What tug should we get next? Robert Bryce-Smith goes tyre-kicking - page 5
Gransden times
January 2009
After five years as Chief Flying Instructor, Rod Ward retires Fit for purpose? James Kellerman reckons new medicals will only make EASA’s bank balance healthier. Page 2 Changes in the office as Jan Ivory retires and Nicola Morgan takes over on weekends. Page 3 We need two tugs at CGC. Robert Bryce-Smith goes tyre-kicking and thinks the Robin DR 400 is the best and explains why. Page 5 Boundary layer control has the potential to make every glider in production obsolete. Loek Boermans is the man who could make it happen and he’s speaking in London soon. Page 7 At the AGM this Spring CGC will vote in a new CFI. Current CFI, Rod Ward, talks about his last five years and offers some advice for his successor Page 8 A new year: and for some, new toys. The recession hasn’t stopped glider development with Schemp Hirth and Schleichler launching new models Page 12 Fuel for thought. George Knight sniffs around the fuel dump to find out what goes into the tugs and becomes rampant when explaining how to fit a TE tube. Page 13 How fast did you go man? George Sanderson has built a new manometer for checking your ASI Page 15
Rod Ward in the back of HGV (a DG 500) on a late autumn 280Km flight with the editor in 2003 A cool head, diplomacy and a great dress sense are just some of the qualities needed in a CFI.
R
od’s five years are nearly up and he would do it again but for his years. At the AGM in late Feb / March a new CFI will be voted in. In an interview late last year Rod told Gransden Times about his time as CFI and what he believes training can bring to member development and how it can help membership retention. Richard Brickwood also brings up the issue of retention and operational efficiency
whilst Andrew Hulme highlights how important it is to cut down waste: the figures are a bit scary. Also on the issue of operations is the weighty matter of getting a second tug for 2009. Robert Bryce-Smith looks at the Robin DR 400 and explains why a sub-committee favours it. If you know little about tugs, the article is quite an education. A lecture by Loek Boermans on boundary layer control will also be an education.
Gransden times is the magazine of Cambridge Gliding Club - www.glide.co.uk. Editorial contact: gt@glide.co.uk
Personal views
Ed’s bit
Whether the weather be hot or whether the weather be cold, we must weather the weather...
W
hich is pretty cold comfort if you’ve been gliding in the UK for the last two years. But instead of whining, perhaps there is some pleasure to be had grinding away at 900 ft in half a knot. When I went to buy my first glider the owner said something which has always stuck with me: “on any flight you will get low and how you cope with that will determine whether you get back or not.” Nine hundred feet over Great Malvern is not the time or place to do your practice. There are a few weeks before we can start picking the first crop of spring thermals. These feisty, unreliable, nar-
Heartbeat Hot on the heels of Mode S come new medicals. Neurosurgeon James Kellerman casts doubt on the proposal’s efficacy
A
re you fit to fly? That all depends upon your perception of the certification process. Most of us have a driving licence and know that there are some minimum medical standards that have to be achieved. Oddly enough, some of these standards are more stringent than those currently used for glider flying! The system works well enough so it should come as no surprise that the whole thing is under threat from the dreaded EASA. Once again we are being forced to surrender to a purposeless, large, unrepresentative and expensive bureaucracy based somewhere in Europe. They need their jobs and your money more than ever before. You have already experienced the Joy of EASA Certificate of Airworthiness so it was only a matter of time before they would get their hands on the process of Pilot Licensing and Medicals. The present medical certification is simple for the majority of club pilots. It’s based on DVLA driving standards 1 and
GT 2
January 2009
lyrics, no matter how many times you hear them, they always take you by surprise and are impossible to remember. The importance of practicing on poor thermal days was brought home when I took a look at Robert Welford’s trace of his 750Km diploma flight. Not much more than 90 minutes after launch, and miles from home, he was under 1000ft. My heart was pounding just looking at the trace. For most, this day-of-days ...thermals are like Leonard Cohen would have been over. We have weather in the UK but it lyrics, no matter how many time you poor doesn’t stop Phil Jeffery racking hear them, they always take you by up the miles and trophies: it has made many British world chamsurprise... pions and Team GB number one. than 1,300 ft. You can’t go anywhere in So, how much practice should you these conditions but they are as much a do in poor conditions? Enough such that part of soaring as 8knt streets at 5000ft you come to enjoy it. Remember, the because they offer the chance to stay air Juniors come with 15 minutes of soarbourne and to wait for better conditions. ing time included in the winch cost and But thermals are like Leonard Cohen you don’t have to rig them - Hallelujah. row cored delinquents offer fantastic opportunities to get back into thermal practice. They can also be great fun to fly and very rewarding to climb in. The other type of thermal lift worth hunting down is that which occurs on overcast days; the thermals typically are weak and broad. Gransden village will quite often generate a steady stream of rising air on these days with a cloud base of little more
maelstrom of legislation which at best is 2. This declaration system has served us inappropriate for the gliding fraternity well. JAR 1 and 2 involve professional and at worst will give a false sense of and other private pilot licences. Thanks security, because you will have ticked to the internet all this information is so many boxes that you will believe that available to you freely on the BGA webyou are fit enough to pilot the first missite and I will dwell it no more. sion to Mars. EASA needs to encompass all The 66 pages of NPA 2008-17c make aspects of your flying life and to make money in the process. The greatest prior- for terrifying reading. (www.easa.europa. ity is safety and this can only be achieved eu/ws_prod/r/r_npa.php) It is a lawyer’s daydream loaded with definitions and by multiple layering of forms and other qualifying clauses. Oh so much fun and obstacles placed in the way of well what’s more all this new nonsense will heeled, law abiding, tax paying citizens. I may be a little cynical You can tick as many boxes as you like but I suspect that the net effect will be to deter perbefore you fly, to satisfy EASA, but it fectly able bodied people won’t make you any safer in the air with minor ailments hit your pockets hard. from taking up gliding. The mountains Hopefully the Leisure Pilot Licence of worthless legislation are simply a failure to understand the problem and the (LPL) medical will be little different to the present system except it may cost need to deflect blame when an accident occurs. Whilst human performance is fre- more because of the pressure to use more quently at fault, physical fitness seldom specialised doctors. The EASA class 1 figures large in serious accidents. Serious and 2 (not to be confused with DVLA 1&2) will be equivalent to the current catastrophic health failure whilst flying JAR1 and JAR2 for professional and is unpredictable and seldom foreseen or private flying. prevented by health screening. The real aspects of fitness to fly Again, the BGA is fighting on our behalf and if the common sense approach are about common sense health checks such as not being over tired, hung over, is followed then we need have no fears. The NPA2008-17c or Notice of Proposed dehydrated, hungry or unduly stressed. You can tick as many boxes as you like Amendment sounds innocent enough. before you fly, to satisfy EASA, but it “Just a little ole notice to let you folks won’t make you any safer in the air. know what we’re up to.” The devil is Happy New Year in the detail and it will drag us into this
Money, money, money keen to keep the buildings and airfield in order as well as the operational kit but we do need every member’s help to keep expenditure under control. Please treat everything, however insignificant, with care. Accidents happen, of course, but if they do please report damage so it can be fixed without further deterioration. The tug fuel door (relatively new) has already had impact damage and without a modest repair the door will quickly deteriorate. Someone could have reported it.
