friday lighter winds but grey

What a beautiful day; blue skies, little wind and for a few hours there were thermals to 2500'. Instructors were kept busy with the one-day-course and a few UWE students flying K21 and K13. Our vintage fleet was represented by the Skylark 2 (Mk4) and ETPS Oly 2b, both of which soared nicely. A few more modern private owners kept the launch point busy as well and we even saw the DG400 take a wire launch instead of using his pop up motor. Thanks to duty winch drivers, log keepers and helpers for making the day run smoothly.

Thanks to the superior winching skills of the chairman and help from David Hart and Colin Stringer several pilots had three hours each in the air today.

Club flying tomorrow, and maybe we do the same again on Thursday as Andy Smart has kindly offered to winch. (Perhaps I will get to fly then too!)

If you want to fly Thursday please let Fran Knowles know as as she will be coordinating. We still need an instructor to supervise winching. (He gets the last launch?)

Fran's contact details will follow.

Adrian

Brilliant day today with One Day Course students after the rain cleared to thermals.

winds 360/10 cloudbases 3300 QFE

A busy club day with several private owners and club gliders on the grid. many thanks to everyone for making the day run smoothly.

Soaring was better than expected with several notable flights, Climbs locally were 2 to 4 knots.

On the course John Hammond resoloed, David Potter is now the unprompted pilot and Howard Bunn is almost the handling pilot.

The remainder of the week looks flyable.

winds 340/15 visibility 30K, thermals early afternoon to 3400 QFE

The day started with a cable change, many thanks to Tom and Dave for the assistance.

John Hammond, David Potter and Howard Bunn join us on the course this week. The day was spent getting everyone up to speed with the equipment and how to use it. Hopefully John will resolo again this week and David will get closer to solo (David is a member at Lasham). Howard is a newbie and is now just getting to grips with how the controls work.

Many thanks to Dave Breeze who spent a few hours on the tractor today cutting the grass---which has now started to grow again.

Barry Green and Alan Carter spent much of the evening planning their trip to inspect an SF27.

The outlook for the week is a little mixed but should be flyable all week for those who want to pop along and keep current.

Welcome David Dawkins, Tiago Oliveira and Jason Jennette onto the course.

Much quieter on the airfield now as the last of the nationals visitors depart.

Training well underway now, well done to Tiago for converting to the K23.

Roger Smith joined us on Tuesday and enjoyed the soaring slot in the afternoon. Gentle thermals to around 3000ft QFE.

The rest of the week looks flyable and potentially some good soaring later in the week.

winds 200/15 visibility 35K , modest thermals for part of the day.

Patrick Moran and Mike Walker now solo , while Rhys and Sebastian continue their training.

Ruth took her last launch of this season before returning to the wild north. Similarly John who will be doing the breakfast for the nationals took a currency launch before putting the ASW20 safely away in its trailer.

Some activity now as preparations begin for the Nationals next week, areas being marked out and grass trimming to make the place look more respectable.

The course had its own challenges with all 3 buggies out of action for a few hours, the exercise pushing the gliders helps to keep the waistline in perfect shape! Many thanks to Robin Birch for repairing the K21 puncture.

Probably a little breezy tomorrow, rain expected Thursday am and some good soaring pm.

David Roberts, a BGA vice president, has been awarded the prestigious FAI Silver Medal for 2018.

The award citation notes;

David Roberts has dedicated much of the last 20 years to defending the rights of the Air Sports community throughout Europe.

He has served terms of office with the European Gliding Union, as a Chairman of the British Gliding Association and as Chairman (and now Vice President) of the Royal Aero Club of the UK, as well as numerous positions within the Cotswold Gliding Club.

David joined the Board of Europe Air Sports in 2003 and was elected President in 2009, a role which he fulfilled until standing down in March 2018.

In early 2012 he initiated a challenge to the European regulators to adopt a different approach to the regulation of recreational and sporting aviation and was a leading member of the small team, under the leadership of the French CAA (the DGAC) that wrote the European General Aviation (GA) Safety Strategy paper in 2012, and which led directly to the European Commission’s “GA Roadmap” which is now being implemented.

David has been a vital contributor to the development of European Regulations, ensuring representation for the interests of the European Air Sports Community at the highest level.

CGC joins the wider Air Sports community in thanking David and congratulating him on this highly deserved recognition by the FAI.

Another excellent soaring day - perhaps the last of this exceptional summer?

Two flights over 400 Km were flown by Andy Smith and John Macwilliam.

Craig Mustowe completed the navigation part of his Cross-country Endorsement in the DG500

thermals late starting winds light NW

bacon sarnies on the bus at 8 am, first launch before 8.

Patrick Moran resoloed, Brian McDermid converted to the ASK23 and Max now flying unprompted flights and very close to solo.

The launch point was busy with many club members trying to soar in the difficult conditions and getting relaunches. Meanwhile a K8 from Nympsfield taunted us by soaring happily before landing at Aston Down. A total of 3 gliders from Nympsfield arrived during the day.

Our new CFI Simon Lucas popped in to see us , we all offer our thanks for the work Gerry Holden, our outgoing CFI, did for us.

220/15. cloudbases rising to 5000ft QNH

A very quiet morning before the thermals started going. Lots of lone pilots arrived for a launch and the course guys stepped up and got them launched with very few complaints---well done to the course guys who in some cases have less than 2 days experience, also thanks to those who stopped to give us a hand.

Everyone on the course had a decent soaring flight and some soaring training. The evening briefing was on finding and making good use of a thermal.

The evening flying group was busy again, flying visitors on flight experiences.

Wednesday will be good soaring, club day, Grant Needham sets off on his travels, cycling in the evening, and the course dinner at the Tunnel House.

Thursday will be more good soaring and Davids birthday.

Friday good pm and last launch 4 pm

Thanks to the efforts of Matt Page the internet is now back on while BT try to figure out why the new optic line is not working.

The course went well. Bob Carter went solo again his daughter Isabel is now an "unprompted pilot". Charlie Palmer, another junior is now the "handling pilot" as is Solomon Hodson (nephew to Adrian Giles). Many thanks to all the helpers this week, we couldnt have had a successful week without you.

You might notice the bus coolant level glass is now clear so it can be used properly, Tim Brailsford busied himself with this task on Saturday. Sadly no flying on Saturday due to the weather.

Sunday weather was dreadful, synoptic chart shown below.

The week ahead will show steadily improving weather, a new course starts on Monday, cycling on the airfield on Wednesday evening.

Grant Needham will be leaving us on Wednesday to start is motorhome tour of Europe, I am sure everyone will join me in a vote of thanks for his background support and wish him a safe tour.

very light winds and a soaring window from around 10 am to 5pm

Roger Bagley got the club flying underway and the course continued into another very long day.

Notam class D airspace nailed us to the ground in the morning, and a 2nd Notam appeared mid afternoon to limit our activities for a little under an hour.

It was a day for things to be repaired and that is when the team kicked into action. The pics tell it all, the bus main and auxialiary batteries were giving trouble with a quick fix from Richard and Tom, Robin did a pit stop on the K21 to get the brakes wirelocked properly, meanwhile ben and Matthew rigged up an alternative signalling system. A repair to the K21 tail dolly---it gets a lot of wear when we are doing launch failures and the electric buggy ran out of electrons and needed to be towed home. Thanks everyone for keeping smiling and keeping us flying---phew what a day.

Austin Rose completed his 2nd soaring flight for the cross country endorsement and all the course guys are now flying unprompted flights.

Winds 200/10 visibility 20K, thermic from about 12 oclock

Welcome to Matthew and Ben McEvoy, Philip Carter and Robert McLachlan.

Thanks again to Robin Birch for getting the 2 K21s airworthy---where would we be without him?

It was good to see club members flying the K23 and the K13, some good soaring was had in the afternoon.

Another good day tomorrow, see you all there.

Winds 020/10, visibility 30K, blue thermals to 6000ft

A steady return to normality after the busy competition week.

The Farnborough RIAT is now in place with an agreement that we have a sector up to 3000ft QFE.

Winchie David went home unwell , many thanks to Doug and Robin for stepping in and driving the winch for us.

The Culdrose expedition are enjoying themselves and benefiting from the good soaring conditions.

Remy , Patrick and Eddy are getting on well with the course---well on target for achieving their objectives.

Another good soaring day expected tomorrow---see you there.

Winds 060/10 mainly blue with Cu developing in athe afternoon.

The warm breeze kept the air feeling a little cooler today.

The Surrey Hills guys kept the field running for us, many thanks chaps. fran, Andy and Dave Freeman ventured out and were treated to a great afternoon of flying.

Barnaby Haye went solo after a gap of some decades today, well done to him. He then went off and flew for over an hour just to prove he could do it.

