7 months... Owch!

I don't have an awful lot to say unfortunately, I am rather out of the loop at the moment; However I hope to see more of everyone as the soaring season winds its way up into full swing and pick up some news and so on.

Welcome to our new guys they are as follows: Rhoan Birch, Jack Dunn, Luke O'Gorman and Jack Rose. I haven't met any of you yet, however I hope you've all committed more aviation this year than I have and look forward to meeting you soon. Word on the field is that there could be a couple of others - More of that another update.

Junior Nationals! As many of you know It's at Bicester this year... A fair few of us are in (Bradley, get that Silver done), the full list can be found here: http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/juniors/entrylist.htm

Last but not least is a plea for the surival of the website... As I'm sure the 7 month delay self-explains I am unable to do as frequent updates as in days gone by. If anyone believes they can run a tighter ship - feel free to step-up and take a punt! Contact me by any means; Some details can be found on the contacts page.

Date: 07/10/09'

Oh dear it's been ages... Apologies for not getting my act together much sooner than this - My HTML cliet has thrown a fit and equired an intense re-installation! Hence my hurried conversion from dreamweaver to frontpage... My apologies for the lateness! This note is really just an ugent one, I will update all the other stuff as and when I can get dreamweaver to co-operate again.

So I have been asked by Dan Chilcot and Rob to inform you all about the hiring of a K-21 durig the next half term - SOLELY FOR USE BY US! Here is the email, copied below.

(Since 15/03/09')

Dear me nearly 3 months... Sorry... Admittently not a lot has been happening...

Well done to the new cadets that have appeared since the first meet - namely Chris, Dan, Ilena, Leon and Tom. Also welcome to Sam Hill who has joined us late this year.

One more point of notice - For the cadets that don't know the club provides evening course flying to members of the public who bring a group along and pay for like a block session of experience flights all at reduced rates per person to the normal AEI flying. Firstly theres absoloutely nothing to stop cadets arranging evening course flying for your friends and family except I beleive the group has to be 10 or more people. But secondly, the club pays £4 an hour into your flying account for taking a ground-crew role during these evening courses, ensuring they run smoothly and that all the typical airfield jobs can be manned. This is a great way to fund your flying and overthe last 2 years for example, doing evening courses and applying for bursaries I myself have had over £1,500 worth of flying paid for! The atmosphere is also usually pretty good too :]...

Right - News... In no particular order...

Well the Cambridge Vintage Rally week went pretty well attended by a troublesome trio comprising of Myself, Ryan and Daniel Jamin... Making 'Team Rhonsperber.' A few of the older guys from Dunstable also attended with the K6 and the Prefect. I topped out with just under 6 hours for the week, with Ryan slightly more at a guess! Many thanks to Daniel for the trailer support, Cambridge for the flying and Lofty for the accomodation! Also well done to my green machine for the dual tows!

Next news... The juniors entry list has been published with all these Dunstable pilots getting a place: Stefan Astley, Ryan Berry, Stuart Carmichael, Tone Claiden, Ewan Crosbie, Dave Hayden, Shaun Mclaughlin, Tom Pridgeon and Matt Robain. 9 Pilots in total owning 1/5 of the grid.

Final peice of news... Mr Hutchings has gone solo! Well done to Bradley who showed us how it should be done last Friday. As with Greg, we'll be expecting great things.

Hi All! Welcome to the new guys from yesterday, a good day all in all and we look forward to seeing more of you. They are:

I beleive the new guys had a lesson from Paul 'Razor' Rackham yesterday evening about how to use the booking system... For those that don't know how it works, email myself or Robin and we can tell you how it works. I witnessed Kay setting up everyones accounts today, so you arer all ready to go!

There is also talk of the LGC Cadet Facebook group being used to announce things as well as here. Feel free to join, and myself or the other admins will accept you.

Aha, some news!!!

Well done to Greg, who's got his PA1 signed off and ready for the summer... Like I said, someone needs to slow this boy down! I'll update the achievements page when I remember the date...

CADET ANNUAL RETURN - SATURAY 14th MARCH

The date has now been set, and I believe in total we have 8 guys to welcome to LGC. If any new guys are reading this, we look forward to seeing you and of course with the appropriate things mentioned in Rob's email: Warm clothing, Parent(s), and some money for the flying.

