Grumpy Sailplane Pilot

Well, it has been a while since I the opening post above. I have had a 3-month working break in the middle-east, which slowed my flying plans a bit. However, I have done 5 flights at Borders GC with 4 involving successful soaring! I have also taken part in the Club expedition to Saltby. During the week at Buckminster, I managed 4 trips from aerotow and 8 flights off the winch. The only winch launches I had flown before were in older winches with much less pewerful engines than now. The first flight from a modern winch was quite a shock to the system - 0 to 60 knots in less than 2 seconds. I enjoyed the daily flying and the team at Buckminster were very friendly and helpful. The only bit I did not enjoy was the spinning lesson - no, not on bikes! It is an essential lesson, but I find it very uncomfortable.

Due to my leg-length, I am restricted to the Elan Orion (DG-505) at Milfield and the Perkoz (SZD-54) at Saltby. Both these gliders are lovely, but a step-up in terms of performance from my previous 2-seater experience - the Ka-7. This leads to some interesting learning opportunities. As an example, the Ka-7 had enough drag that poking the nose down led to slow acceleration. By comparison, the modern, slick 2-seaters accelerate faster that Newton calculated - my speed control is an issue.

Anyway, I am enjoying the gliding and aim to make more frequent flights as UK goes from a hopefully extended summer into autumn and winter.

GSP

Time pounds on. My flying at BGC has progressed and I am in the post re-solo stage (only a 44 year gap). I eventually got to grips with the DG-505, although it is a big beast. I am not keen on the flying position which I find a bit reclined. However, aside from the trim system which I find close to impossible to set up, I am more confident in it. I recently managed my Silver height gain in the DG; oh the Milfield wave is great.

A while ago, I was thinking about how to take this gliding addiction thing forward. BGC has 3 two-seaters and a single seater, but I only fit in the DG-505. Also, in the summer months the wait for flying can be quite long. I therefore explored the idea of buying a glider. I was surprised by the cost of those modern glass gliders. The new ones seem extortionately expensive . However, I was contacted by a friend in Spain who told be about a glider for sale. It was a 1968 SHK-1. The first SHK that I saw was Dick Georgeson's one at the New Zealand Nationals in 1970. I thought it was beautiful.

The glider for sale had been on the UK register (but never the Spanish one) and previously transitioned to the EASA system. The registration had been withdrawn by the CAA and the CofA was therefore no longer valid. I contacted the seller and bought it - sight unseen so that tells you about the price! It has taken a year plus, but it is now flying. It needed some work. There was all the usual stuff to do as the glider had not flown for over 10 years. As I am 6 foot 5 inches tall (= 1.96m), I changed the old 80mm instruments for 57mm ones (except for the ASI) to increase the long-leg clearance under the instrument panel. I then had to play with the seat mounts to maximise my headroom. I am just below the cockpit weight limit when I have clothes and a parachute on, so I removed both the permanently fitted nose ballast and the mild steel plate on the nose skid to fix the weight and balance. All that done, a tail code of K58 acquired, a CofA obtained and I was off. I have flown it twice now (see new photo above) and I am looking forward to my first autumn wave day from Milfield in it. Life is good at the moment!

I will let you know how I get on.

GSP

It is a few months since I posted. Winter has resulted in very changeable weather. The last 4 weeks have seen no flying due to persistent wind and rain; before that, almost every time I turned up at the Club, the wind blew and the deluge opened! The days that I didn't turn up, the wave worked. Sods law. I decided to fly when I could but get on with the other stuff. I did my radio licence training and test. I did the Bronze C exam and even managed the 3 flights. I have done the cross-country endorsement ground-school training (at Portmoak - thanks Kate) and I am waiting for the weather to turn so I can do the flying bit. I have also signed up for a cloud flying endorsement training. I think that is all the training that I will need for the time being. I am also learning XC Soar - I definitely do not fit into the IT nerd mold! So, I will post again as soon as I start flying again - pray for weather.

GSP

22 MARCH 2020

Well, sods law really did strike. The weather in the north of Northumberland has started to improve. In fact, we have seen the sun! However, at the same time, the COVID-19 epidemic turned into a pandemic and the gliding club shut down. My last flight was 19 January 2020 in K58, my SHK, and who knows when I might get another. I can't complain about the measures being taken to fight the pandemic and the club is interpreting them sensibly given the age of most of our members. That understanding does not reduce the frustration though. I am looking at the glider simulator market at the moment. No doubt, none will have an SHK!!!

PS- I HAVE JUST CLICKED THAT I NEED TO DATE MY ENTRIES. Sorry, I am still learning.

GSP

28 April 2020

Are we all bored yet? Still no sign of getting to the point where we can fly again. I will need a currency check ride in the Club DG-505 and who knows what the rules on that will be. I have never flown in a HAZMAT suit! I have done a fair amount of reading and watching youtube lectrures from various clubs around the world. I have listened to all 11 Thermal Podcasts more than once. I am still bored and have actually done some gardening - a very bad sign. Oh well, we are all in the same boat (should be "not in the same sailplane"! Take care and keep well.