The day finished with a great BBQ, (many thanks to Mike Weston for organising the food and then cooking it!).Meanwhile the evening group took many first timers up for a taster.

Yesterday the Pik20E flew to RAF Llanbedr where they used to launch the target Jindivik UAVs for us to shoot down - there’s one in a hangar at Benalla, maybe because they were an Australian design.

Good enough locally but a climb to 6,000 feet quickly got across the dead air in the Severn valley and into decent lift again near Hereford. There 5,000ft climbs were available, improving to 6,000ft as the afternoon progressed.

The first photo is looking down the estuary towards Barmouth, about 20km short of Llanbedr.

The second shows Llanbedr airfield but more obviously the sea surface has a dark line caused by the tide running over a reef underneath, which is rumoured to be an old path to Ireland!!?? They found ancient forest trees near here after a huge gale recently.

The last photo was taken above Barmouth on the way home. There is a sea breeze coming in against the northeast wind and the resulting sea-breeze front is showing brown at top on the left, with a heath fire adding to it. I ran that convergence all the way as far as Hay-on-Wye on the way home to Aston Down.

Regards, John

Winds 090/05, blue thermals pm.

Matthew Okuhara, Barney Haye and William Haye on the course this week. William and Matthew are now handling the entire flight with prompts and Barney has just started on his launch failure refresher training.

The Surrey Hills expedition dragged the K23 out for an airing and like the rest of us, spent time keeping out of the sun.

The Spartan event stuff is now almost gone, and we expect preparations for the upcoming Enterprise week to begin soon. The showers are looking good after their refurbishment.

David Hart spent another day supporting the ground operations and grabbed a flight in the K23.

Jules flew his "duvet" before spending some time cutting grass in the caravan area in a bid to make it look a little tidier, thanks Jules.

The outlook for the rest of the week looks mainly blue and hot. Course flying will start at 7 am on Thursday and Friday and the last launch will be 1pm on Friday---this will give the Enterprise organisers some time for preparation.

Winds 240/10 cloudbase about 1000ft QFE.

Operating on 21 until freshening winds forced a move onto 27.

The day started with the hanger shuffle, moving the Pawnee to the rear of the hanger and the single seaters to the front. Thanks guys for the help.

Grass cutting continued on an ad hoc basis, Lawrence Wood and Paul Baker volunteered to do some mowing rather than sit around waiting for the weather to perk up. We now have a large area cut, fantastic job. As usual more volunteers required so we dont burden a few number, an hour each will do it easily.

Barrie Taylor and Jim Eva spent the day polishing their skills in readiness for good soaring on Thursday and Friday. Chris Sanderson is now the "handling pilot" coping with the entire flight from take off to landing.

Roger Bagley got the club flying underway and Tony Hayes took over a little later. Drizzle stopped play around 1pm.

The instructor training started after normal flying had finished and continued well into the evening.

Preparation for the Spartan event progresses satisfactorily, the South field will be out of bounds for flying ops from tomorrow (Thursday).

The outlook for the next two days is excellent, fingers crossed the forecast is accurate.

winds 260/20, visibility 30K cloud cover expected later (1000ft QFE) Wave

The Pawnee arrived and is now safely in the hanger ready for competition Enterprise.

The Spartan event preparation is now underway on the edge of the south field.

Barrie Taylor, Chris Sanderson and Jim Eva join us on the course this week.

Operating off runway 27, the guys had a good day of refreshers, the evening briefing was on effects of controls and threat and error management.

winds 060/05. cloudbases starting at 1300ft QFE and forecast to clear with a lowish inversion.

4 people on the course this week Andrew and Mick Keats, Collin Boden and Lawrence Wood. Andrew and Mick got themselves up to solo standard and Mick went solo, sadly the grass collection operations started and Andrew was unable to finish off his training. Well done to both of these very nice guys.

Collin and Lawrence are both club members and spent their week developing their flying skills and flew more advanced exercises as part of their post solo training.

The week was not particularly good for soaring, but everyone had a lot of fun.

misty to start with winds 060/05. low cloud most of the day, steadily rising to 1000ft.

The forecast improvement in cloudbase didnt materialise.

many thanks to Paul Lazenby Tim Brailsford and David Hart for your assistance, sadly Paul didnt get the weather conditions to take his friend flying and Tim didnt get the conditions for his hoped for soaring flight in the ASW19---he did however have the longest flight of the day (well 8 minutes is better than nothing).

The course had a good day, starting with the inevitable launch failure and low circuit training. Briefings on aircraft limitations and altimetry in preparation for the bronze C oral test. Bronze exams this week and preparation for the flying skills test.

meanwhile Richard and his shadow inspected and repaired various pieces of ground equipment (including my injured metal eagle---er inoors will be pleased). Dave Breeze got the mower out and gave the hangar field a trim---that was before the hydraulic hose came off! oh well back to the workshop.

We look forward to an improving day tomorrow.

winds 040/10, starting overcast and going blue with thermals to 2500ft.

Roger Bagley got the show on the road in preparation for Tony Hayes. The club flying was steady with winter refreshers featuring highly on the schedule. The Wednesday crew did their normal excellent job, keeping the launch rate going---good teamwork, thanks chaps.

Our visitors from Burn gave their aircraft a further airing today, hard work but good fun.

David Westcott went solo for the first time, congratulations to him. David is another member from Dartmoor and is preparing to be able to fly his newly acquired K6. Meanwhile James Purviss is now flying unprompted circuits, very well done to him.

David Hart, a professional driving instructor, spent the afternoon with Sally Purviss teaching her the finer points of towing caravans and trailers. We are very fortunate to have an experienced towing specialist available to the club members.

The Aim Higher group spent time in the classroom learning the finer points of cross country flying.

Our CFI took the motor glider on a field landing training session---its all go!

Another very good day.

Perhaps the pundits were exhausted by their previous day's efforts but tasks so far posted to the National Ladder were more modest.

The beginners continued to enjoy more soaring and upper air exercises, so are now realising what gliding is all about.

Two visiting Australians who dropped in were highly delighted to experience the joys of soaring, saying they would look up a suitable place to take up the sport when they got back home.

lighter winds, cumulus and strong thermals.

The 8.15 morning briefing was well attended.

The course finished on a high note with Chris Owen completing his 2nd qualifying flight for his cross country endorsement. All 3 pilots achieved their goals this week.

For a change the K21 flew mini triangles while Pete Harvey polished his soaring skills and inter thermal techniques.

Another very busy day at the launchpoint, thanks everyone who pitched in and helped.

The picture is Pete Harvey starting to climb away near Kemble.

Winds 030/15 visibility 15K and some isolated rain showers
Kemble class D until 9.45 am

The Parham boys took themselves off to the Yeovilton Air Museum for the day.

Well done to Chris Owen resoloed in the K23.

Robin Birch stood in as duty instructor and found himself busy and that was before the 5 UWE students arrived! between us we managed to complete all the training, and a good day was had by all.

Once again many thanks to the regular Wednesday crew for helping us run a slick launchpoint .

The instructor team took over at the end of the regular flying day and undertook their own aerotw refresher training with Gerry.

Should be a reasonable soaring day tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Winds 350/10, CAVOK, strong thermals from 11 am.

Kemble Class D airspace restricted activity during part of the afternoon, but otherwise a quiet day

Course No 9 started today. Welcome Pete Harvey, Chris Owen and Adrian Irwin. All 3 are now solo, and we are hoping the ASW19 will be back on line for them sometime during the week.

Andy Smith managed the Mynd and back, well done in blue conditions. Mostly pilots stayed local with lengthy soaring flights.

Looks like more of the same tomorrow.

Chris Owen is seen here packing up after a productive first day of the course.

Winds 220/25, good visibility and a few showers later in the day.

Well done to Stephen Fletcher, a pilot from Dartmoor GC who has completed his silver distance flight, well done to Rex Lampier on his first solo, and Martin Capps a pilot from Usk who passed his bronze C exam.

It was good to see a bunch of club members who decided today would be a better flying day than Wednesday , smart move! Thanks for all your help guys.

The K21 (LRT) was delivered back today, the workshop has more steelwork on it, and the motor gliders were out in force giving themselves an airing.

Picture shows Steve having a senior moment, putting little bits in a bin with big holes in it?

winds 250/25 with the risk of Cunims.

Operating from 27 for the 2nd time this week. Soaring became excellent later in the day with a mix of blue thermals and wave.

It was good to see Lesley at the launchpoint, complete with delicious nibbles for everyone.

Colin Stringer took advantage of the offer to fly the ASW19---he didnt need telling twice.

A couple private owners braved the weather and came out to join us, sadly Adrian Giles spent the best part of the day doing essential fettling to his glider.