All current cadets are reminded that it would be appropriate to turn up! At the moment it looks to be a very nice hill-soarable day (yes I know its still 4 days away). The only peeps showing some knowledge about it even happening is Myself and Ryan so maybe some more interest! I've gone and landed my winch duty on that day, so hopefully the winch isn't functional yet so I can be involved.

Also, it wasn't a joke last entry... There REALLY are thermals around. Image below shows the result of Volker manipulating a very tight thermal from about 1200ft to 2800ft last Sunday... Nice average!

For those looking to enter the Junior Nationals 2009 - Hosted at HOME this year, the application forms are now online!

If you have previously flown in the Juniors you can apply on the web via an online form, found here: https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgashop/applications/juniors/step1.php

If you are looking to enter for the fist time you must apply and be recommended by a sponsor via signature (full cat or preferably Andy):

http://www.gliding.co.uk/forms/juniorsentry.pdf

On another note, Dan and Ryan took a flight the other day and found the first thermals for us all! Good effort lads!

Again the date for the Annual Meet has not yet been settled... It will be posted when I know!

Congratulations to Ryan who had completed his first Trial Flight exactly 20 days after passing the course... Well done!

On another note I flew the Rhonsperber today... Which really is excellent!

Annual Return date is still uncertain - But watch this space, when I know - You all will!

Just a reminder to the current cadets that our renewals should be in ASAP - The form can be found via the "New Cadet Info" page. Even if you are not returning this year, flight data for last year still needs to be handed over! Still no date set for the Annual Return, however a "weekend in early March" is the projection so far.

Sponsorship

In the past many of us have had great luck this time of year with sponsorship schemes. This one was found in the BGA site and is avilable again this year:

Welcome to 2009 all... Lets hope this year goes down as one of the great ones...

Ryan Berry has begun the year on a high note - And is now a Basic Instructor! Congratulations and we look forward to you terrorising the general public...

(Apologies for the more-than-obviously not straight horizon...)

Furthermore anyone browsing the site thinking "Theres no way these guys will accept me, they're too cool..." would be easily forgiven as we're just not... Well I say we but... Anyway - Yes we're still accepting applications. I'm yet to be enlightened as to when the Cadet Meeting will take place but entries for this year will be processed in February.

Well two days to go until Christmas - A merry christmas and a happy new year to all, from the cadets!

(Image from Ryan Berry's Facebook collection)

2008 Promo vid is finally here, compiled and mostly filmed my Tommy P:

And the 2007 Promo vid that I compiled last year as it appears to have removed itself below:

So all - December already... Looking back at my logbook with Ryan the other day we were experiencing 3-4 knot thermals by the end of February... So another XC season could be not too far away.

New Cadet news: Have had quite a positive interest in the scheme this year with almost half of us current cadets having reserves should they not get back in next year... So - Lots of work and grovelling I think is in order in an attempt to reward ourselves with another year on the team!

So... Random image... Haven't flown since last entry - So going back to the latest hill soaring episode, I've found some wide-angled weirdness looking towards the club. BTW this weekend looks OK so far for some more!

Well an excellent evening; Full of laughter, food and a general warm atmosphere. Well done to Ryan and Tom - Who both picked up the "Most promising Young Pilot Award" and the "Best Aerial Photography Award" respectively - Well done chaps!

On an entirely different note I'll be abit vain and congratulate myself and Ryan for converting to the T-21 today - Only Tom to go!

Random image this time is of the T-21 at the launch point today...

Prize Giving Dinner next weekend... Quite a few cadets going so don't feel you'll be left out! See the office for tickets.

Pridgo is taking over the video apparently this year: I haven't had any at all sent to me so far. However if I've suddenly reminded you: they need to go to Tom now! He's only got limited footage too so more would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone browsing the site thinking of joining next year, we're still accepting entries!

This entries random picture is Tom performing some well choreographed formationry on the ridge on Saturday...

Right so... Achievements page now completed... Again comment if you feel the need; Constructive sorts of course...

Got bored so all the headers are changing again -Although Ryan still gets the front page as it's a decent pic... Now accepting bribes for the next front-page image!

Oh and last thing - Didn't get much chance for a Cadet Video 08' this year (to much dissapointment of regular viewers I'm sure) so I'll put together another compilation if people can send me any random videos from the year -Don't be lazy - As I only have two so far, barely scratching 30 seconds...

Will start posting random images again from whats been going on as I haven't for a while! This time heres a random Fox picture, as it came to visit a few weekends ago...

