OPINION
december 2010/january 2011
SoaringNZ welcomes letters from readers. You can send letters by email to soaringnz@mccawmedia.co.nz or post them to: The Editor, SoaringNZ ,430 Halswell Road, Christchurch. SoaringNZ reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters. Writer’s name and address is required and a phone number is helpful.
It is nice to know that we are appreciated here and around the world. It is interesting too to learn where people are reading the magazine. This issue we have a letter from Slovenia and we have readers in many European countries. Arguably our most exotic subscription award goes to Ivan Evan’s son Steven in Brunei. Please keep giving your opinions of the magazine and issues raised in it.
Just writing to tell you what a great job you are doing. As your magazine is in English, I get more soaring news from it than any other source. The American SOARING is not even interested in international events, or accidents. And I agree with Gavin, the Americans need FLARMs! A few issues ago, SOARING (USA) did a long article about solar power, and they did not even mention the possibility of powering a sailplane by solar power! Not to mention climbing higher and higher, over the clouds, while all the other gliders are limited to flying under the cloud base. Also, I am glad to see that Icare is flying again. The more activity in solar power the better, in my opinion. Klaus’s World Record applications are with the FAI, which now has a category for solar powered aircraft. I made longer flights before the FAI sanctioned solar power. In my opinion, a World Record for a glider with a motor should be more distance than a similar glider without a motor, so I do not try for such things. Otherwise the question will arise, why does adding a motor decrease the performance, so much? Keep up the good work! Eric Raymond Slovenia
Max Stevens is probably unaware of CAA’s shift to top hole, gold plated headquarters in downtown Wellington, which caused much (impotent) ministerial displeasure. Most people are unaware that CAA can enter your home without a search warrant, a power denied the police, and of course CAA controls Avsec, which is basically its own militia. Airways Corporation is a similar quango, also beholden to CAA, and is permitting private trials of RPV’s and reducing airspace available for gliding. This combined with inevitable bureaucratic empire building, paints a disturbing picture, eventually we will be squeezed out. Neville Cameron Hauraki Aero Club
This “geriatric-glider-pilot” continues to enjoy your great magazine. I am responding to your mention to get in touch re photograph on P. 48 of Oct-Nov. issue. – Also a correction and comment as follows:– This was one of three I sent you which were all taken within a few minutes of each other and in slightly different directions. Although a good picture was published, it was not the main one. The one to which I was really referring, was aimed at south-west to expound this shattered wave-wind shear effect caused by approaching southerly. I thought it was quite impressive and a bit unique. Aee above. Doug Honnor. Gliding Hawkes Bay and Waipukurau Thanks Doug, I’m delighted to show your other lovely photo and sort out who sent it. Ed.
TAKE OFF ANY TIME YOU WANT
15M Self Launch Ultra Light Glider TST-10M Atlas
I understand that Grant Wisnewski has sent you a letter concerning the grounding of all (virtually) Blanik L13s. I would like to endorse all that Grant has stated and add my concern at the possible repercussions of the grounding becoming permanent. In my opinion, as an instructor of many years, the Blanik, despite its age, remains the perfect training machine and, in other than outright performance, is superior to most ‘more modern’ two-seaters in that role. I also have to agree that the emphasis these days definitely leans towards the high performance/competitive (expensive) end of the gliding spectrum to the detriment of the grass roots ‘department’, without which there would be no future glider pilots. Accepting that there is probably not a lot that we can do to resolve the current Blanik problem we should, at least, let our feelings be known to the higher authorities. Neville Swan Aviation Sports Club RNZAF Base Auckland. Please see the article on page 18 regarding this issue. Ed.
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December 2010
For Sale NZ$97,500 Currently housed at Matamata
Contact Gerald mobile 0274 836 308 Geraldv14@gmail.com