The day ended with dinner at the Canal Tunnel.

Picture of the ASW19 ready to go and a view from 4000ft QFE.

A very warm day. Blue. winds finally 240/05.

The launchpoint was busy with pilts giving their gliders an airing.

Thanks Roger for giving the K23 a good wash and clean out.

The course continues well, pilots making progress.

Tony Parker had a visitor from Usk, completing his BI rating.

Climbs were possible to around 3000ft QFE better than predicted.

Winds 200/45, vis 30K, Rain later,cloudbases 1500ft QFE

4 members on the course, including one instructor (Steve Moore from Culdrose) having refresher training.

Brian McDermid a helicopter engineer, Trevor Ledger and Phil May retired serial course members.

Many thanks to Steve Glasset and Adrian Giles who stepped in to winch while David went to get treatment for his pulled muscle.

The flying could be described as sporting with 45 knot upper winds and significant wind gradients, a steep learning curve for everyone, but really good fun.

The weather should be better for. the 2nd half of the week..

Winds 040/10. Cloudbases rising to 600ft QFE

The day started in the classroom with a briefing on field selection and cross country navigation.

More exam work, congratulations to Steve Wilkinson on passing his bronze C exam. Colin Stringer and David Hart both completed the annual refreshers, so a good use of time for them.

The afternoon was filled with more power failure training and practice. Everyone is now feeling very comfortable and confident with the procedure.

Cloud bases came back down to zero feet, time to pack up and retire to the Woolpack in Slad for a pint of Old Spot and a fantastic dinner.

The pictures show the team photo from 3 years ago to the day with Mike and Steve in summer gear, and the contrasting picture with Colin Stringer after just landing.

The weather should be a little brighter tomorrow, the course may even get to the top of the winch launch!

Low cloud winds 090/10 but no drizzle.

Cloud bases eventually went to 1000ft QFE, in time to get david Hart, Colin and Steve off for a solo circuit.

The course guys are prepared to keep going come what may. The pictures show the team giving the buggy a helping hand to move the K21 and Davids suggested alternative winch towing vehicle!

The best day of the week. Winds started light NW and then changed to southerly later.

Strong thermals for most of the day and several single seat owners ventured out. The K23 and Astir also came out of the hangar.

Class D airspace around Kemble held us up for a little while in the morning, and then we could get cracking.

The course continues to progress well, Gemma had a session in the motor glider with Gerry to practice her circuits, while Tony and Andy tried to wear out the Astir.

The Sportability group flew with Mike Weston and his team and used the aerotow, lots of smiling faces.

The course finally adjourned to the Canal Tunnel for dinner.

Winds 220/25 with low cloudbases to start and rising to 3000ft and strong thermals for a while.

We welcome Tony onto the course to join the others. Tony is a silver C pilot who has not flown for 12 months.

Well done Andy who is now flying the Astir as part of his bronze C development and prep for the GFT.

The evening groups have just started and it was good to see Paul Lazenby ready to get going after the course flying day had finished.

Class in the evening covered winch launching and how to reduce the risk of yaw on the ground run.

Nile is seen here coming to the end of his ground run.

rain showers forecast throughout the day, winds 150/10.

The course guys ventured out in the rain for their last day. High spirits and laughs all day, Matt had a whole load of young visitors, curious to see what he was up to at the airfield.

Matt was ready for solo but the weather didnt play ball so it is always better to be down here wishing you were up there, than being up there wishing you were down here. The other course members are also now very close to solo.

Rain finally stopped play and we packed up after a very interesting day.

Gerald has been spotted, Im sure its because David gives him his sandwiches.

On March 19th I was privileged to visit UWE and the Gliding Society AGM.

There were 13 students there, not a big turnout but enough to provide candidates for all the roles. In fact there were no less than three people vying for the president's role. The successful candidate is Dan Williams, well known at Aston Down as he has brought parties of students to the airfield in his red Micra. I took my simulator (it's been a busy week) and the students took turns to race to Nympsfield. Dan Hayday was the fastest. The biggest gripe at the meeting was the weather, many of them have not flown for many months despite coming to the club on planned trips. They were all very excited though, and are looking forward to the coming months. They are very keen to do their bit to support our club and be active members, even wanting to get involved in the workshop with the Ka13 restoration.

Adrian Giles

Winds forecast 300/20, rain sleet and grains of snow, with lowish cloudbases.

Not a great interest from the club members today, they know what a poor day looks like.

The course spent the morning in the classroom covering the ab-initio briefs, meanwhile Robin Birch was attempting to fix a sticky canopy on ENK.

Flying started about 1.30, an efficient team made it possible for us to fly 18 times in between some very intersting showers.

Well done everyone.

Winds 300/20, low cloud to start.

Welcome to the course members Neil, Rhys and Matthew. The day started with launch failure practice, when the drizzle arrived, Neil produced some amazing sausage baps which were very welcome, nothing like comfort food to cheer us all up.

Cloud bases lifted later to allow us full height launches and even some soaring. Then its back to the classroom to talk about stalling.

Another great day.

Neil Gilbranch produces a sausage roll for everyone

winds 240/15, good visibility and some thermal activity.

The airfield fairly quiet with the motor glider getting an outing and the course.

Well done Clint, after 4 days is competently flying unprompted around circuits.

Mike and Simon are now flying their Discus.

Thanks to David Hart for helping out on the ground.

The day was finished off nicely with a meal at the Canal Tunnel. Another day in paradise.

Snow on the ground and 25knot winds, very cold. Soarable for a few hours in the afternoon. Good visibility.

Welcome to Clint Cosser (a new club member), Mike Stephens (an ex hang glider pilot from Camphill) and Simon Stannard ( a member from Camphill).

A surprisingly good day, we just needed to have a hot drink every now and again to revive.

Many thanks to Chris Power for assisting with the initial ground training.

The winds should be less challenging tomorrow and it will be above zero temperatures!

.

Saturday 24th February was swarming with teenagers. The welcome scene of initiative, activity and keenness was something to behold. We never had to ask to get gliders pushed back and manoeuvred into line after landing well down runway 09. All the other launch point tasks were equally well looked after. The instructors were grateful for coordination of all this activity by a well-known parent who was present.
There were altogether some 19 youngsters - 5 UWE members, 5 scouts and at least 5 CGC Junior members, plus 2 One Day Course participants and one or two other heavily outnumbered grown ups. Over 40 flights took place in spite of a stop for a Royal Flight and a temporary winch failure. These hold ups provided the only rest for the three instructors during what seemed a long day keeping up with all the enthusiasm.

The DG500 visited Midland Gliding Club a few weeks ago to fly with junior pilots from across the country as part of the UK Junior Gliding winter series. We managed 150 launches over the weekend, and around 70 juniors were able to experience flying from a new airfield.

Supporting young people getting into aviation is one of the club's key aims as a BGA Junior Gliding Centre. We will be hosting the first of the new Summer Series events at Aston Down in May, which will focus on training and development for junior pilots looking to achieve their bronze and cross-country badges.

Many thanks to the club and the committee for your continued support of UK Junior Gliding.

The Club's Accounts for the previous year (2015-16) have now been reviewed and a certificate of examination provided by the Club's independent accountant, Mrs Helen Turner. The accounts and the certificate can be found in the AGM 2018 folder on this website.

The Chairman's report at the AGM 28 January 2017 is filed in the AGM 2017 folder on this website, together with the powerpoint presentation of the various reports and the accounts.

The Club's Accounts for 2016-17 will be available at the AGM. They are being reviewed currently by the Club's independent accountant. Her certificate will be available in the next few weeks and will be posted on the website.

DGR / chairman

Not a bad day's flying for December. Full marks to Duty Pilot, Grant Needham for getting the hangar doors open before 8.00am and working tirelessly at the launch point. Our trial lesson visitors enjoyed some good flights in the sunshine and excellent visibility. UWE student Arnie from Brazil had a good introduction to gliding with five flights in the K21. By half-past two we'd run out of people to fly and retired to the warmth of the club house. In the evening we all enjoyed a really excellent Christmas meal thanks to the efforts of Jacqui Huband, Helen Weston and John and Di Docherty.

The weather went almost precisely to forecast. The heavy rain that greeted us at 8 o'clock cleared through the morning and we were able to get in the air just after 11.00. Thereafter, the two-seaters were kept busy flying the one-day course and enthusiastic groups of ATC scouts and UWE students. Flying was delayed in the afternoon by one of the most impressive winch snarl-ups I have ever seen (who would have thought you can crochet steel cable?), the tow-truck getting bogged down in the wet grass and a change of runways. The last flights of the day were completed to the backdrop of a spectacular sunset.

