AUCKLAND GLIDING CLUB
80TH BIRTHDAY 80 years is a long time to fly without engines. The Auckland Gliding Club was about to turn 80 and that is a birthday worth celebrating. A full day of activities was planned and, thankfully, the forecast 20 knot easterlies abated early on, meaning that all the scheduled flying activities could take place. They could fly but they couldn’t land. The field itself had received a lot of rain in the previous week, so was deemed too wet to allow a lot of the heavy Warbirds from nearby Ardmore airfield to land. On display were several radio controlled aircraft, as well as gliders, ranging in age from New Zealand’s first registered glider – the Olympia GAA, to the latest technology – an electric Antares. First to fly in and actually land was Tiger Moth BFF, an aircraft that had originally towed for Auckland and Piako. This prompted Russell Thorne to update his Tiger Moth rating, which he then used to tow our PW5 skywards before anyone could stop him. The PW5 pilot would have been in the unusual position of not having to ask a tug pilot or winch driver to slow down. Not to be outdone, the Pawnee reckoned it could show the crowd a thing or two, and heaved itself into the air whilst attached to
10
June 2011
By David Hirst
a single Astir, a PW5 and an ASK 21 – probably the longest it’s ever taken to get to 1000 feet. Certainly the ASK 21 in the low-tow position would have had a very good look at some of the local properties to the south. This was in marked contrast to its previous flight – Arthur Gatland was sole occupant and appeared to have some difficulty, first in maintaining straight and level flight (back on the simulator for you, Arthur), then in determining which way up the aircraft flew best. It was a truly awesome aerobatic display and the longest I have ever seen a glider remain inverted – Ed. Even though the Warbirds and other aircraft were unable to land, they proceeded to put on a great series of displays throughout the afternoon. First was the high-speed flypast by the Strikemaster, then a fantastic display by the Extra 300. Both aircraft sure know how to make an entrance – this appears to require both speed and a lack of altitude and we request that both aircraft continue to practice
