Achievements 2005

Luke Dale

Date: 5th October 2005
Aircraft Type: Grob 103
Registration:45
Task: Silver height and duration
Duration: 5 hours 18 minutes

I had gone on the Aboyne expedition with one goal, and that was to finish my Silver C. OK maybe I went for two goals to finish my Silver C and try for my Gold or Diamond height.

I travelled up to Aboyne with Gordon in the Joint Aviation van with the humongous LGS Grob trailer.

Prepared for a cold flight with ski clothes, thermal hat, gloves and socks. I launched early, towed to 2600ft and climbed from 2600ft to 6000ft at about 8 knots.

When the average climb rate decreased I managed to find 776 flown by Darren so we had a good fly around for a while.

It was a very cloudy day, and I was concerned about the clouds closing in beneath me. After about 3 hours I started to get bored so out came my MP3 player and I listened to that for good hour until I needed the loo. So out came the pee bag, pee went in to bag, pee came out of bag. I wont repeat what I was saying at the time. Not to worry though, I cleaned the seat that evening. I am sure that has happened to a lot of you - and if it hasn't your time will come.

So I achieved my Silver height and Silver duration and completed Silver within 3 months.

What's next you might ask... well Junior Nationals, Lasham Regionals and a Basic Instructors course are next.

Thanks to every one who helped me and thanks to Gordon and Dave Paffett for driving me there and back.

Graham Essex

Date: 17th Sept 2005
Aircraft Type: K-13
Registration:H
Task: First Solo Soaring Flight
Duration: 63 minutes

It's been a long time coming (3 years and 7 days to be exact since my first flight in a glider, 15 months since my first solo), but today was that 'rights of passage' experience when you can get a glider to go up as well as down - the latter being achieved with proficiency on a Wednesday evening throughout the season.

Having worked through the white progress card over the last 15 months, those two 30 minute soaring flights have been the goal that needed to be achieved to end the season on a high.

With time running out, and little opportunity to fly at the weekends this year, I knew today was my all or nothing day. Anticipation and apprehension grew as I waited for the clouds to start forming over Lasham. As I waited for the grid to launch, I managed to lay my hands on a glider and pulled it into the queue.

The queue moved slowly forwards, and at last my moment came. As I looked at the sky ahead, I kept thinking "left or right, left or right" and "will all those gliders move away so I can have some space".

A smooth launch to about 1700', and the sky cleared of gliders. I headed left towards a dark looking cloud and soon picked up a thermal. Feeling my way around, I was soon in a turn heading up at 4 knots+, and began to relax a bit. The hardest bit was over, I had found my first thermal.

I continued up to cloudbase at just over 4000' (my highest ever height), in fact just beyond cloudbase as the thermal didn't want to let me go. A slight moment of stress when the ground started disappearing although I knew no other gliders were near me - nose down, 80 knots and clear of the cloud.

Down a few hundred feet then back up to 4000' in another thermal - this one trying to throw me out at every opportunity - a rough ride, but fun.

Anyway, once my watch passed my 30 minute target I headed off to Alton, then back across the airfield to the north, picking up lift when the opportunities came. East along the airfield and finally ending up in a weak thermal east of the airfield. At this point I was at 1600' and found a thermal that was just about strong enough to gain 200' over the next few minutes.

I reckoned I could just make the hour if I set off to join the circuit, and touched down 63 minutes after taking off.

In summary, the highest I've ever been, both solo and dual. The longest solo flight so far (previous best 11 minutes - well I am an evening flyer).

A result!

Thanks as always to Merv's Marauders for the confidence they have built up over the season. Special thanks to those who have given me soaring training flights this season, namely Gary Pullen, Ed Smallbone and Colin Short.

Paul Haliday

Date: 03-04/09/2005
Aircraft Type: Astir CS 75
Registration:698
Task: 2 3rd Places in ICL Final Distance: 56k + 98k

I had planned to go along to the final more as a hanger on and to get some decent pictures of the competitors. But an Email from Chris asking me to compete as the novice and reserve couldn't make it, I couldn't really ignore.

Feeling very unhappy with what I was about to do I strapped in and was launched off into the murk, not really being able to climb I thought the best thing to do would be to press on. There were plenty of fields to choose from in any case.

The language in the cockpit 600ft over Upper Heyford was as blue as the thermals, why was I here, missed the lift again, rubbish thermal etc... You have the picture.

Then I manages to get away and got round Edgehill on the way to Towester. However, language in the cockpit turned blue again as I scrabbled around in weak lift and eventually threw in the towel and gave the drivers on the M40 a good view of the underside of the Astir. Just as I crossed the motorway a glider trailer passed under me towards Banbury.

Still the landing was OK, not the same sense of joy and relief that you get when having done your first, but at least a safe outcome.