What a grey day. The airfield was wreathed in rain and low cloud for most of the morning and it wasn't until mid-day that we could finally get airborne. Thereafter the two-seaters were kept busy flying an enthusiastic group of UWE students and Indi and Lee on the one-day course. We didn't quite have to line up car headlights for the last landing, but it was dark by the time we got the toys away. Many thanks to Richard Cawsey for driving the winch.
We all wish Chairman David Roberts a speedy recovery after his heart surgery.

Last Saturday (16th September 2017) members who attended a Special General Meeting gave the go-ahead to the committee to implement a plan to invest in a new glider maintenance workshop facility. After a very well coherent and well-balanced debate, and after considering all other options, the decision was for a new building 12m x 20m rather than 12m x 28m. This will be situated at the rear of the present workshop with access from the approach road to the Gun Butts. Members tasked the committee with exploring the possibility of grant funding from a relatively recent fund established in Sport England, ahead of a decision to partly fund the development with loan finance from the Phillip Wills Memorial Fund (BGA).
At the conclusion of the meeting the Chairman thanked John McWilliam for his efforts in putting together alternative solutions. But the Chairman overlooked the contributions of others, and in particular Richard Carter, who had moved these proposals along over the last year or two. He wishes to thank Richard and others who has contributed to the proposals for getting us to a decision point.
DGR / chairman

Early conditions were tricky at Aston Down with almost no wind and low cloudbase but worth the effort as it turned into a cracking day.
The BGA ladder flights logged for yesterday - Andy Smith in the Ventus completed a 519km task, as did David Briggs and Mike Weston in the Arcus, Doug Gardner, after fixing a technical problem completed 409km, John McWilliam and Stuart Pepler in the Nimbus did 508km. Mike Randle flew 310km with Geoff Dixon completing several laps of the club 100km and Tom Gooch after a late arrival at the club did the club 100km.

Not bad for September! Let's hope that there are still more cross country days to come!

Thanks to the ground crew who helped us all get into the air.

Perhaps someone who was at AD all day could comment how the day went, I'm sure that everyone local flying had a good day as well.

We have acquired a new buggy, for use for example on trial lessons for ferrying temporary members from the glider to the bus when landing long way from the launch point. It is a four seater (!) and most important it is ELECTRIC, with a new extensive set of batteries within the purchase price. We are told that when in use on a golf course the charged batteries last 2 days, which should be the equivalent of 10 to 11 miles' use. But it is more prudent to put it on charge each evening; Richard is fixing a charging point inside the hangar on the LH side, and is modifying it by addition of a tow bar, yellow beacon light etc. Richard is also arranging for a charging point from the bus, should the buggy run out of charge on the runway. Also remember to disconnect the charging lead each morning before driving off. Big reminder notices will be displayed !
It is in excellent condition, only a year or so old from a golf course that changes its kit every year, and unmarked by any misuse. Please let's try and keep it in excellent condition........

DGR / Chairman

Sunday 13th was good for both cross country and training achievements.

Plenty of very strong thermals were reported, both locally and further afield. I heard one reliable report of a steady 8 kts and many of over 5 kts.

According to National Ladder postings Cotswold pilots completed five tasks of over 300 km including two of the big two seaters flying over 420 Km at speeds of 93 and 96 Kph over the same course, one being credited with 3 Km less due to using 'Barrel' TPs rather than FAI sectors.

The club DG500 was used for its intended purpose of cross-country training, although requiring an aerotow retrieve from Shennington after running out of the wherewithal.

There was the usual training and trial lesson merry-go-round. Two members achieved conversions, one to the K23 and one to the Astir.

Mike

Back to normal after the competition. Both days were flyable albeit with thundery showers interrupting Saturday. Sunday was better than forecast and the thermals were ready almost before first launch. There were a couple of cycles of over-development but all the cross country pilots got away by lunch time and despite challenges along the way, everyone got back. A small band of club flyers made good use of the fleet with everyone getting a soaring flight. Very nice to be flying with members who've returned to Gliding after first sampling it in the 20th century! The Trial lessons included a "recovering stag party". Fortunately, sick bags, though available, were not deployed. ;-)

Bit of late news. The Glide Britain team arrived at Aston Down this evening from Mendip Club with the Lasham Ka21 - by road as there were no thermals to fly from Mendip to Aston Down. On Wednesday morning (19th) the cameramen will be pointing his lens at our activities as part of the making of a marketing film for gliding. Although very late to be asked to organise this, we have a young member, one of the Lazenby 'boys' lined up to talk to camera about our wonderful sport, and we have our oldest active pilot also lined up - Ken Lloyd who at 88 is still flying one of the hottest gliders at the Club, his ASH 25.
For late night owls, if you want to be on film tomorrow for posterity - and maybe TV next year - do turn up by 09.00 please and smile sweetly at the lens !

Subject to weather, there is a planned mass competition balloon arrival early morning (est. 06.30 to 08.00 BST) on Sat 23 and Sun 24 Sept. The last time this event took place was two years ago. Come to see the spectacle and mingle with balloonists. Breakfast first come first served. There may be opportunities to fly in a balloon for free, but it will mean getting up very early. If interested please let Gill have your name for a list. Again, FCFS.
DGR / chairman

Thanks to Paul Lazenby who was at club 06.30 to get the kit out including winches, replacing all the ferrules before I arrived 8.45. We gave Andy Smith his launch at 9.45 for his declared 750 km task. Here's a pic of Andy after he crawled out of the cockpit after some 9.5 hours.

What surprised me was that there were only four other private gliders at the launch point at 10.30 and the club gliders weren't arriving until a few minutes later.Where was everyone on the best weekend day of the year so far ? Even during the peak of the day I think only about 12 privately owned gliders had launched. The duty team was also very thin on the ground in the morning, other than the instructors and one other person.

Anyway, those who did turn up had a great day - there was a 515km (John McWilliam) a 450 for Jon Huband, a 333 for Rob Corbin and 246 for Tom Gooch. There was even a 818km done from Lasham !

So, great day out, eh Grommit?

DGR / chairman

It was a day of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. We were all set for a first launch by 9.30 but had to wait for the low clag to lift and break- typical 1st July weather. We eventually got airborne at 11.00, but a cable break and some winch problems caused further delays, By the time we'd fixed the winch, the wind had backed and we were forced to change ends. The afternoon's forecast tempted a number of private owners out, but most of them found the conditions weren't as good as they looked - few of the clouds worked and there was some really chunky sink around. Despite the problems we had a good day's flying and, with the assistance of Barry Key, we ended up with two happy customers on the one-day course.
Thanks are due to winch drivers Martyn Hayward and Richard Cawsey, and the ground team of Stuart Thakray, Paul McTurk, Richard Burgoyne, Helen Wilson and Peter Laws.

In the hope that those members who stay to the end of the day to pack the hangar will still be able to read, here is the guide to hangar packing (south side version; the north side one is the opposite instructions) being put up by John McWilliam. The purpose is to ensure the cockpits of gliders are located close to the battery charging drop-down plugs and cables in the hangar. Objective: all club gliders have fully charged batteries every day.

On Thursday evening 18th May Larry Bleaken, who is our Club's President and the longest standing member (since the Club formed on 1st August 1964), received the Bronze Medal of the Royal Aero Club of the UK, at the RAF Club London. The presentation was made by the Commanding Officer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Andy Millikin. Larry's flying partner in his Stemme S10, Andrew Flewelling, and Club Chairman David Roberts accompanied Larry to the event and 'dined him out' afterwards.
Congratulations to Larry !
Photos by Martin Gammon

The link below (to BBC iPlayer) takes you to a programme shown on Saturday 20 May featuring the Wolds Gliding Club and the two-seater competition, about 2 minutes into the programme. If you not already registered with iPlayer, it is simple to do so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08bbmyb/yorkshire-wolds-way-episod...

Sometime later this year - don't know when - Cotswold GC will feature in Countryfile on the BBC.

DGR / chairman

We are holding a Club Briefing in the clubhouse at 18.30 hrs on Saturday 20th May, after flying. All are welcome to get an update on various things topical. It is also an opportunity for new members to meet other club members and learn about how the club operates. There will be food - a home-made curry - for up to 60 people, and bookings will be taken through a link I'll set up for 'Doodle' calendar.

Next weekend is also the Spartan event ( http://www.spartanrace.uk/en/race/detail/1924/overview ) car parking for which will be on the main runway south of the intersection of the runways. We shall be operating on a shortened main runway, as we did last year very successfully. Operational instructions for the day will be posted in the clubhouse and on the bus, including where to park equipment and where to rig private gliders. If the wind direction / strength is such that the cross runway (09/27) would be the obvious choice, we cannot use that due to cable drop risks in relation to car parking and the west side perimeter track traffic. Whilst the Spartan event causes us a limited amount of disruption, the financial benefit to the Club is very substantial, so please do not complain !