Eagle eyed viewers out there will have already spotted the table on the achievements page. It gives a clear representation of what skills you have as compared with the other cadets... So if yours is abit blank then go fill it up!

Instructor ratings, Competing in comps and XC endorsement are the main 3 things that have been pointed out to me that are missing... If you spot any others or incorrect information then as always; Let me know.

Just a quick reminder to anyone who might be browsing the site hoping to join in March next year, applications can be processed all year round so don't hesitate to apply - Details are on the "New Cadet Info" page which is linked on the top left under the logo. All the current cadets remember to get yourself noticed fulfilling good deeds over the winter to help guarantee a place next year!

Well, another picture of Greg... I know cadets aren't popular mathemeticians but even my brain can stretch to realise that thats now 2 pictures in a row; Someone needs to slow this guy down...

Well done to Greg for converting to K-23!

In other news, I'm now fully winch trained and Pridge is on the way... So if you encounter any dodgy launches, I apologise on Tom's behalf...

The Pilatus is now back in service, so those that are aerobatically trained, get yourself briefed and go have a flight! Remember to fill out the green log-book so we know its getting flown frequently enough!

Just updated the achievements page... If I've missed anything out since March this year, or anything is wrong let me know and I'll stick it up...

Date: 06/09/08'

Fantastic news...

Rob has just emailed me to announce that Dunstable will be hosting the Junior Nationals next year!

For the younger lads who haven't experienced a Juniors yet... It is just THE place to be if you want to be somewhere in the holidays!

For those that have experienced the Juniors before, lets hope we can add some practical to the theory that we spent time on last year, and get all the Dunny guys in the top half! Providing the season shapes out as great as we all desperately hope...

Well... A whole season's worth of news... And TBH there isn't that much to be said other than a rubbish season and a couple of spectacular solo's.

The Junior's was again a wash-out this year, with only two comp days. I myself placed 31st, Pridge 39th and Berry placed 44th. Lets hope next year is a lot more productive! The older guys among us placed as follows: May in 3rd, Shaun 6th, Ewan 9th and Stu 24th. Still, plenty of social and equally madness. We look forward to next year! Theres more about the Junior's on Poz's blogspot page, found here.

Congratulations to Paz and Greg who have both gone solo in the past 2 months. I will update the achievements page when I can extract information from them on the dates. Image below courtesy of 'Dive Bran', which I stole from facebook. (P.s: Greg is the one in yellow, if your estimate of age is due to height!)

Date: 30/06/08'

LGC Cadet Picasa Web Album

We now have a Picasa Web Album to play with - Which is incoroprated into the images page. The details to upload are on the bottom left of the image above! It's empty at the moment - So hop-to-it! Sorry if i haven't set up an album for you... I just picked the most likely picture takers. Just add your own album - But keep it sensible!

Some late news!

We made the decision back in 07' to create a cadet promo vid. I've managed to compile some footage and put one together. There will be one for 2008, which I'm pleased to say will be alot more creative, origonal and exciting - Atleast that's the words on the drawing board at the moment! For now, enjoy our representation of 07'!

Pre-Juniors Nympsfield Trip

As part of our Juniors preperation, Myself, Ryan, Tom and Dave spent a week at the Bristol and Gloucestershire gliding club near the village of Nympsfield, where the competition will be hosted in August. This is what happened, or didnt on Wednesday!

Day 1:

Taking the sceneic route definately opened our eyes as to the valleys and ridges we could be using throughout the week! However, our eyes were only opened a fraction due to the <1km visability! On arrival, we were designated a dorm room for the night as winds upto 40mph were beating the windows of the clubhouse come 8pm. This gave us a chance to check-out a rather handsome Aviat Husky (which Mark parker will be tugging in this year) and the breifing room facilities.

Day 2:

Day 2 provided enough weather to vacate the dorm room, and to get the usual checkflights over with. We all flew a checkflight in the Grob with Pat Greer, and Dave joined us for the day. Trevor was talking about motoring to the Malverns for him to get a treat - Unfortunately the wind died off just after the cloudbase was high enough to go anywhere, therefore the Nimbus was scrubbed for the day.

Day 3:

Day 3 was well... Actually quite interesting. Cloudbase was about 100ft lower than Nympsfield, so there was plenty of pool to be had. We took a trip in the cars over to Aston down, and were very excited about their fleet, field, and equipment. Definately landout potential! Unfortunately their PW-6's haven't been delivered yet, but a very nice place all the same.