Bah Humbug Jan Ivory recieves a farewell bouquet from chairman, Richard Brickwood. Photo courtesy of Geoff Brown
The Office After nearly 18 months of “ short term cover” recommenced at short notice, Jan Ivory is retiring from weekend duties in the office. Thanks for all your hard work Jan - especially on some hectic Sundays this Summer. We welcome Nicola Morgan whom some of you will have met by the time this issue of the Gransden Times arrives on your computer. Nicola has no experience of a Gliding Club but brings some great administration skills and a lot of enthusiasm to the team. Please introduce yourself to Nicola, be a little patient while she finds her way round our systems and if she needs a bit of assistance with non-member visitors please give her a hand with explanations (of what gliding involves) to the visitors. Nicola will be working mainly on Sundays and occasionally on Saturdays to cover Jo Griffin when she is not available.
Money matters The club non-flying facilities are very valuable to the whole operation but some aspects such as maintenance and energy usage are quite a drain on funds - funds you provide by subscriptions, facility fees and so on. Recent items of necessary expenditure have included about £1000 on re-sheeting the hangar doors (great team work in unpleasant weather by Julian Bayford and a small bunch of enthusiasts), new secure doors for the tug fuel store/workshop and clubhouse and so on. The committee are
On the energy front too, we are spending a good deal of your money in keeping the security lights burning, the clubhouse warm, batteries charged, and the office team from dying of hypothermia. Please do all you can to help, switch off lights, switch of battery chargers which are not charging batteries and think economy - as you would at home. Why am I raising this? Well Mark Collins did an “energy audit” recently and found our electricity costs (about £3000 a year) are contributed to at the rate of about £12 to £15 for each battery charger which runs for a whole year; by £50 to £60 for even the most modest heater in a parachute cupboard and so on...it all builds up. Money spent unnecessarily on these things detracts from that which could be spent on flying related activities.
But great value for group trial flight evenings In the depth of winter it’s not easy to think so far ahead - but bookings are now being taken for group flying evenings and member’s flying evenings. These dates fill up fast........so why not get something arranged - details from the office. Remember the second flight for these evenings comes at half price so fix your numbers to allow for this high value flying. A special price applies for member’s groups - all you have to do is be a full member - and arrange your own crew. In 2009 we aim to have light refreshments available for groups on arrival. Many visitors will have come straight from work and would welcome sandwiches. Details available from Joanne in the office. Andrew Hulme, Treasurer
The times they are A-changin’...
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hen our Chairman, Richard Brickwood, sidled up to me in the clubhouse kitchen two months ago making a casual enquiry about what I was doing, his phone call two days later asking: “would you take over Gransden Times?” did not come as a surprise. “I will give it some thought,” I said. When thinking about it, my first instinct was to position Gransden Times somewhere between “Nuts” and an Air Accident Investigation Branch report. So it should be entertaining, flippant, credible, informative, useful, controversial,
...my first instinct was to position Gransden Times somewhere beween “Nuts” and an Air Accident Investigation report. educational and colourful. It also had to be accessible to those new to gliding and to CGC. But any club magazine needs contributors: not only of words but of pictures and ideas for articles. Some ideas for future editions include: how to become a hot air balloon pilot, maintenance of the club 2-seaters, and how to become a tug pilot. We might even take a look at sailing and hang-gliding. I also want Gransden Times to take the ordinary member behind the scenes of club management and operations. To provide an insight into decision making (such as getting a new tug - P5) as well as reporting on members achievements - Page 16. But there is a world of gliding outside the airfield boundary. New gliders are being built, Page 12, and new instruments to go in them. Very occasionally, radical new ideas emerge on wing design - try and get yourself to the Loek Boermans lecture in London on 17th February - P4 Finally, I know all members will want to say thank you to Gavin Deane for his five years work on Gransden Times. As our Chairman points out on page 4, Gavin took Gransden Times from tree-ware to the web. Paul Harvey
January 2009
GT 3
From the Chairman Richard Brickwood outlines a vibrant flying plan for 2009 and improvements in operations
the Autumn, the “unofficial” trip to Jaca that our members contribute to it, the in April which is being organised by Bill better it will become. Bullimore. And if you don’t have your The copy and publication dates for own glider, remember the Single Seat Gransden Times for the rest of 2009 will be published in the Club’s 2009 calendar, Scheme (which Neil Goudie has taken over from Julian Bane after seven years the first cut of which will be released in – thank you Julian and welcome Neil) – early January. which will enable non-private owners to Many members are working to take part in many of these events. And if deliver a vibrant flying program for efore anything else – a happy, 2009. This will aim to In 2008 we recruited over 25 new memprosperous and enjoyable New offer as many organised Year to all members of Camopportunities for each of bers and we need to maintain this mobridge Gliding Club. I hope that everyour members as possible mentum if we are to continue growing. one has a terrific season, that you each whilst trying to attract, achieve the goal you set yourselves for train and retain, as many 2009 but, above all, have a great time all that is not enough, we have the Kelnew members as we can. In 2008 we at Gransden Lodge throughout the year man Clock Competition running until the recruited over 25 new members and we – and, remember, that if Santa didn’t start of British Summer Time (Sunday, need to maintain this momentum if we deliver that wizzy new glider that you are to continue growing. The more mem- 29th March). A number of winter lectures so richly deserved there is always next are being finalised and the AGM in late bers we have, the more