Not from Aston Down but worthy of mention. On 7th of May Klaus Ohlmann flew in mountain wave from the French Alps, to Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and finally landing in Southern Italy. Details on the OLC website.

Yes, Tuesday did qualify as Epic for flights from Lxxxxm and the South Downs but this blog is for Aston Down. We have a nucleus of pilots who regularly fly over 500 Km and who are an inspiration to us all. Today two of them were absent at work or abroad, nevertheless we had flights of 503 Km, 416 Km, 403 Km and 316 Km. Two enjoyed spectacular conditions inland from the south coast before returning.
The day started with good thermals but later in the afternoon wave conditions enhanced thermals at times, but suppressed them with massive sink at others. A few pilots reported climbing into wave, reaching 5-6000. Those who launched when the massive sink was over the airfield had very short flights. The course and the Wednesday regulars had a very good day's flying.

An excellent training and cross country day, or it would have been a good training day if there had been more U/T members to take advantage of it, so a lot of two seaters were sitting on the ground much of the time.
Long wings completed their 300k tasks but shorter wings had difficulties and one landed out

A big thank you to the club for letting the juniors borrow the DG500 for the Winter Series events over the past few months. We had three very successful trips to Portmoak, Long Mynd and Nympsfield which gave many young pilots the opportunity to experience ridge, wave and thermal soaring at different airfields.

The Winter Series is organised by the UK Junior Gliding group which promotes gliding to young people throughout the UK. The Winter Series and other events play an important part in getting more young people into gliding and ensuring a prosperous future for our sport.

Here are a few photos from a ridge day in Scotland and cross-country flying in the Cotswolds. Thank you all for your continued support of our junior members.

I am delighted to let all members know that two members of the Club have been granted awards from, firstly, the Royal Aero Club and secondly the British Gliding Association.

Larry Bleaken, the President of the Cotswold GC has been awarded a Bronze Medal of the Royal Aero Club of the UK. The citation for his award is below.

"Larry Bleaken is a founding member of the Cotswold Gliding Club, formed on 1st August 1964. He is the only founding member who remains a member of the Club to this day. In 1980 when the Government of the day put the ex-RAF airfield at Aston Down up for sale by auction, Larry was instrumental in the complicated processes and various negotiations that resulted in the Club acquiring a significant part of the airfield. As a property man his expertise, skills and contacts were vital in ensuring success, not least in finding and securing alternative finance when a major bank pulled its support just weeks before the auction. With a commercial acumen that left others in his wake, he did a variety of deals that left those involved spellbound. In the following 35 years Larry has been continuously a member of the 5 person board of directors of the land-owning company established by the Club. His wisdom, advice, guidance and sheer ‘nouse’ has meant that the Club has a very significant freehold unencumbered airfield asset that provides long-term security for gliding in the Cotswolds. Whilst his flying has reduced with advancing years, he is still able to climb into his Stemme S10 Touring Motor Glider to get a view of the airfield that he was absolutely pivotal in securing".

Richard Carter has been awarded a BGA Diploma. He was unable to attend the presentation on Saturday at the BGA Conference, but I was able to accept it on his behalf. Again, the citation for his award is given below.

"Richard Carter has been the key volunteer ground equipment engineer at Cotswold Gliding Club, Aston Down, for very many years. The gliding movement relies upon people such as Richard to keep clubs operating. Throughout each year come rain, snow, hail, winds, sunshine or a glorious gliding day he can be found on at least one day a week, invariably more, working in the club’s workshop on some essential piece of equipment. His ability to find solutions to engineering or mechanical problems, without spending a fortune, is legendary. He can turn his hand to most things that need a solution. Only at the AGM - when the club chairman acknowledges formally the work of people like Richard - are many members fully aware of what efforts go on behind the scenes by volunteers such as Richard to keep everyone else flying. Richard was made a life member by the Club a few years ago in recognition of his work. The time is right to now recognise him nationally by this nomination for a BGA Diploma".

Many congratulations to both Larry and Richard for these well-deserved honours.

David Roberts / Chairman / CGC

The final Saturday in January was forecast cold and possibly wet with lots of hot air in the evening at the AGM.

Four Air Cadets arrived for their first flights, along with three Semichons and three other Junior pilots. Gary Cross was almost the only other member present who wasn't on the duty rota, which proves its worth.

The first task to show the cadets was how to rig a K21. Geoff didn't manage to frighten them off doing this and they all flew during the day. The rain never showed up, Gary did his winter refreshers and best of all several Semichons and other youngsters managed to re-solo after a gap of several months. The final task was de-rigging the K13 for its ARC.

The AGM was an excellent evening, with great food from Steve Glassett. Thanks Steve. Andy Smith took a lot of cups for flying too far and too fast for an old chap, and Matt Page was awarded the Mike Weston Trophy for significant service to the club. Matt has helped with IT, Junior gliding, and last year the competition. Helen Wilson was the Best Junior in 2016. A full list of prizes will be published in Polebender, except the White Stick Award.

Correction to the previous posting from the office:

The AGMs of ADF Ltd and Cotswold GC will be on Saturday 28th JANUARY 2017 not 28th February. The formal notice and agenda for the CGC AGM will be published later next week.

David Roberts / Chairman

As many will know, Don Puttock decided at the end of the 2016 season to move on to 'pastures new'. For three years he has delivered a great and very successful course programme, for which we thank him sincerely.

So, the search then started for someone to replace Don. Over this last weekend we met with and interviewed a candidate for the course instructor for 2017. I am pleased to say that Stanislaw Sawicki from Warsaw met with our requirements and we have offered him the role which he has accepted verbally. Stanislaw (pronounced Stanislav) hopes to start at the end of March but may have to delay his arrival until sometime in April due to his other job in Warsaw, from Autumn to Spring each year, teaching English at the Academy of Warsaw. We look forward to welcoming him in the Spring. His wife, who works in a school, and 9 year old son will probably join him here in late June.

DGR / chairman

Yesterday the Ka 23 was test flown by Robin Birch and then an orderly queue of club members formed to fly it. The other photo is of company owner Robert Novak and Ksenija Novak handing over the finished product to me at their workshop in Lesce, Slovenia.

Don Puttock's last day running courses at Aston Down was yesterday. He and his wife jetted off a 3 a.m. today from Birmingham A/P for some sunshine in the Canaries. On behalf of everyone I can say that Don has provided three years of dedicated energy, excellent training and encouragement to all who came on our courses. Despite the vagaries of the weather, from late March this year to yesterday, there was not a single weekday when the course members did not fly. If the cloud-base was low, then "let's do cable break practice" said Don !
After three years at AD he has decided to move on to "pastures new" for 2017. We wish Don all the best for the future, wherever he is. We shall be hosting a farewell lunch for him, probably in early December. In the meantime the search for his successor gets under way.
Our winch driver Dave Taylor will be working with us during the winter, doing a variety of maintenance and other jobs under the supervision of Richard Carter. For the next two weeks he is away, taking a rest from the daily grind of winching.

DGR / chairman

Please take note of the following NOTAM.

Q) EGXX/QRPXX/IV/NBO/W/000/999/5504N00500W999
B) FROM: 16/10/10 06:45C) TO: PERM
E) REMOVAL OF 5 NUCLEAR PROHIBITED/RESTRICTED AREAS FROM UK AIP AND
RELEVANT VFR CHARTS:
EG P106 HARWELL
EG R156 BRADWELL
EG R501 CHAPELCROSS
EG R218 TRAWSFYNYDD
EG P047 WINFRITH
REMOVE ENTRIES IN AK AIP AND AMEND ALL ASSOCIATED CHARTS INCLUDING:
UK AIP ENR 5.1, ENR 6.5.1.1, CAA 1:250 000 CHART, CAA 1:500 000
CHART REFERS
LOWER: SFC
UPPER: UNL

Very nice day for October. First Red Team outing for the new K21. No scratches yet, but it did get wet as the rain came at 4.30 and stopped play. Arcus went on a trip to Devizes and back and a visiting jet-assisted Shark took a few Launches, taking advantage of our nice big airfield to get accustomed to their glider on the winch. Aerotows were available and taken by a few members. Many thanks to KTOW for coming over in between the poor weather at the start and end of the day. Thanks also to UWE members for helping at the launch point.