Day 4:

Sunshine got us all up and out of bed early, and it turned out to be the first Nimbus day! Lucky me! Trevor expertly chose the time to take-off; 10 seconds earlier and it wouldve been a turbo trip. Straight into the grand total of half a knot to the south of Stroud, and off to Little Rissington and back. Meanwhile Ryan and Tom sampled the Supacat winch in the K-23, which was professionally staffed by an extremely pleasant chap named Lionel for the week (perfect BTW, 60 knots all the way up). Ryan took the Nimbus back-seat next, and took a little turbo-trip to see Aston Down at the tail-end of the soaring.

Day 5:

Friday was very productive! Another early morning allowed both Ryan and Tom to fly in the Nimbus, and I managed an hour in EVY fitting in a small triangle: Stroud, Aston Down then back to Nympsfield. Ryan also finally became familiar with the Pajero, and we literally couldnt keep him out of it! So me and Tom will save that for August...

Day 6:

Last day! Change of runs, so Pridge was very quick to jump at the oppertunity to drive the bus! Personally not my ideal choice of amusement at 8:15 in the morning... Nimbus was out on the grid by 10:30, unfortunately no-one was willing to launch until after the Nimbus had gone, and by then they were all too late! Definately not a "Hus-Bos, Bedford and back" day then. However Trevor and Pridge managed an excellent get away from the winch and got round a 200k. To finish the morning, the two Fourniers did a spectacular low pass over the grid, which was nice! Spitfire and Mustang again anyone?

Thanks very much to the guys at Nympsfield for making the trip an extreme pleasure, and offering their time and equipment to us! In particular:

Trevor* - Info and Nimbus (*part time driving instructor)

Don - Deputy CFI and info

Pat - Check Flights

Gavin - XC Instructor

David - XC Pupil

Lionel - Excellent winching

Also thanks to Steve Lynn in association with Trevor for helping organise the visit.

So... No updates for nearly a MONTH! Whats going on?! Someone email me with something!

On a more meteorological note, how about this weather! I'm sure those of us that were around last weekend got a good dose of potential skin cancer - Remember your hats and sunglasses people! Suncream doesn't go a-miss either, especially with long periods of time grid-squatting.

And I suppose I'd better finish in the traditional fashion with an interesting image: Here's one of Ryan and uncoincidentally more reflections. Good to see him on the front page of something for a change! And the Duo out again!

Welcome to Paz Ogbe who has joined the cadet scheme this year (sorry for the late news, his first day was actually Sunday). Many of you know Monu, So I'm sure we can expect great things!

What a weekend! Well... Sunday anyway...

Started off like this:

Then became a 200KM day! Reported touchings of 10 knots and I personally had averages of 6... Throughout the short period of time I was in the air. Atleast I picked somewhere bright and lively to run out of steam...

Silverstone was my chosen resort for the afternoon. And looking at the sky after I'd landed didn't help matters - Don't be fooled though, all that stuff turned to sleet (so predicatbly obvious looking at that picture) and had previously been sleeting! A BIG thankyou to Monu, Paz and my father who promptly arrived to collect me. HPM's off for CofA now, so I'm stuck with the reliable old K-23's and ASW-24 fighting for a couple of weeks!

On my return I was only to discover Ryan hanging around looking for things to do, and discovered the reason for no-one being around was due to Luke's demand for Official Observers, having comnpleted his Silver Award - About time too with a cloudbase of 6k! Well done!

A very big welcome to the 2008 Cadets! Personally I think things got started in traditional cadet fashion... Note the lack of instructors!

Congratulations to Mike Henry who had his first session of solo flights from the winch today! Well done Mike - Just in time for the new cadets!

Date for the introduction of the 5 new cadets is Sunday the 23rd of March. The day should last from 9:00 until 17:00 and as per usual wear something warm - We all know what the airfield is like! If you can attend then please do - We all remember what our first day was like...

Current cadets are reminded that our membership expires at the end of March, therefore Robin requires a brief talk with each of us about whether we wish to stay on the scheme or not.

Congratulations to Dave Hayden and our honorary cadet Steve Mordecai who both managed to gain their 5 hour silver C duration flights today!

Lots of effort and waving on the way past was had by all - Just to keep them both sane from the boredom of 5 hours hill beating! Well done chaps!