we can achieve, Christmas to work towards. February/early March at which we will whilst keeping our flying costs under If everything goes according to plan be raffling the second of the Virgin Hot control. We really do need to build our (bearing in mind that I am writing this in full flying numbers up to a stable number Air balloon vouchers – but you will need to be there to take part. Dates for these in excess of events will be posted to the Club calen...improving the efficient use of club assets, not 200 and the huge amount of dar and on the web site as soon as they least by improving the launch rate and launch work put in by are finalised. In addition, we are reviewing some Tony Cronpoint etiquette. of our administrative procedures with the shaw, Andrew overall aims of capitalising on the hunWatson, Julian mid-December for a mid-January pubdreds of trial lessons which we provide Bane and others of the Recruitment and lication date) you will have noticed that each year and improving the efficient Retention Sub-Committee is delivering this edition launches a “new look” for use of Club assets, not least by improvmuch of our current success. They deGransden Times. This has been inspired ing the launch rate and improving launch serve your active support and are always by Paul Harvey who has taken over as point etiquette. One significant, and looking for willing volunteers for eveditor following Gavin Dean’s request to erything from helping out at recruitment easy to implement, improvement will stand down. Gavin has done a terrific job opportunities such as the Little Gransden be the re-launch of the Assistant Launch for over five years and we all owe him a Airshow or the glider exhibition in Cam- Marshal role as Launch Point Assistant. huge vote of thanks for taking Gransden This will be unveiled in late January and bridge, as part of the University’s FreshTimes from tree-ware to the electronic ers’ Week, to instructors and ground crew all members who are not currently on age and thereby making it free to disfor the tribute, instantaneously and easy to send Evening ...formal five-day gliding courses for the first week of worldwide - and archive copies are simClasses – ple to access though the web site. Gavin or simply each month and a cross-country course on the last even managed to dragoon the regular the provi- week of each month... contributors into providing copy before sion of another roster, including those who are most of his deadlines. (How did he do bright ideas. We need all the bright ideas that? Ed) This is no mean feat given the we can get – and help in delivering them. pre-solo, will be invited to participate. A Cadet and Young Adults Roster, with a time management skills of some of us. In 2009 we will be hosting the similar role, will be launched at the same Gavin is taking a break from gliding but, Vintage Glider Rally (May 24th-30th) and have applied to host two BGA AssCat time. We simply need to improve the hopefully, he will soon discover that it is Courses in April and September. We also launch rate and accuracy of log keeping. an unmissable sport and rush to sign–up have an application in for the Inter-UniThe Launch Point Assistant will be a way again once he sees the error of his ways. of achieving those goals and that will be Meanwhile, Paul has been busy with versity Task Week to be held in the early summer and are planning formal five-day of benefit to all Club members. the re-design and has generated a load gliding courses for the first week of each I hope to see you at many of these of new ideas for this, and forthcoming, month and a cross-country course on the events – or at least on the flight line. editions. We wish him well. Gransden last week of each month. Then there’s the Have a good season – I intend to. Times is a vital part of the communicaGransden Regionals from August 22ndtion plan for Cambridge Gliding Club 29th, a Club Expedition to a wave site in Richcard Brickwood, Chairman CGC and so the more it is read, and the more
B
GT 4
January 2009
Tug news
Batman’s choice
It’s not been a good year for the tugs at Gransden. The Rallye collapsed and the Pawneee failed more than once. Even a new Grob 109, on loan, decided to play the Joker. So, what tug to get next? Robert Bryce-Smith thinks a Robin DR 400 is the answer to the riddle As you know, this year has seen a few changes on the tug front. Until last June we had a Rallye, which we bought in 1990, but it’s not suited to wet conditions due to its complex slats (leading edge high lift devices), flaps and undercarriage; all suffer damage in the mud. Also, being a nose-wheel aircraft, it is vulnerable to prop strikes in soft ground. And though it’s adequate for 20m modern gliders (Duo Discus, DG 1000) it’s not efficient at the higher towing speeds demanded by these high performance gliders. A fully ballasted standard class or racing class glider also needs a higher towing speed to provide a margin over raised stall speed. A glider, off tow sinks, and in a funny sort of way, the vertical component of its drag acts as lift. On tow this doesn’t happen. This is why a Discus that would normally fly happily at 50kts off tow hangs uncontrollably below the tug on tow at similarly slow speeds. We own a Pawnee, which is very practical and powerful with its 235 HP engine and it’s good on wet ground, having been designed for agricultural use with large wheels and no nosewheel. Its cross wind performance is also good with a low wing and large control surfaces. The downside is it’s thirsty being very draggy and having a big engine. But we have about 80 privately owned gliders on site and that dictates we’re a two tug club: the facility fee (£225 per year per glider) effectively enables us to offer two tugs capable of towing modern and sometimes heavy gliders. We also run a major competition each year and occasionally a national competition. The Club bought the Rallye in 1990 to cope with the first of these big gliders. It was also good on the better drained field at Duxford. We need a tug with a minimum of 180 hp to cope with current demands. The Robin DR400 has been
Is this the perfect tug? Low fuel consumption, good rate of climb and simple construction, the Robin DR 300
The Rallye: Legless
Left: The Rallye in bits. The front nosewheel collapsed while taxi-ing at low speed. The impact meant the engine had to be “split” (a technical term for a detailed inspection) and the aircraft written off. The insurance money will allow us to replace it. The new owner is rebuilding the Rallye and has generously offered us the use of it as a tug, from time-to-time, this season.