The Ka 21 ENK is U/S pending repair to the trailing edge of the elevator as a result of it being damaged on entry to the hangar on 4 October. Robin will hopefully do the repair w/c 10 Oct.
The winches have been undergoing minor repairs for exhaust and roller replacement. Should be operating Thursday.
The Flarm in the DG 500 (KNK) is now working - Robin has sorted it by just "pressing the right buttons" he tells me. But when starting it up there is an error message which is merely to say that the obstacle data base needs updating - can someone with a micro SD card reader and knowledge of Flarm online downloads please oblige by doing that. Don't all rush.
Did you know that you can check the serviceability status of gliders and ground equipment on the club website / members section? Providing it is kept up-to-date of course.
News from Slovenia on the Ka 23. With a fair wind and suitable weather for the test flight in Slovenia in about two weeks time - better to do it there than here as it is a long way to drive back if there are any problems - I should be able to collect it w/c 24 October. Hopefully it should be ready for flight at AD on 29 October.
And as Gill has reminded everyone, 1st October was the start of our new financial year; memberships and other annual charges are due. Please call her with your credit card details ! The memberships are not posted on the Glidex accounts system yet as we have to complete the transactions for the old year before entering data for the new year, so as to get a "clean cut off" for the annual accounts. So please bear with us. However the hangar, caravan and private owner facility (formerly "trailer rents") charges for the new year are on the Glidex accounts as these are generated automatically by the computer's calendar.

DGR / chairman

Adam Mayo went solo today. Here he is with instructor Brian Birlison.

A good forecast brought out a large grid of private owners alongside the club fleet and four instructors but sadly again, no winch driver! Many thanks to Paul Lazenby who instead of instructing, drove the winch for the morning session. Apparently the day looked better than it was with a number of private and club gliders landing back, others had some good flights. Some new members and trial lessons kept the instructors busy and conditions improved towards the end of the day for some extended flights.
One of the funnier moments was a radio conversation that went like this - Aston Down, glider XXX downwind for runway 08 - then Aston Down XXX finals for 08 , XXX Aston Down, we don't have a 08 - Aston Down XXX main runway then - XXX Aston Down, good landing on runway 21.
The day ended with a retrieve for Kevin Russell who having been to Lasham didn't quite make it back and landed in a cultivated field next to the polo field which required a 4x4 retrieve!
Let's hope that there are a few more days left in the season.

For the whole of last week a group of 12 junior members took the opportunity to fly with the same two volunteer instructors - Mike Randle and Robin Birch - and Gerry our CFI, and to consolidate their learning and skills. They were blessed with some good weather. On the 29th, bank holiday Monday, they had to mix it with lots of private owners wanting the launch and get away cross-country, as well as operating alongside the normal weekly course with three student pilots, and other club flying. Aaron Jones went solo in the Ka13 on Thursday, and there were two re-solos during the week. The instructors survived not only all the flying but the youngsters' cooking as well ! By Friday there were some very tired but happy youngsters. It is planned this becomes a regular flying week for young people, to strengthen the Club's status as a BGA Junior Gliding Centre.
The first two photos are of Aaron Jones's first solo.
DGR / chairman

On Thursday I was at Aviation Directorate in the European Commission in Brussels, and saw this on the wall of a corridor.

DGR / chairman

Philip Walker and Andy Smart set off from the Club early on Monday 29th August to collect the Club's new Ka 21 from Schleicher's factory at Poppenhausen, Germany (east of Frankfurt). The photo is of the trailer parked on the road today, below the factory. They plan to be be back at Aston Down on Friday. The glider will be on ground risk insurance only and will not be flown for a few weeks because the paperwork has to be turned around with the CAA, and we want the annual maintenance date to run from October not September.
More to follow......!

DGR / chairman

A couple of old tired parachutes that had reached the end of their useful life ( for us anyway) were given to a group of Adrian's friends going to Malawi in west Africa last summer. Malawi is one of the poorest contries in the world, and the children there can find good uses for all sorts of things, including parachutes! I wonder what they could do with a Ka8.

An excellent RASP forecast brought out many private owners but again there were just a few members wanting instruction. The promised good weather hadn't turned up by mid-afternoon so a lot of gliders were put away. That was the cue for some breaks in the cloud to appear and in the end there was some decent local soaring to be had. Notable event of the day was Chris Godding's first solo.

A strong west wind limited training possibilities which was just as well as once again we only had two instructors, one of whom was occupied in the briefing room and in the air with pre-booked cross-country training. This became mainly an exercise in cloud selection without much cross-country progress, although we did get into the wave for a time with a bit of cloud flying.
However first prize went to Ed Foggin who got to 5400 ASL in the private DG500 with a 16 year old German gliding visitor on a flight lasting 85 minutes at the end of the day. Picture below.

Slithery intruder:
Darren on his way down the clubhouse stairs encountered an 18 inch grass snake industriously slithering up. It was transferred to a more suitable habitat.

Dave Taylor, our winch driver, has to be away from AD on Monday the 8th. Chris Power has offered to stand in for part of the day, but would like to have someone else help out, probably for the 2nd half of the day. Any offers please let me know at chairman@cotswoldgliding.co.uk

Many thanks

DGR / chairman

Ka 21 G-EENK was back on line last week following its annual inspection and some additional work on the tailplane fixings. Thanks to Robin Birch for turning this around. The PW6 (G-CKRX) has been delivered back to Essex GC, its purchasers, from Pete Wells' repair facility after the damage repairs were completed. So, the end of an era of PW6s and we now look forward to the new Ka 21 being collected from Germany at the end of August.

We gave 7 days notice 14 days ago that we need the grass cutting by our farmer neighbour. Today the grass was obviously getting too long, as the Ka 21 (GBF) did a 180 ground-loop (no damage fortunately). This evening I have been told the grass cutting is under way and will continue tomorrow. There is over 110 acres to be cut which takes time, of course.

Talking of grass cutting, our thanks to Julian Eaton, our new(ish) member who "flies the duvet" (paramotor), Julian is becoming a regular user of the John Deere tractor with the mowing equipment. Over the last few days Julian had mown most of the areas we as a club look after, as opposed to the main landing areas which the farmer does. It is looking great. The only bits he hasn't done are around the few parked gliders by the tower and caravan park. So those owners know where the tractor is....!

The Ka 21 (ENK) is now at the main agent - Zulu Glasstek (Pete Wells) in Buckinghamshire for replacement of the tailplane bushes. Hopefully it will be back at CGC in the next 10 days or so. The PW6, also with Pete, is nearly ready for delivery back to Essex GC who bought it in January but we had to fix certain things that were wrong with it.

The new Ka 21 is now scheduled to be collected from the factory in Germany at the end of August. It will take a week or two to get the paperwork sorted on import.

DGR / chairman

Two first solos today by Helen Wilson and Pierre-Marie Semichon

Saturday dawned grey and 'orrible and I was expecting to have to cancel the day's flying. But by mid-day the cloud had lifted just enough for us to get airborne. Thereafter, visitors, Sam, Claire, Rachel and June enjoyed a good afternoon's flying under the clag.
Sunday's weather was much better and Anna, Alex (aspiring fast-jet pilot), Alison, Jemma and Emily had a great day's flying in wall-to-wall sunshine.
Many thanks are due to: Phillipa Roberts for her enthusiastic briefings and doing an outstanding job of looking after the ladies on the ground, Mike Weston and Tony Parker, for helping out with the instruction, Lesley and Helen for helping on the ground and planning/marketing, John Docherty for helping with the marketing, Jacqui Huband for making the lunch on both days, and last but not least, everyone who was around on Saturday and Sunday and did a really great job of making our visitors feel welcome.

Forecast winds 360/30, visibility 25K.

Despite the breeze, a productive day.

Some reduced sink in ridge and wave over the Stroud valley and the opportunity to practice circuits and approaches in stronger winds.

Many thanks to the cadets and their instructors for their assistance at the launchpoint.

We managed to pack away 5 minutes before the very heavy rains started and moved to the classroom to brief on threat and error management, speed to fly and stalling.

Another great training day.

Don

winds 090/10, cloud 2000-3000ft

A quiet club day, operating off runway 09.

Various helpers popped in during the day including Michael Hawkins from last weeks course, Jules and Paul Lazenby.

The spartan race preparations continue in the south field, and grass cutting in the north fields.

Very well done to Robert Maclachlan and Ian Ashby for converting to the K23. They were both delighted with the sailplane.

Robert and Ian are shown here, Robert sporting his new soaring hat. Soaring hats are now provided to course members.

We arrived back to find a team led by our chairman preparing to undertake tidying duties in the hangar. The work never stops.

A chilly northerly wind and overcast. cloudbases 1500 ft rising to 3000ft QNH.

The morning started with a team of volunteers, led by Paul Lazenby, arrived to repair the damaged winch cables. Efficiently done and both winches are now back in business---thanks guys.

Grass collection continued during the day, and the first equipment started arriving for the Spartan Run on Saturday. (The picture shows the first tent in the South field).

