Saturday 25 September 2010

25th September - 5k run in aid of the Air Ambulance

No flying today due to rain and a low cloud base. The wind was also "Brisk" - But some hardy individuals turned out for th "Fun" (?) run !

Like I said , The wind was "Brisk" !

The usual stalls were evident




Keith puts his slick sales approach into action ( One OAP asked him if this was the Charity clothes collection point !)



The "Masses" appreciated the band from under cover ! To be fair the band were pretty good.




Gabriel paid us a visit in one of his modes of transport


There was a ceremony to commemorate the fateful "Kassel Mission"

The commemorative balloons were released -

But all did not go well (again !)



A failed rescue mission !

Some ran for fun !

Some didn't !


Chris & James warm up


The Start Line

And They're off !
The winner in 17 minutes 13 seconds


Robbo recovers

As does James


We've got your number !

Chris and Caroline finishing


The show finished with a classic Clown display ! But that's another story - Ask me when you see me !
Well done to all that took part in very difficult conditions - For a very worthy cause !
Chin Chin
Flyboy




















Wednesday 15 September 2010

More on Sunday 12th



Yes a busy day. After some instructing and two abortive attempts to get away from winch launches ("the sky just seemed to go blue each time I lined up" is the story I am sticking with) Dave M let me fly LS7. Fantastic, and it goes even better with the undercarriage up! Dave himself towed me to the end of a street that ran to Attleborough and I spent an hour flying along parts of the A11. I had a great view of a cricket match near Tacolneston but was too high to see the ball.


And some good news, the K21 returned after its annual check; we were just too exhausted to rig it as the light faded! Sorry midweek chaps, we left it for you to do. We will try harder to rig the Astir when it returns from Scotland.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Sunday 12th September 2010

Sunday turned out to be a lot better than forecast ! We had a really busy club day which Will looked after aided by "Wilko" carrying out 6 Trial Flights and numerous NGC Instructors helping to fulfil the extensive flying list which included another 6 Friends and Family flights ! Mark W completed his Year 3 checks with Dave Munro . Many of the private fleet were also rigged and soaring Tom sent me some good pics (including one of TIB from the top of a 6.5 knot average climb - straight off the winch ! ) , But unf. I couldn't get them into a format that I knew how to use !


Beth takes a check flight with JRK


Ben Magnani in the Standard Libelle



The Hart family flew "Zero Eight" for half the day







Thank You to Phil S. for lending me the DG 300




Moses leading the lost children of Israel .............

To push back an Astir ! There was enough of them to carry it back !







Caroline takes a winch launch in her Ka6e



A good day enjoyed by all

Even (Temporary) "Chef" Lawrence shut the Kitchen to go flying with Tim H.
Chin Chin !
Flyboy
















Saturday 11 September 2010

Saturday 11th September 2010

Well if you believed the forecasts you wouldn't have bothered turning up ! BBC said Cr+p, ITV said Cr+P & Even Lakenheath (who had all the trial flights booked up for the day ! ) Declared that it would rain solidly from 11;00 solidly until 15;00 with gests to 30 mph - So cancelled their day ). We flew all day (without any rain ! ) from about 10;30, with a constant wind (about 13kt ) not far off being straight down the main runway.

Andy Smith had a currency check ! ( No Euros in his Paul Wilkinson completed his BI checks for the year, Emily Rusbridge learnt that we do have instructors who when you say " I can't do it . Please take over ?" will not take over , Well done Emms you tried to use it on our number one bastard today ! Didn't work, Did it ?

Big News is that Lauren managed to convert to solo flight on the winch !


Lauren about to go !

Lauren going up the "wire" on her first solo winch launch !

The " Cheshire Cat" is back again ! Well done Loz !


The"Smiths " had a trip round the bay !



But not before they had a quick round of " Simple Simon says", (Put your hand on your head !)

Thanks to loads of people who helped us fly without flying themselves. Pip, Chris, JK, Berkely et al . Sorry if I missed some out ! Lizzie was ace at breakfast !
Chin Chin !
FlyBoy




Sunday 5 September 2010

Fantastic welcome at Crowland

I had heard of this thing that Norfolk Gliding Club have going with PSGC (Crowland); whereby you fly on a 'mission' to the 'other' club, depending on where you start from, to retrieve Snoopy.

Originally there was only Snoopy, but now there is a 'Percy the Penguin' involved, so that now the idea is to swap out the cuddly toys. It's been a while since a swap took place, so I telephoned PSGC to see if the arrangement was still current. I spoke to Annie Ewer, who was very welcoming and said that it would be great to see someone from our club.

There was a fair amount of spread-out over the top of Tibenham, so I got my tow earlier than I would have as Steve Brownlow had to be elsewhere in short order. He towed me out to the East where there was still some sun-light between the clouds - and the clouds were working. Norman Clowes joined me in '20', and we played about towards Bungay - waiting for the better weather to be blown further West.

After a while it did get better out to the west, and I was able to tip-toe to Crowland along with the wind. The welcome at Crowland was as even better than I expected. Y11 was towed out of the way, and I was plied with tea and cake, whilst Martin Ewer organised a launch, and Graham Morris towed me back half way in a Husky(I think). Unfortunately, the top cover had really settled in properly towards Thetford, and I ended up landing there on a large (it seemed to me) estate. The farmer was very helpful and put up with me boring him and his wife about clouds to the extent that he even drove me to his house and made me a cup of tea.

The photo shows 'Lars' standing (I think) in front of his Nimbus, holding the two cuddly toys. Snoopy due to come back with me, and Percy who was due to stay. Trusty Y11 sits in the distant background. Various folk at Crowland send their regards to various folk at NGC. I think both Bernard and Lars send regards to Woody & Bonnie. There were more good wishes, but unfortunately my tiny mind... er what was I saying?

Finally JRK, Will Day and Josh Brownlow came out to retrieve me, having just packed everything else away on site. As we got back to the glider, the noise of the car shooed off a small herd of deer. There were also many large hares in the various fields.

The whole experience was great. I would definitely recommend it. I am looking forward for someone to come from Crowland to pick up Snoopy, so that I can do it again. Thanks everyone from both clubs, and to the kind people from the farm for a fantastic day out.

Friday 3 September 2010


Also flying today The South Norfolk Swing Band; a super group of young people who make beautiful music together. This was a present from the club to them for their entertainment during the Vintage Gliding Rally. Thanks everyone of you and we hope to see (and hear) you again soon. And congratulations to Josh for his first solo off the winch. Shame the bar was closed!!
Helping today; Will, Paul Wilko, Mike Tate, Jeff, Beth, Don, Mick, Josh, Lauren and Tony

Another solo; and a good day's flying


Beth's 16th birthday started exactly as it should. The day dawned fair and sunny. After a check flight with Mick Hughes Beth was sent solo in the K21; and a beautiful take off, a short soaring flight, reaching 3000' before returning with an inch perfect landing. Many congratulations Beth and the happiest of birthdays.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Wednesday 1st September 2010

Sorry no pics today !

After lunch we had reasonable thermals to 4,500 ft in the murk !

Congrats to Mr. Lefever on re-soloing ! and comiz to Paul B on not quite achieving 5 hours !

I had an early flight with "Mr. Magic" - Don Cann , Even he couldn't keep us up !

A good days flying all in all !

Chin Chin
Flyboy