January 2009
GT 5
Left, The Grob109: not a lot of grunt but good economy, rapid descent capability for fast turnaround and proving popular with motorglider pilots. But as a regular tug is unproven Above, the Pawnee: draggy, powerfull and thirsty but just what you want in a fully ballasted 15m glider or Duo Discus. Photo courtesy of Robert Bryce-Smith chosen as its wing is optimised for the higher towing speeds of modern gliders. This better performance at 80 kts gives a shorter time to release height and hence better fuel economy. It is easy to fly and is a comfortable tourer with a good range for four adults and a good training aircraft. It has a simpler construction, relative to the Rallye, and lower maintenance costs. The resale value should also be good due to its popularity and it has the best fuel economy of all 180hp tugs. The DR300, pictured on page 5, on loan from The London Gliding Club, is very similar to the Robin’s wing the DR400 is optimised but with a narrower for the higher cabin and towing speeds of d o o r s , rather modern gliders. than the one-piece canopy. It does not have approval for the 4 bladed props that we need for our planning permission but recent developments in propellor technology, focusing on noise reduction, have made modern 2 bladed props almost as quiet. For those not familiar with powered aircraft, a little bit about propellers. Four-bladed props, with their lower tip speed, are quieter than two-bladed propellers and their greater drag helps descent profiles and short landings. In addition, their shorter blades give more ground clearance. Four-bladed props can “screw” the same amount of air whilst being shorter than two bladed props. The Robin DR400/300 also
GT 6
January 2009
has a proven track record at Lasham, Dunstable and Booker. But what else should we consider? The Super Cub 180 is a wonderful aeroplane though vulnerable in strong winds and unable to take a 4 bladed prop. Then there’s the Bellanca Scout but there are very few around and it’s not really a touring aircraft so we would not have access to that revenue stream. The Supermunk, basically a Chipmunk with a big engine, is fun to fly. They are non aerobatic (a shame as it might then have been used for private hire) and they are not ideal for club towing unless all pilots are very current on type as they are more complex and require more training. So what about a motor glider, such as the Grob 109 we have on hire? The downside is they lack “grunt” on the initial ground run which can be a problem with heavy gliders. Also, they have not been tested on multiple towing operations over a season. However, they are economical to run especially if dropping the glider overhead the airfield – due to its powerful brakes. As an aside, in order to reduce “shock cooling” on an engine that has climbed at slow speed and at full power, we descend with gently reducing power and slowly accelerating. We take 30 seconds at CGC to get from release point to descent. With the Grob you simply open the brakes and because it’s engine is water cooled there is no risk of engine damage. Motorgliders are also very good at towing slower gliders. The Grob will tow happily at 50 kts whilst the Robin is nearer 60
kts minimum. There has been a lot of discussion about using diesel engines in tugs, but the size we need have not
The downside of motorgliders is they lack “grunt” on the initial ground run yet been developed. Perhaps they will be available in 10 years time when the Pawnee needs a new power plant? We have formed a sub-committee consisting of Andy Jude, Andrew Hulme, David Howse and myself to find a replacement for the Rallye and we have agreed on the Robin DR400. We are still searching for the right one and hoping to take advantage of a buyers market. In the meantime, should we not find a suitable example, we will lease another tug, probably the Robin DR300 we operated this year. By the way, the Rallye salvage has been sold to a local Rallye enthusiast who is repairing it in the back of our hangar. It should be finished very soon and we have been kindly offered its use during busy occasions next season as a spare/third tug. We know what we want – but due to the availability of spare tugs right now – we don’t feel the need to rush into a purchase. We will, however, operate two tugs for next season. the author: Robert BryceAbout
Smith is a training captain with easyjet, our chief tug pilot, full CAT, former club CFI and founder of Bluebell Airways.
Could boundary layer control become a reality in gliders?
L
oek Boermans is one of world’s best know low-speed aerodynamicist and Associate Professor of Aerodynamics at Delft University of Technology and President of OSTIV. On Tuesday17th February 2009 he is giving a lecture at The Royal Aeronautical Society in Hamilton place, London - entry is free. The lecture is in two parts. The first part covers recent aerodynamic developments in wing, winglet, wing-fuselage junctions and tailplane design as applied to high performance gliders such as the Antares and Concordia (an advanced development of the ASW22) and ASH-30. The second part looks at the development of boundary layer control and the use of suction to reduce drag. It seems a new low-cost method has been developed to drill the tiny holes in the wing skin so a suction can be applied to control the boundary layer. This technology could radically improve the performance of gliders. This lecture is a rare opportunity to learn about what is happening at the cutting edge of sailplane design. The lecture starts at 6 pm with refreshments from 5-30 pm. Whilst there is no charge for attending, the organisers have asked that you let them know if you are going. Conference & Events Department Royal Aeronautical Society No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1 Tel: 020 7670 4345 Email: conference@raes.org.uk www.aerosociety.com/conference
Leave the ASG-29 behind
E
very year the Vintage Glider Club (VGC) holds a National Rally, and for 2009 we are the host Club - 23rd to 31st May at Gransden Lodge. That means an influx of wonderful gliders from all round the country, and probably from abroad too. Most of them wooden, all of them colourful, some no doubt equipped with the latest in struts and skids, Cosim variometers, open cockpits and other delights unknown to the present generation.
Last year at the Southdown Club 23 gliders attended, the oldest being a 1935 Scud III and a 1937 Rhoenbussard. Plenty of Slingsby wood, from Kites I and II and a Sky to Swallows and Skylarks, and of course a T21b to keep Bluebell company as well as a Capstan. Elliotts of Newbury (did you know that was what EoN stood for?) were represented by two Olympia 2b’s and a 463. And there were two Huetter H17a’s. See what fun can be had with these older machines. Perhaps even cadge a lift in a two-seater, or talk one of the owners of a single-seater into letting you have a go. Come and learn how to park a proper glider on a windy day. Windy or not, there will be plenty of opportunities for willing hands to help with the gliders on the field. Gentle tasks may be the order of the day, but without a hill nearby just staying airborne can be quite a challenge, with length of flight (measured in hours, not miles) once again being scored.
Robert Bryce-Smith gets some early practice in Bluebell for the Vintage Glider Rally in May. Picture courtesy of Robert Bryce-Smith
Last year we hosted a VGC weekend during which I gave an evening talk on the history of the Cambridge University Gliding Club. We had only a few visitors then, but in May we can expect a good turn out, and I’ll happily try again. And if it rains and rains I can always polish up my talk on the history of the best-speedto-fly theory. So put 23 – 31 May in your diary and look forward to a Gransden week with a difference. For information about the VGC, including membership details, visit www. vintagegliderclub.org. Anthony Edwards
Diary
And if you can’t hack it in the UK...
Bill Bullimore flying his Mosquito in the Spanish Pyranees: Picture courtesy of Bill Bullimore
T
hen there’s always Jaca in the Spanish Pyrenees. Bill Bullimore has been arranging this trip for many years with regulars such as James Kellerman and Robert Welford. This year they have access to a Duo Discus for the first week through Brian Spreckley: the cost for the Duo is £55 for a half day or £110 for a whole day. The dates are 18th April to 3rd of May. Bill reckons there will be about a dozen members going and four private gliders. However, with a Duo Discus (very reasonably priced) and people cleared to fly it, this could be an excellent chance to do some mountain flying in what are generally good conditions in spectacular surroundings. Gliders are typically shipped from Portsmouth to Bilboa in northern Spain with an easy days drive to this well equipped gliding site. Ryanair fly to Zaragosa, about 100 miles to the south of Jaca. For more details, please contact Bill Bullimore (bill@multihulls.co.uk)
Theory and practice
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embers of the British Gliding Team, including coaches, will be at Bicester on Sunday 8th February to pass on some tips about flying faster. These theory sessions will cover task setting, weather and instrumentation. Following this there will be a practical flying weekend at Lasham starting 25th April putting the theory from Bicester into practice and the organisers hope to have a 2-seater available. Most will need to take thier own, or a club glider. Priotity will be given to those attending the workshop in Bicester. To register your interest and book a place, email Liz Sparrow ebertoya@iee.org
January 2009
GT 7
Cover story
Chief Flying Instructor is one of the big three jobs in gliding. Some clubs have paid full-time professionals but Cambridge has been lucky to have found volunteers for the role
Good Finish
Former club member and 18m world champion, Phil Jones, finishes the Gransden G
GT 8
January 2009
Rod Ward retires after five years as CFI and offers some advice to his successor ... and defends his decision to move the launch-point.