Roger led the mid week flyers, Barrie Taylor (who is now installed as a returned member, complete with caravan) went solo along with Tom Egan, Ian Ashby and Robert Maclachlan. Martin Hayward completed his bronze skills test. Well done everyone. A quiet cold day does have its uses.

meanwhile Colin Stringer spent the day "fine tuning" his circuit and landing skills.

winds 330/15.

Thermals started popping off the moment the Libelle was put away---is there a connection?

Many thanks to Alun Thomas, Lesley, Chris Power for your assistance at the launchpoint. That was very helpful.

We welcome Mark Wherry, Robert Maclachlan, Ian Ashby and Colin Stringer onto the course. All of the members are experienced except for Mark. Mark, an IT professional, is trying gliding out for the first time. Robert and Ian are doing some intensive refresher training and Colin preparing for cross country flying.

Grass cutting is underway in readiness for the weekend event.

Don

Winds 210/15 cloudbases rising to 2500.

Dave and Helen teamed up and flew the K23. Many thanks to Lesley for helping on the ground, the course guys appreciated it.

Congratulations to Andy Grant and Chris Blewett on their first solos today.

Michael Hawkins, who works at Slimbridge, continued his flight training with circuit planning lessons.

The evening party took over at 6pm and flew into the evening with a group of trial lessons. Thankfully the unpredictable weather provided a window for them.

Don

The weather forecast showed winds 220/15, visibility 30K with some light rain later in the day.

Today was also the second U3A Group day. All six had extended flights in the DG500 with Mike Randle including a former Tornado and Boeing 777 pilot who took the opportunity to do some cloud flying. Afterwards Mike flew with Alan Smith, Lesley's father and former Concorde test pilot who naturally was able to complete the landing in spite of not having flown for 20 years. Lesley observed that there were two Meteor pilots with a combined age of 164 in the cockpit. Picture below.

Many thanks to all the helpers today, the U3A visit would not have worked without your help and mostly to Lesley for organising the successful event.

The course progresses well with 2 pilots now flying "unprompted circuits and landings---very well done.

Jonathan after staying overnight, again offered tows behind his Ikarus. Some members were able to take advantage of a concessionary rate while new Ikarus pilot Bruce got in his qualifying tows. Otherwise it was a day of cross countries for some and training for others.

winds 050/20, isolated showers of rain visibility 25 K.

many thanks to our winch drivers, Tom Coles and Mike Randle. Tom was at the briefing with us at 7.15am, ready to help us make a good day.

Simon Collier and Stephen Fletcher converted to the K23, our great launch rate was assisted by several helpers, many thanks to everyone.

Stephen and I managed a wave flight at 9.30 with a steady 2 knot climb straight off the top of the launch.

The pictures show Stephen preparing to fly the K23 and Mike Randle driving the cable truck --thanks Mike for some great launches.

Well its off to the Rose and Crown now to swap exaggerated stories of the day.

Don

The forecast was very unpromising with rain drizzle and low cloud.

Well, low cloud means cable break practice for everyone. The cloudbase went up sufficiently for Simon Collier to fly his first K21 solo flight and for Stephen Fletcher to fly solo for the first time. Well done to both of them.

it just goes to show, it can be worth putting up with the rain and sitting it out.

Many thanks to Chris Power for standing in on the winch---none of this would have happened without your help. And thanks again to David Hart for the assistance at the launch point.
Don

The weather a little less exciting (from a soaring viewpoint) but warm and pleasant

The day started with a rigging exercise and the ASW19 was put together ready for flight.

Adrian and Colin converted to the ASW 19 and got plenty of practice landing. Both pilots were delighted with the great handling characteristics.

Plenty of achievements this week 1 licence completed, 1 bronze C completed, everyone flew new sailplane types, 2 pilots converted to their own standard cirrus and one winter refresher completed.

So for Adrian and Colin its cross countries next, Peter just needs a 2 hour soaring flight to complete his XCE and he will be hot on their tails.

Not a bad finish point. Well done everyone.

Don

The winds forecast 200/20, vis 30K and no precipitation (hooray)

The briefing was well attended, the major safety topic being how to avoid the tractors!

The club flying was underway early, with Pat Greer and roger Bagley at the helm.

A very busy launch point with many private owners taking advantage of the good weather.

Pete Harvey converted on to his Cirrus and Chris Owen migrated to the Astir. The course day ended with practical soaring tuition for pete.

Lesley popped in to ensure everything is in place for the University visit tomorrow.

by the end of the day, the grass was collected and the tractors off to another job.

Another good soaring day tomorrow.

winds forecast 280/20, and a cold front passing through early afternoon.

The first day of course no 6, welcome to Chris Owen, Pete Harvey, Adrian Irwin and Colin Stringer. All 4 are solo pilots looking to develop their skills and complete exercises for their licences.

many thanks to the Lazenby team and Alex Jones for their help getting the field operational.

Paul Lazenby test flew the K23 but the ASI failed after the launch. So it was back to the hangar and into the hands of Mike Randle.

The rain arrived after everyone had check flights, so perfect timing. sadly it persisted for a long time so it was back to the briefing room and Chris had the chance to sit the bronze C exam.

The picture shows Chris reflecting on how he managed to get the warmest job on the airfield.

Winds(1000ft amsl) 280/25, isolated showers, cloud bases rising to 5000ft. Cu nims and potential thunderstorms.

Richard paid us a few visits and the shelf in the bus is fixed, he brought Tom along to help screw it up!

The pictures are "entitled will it rain?" and "Yes".

The day finished with a great flight for Chris, cloud street to the Severn arriving at 4500ft (QFE).

Don

winds 340/10, cloudbases rising to 4000ft and isolated rain showers.

Thermals started around 10am with climbs reported during the day of 6-8 knots. Plenty of big rain showers around.

A good number of club members were at the 8.15 briefing, efficient teamwork meant the field was set up for a 9.15 first launch.

The guys flying solo were trying to wear out the K21, while the course members pushed on with their pre-solo training. Thanks everyone for a fun day with plenty of friendly banter.

The last landing was around 5pm just before we were hit by a huge rain shower. The evening talk was on adiabatic lapse rates and the weather---very appropriate.

Winds forecast 320/20 with occasional light rain.

Welcome back to 3 returnees. Chris Dunkel, back from America , Colin Parker from the Northern wastelands and Martin Jackson a local accountant. The day was spent getting everyone back in the saddle and current.

Almost before the glider was out of the hangar, Richard was fixing the switch on Rocky 2 and Mike Randle was peering into the remaining K21 and making tutting sounds.

The day involved to changes of launch point position as we negotiated the varying wind direction. Many thanks to Chris Power and dave breeze for stepping in to help out at the launchpoint. A picture of Dave pumping up the tyre while the rest of us looked on in admiration.

Lunch was an experiment with Cheese toasted sandwiches in the bus accompanied with a talk on altimetry.

In the evening, John Mc William was spotted taking his motor glider out to explore the wave.

Looking forward to another productive day tomorrow.

Winds 060/08, vis 10K, NSW.

The day started with a minor disaster for Trevor Leger, he has put his back out and is now lying in a hotel bed. We all hope he improves quickly and is up and about very soon.

Meanwhile the course proceeded with a smaller crew and remote for launching.

Many thanks to Mike Oliver who spent most of the day trying to untangle the winch cable lying outside the butts, the things that go on behind the scenes.

Congratulations Ron Godsall before the winds freshened in the afternoon went solo.

Lets hope for another good day tomorrow, of course we are all thinking of the lucky guys flying at Portmoak.

Don

Ken Lloyd is offering cross country experience flights in the ASH 25 again this year. Aimed at solo to pre-silver pilots (or silver with very little cross country experience). Put your name on the list at the top of the stairs and hope for good weather! It only costs you a launch fee.

Winds forecast 280/05. high cloudbases, wave and thermal.

Many thanks to the club members who popped in to help get us flying, Dave Hart spent the day with us helping teach our new course the ropes.

Meanwhile in the workshop, Mike Randle was busy working on the club gliders---all this backstage work is essential to keep the flying going.

John McWilliam set off to Wales and found himself at FL95 (base of the airway) over the black mountains---well done to him.

We welcome the new course Phil May (returnee from last year), Trevor Leger( a friend of Phil) and Ron Godsall (club member). The day started on runway21, but the cross wind became too challenging and so we moved to 27.

The sounding says it all, so it was into the classroom until lunchtime. Lectures covered speed to fly and field landings.

After lunch the cloud cleared it was possible to consolidate the course training, for some that was how to make a decent cuppa. For others it was perfecting that fully held off landing.

Alan Thomas managed to corner the CFI and get his final bronze sign off. Barrie Taylor was left figuring out how he might get back for another week.

A great week and loads of achievements well done everyone.