When the results at Bicester were displayed I was originally shown as joint 3rd with a k6 that had done the same distance as me.

By the next morning I was confirmed as 3rd as I'd beaten the k6 by one tenth of a kilometre. A credible result.

Sundays task was Ollney/Northampton and began in the same way as Saturdays task with me being blown almost as far as Silverstone whilst trying to scratch away.

Still a good thermal got me heading to Ollney and I started to recognise my fellow competitors in their gliders as I headed down track. Once I got to Ollney, Northampton followed very quickly with a big 4.5 know thermal under a huge cloud over the town.

This got me to the turn point and I headed down track towards Bicester, another strong thermal got me another thousand feet and the satisfaction of watching my competitors in a nearby thermal streaming across the sky to tuck in and climb below me.

4700ft, the lift seemed to slow so I headed off towards Bicester. Looking at the GPS and the altimeter it suddenly dawned on me that this was in the bag and I probably didn't need any more lift to get home.

So I plodded along at 60-65Kts watching the altimeter unwind and the km's come off the gps.

At about 10k out I felt a little uneasy, I think I was below 2000ft and what felt some distance out, but still pressed on. I decided to do the 5 minute call at 8k, my spirits began to lift as I pressed the PTT button on the stick and called 5 minutes to Bicester which I still couldn't make out in the murk.

Soon that familiar green space began to appear and I called 1 minute at about 2k. I thought I'll just do a normal circuit and land, but that airfield was getting bigger. And I just had to push the stick forward to keep it at the same height in the canopy, I could here the air hissing over the airframe as I crossed the boundary at about 300ft and 100kts.

I then switched into flight sim mode and did an abbreviated circuit and came to rest. I opened the canopy and pummelled the sides with my hands laughing at the sheer joy at what I'd just done.

So this weekend was the encapsulation of my relationship with gliding, I'm scared, daunted by the thought of flying solo and going cross country. Yet it has the capacity to make me happier than anything else I do.

Is this what is called love?

Mike Sedgwick

Date: 2 Sept 05
Aircraft Type: Ventus 2Ct
Registration:V66
Task: Lasham-Birdlip-Northampton South-Lasham
Distance: About 300km
Speed: about 40mph
Duration: 4hr 50min approx

Of course it should have been easy and, for the first time for me, it was. The glider has long legs and a turbo if needed (it wasn't). It was relaxing because I did not get as anxious as usual and was able to meet the challenges with more confidence. The reason it was easier is that I have recently flown with Bernie Morris in his Nimbus. Bernie looks after us oldies and tries to get us to do better. OK, it wasn't fast but I did follow Bernie's advice to ignore thermals until I had used up the height. I did try to remember to go fast but when you are enjoying yourself, what the hell!

I had never gone North West before, through that narrow gap between Brize Norton and Lyneham airspaces. Getting the first peep over the Cotswold escarpment was great and there was Cheltenham and the old school. I doodled around exploring all the places I used to go for cycle rides and recalled the long pull up Birdlip Hill. Then over Bishops Cleeve where a former girlfriend lived, over the racecourse which was definitely out of bounds but still frequented. Over Sudeley Castle which the history teacher used to go on about, I've forgotten why. There was no need to think about thermals until I set off for Northampton and then the sky got bluer.

With good height, big wings, no headwind and a sight of a distant smudge of a cloud I felt confident enough, just hoped the cloud would work. I pulled up in lift in the blue and easily reached the cloud, it was stonking. So was the next and from Northampton homewards I made up time with flaps set for speed.

South of Basingstoke, the local soarers must have wondered at a ventus circling on full airbrake. It was the only way down. So thanks to Bernie really. Watching an expert fly from the rear seat teaches you so much that you don't pick up from the books and lectures and briefings.

So thanks to Bernie really. Watching an expert fly from the rear seat teaches you so much that you don't pick up from the books and lectures and briefings. I resolve to do a flight next season and make speed the priority. But speed and fun are not synonymous in my gliding.

Alex Phillips

Date: Friday 2nd September 2005
Aircraft Type: Grob 102
Registration:SH9
Task: Lasham - Old Sarum
Distance: 50k

On Thursday evening, Weatherjack's site showed little promise for Friday 2nd - blue, low weak thermals, although Dave's Lasham forecast was for a very good day indeed. And so it turned out - quite a few people achieved badge flights that day. First of all congratulations to Lawrence - diamond goal, Darren - silver distance and then some, Andy - silver distance, Rob - silver distance, height and duration, Alan - silver height. These are just the ones I know about - I am sure that there were many more great flights that day - sorry if I have missed anyone out.

I arrived at Lasham that morning with one thing in mind - to do my silver distance, which would also be my first solo cross country. For once the ballot gods were smiling on me - got the glider of my choice - SH9. By the time I had prepared the glider and got my nerves somewhat under control, it was time to launch.