GP 2006 in a Ventus 2a, E4. Photo courtesy of James Kellerman
The job of CFI is a big one. Only the roles of treasurer and chairman compare in terms of workload. Rod Ward had five years as CFI and now reflects on what he achieved and how instructing can help improve membership.
R
od was first captivated by flying at the age of five. For 35 years it was a dream until a flight in a Grob 109 in Devon. Now, a further 21 years down the line, in his violin workshop in Burwell, Cambs, Rod is preparing to hand over the role he has fulfilled for the last five years. Rod soloed at North Hill, Devon, in 1987 in a K13 and spent many hours ridge soaring before he knew what a thermal was. “It [ridge soaring] did me an awful lot of good because I learnt a lot about turbulence.” It also gave him one of very few memorable scary moments. “I was coming back in a DG 100 on a very marginal final glide and landed wheels-up.” Rod started on an instructor course at North Hill, becoming a Basic Instructor in late 1990 and with some chutzpah applied for a summer job at London Gliding Club, Dunstable. In early 1991 he did an instructor course with Chris Rollings at Booker. “Chris was the best instructor of instructors superb, a good instructor [he adds] is one who can see what a student needs and can help them.” The comment comes despite Rollings failing him at first attempt for a Full CAT rating. But when Rod did get his rating (with Chris Rollings) he ranked it as a highlight of his gliding career - along with going solo.
January 2009
GT 9
Cover story
Rod Ward in his violin workshop in Burwell: Rod started making violins aged 28 and moved from Dunstable in 1996
because of the high reputation of East Anglian violin makers.
The high quality of local violin makers prompted a move to the Cambridge area in 1996 and Cambridge Gliding Club. He admits that becoming CFI of “one of the top clubs in the country” has been one of his proudest achievements. So what advice is there for the successor? Rod is clear: “Treat everyone the same and delegate. One of the worst parts of being CFI initially was the constant correspondence on minor issues but I soon learnt to delegate and the flying committee was a great help as was Richard Maskell, the club’s deputy CFI, and Mike Smith, the club’s Safety Officer.” Nonetheless, being CFI took up a substantial amount of time. “But the best bit was flying with instructors and teaching people how to teach. And I got to meet a lot of members - a pretty good bunch.” Philippa, Rod’s partner, brings in some tea and carrot cake. Refreshed, I decide to tackle Rod on why he moved the launch point forward on “22”. The argument [against the move] is that the new position gives lower launches, gives the illusion of safety, when going to the launch point and reduces safety for pilots because the options for landing ahead or going around are reduced..
GT 10
January 2009
Answering the “illusion of safety” time to stop is when you become unsafe question: “I had to consider public safety. or stop enjoying it.” There will also be There is also a BGA recommendation more time for flying his LS7, 7R, on his that the aerotow and winch launch points favourite route, Great Malvern out and are ‘well separated’. As for lower launch- return (300km) which he’s flown in three es, well the launch height is a bit less but hours and 10 minutes - a flight he rates remember the runway length of “22” is as one of his best. As for the worst flight, the same as “04” and no one has sug“failing to get away after three launches gested we move the launch points back on a 300Km day.” to the airfield the best bit was flying with instructors and boundary. teaching people how to teach. And I got to meet a There is also the question lot of members - a pretty good bunch.” of operational efficiency. Everyone remembers And ambitions? “To keep on enjoythe launch point being blocked because ing it and get my diamond height”. There of gliders overshooting and the time is no desire either to get a new glider wasted dragging them out of the way. reckoning the best glider is his LS7, “on That is rare now. When we first moved an eight knot day.” to Gransden, it was always the intention There are things which were not to site the launch points where we have achieved. “I would like to have seen a them now.” structured cross-country scheme.” But Among Rod’s other initiatives were his passion returns when it comes back installing radios in the 2-seater fleet and to instructing. “I would like see more down-wind calls. He also persuaded the theory taught and earlier, on a more forcommittee to have C3 flight computers mal basis to encourage new members.” fitted to the Pegasus and Discuses. But what of the future and life after At the AGM, you will have a chance CFI? “I plan to continue as an instructor to vote for a new CFI. and Regional Examiner: instructing is half the fun of being in the club. But the
In the first of an occasional series, Gransden Times looks back to earlier years in the club’s history
From the archives
Building Gransden Lodge JOHN BIRCH writes: “For those who were involved, the construction of Gransden Lodge seems a very recent event, and we can assume that every member is familiar with it. In fact about two thirds of the current membership have joined since we moved from Duxford, so the following may give some idea of what went on, and how we come to have the facilities we have today”
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t Duxford we had the use of a blister hanger for the fleet, a Romney hut for the winch, towout vehicles, a brick built workshop and clubhouse. It wasn’t the world’s greatest clubhouse, being a Portakabin previously used as the sleeping quarters for the workers who constructed the M11. We set our sights quite modestly at Gransden. Just the same buildings but perhaps bigger and better. Step up, the newly retired Bryce, previously a civil engineer with Cambridge City Council into the role of Obergruppenfuhrer. The only problem was money - we didn’t have anything like enough. Howard Franks (of blessed memory) had a father who knew of a blister hanger going begging at Biggin Hill for £50. All we had to do was dismantle it, transport it 70 miles and re-erect it. Although the framework was put up professionally by two builder-members, the cladding was done by volunteers. It was at that point that we discovered something strange about most of our members. No - they weren’t workshy, far from it, but 80 per cent are afraid of heights. Standing on a scaffold tower with our then CFI, Robert Bryce-Smith, looking quite uncomfortable at being 15 feet up, was a shock. The Romney hut was more entertaining. It came from a scrap merchant’s yard in Cambridge and was a real bargain - it was pretty cheap at £800. Again all we had to do was take it away. This time we didn’t use professionals. While the frames could simply be unbolted into sections (by the 20 per cent of members prepared to go up a ladder), it had a brick end wall that had to be demolished. Those of you who have never seen Richard Maskell handed the controls of a JCB with the suggestion that: “this might just bring that wall down” have not seen a man on a mission.