Don

VRB/05, visibility 25 K to start and cloudbases set to rise during the soaring window.

It was good to see so many club members out, probably tempted with the promise of some good soaring. The real enthusiasts were there for the 8.15 brief and helping to get the aircraft out.

In short order Robin assisted us get the Astir rear wheel puncture repaired, and that made the day for several club members.

Roger Bagley got the club flying underway, Tony Hayes is now well again and enjoying some soaring with his pupils and Andrew Turk stepped in to assist later in the day.

Barrie Taylor resoloed after a 10 year layoff, so very well done to him. Alan Thomas converted to the Astir thanks to an excellent briefing from Andrew Turk. All the course members were working hard at the post solo syllabus and having a great time doing it.

The pictures show Barrie Taylor with a big grin, Alan Thomas preparing to launch in the Astir, Barrie preparing for his launch failure training and the club members looking on.

looking forward to another good day tomorrow.

Don

Winds forecast 270/10 with no significant rain.

A day for achievements . Well done Stephen for going solo---see you again in August to start work on the bronze C.

Well done Mike Bosley and Stephen Wilkinson, completing the experience element of the bronze C.

What a team, managing to get a slick launch rate all week in the weather windows we had. great job, see you all soon.

Don

Winds forecast at 270/35.

We were managing to achieve 1500ft launches on the cross runway. mike on the course soared away from the top of the launch to 3000ft before following a cloudstreet to Nympsfield arriving at cloudbase (5000ft).

A few hardy club members turned up and flew with Roger, many thanks to them for their help and thanks to birthday boy Chris for bringing donuts---we enjoyed those immensely.

Alex, Mikes 12 year old son was with us for the day and had his first taster flight with Roger. Needless to say he had fun and returned with a big grin.

Don

Welcome back to Steve Wilkinson, Stephen John and Mike Bosley.

Light winds 210/05, rain showers expected and possibly thunderstorms.

Despite the forecast the day was only slightly disrupted by rain and low cloud. A good time for some ground school as the course members prepare for the bronze C.

Flying carried on a little later than normal (to catch up) with David smiling and telling us to go for it.

A great day, thanks everyone.

Don

Cloudbases eventually rose to 5000ft QFE. Strong thermals from around 11 am.

Several cross country flights flown today, everyone had a good time.

Well done Stewart, solo today and his first taste of solo soaring.

pictures show Stewart after his first solo and the grid starting, on the runway---mmmm.

Another good day tomorrow.

Don

As you will have seen below, our first weekdays' course of 2016 started on Monday 28th March; so welcome back Don for a 3rd season from winter hibernation. Dave Taylor is starting his 2nd season as winch driver. The courses will be using Ka21 'ENK' in preference as the other Ka21 ('GBF'), on loan from Dunstable, costs the club a small amount extra per launch, so it is better for the high volume course usage to be on 'ENK'.
As the airfield is open on all weekdays, club members - including private owners - who wish to fly need to appreciate that course members have not paid their course fees to be cajoled into helping rig / launch / field retrieve / off-site retrieve other club or private gliders. Some may be only too happy to help but that should never be assumed ! Further, please remember that course launches take precedence over others.
So, for those who are either retired or have flexible working arrangements, do make use of the fact the airfield is now operational Monday to Fridays as well as weekends. Have a great season's flying.
DGR / Chairman

A breezy day and broken thermals. With winds from the west, operations where from runway 27.

Welcome to Stewart Rathband, Mike Counsell and Ron Godsall. Stewart and Mike are on their 3rd course with us and Ron is a club member.

Thanks to Chris Power for standing in and operating the winch, thanks also to all the club members who came out to help.

Matt Page successfully completed his final instructor assessment and becomes our first instructor under the new system.

The weather for the rest of the week looks unsettled and getting better as the week progresses.

Don

Sunday 20th was very cold again but suprisingly soarable under an overcast sky. Here we are sharing a thermal with the newly refurbished K13.

A cold bright start, but with the sunshine and light winds it didn't feel too cold. The K21s and the K23 were busy all day with some local soaring and the good weather enticed a few private owners to attempt some short cross country flights with Mike Oliver venturing the furthest. Cloudbase was about 4300' ASL and some 4-5 knot average climbs were available. A good day for February.

Sunday 07/02. A handful of members suffering from gliding withdrawal decided to get a few launches in before Storm Imogen took hold. We had to dodge showers and low cloud, but fun was had with the highest launch to 2450'. Unusually for Aston Down the ground was very soft with standing water in a few places, so landings were on the runway again.

An enthusiastic crew was onsite for 8.30am, however the weather wasn't quite so enthusiastic and we had to wait until midday before the mist cleared. Thereafter we had pleasant afternoons flying. As in previous years, we were pleased to be joined by visitors from Usk who came to launch their Grob 103 from our tarmac. Doug Gardner and Helen Wilson landed 10 minutes after sunset having contacted some weak wave in the K21. Thereafter we adjourned to the club house for a well attended AGM.

Flying started late morning when the rain stopped. To avoid making further ruts after yesterday because of the state of the airfield, landings were confined to the runway with only one K21 being used. All trial lessons were cancelled.

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" It was a select band of brothers (and one sister) that turned out to launch the club into the New Year on a somewhat cold and grey day, The fresh easterly saw us consigned to operating from the west end of the cross runway (blehh!). Darren and Geoff Dixon claimed the first flight of the the year. Thereafter there were some enjoyable aerobatic flights. Rain stopped play at 14.00 and we adjourned to the club house for some excellent sausage rolls courtesy of Lesley Waters. Many thanks to Paul Lazenby for driving the winch.

Sunday 20th December - the first flyable weekend day for a very long time. Although the airfield was very squelchy underfoot, sometimes giving the buggies trouble in moving two seaters, we are better placed than some clubs in having hard runways and a well-drained airfield. Many without these advantages couldn't operate after the monsoons of recent weeks.

Every serviceable club glider was out except the ASW19. Many members enjoyed their first flights since October. Apart from a prolonged hiatus while we sheltered from torrential rain, all three glass two seaters were kept busy all day giving flying to those who felt rusty and completing Winter Refreshers for two members, as well as a lot of Trial Lessons.
The wind thought to be in excess of 40 kts at height enabled launches to around 2000 ft and at least one to above 2300 ft.

The modified winches with automatic pay-out brakes were tried out for the first time. One has been completely re-furbished and the other is awaiting similar treatment.. The opportunity is being taken to give all winch drivers refresher training while familiarising them with the modifications - a start was made on this by Simon, Andy and Chris. It is hoped this re-training will enable everyone to be kinder to the winches, so keeping them in their newly re-furbished state for longer.

Festive aspects to the day included Darren's headgear and Jane's mince pies, distributed after hangar packing.

Photos by Tim Barnes

Here's another warning from the CAA, this time about a balloon pilot who was caught without insurance.

Last Thursday (19 November) Mike and Jane Randle had lunch with 100 year old ex ATA ferry pilot Jill Farquarson, at her home at Frampton-on-Severn. Jill was presented by the Club chairman with a certificate of honorary membership of CGC before lunch. This was all a surprise for her and for the 21 other residents of the care home "Wisma Mulia". See the news item on the blog for end of August, to see Jill in the cockpit of a Ka 21 during the Junior Nationals, when Mike took her for an extended flight over the local area.

We plan to invite Jill back for another flight at Aston Down around the time of her next birthday (101) on 28th May 2016. Ahead of that we shall call the Guinness Book of Records office to come and witness a combined age of 182 in a glider cockpit (Jill will be the 101 year old, in case anyone has doubt.......).

Local press coverage this last week is at:

http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Wartime-female-flyer-s-glider-club-fl...

Last night's bonfire party went very well. During the day Matt Page and Brian Birlison managed, using the JCB, to coral all the pallets that had been dumped / strewn along the disused runway by tenant companies at Aston Down, into a reasonable shape. The SW wind was meant no problem lighting the fire without risking the new hangar ! Philip Walker kindly organised the fireworks display (and provided some at his own expense - thanks Philip), and Jacqui and team laid on some great soup and pork baps. A very enjoyable evening.

A crack team had all the two-seaters washed and on-line for 9.30. Sadly, the weather didn't play ball and we sat under solid cloud at 650' - we know because we launched a couple of gliders into it just to check. The clag finally started to lift and break around 11.30 and we were rewarded by some stunning flights above the broken cloud at 900'. Things steadily improved and we enjoyed a good afternoon's flying in the autumn sunshine. Gerry Holden and Simon Lucas were kept busy doing instructor renewals for Robin Birch, Geoff Dixon and Roger Bagley, and Matt did a great job of flying the two ladies on the one-day-course, touching down on his final flight just after sunset. Many thanks to winch drivers Max Lazenby and Graham Turner