I pulled off aerotow at 1300' in what I thought was a good thermal - only to lose it seconds later. From then on all I found was 4 knots down, and a few minutes later I arrived ignominiously back on the ground by the winch, having nearly run out of height in my quest to get away.

The second launch was more successful, connected with lift and started to climb up to my departure height of 3000'. This was the hardest and most frustrating bit of the flight - it must have taken me nearly half an hour to scratch my way up there. I must admit I was starting to think that it just wasn't going to happen. However I eventually made it and from then on it was easy - I don't even remember making a conscious decision to head west.

It had to be one of the nicest solo flights I have ever done (probably better than my first solo) - thermals were in easy reach of each other, and before I knew it Popham was behind me and I couldn't see Lasham any more. Not even the scary moment I thought that was going to be - just "OK, I'm here, it's great, where's my next climb, oh and look there are thousands of fields!"

Then Chilbolton and it started to go a bit blue - still had plenty of height though and I knew I just needed one more climb to make it. Picked up my last climb over Stockbridge, and took it so much further than I needed, up to about 5000', just drifting around, enjoying the view and the experience of being away from Lasham on my own at last.

Of course - as all you experienced pilots will be thinking - far too much height for the distance that remained! Ultimately I arrived at Old Sarum at about 3500', much more quickly than I expected, helped along the way by a light tailwind. So some gentle circling in sink just west of Salisbury to lose some height, then a very nice circuit and landing. Felt great - as we pulled the glider off the runway I still felt about 5000' up in the air!

Good to see Andy and Rob land later that afternoon - while waiting for Nick to arrive to tow us home a passing power pilot was heard to say "What are all these bloody gliders doing here then?" Might have talked him in to coming to Lasham to experience how the other half live...

Back to Lasham, paperwork dealt with, then a beer or two (could have been three I can't remember) in the bar to celebrate the completion of my first cross-country. I don't think that grin left my face all evening - and Sunday afternoon it is still here!

This flight was a huge milestone for me - and despite the nerves beforehand I loved every second of it, and yes you were all right it was so much easier than I thought it was going to be. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank the instructors (and various others - you know who you are) for all their help, support, kicks up the bum and mopping up of the odd tear over the last year - you've all been brilliant! I've enjoyed every second (well most of them anyway) so far - and I guess the real learning starts here! Hope to get at least one more good soaring day in this season - where to next? If not roll on next year!

Derek Copeland and Paul Haliday

Derek	Paul

Date: 29/08/2005
Aircraft Type: Bocian 1D
Registration:BJD
Task: Lasham to Dunstable via Thame
Distance: 95km

Towards the end of last year, I delivered the Perpetual Dispute Plate to Dunstable in my car (I work not too far from Dunstable), after the Lasham Committee decided that it had been unfairly witheld from a Dunstable member who had landed at Lasham. Since then I had held an ambition to get it back by air in a glider, which had been generally frustrated by a combination of poor weather and other commitments.

August Bank Holiday Monday looked fairly promising, so I got the other syndicate members' permission to fly the Bocian away (this flight should only be done in wood in my opinion) and persuaded Paul Haliday to come along as navigator/co-pilot.

We launched from the grid at 13.25 and then spent the best part of an hour trying to get back up to our launch height of 2000ft. Eventually it got a little bit better, so I decided to go. Cloudbase had gone up to about 3000ft. We had a reasonable run up to the M40 at Thame, but then the clouds started to spread out. I could see a glider climbing in the distance and went for the general area, getting down to 200 ft above Lasham (500ft above ground) and then scratching around in a weak thermal for a while. Eventually a patch of sunlight appeared that gave the best thermal of the day - 5 knots up to cloudbase and put us just about in gliding range of Dunstable. Being careful to stay in Dunstable's default airspace within the Luton zone, we headed for Leighton Buzzard and then turned right to arrive at Dunstable at circuit height and then land at about 16:00. Mission accomplished!

All we had to do now was collect the plate and try and get back home again. We eventually got aerotowed out of Dunstable just before 17:00 and their tuggie kindly towed us to 3600ft to the West of Aylesbury. It was still reasonably thermic and we managed to get to Brimpton airstrip, near Aldermaston before the day died. An aerotow retrieve from there got us safely back to Lasham. I was somewhat surprised to get a rapturous round of applause as I walked into the clubhouse with the plate. Now that is something that has never happened before!

Submitted by Derek Copeland

Darren Kershaw

Date: 28th August 2005
Aircraft Type: Discus
Registration:SH2
Task: 100K Diploma attempt
Distance: 130k
Speed: -10kph?
Duration: 4:30hr

The gliding season is coming to a close and I wanted to finish my Silver badge to be able to take friends up in the air. The only bits left to do are the height gain (already done it soooo many times but never had a logger in the glider) and the duration of over 5 hours. I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and complete my 100k flight at the same time.