John with the Grob Sadly, although there were probably 30 of us there that day, there were probably no eye witnesses to the demolition itself. Richard having decided the best strategy was to knock a hole in the wall, put a chain through it and simply pull the wall down, proceeded to do so. The rest of us ran away very fast. The Romney hut was re-erected on the base of what had been some pig sheds. The storm of 1987 had conveniently removed the roof (and parked it in Caxton 3/4 mile away) and we simply had to remove the three foot high breeze block walls between the stalls. It’s surprising how much pent up frustration there is in the average professional by Saturday morning. Sledge hammers were clearly wielded at more than walls and Sue Bell (Mrs. Dave Howse) looked like taking off every time she swung. It must have been a bad week. Re-erection was a fairly easy - bolt the frames together and to the concrete and replace the cladding. This was done in the evenings by teams, one for each evening of the week. It became a contest of course to make the most progress.
Nick and Mark Robinson, who had the advantage of being light enough to walk on the roof, (and not afraid to be more than 6 ft up) set the pace for the rest of us. Incidentally, look at how well the Romney hut fits its concrete base - pure luck. And so to the clubhouse and workshop. These were built in sections recovered from an industrial timber framed workshop at Newmarket, and came to us via Anne Walker at £150. Again, demolish it and we could have it. John Glossop appeared one evening after finishing less well than usual in a Nationals and accelerated the pace (isn’t adrenaline a wonderful thing?). Enough panels were recovered for three buildings (the rest are still in the Romney hut). Re-erection was pretty simple, once the concrete bases had been laid, and the volunteer crews managed the internal plasterboard ceilings, but the professionals had to the finishing touches including the superb brickwork in the bar. And finally - the roads. All those tarmac chippings - around the clubhouse, the car park and the base of our entrance road were once the A604 (now A14). Procured by Andy Walford and Bryce, these were again free, provided we could accept them on site in the middle of the night. Andy stayed up, we got our chippings (most of them, although there are probably some well made up farmer’s tracks nearby now) and the residents of Longstowe seem to have forgiven the procession of 32-ton lorries. If it seems that Gransden Lodge was built for nothing, don’t let the above fool you. Concrete footings, labour, transport, drainage, electrics, and goodness knows what else set us back over £80,000. The grass seed cost over £7,000. And so we moved in. On October 12, 1991, our last flying day at Duxford. The last glider over was the K-6 flown by Janet Birch, and we opened for business as usual the next day.
January 2009
GT 11
Caught in the net Alexander Schleicher stop production of ASW-22 and ASH-25
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n the end, not even Michael Sommers’s victory in the Open Class World Championships last year in an ASW22 BLE could save the ASW22. The end of ASH-25 production had already been announced to make way for the 26.5m ASH-30 of which over 40 have been ordered. What was not expected however was that AS would develop their self-launching ASH-26E to take on the open class ships. The latest offering, branded ASH 31Mi, has the option of tips to take the wing out to 21 meters from the original 18 and uses a Wankel engine. This is no simple extension to the ASH-26 18m wing. The wing is new and draws on the development of the ASG 29.The maiden flight is expected this year with production starting in 2010. No performance claims are made for the 31 Mi. Start saving. However, AS have clearly taken account of a crashing sterling and have extended their range so we can all afford something with an AS badge on it. In the new line-up are caps, watches, shirts, models (of their gliders) and posters. All pretty poor substitutes for an ASG-29, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Schemp Hirth announce the Arcus, a new 20m flapped 2-seater
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ew product planning is obviously a challenging discipline. Who would launch a new glider into the worst recession since 1929? Having just got the Duo-Discus right, with an undercarriage you can operate from the rear seat and airbrakes that work decently, Schemp Hirth have just released the Arcus. Though the wing looks like that of the Duo, SH say it is all new with full span flaperons. The fuselage however will come from the newly launched Duo Discus XL which will take either the self sustainer Solo 2350 or the Solo 2625-2 for the self-launching variant. There will also be a pure glider version. Last year SH announced a tie up with
GT 12
January 2009
Secretary news Lange, the maker of the self launching, battery powered, 20m Antares. The first fruit of this tie-up will be an electric self-launching version of the Arcus. The Arcus prototype is expected to be flying this year.
What’s in a name? Arcus is a term used in medicine to describe a narrow opaque band encirling the cornea, a condition common in old age. The origin is late 18th century latin and means ‘senile bow’: I’m sure Schemp have given more thought to the glider’s design.
DG produce self-launching 1000 Not to be outdone, DG have made a selflaunching version of the DG-1000 and added the option of an electically retractable undercarriage. The new undercarriage system can also be retro-fitted to exisiting DG 1000s.
Insurance costs to rise
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he crash of sterling against the Euro has not only made gliders more expensive, it has also raised the cost of insuring them. And it’s not only down to the increased costs of spares, hulls and trailers. According to the BGA: “The exchange rate has slipped so much recently that £1.3M is now insufficient to satisfy the EC 785/2004 requirement for single seat gliders with a maximum takeoff weight between between 500 and 999Kg.” The European Commission have a mandatory insurance requirement based on “Statutory Drawing Rights” (SDR), a type of insurance currency (Euro based). Basically, in 2004, a SDR was worth 80p - 68p bought a Euro and you got £1.2M of third party cover. Guess what. To continue meeting the cost of EC 785/2004 will mean: “an increase in premiums of about £15 per year,” a broker said to the BGA. The galling part about this is that there has never been a gliding claim anywhere near £1.2M and any claim on a glider flown in the UK is most likely to be settled in a de-based sterling anyway.
Poor weather in 2008 leaves some trophies on the shelf
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his (below) is the club’s “Slazenger” trophy, which I think is one of our more stylish trophies. It is awarded each year for “For the fastest, handicapped flight around the Slazenger triangle: Turning points at Newport Pagnell and Rushden (110Km). For novices only. A “novice” is defined by the inter-club league rules as “Not having taken part in a rated competition,” and “Not having done a flight which would qualify for Gold Distance.” There are a few other limitations which are defined on the club web site. So why am I telling you all this? Because no novice did the Slazenger last year and the trophy therefore remained unclaimed. Now I’m not particularly sad about that. When I was a novice I never managed to win the trophy, and now I’m technically an “Intermediate” and therefore unable to compete for it. But I now get to put it on my sideboard for the next 12 months. Someone’s got to look after it, and as Secretary I see it as one of the perks of the job.
!