As most people know, the airfield at Dunstable is hardly flat! And alot of pilots beside me have said about receiving stick from other clubs about the undulation of our land... I think they're just jelous of our hole-filling team!

For those looking to enter the Junior Nationals 2008, the application forms are now online!

If you have previously flown in the Juniors you can apply on the web via an online form, found here: https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgashop/applications/juniors/step1.php

If you are looking to enter for the fist time you must apply and be recommended by a sponsor via signature (full cat or preferably Andy):

http://www.gliding.co.uk/forms/juniorsentry.pdf

Right then... Time for the last 6 months' worth of achievements!

Instead of doing each one per date, this'll be done by name... And I don't want fighting over whose done the most... =). And its surname-alphabetical; Oh Look - I come first =D!

Stefan Astley:

30/7/07': Pilatus B4 Conversion

25/8/07': Bronze Complete, XC Endorsement

30/8/07': Silver Duration

03/9/07': Silver Distance, Lasham Plate Collection

04/9/07': Silver Height, Silver Complete

16/9/07': ASW 24 Conversion

19/1/08': Algek Cup Beginners Aerobatic Trophy 2008

 

 

---

Luke Barratt:

14/7/07': Bronze Complete

31/7/07': XC Endorsement

11/9/07': Silver Distance

26/1/08': Silver Duration

27/1/08': ASW 24 Conversion

Ryan Berry:

06/8/07': Silver Height, Silver Duration

09/8/07': XC Endorsement

15/9/07': Silver Distance, Silver Complete

16/9/07': ASW 24 Conversion

11/1/08': Rhonsperber Conversion

Dan Chilcot:

30/7/07': Silver Distance, Silver Height, Silver Complete

27/8/07': ASW 24 Conversion

26/9/07': P1 Friends and Family Rating

31/10/07': Basic Instructor Rating

19/1/08': Most Promising Instructor Award 2008

Ben GS:

21/9/07': Solo

2/11/07': ASK 23 Conversion

Dave Hayden:

04/9/07': Silver Height

27/8/07': Silver Distance

19/1/08': Best Silver Distance Award 2008

Tom Pridgeon:

22/7/07': Silver Distance

29/7/07': Silver Height, Day Winner (Task Week, Blue Class)

31/8/07': Silver Duration, Silver Complete

01/9/07': ASW 24 Conversion

Cleo Whybrow:

30/12/07': Solo

19/1/08': Most Promising Young Pilot Award 2008

Horray!

Just to let anyone know (Who doesn't already know that is), That the website is now under new management!

This page will be updated primarily with the stuff that's been missed out over the past few months where the website's been in a rather dormant state. So expect your achievements to be up within the next couple of weeks chaps! (And Cleo of course; Well done on the solo BTW =P).

Further down the line a new design MAY take place, time permitting of course. For now - Amuse yourself with a panorama from D11's Landout on Jan 12th.

Date: 17/7/07'

You've got 10 seconds...

Can you see the connection? Everyone doing their cross country endorsement already has! Oh well at least its outta the way now.

WELL DONE TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

Ryan Berry (though he'd like to be first)

Luke Barratt

Dave Hayden

Stefan Astley

FOR SOME GREAT PROGRESS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS!!!

see achievements page for more details

Who says you can't have fun on a scrub day!

A warning to those who try to dump their sofas at LGC:

So it's constant low pressure crap for the next 4 days or so? I think we need some more sofas

Or more challenges from Andy. Maybe how many bricks did it take to build the club house? Instead of how many bricks and how much sand will I need to make the new water bowser?

Btw: We worked out

150 bricks - Inc 10 Spares

0.15 m^3 of Sand - Smallest bulk order is 0.5m^3 I think... keep rest for potholes or something

Well Done to Stefan Astley for Winning Day 1 of the Beginners Aerobatic Competition.

1st Place, 73.67% (Youngest Competitor)

2nd Place: Allen Kefford (Oldest Competitor)

Well, so 8 days till I go solo now... Epp...

Anyway SOARING SEASON, finally some thermals worth speaking of, this hols has been pretty damn good so far!

Thought that I'd take my mind of things and create "DAN THE MOVIE" - Which has been a smash hit:

So, a birthday boy and a pirate all in one night. Steves finally back and had no trouble in making up for lost banter in the bar, you know I think he's been practising his sledging lines while he has been away... Oh and yes that is my 'Buff' Steve has got on...

All the cadets wish 'Dive Bran' a very HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, (haha he's old)