The unclaimed Slazenger trophy
In all, four trophies weren’t claimed last year (and yes, I could’ve made an attempt at the other three myself). It may be relevant that all four were for tasks where the turning points are pre-defined (the other 2 trophies for pre-defined tasks were won by Phil Jeffery). That coupled with the poor season could explain the lack of entries. However we have a new season upon us and I’d like to encourage all of you, including pundits, to have a look through the list of trophies that the club awards and see if there’s one or more there that you’d like to have a go at winning. There are a few trophies that are restricted to novices and intermediates, so those pilots shouldn’t feel that they’d be up against the more experienced pilots in the club. Geoff Brown, Secretary CGC
Knight time
One less excuse for landing out
Fuel for thought
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George Knight goes sniffing around the fuel dump
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e use around 20,000 litres of fuel a year - somewhat less than two or three years ago when we used to get gliding weather in the summers. We usually take four 5,000 litre deliveries per year and the tank holds 7,046 litres: enough to fill an average car about 170 times. The fuel is for club and member use only and is not for resale so we can still have a pump in imperial gallons, without joining the metric martyrs.The price per gallon peaked at £1.23 per litre (+ VAT) last summer. 100 LL means 100 octane Low Lead and contains a maximum of 2 grams of lead per US gallon, which is actually a rather high lead content. However it is half of that which was in avgas 100/130 which it replaced. Avgas is a portmanteau of Aviation Gasoline. (You can look that one up!) The fuel tank is dipped weekly with water detecting paste, which changes colour from green to red if water is present at the botom of the tank - Avgas is less dense than water and is dyed blue. The fuel is also sampled daily to check the quality visually. To avoid condensation build up in the tug’s tanks in winter, they are re-fuelled at the end of each day. Fuel weights about 7 lb per gallon so a tug with full tanks is carrying upwards 200 lbs of fuel. But how far does it go? In the Pawnee we use about 2.1 gallons per 2,000’ tow, in the Robin nearer to 1.1 gallons per tow. The Rallye’s consumption was somewhere in between. And the quiz: So why do we earth the tug when re-fuelling it - but you don’t earth your car at the filling station? Fuel - another thought. Members may want to know why we don’t use motor fuel since it is approved for a lot of aircraft. First, it has a lower upper temperature limit due to it being more volatile and likely to have vapour locks on warm days. Second, it must be alcohol free - which means every batch must be tested. The government pressure on oil companies to add biofuel to ordinary motor fuel means that increasingly alcohol is present. The problem is that aviation engines, not being designed for motor fuel in most cases, do not use alcohol resistant materiels in the fuel system so can be damaged by parts that swell and soften in the presence of alcohol.
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hether to be rampant or to dangle? Most pilots with ILEC fin-installed TE tubes insert them with a droop so that the probe head is below the tube’s horizontal shaft. The official ILEC guidance for their tubes states: “The position high on the vertical stabilizer is best”. The probe head should be in line with the top of the vertical stabilizer, or in the case of
T- tailed gliders, in line with the horizontal stabilizer. Positions half way up the vertical stabilizer are normally not as good because of the airflow interference with the fuselage, tailplane, fin and the wake of the wing and fuselage. So lets see more rampant gliders at the launch point with their TE tubes pointing up.
Sweet music for two
Our Puchaz (JEC) gets a new variometer with repeater and Microair transciever. Paul Harvey tunes in The Puchaz may spend most of its life in a nose-down attitude but it can also climb after launch. The old Dibdin vario has provided years of excellent service, but as the Puchaz has taken on
New Tasman vario: it may be a few weeks before you see 4knots up
more thermal training duties, and even some cross-country work, there was a need for a new vario. The vario chosen is a Tasman, made in Australia, and perhaps better suited to a glider which spends a lot of its life upside down. Not the choice of champions perhaps, but the Tasman’s simplicity, clear display, low cost and “pleasant tone,” won the day. A major advantage of the new vario is a back seat repeater, so the instructor has a better idea of what the student is up to in front. Another new toy for the Puchaz is a Microair transciever which will allow radio practice and enables downwind calls to be made bringing JEC in line with the rest of the fleet. Thanks go to Robert Welford for fitting the new kit.
January 2009
GT 13
Tales from the workshop
How fast do you go? If you own your own glider, you need to check the accuracy of your air speed indicator each year as part of the certificate of airworthiness. George Sanderson has just made the job a little bit easier
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nyone who has had to put their glider into a field on a blustery day with a sharp wind gradient, will know the importance of getting the airspeed right. Too fast and there’s a risk of overshooting. Too slow? Well, let’s not go there. And whilst experienced pilots can judge the airspeed on attitude, when the day demands 65knts it’s good to know that you can trust your ASI. George built the manometer at home and reckons it is accurate to within half a knot, with the accuracy improving just where you need it most (for thermalling and landing) at the lower end of the speed range. He has also provided a full set of instructions and calibration chart. But if you need help using it, do ask. The calibration of an ASI relies on the equivlace between a column of water, air pressure and airspeed. The device consists of a sealed container of water, a pressure pump, kindly donated by Dr Steve Gibson, some instrument tubing and a vertical speed scale.
George Sanderson with the new ASI calibration manometer he built for club use
How to use the manometer. Without the ASI connected, ensure the water meniscus is level with zero knots on the scale. You can change the “zero” by loosening the wing nuts on the scale and moving the board up or down. Then connect the free tube on the black water container to the total energy port on the ASI and gently increase the pressure with the black pump, stopping every 10knts to record the ASI reading. There are blank ASI calibration certificates next to the manometer one of which needs to be completed. Robert Verdier can take you through the paperwork.
GT 14
January 2009
Increase the pressure slowly, recording the ASI reading and the meniscus level on the manometer
George checks the Discus’s (HOM) ASI at 110 Knts. “A dye in the water would stain the tubing.”
Safety First Mike Smith is the club’s Flight Safety Officer and provides details on the club’s annual refresher courses
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e are so close now, you can almost smell the first thermals of a new season. The trouble is a lot of members have not flown for quite a few months - a layoff that would require even commercial piots to take some “check-rides.”. Gransden’s answer to the formal “check-ride” is refresher courses which run from the begining of February to 22nd March. However, there is nothing to stop you booking an instructor on-line (www. glide.co.uk) and jumping the queue, but
landing practice is a great way to boost the dates below must be booked via the your cross country confidence in selectoffice - Tel: 01767 677 077 ing and appraoching a field without all Whilst there are some standard the hassle of actually going through a elements to the courses which include retrieve. Whilst there is no roster for the winch launch safety, aerotowing and motorgliders, you can check availability stall/spin prevention and recovery, the with the office. Just make it clear that course can be tailored to meet your speyou want to do field landing checks, as cific needs. not all motorThese short even top level competitors can glider instructors one day courses (introduced by make an error of judgement are cleared for and none the CFI, Rod under pressure and literally them of those rosWard, a few explore new boundaries. tered below are years ago) have cleared to teach been designed them. to replace and improve on the Annual Another way to make field landings Check with less emphasis on “passing” or “failing“, and much more on coaching, less stressful is to brush up on your sideslipping technique. It is often assumed and preparing for the new season. that the airbrakes on modern gliders are The courses will have, as always, so powerful no one could overshoot a one instructor to two students per glider field. History teaches us that that is not and up to four course members and two the case and even top level competitors instructors each day. The flying will can make an error of judgement under consist of a minimum of one aerotow pressure and literally explore new boundand two winch launches, interspersed aries. with talks and discussions on the flying These courses will help get you content. Reliable thermals should start around ready for the season, get you current and they are fun as well. the middle of February and whilst there Mike Smith, Flight Safety Officer will be many landable fields, some field
Date
Day
Instructor 1
Instructor 2
1st February
Sunday
Alan Head
Richard Hardy
11th February
Wednesday
Rostered Instructor
No Second Instructor during week.
7th February
Saturday
Jem Davies
15th February
Sunday
Rhod Turner
21st February
Saturday
Martin Whitehead
28th February
Saturday
Julian Bayford
8th March
Sunday
Mike Smith
20th March
Friday
Rostered Instructor
20th February
25th February
4th March
14th March
22nd March
Friday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Saturday
Sunday
Belt and braces
Rostered Instructor
Rostered Instructor
Rostered Instructor
Julian Bane
Richard Hardy
Peter Belcher
Max number of pilots 4
4
2
Peter Warner
4
Ian Noble
4
Ian Noble
4
Julian Bane
4
No Second Instructor during week.
2
No Second Instructor during week. No Second Instructor during week. No Second Instructor during week. Wendy Head
Julian Bayford
2
2
2
4
4
A refreshing roster for 2009, these instructors are in addition to the duty instructors
January 2009
GT 15
What I did in my holidays
Finger trouble
George Knight goes to Aboyne armed with Vaseline, a Discus 2cT and a new toy - but comes away empty handed
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y one-man diamond-height hunting expedition to Deeside Gliding Club was the first where I seriously hoped to get high enough to use supplemental oxygen. Having read about hypoxia on the Internet I decided I needed a Pulse Oximeter to monitor my oxygen saturation level (%SpO2) at altitude. I found a finger oximeter on the web for under £50 that displays both pulse rate and %SpO2. I learned that saturation below about 91 per cent would lead to a significant deterioration in performance and by the low 80s you are in very serious trouble. The Aboyne airfield is on the North bank of the Dee, a couple of miles to the West of the Aberdeen CTA. It has two parallel East/West tarmac strips and a short grass strip running NW/SW. With hills to the North and South it can be ‘interesting’ when the wind is not directly down the valley. The nearby Black Craig at over 2,000’ enables hill soaring in both Southerly and Northerly winds. The club’s facilities are generally very good, and so is the wave.
The Pulse Oximeter George used
On the Friday there had been wave to about 15,000’ and the Saturday forecast was even better so I had my glider rigging and at the launch point early. After strapping myself into my glider and declaring myself ready I was pushed
GT 16
January 2009
backwards onto the runway, as is custom well in the same wave, the clubhouse radio announced that entry to the Aboyne at Aboyne, for take-off. box was denied. I couldn’t go above The early part of the tow was excitFL195 – the diamond height was not ing. Although straight down the exceedpossible. Somewhat disheartened I ingly narrow runways the wind was about 45 kts at 1,000’ so until I reached the wave ...broken cloud reached to 7,000’, in it was very turbulent. I glorious sunshine, sparkling visibility released at about 2,500’, over Loch Kinord, and nothing above but blue. upwind of Aboyne, in smooth air, and dived decided to continue as high as I lea couple of hundred feet to put a notch gally could. The rate of climb was now on my trace. I then set about finding the decreasing to only a couple of knots. I extent of the wave I was climbing in. think in retrospect that I allowed myThe previous, and first, flight of the day, self to be blown back behind the best a Lasham two-seater, had given up after lift. Eventually at FL193 I flew to the about an hour below 5,000’. Being my Northern end of the wave and decided last day at Aboyne, I thought that if the to fly upwind towards Balmoral at about wave was going to get high the place to 90 kts. be was sitting, waiting, in the wave and not at the launch point. Unexpectedly the lift was strong and I was able to report passing 5,000’ at 6 kts (this resulted in all three tugs scrambling to launch the other gliders) and a short while later I passed FL080 at not much less. I had set the Mountain High electronic oxygen delivery system to start at 12,000’, but decided to see what the oximeter indicated. It showed about The runway at Aboyne, autumn 2008 88: which is low. I thought it must be I lost 6,000’ before getting into the my age – so I changed the start height to next wave bar upwind, climbed 3,000’ 5,000’ and it started to deliver a pulse of and pressed on. The next bar was O2 via a cannula into my nose on every reached at 12,500’ and I stayed with it to breath thereafter. nearly 16,000’ before pressing on to the By now I was well above the broken turn point ‘Linn of Dee’ (LOD). The 25 cloud that reached up to 7,000’, in glorimiles or so back to Aboyne only took ten ous sunshine, sparkling visibility and minutes with ground speeds exceeding nothing above but blue. No lenticulars, 150 kts at times. vapour trails or anything else. The movTime to loose some height by opening map kept me out of the airway at the ing the Vaselined airbrakes and land (in Southern end of the beat. By now the fact it was only about –5º C at FL190 club was on the phone to ATC to open – remarkably warm – so the Vaseline the Aboyne wave box that goes from FL195 to FL245. I thought I needed to was not needed). As always the Deeside reach about FL200 to be sure of a valid Club’s runways looked small as I flew diamond claim. By now other visitors downwind. Turning final they seemed to from Lasham, Booker, Camp Hill and shrink even more. Crowland were in the wave below me Expedition over. Time to get the and chattering on the radio.Time to check trailer ready for the 13-hour drive home. my %SpO2 again. The high points: six days (and eighteen Seventy-four! Well I felt all right, I hours) wave flying out of seven with hill and thermal soaring as well. The was getting pulses of gas, I was breathobvious disappointment was missing ing through my nose, I was conscious – the oximeter must be wrong. I took it off my diamond height by 260’. Will I go and put it on another finger. Same result. again? You bet. Oh well – something to sort out on the In the end, there was nothing wrong ground. with the Oximeter. I was reading my Passing FL170, and still climbing pulse rate instead of oxygen saturation.