The morning began in great style by me winning the glider I wanted in the mornings ballot. The first time it has happened and meant I stood a chance at completing the task. I get everything ready and go to see Gordon to declare the task of an out to Oxford East and back again, 130k. He tells me that I need a GPs that can speak to the logger to show that I make the distance. I haven't got one so he kindly lends me his, but the batteries are very low, so I take the ones out of my camera, hence no piccies.

All set to go, one last look at the weather and hearing an "it may go blue later in the afternoon, so try to be quick" and I get towed into the air.

It's a bit difficult for the first few miles, takes me a little while to get over Basingstoke and I get a little too low over Aldermaston but think I stayed out of the prohibited area. Things pick up and cloudbase rises steadily to around 4000' as I continue on track. Suddenly there is Newbury going under my left wing, there's the old Greenham Common airbase like a huge scar on the landscape. I say my farewells and head off looking for the M4 and cooling towers at Didcot.

Making good time now, racing along streets of energy and holding my height well. Get to Didcot and there is a whole gaggle of about 20 gliders circling in thermals given off by the slag heaps that they dump. I join them briefly and set off for Oxford. The airfield at Abingdon is very active today and I spot quite a few light aircraft milling around. On with the task and I look at the GPs to see where the turnpoint is. Disaster, the bloody thing has run out of power. Now I have no idea where the turnpoint is, and even if I did know there would be no trace of me having been there. Oh well, I better just circle every roundabout I can see in Oxford, at least I must get it eventually. I'm not actually going to gain anything now but I can still be honest with myself and enjoy the flight and say that I did do it.

After trying every turn point, I set off home. Hmmm, looks a long way and the sky is beautiful and clear, not really what I want to see. I have been told many times that there will be thermals out there, but finding them will be difficult. Still, I can't get this far and give up now so I grit my teeth and push out into the blue, leaving all the other gliders and planes behind.

About 20 miles on track I am getting low and looking for that thermal. I see another glider nearby in the same predicament and watch him in case he catches anything, while looking around myself. I connect with something a bit weak but it's going up so I try to get as tight into it as I can and the other glider comes over to join me. We spend a good part of 10 minutes just circling at the same height when I begin to think that I'm getting a little higher than him in each circle. I don't get why he isn't going up at the same rate as to be honest he is in the same circle, but then he looks like he is moving a round a little, I guess to see if he can find a better core. After another 5 minutes he is a good 200' below me and I'm beginning to get lift all the way round instead of just 3/4. Couple of minutes later and he is still at the same height and I'm looking to move off. Hope he made it.

I spot a Duo Discus a little way West and higher so decide to go see what he has found. Get over to him and it's a stonker. 6-8 up and we are both soon at a suddenly appearing cloudbase (4000). He moves off as he is slightly above me and heads straight off on my track to a cloud I hadn't seen seconds before. I follow and am soon in competition with him to get to the top. I manage to beat him there and suitably chuffed with my obvious brilliant thermalling skills set off into the blue confident as anything.

A ten minute straight glide down to Newbury and about 1500' and I'm beginning to think how crap I am. Luckily I get something over Greenham Common and beginning to think that I'm going to make it. Head for Kingsclere and I'm taking whatever I can find now, nothing is going higher than about 2500 and the wind is feeling a bit stronger and seems to be blowing almost directly from the South (I later find out that this could well have been a sea breeze effect). Normally I would think about a final glide but this wind doesn't make me sure of making it. A lot more sink around as well now, that damm vario keeps making noises I don't like and I have to keep pushing on the nose to shut it up, that costs precious height. I'm looking at fields the wrong side of Basingstoke and just hoping for that one more climb to about 2500'. Circling where they are harvesting late in the day and watching the dust I position myself to take advantage of any thermals they might give off, some woods nearby also appear to be giving off a little something. I get low and am just holding height at around 1000', nothing seems to be coming my way and every turn I make in what I think is lift loses me more height for no distance. Oh poo, looks like I'm going to land out, so sodding close to the finish as well. Cursing under my breath I lower the wheel (applause) as I get to what I think is about high key height on my field. Just as I begin the turn to downwind leg the vario shouts and I turn at a little under 90 degrees and 80 knots (I may exaggerate a little). It's not much but it is going up at about 1kt the whole way round the circle so put the wheel back away and I stick with it, soon I'm at nearly 2000'. Not enough for me to strike out home, the way the sink has been going and the wind almost into my face makes it too much of a chance.

So I carry on and decide that if I can crawl into Popham at least I can get an aerotow. Couple of minutes later and I'm back where I was and lowering the wheel. No return this time, I'm in and down for my first field landing.

Nothing scary, huge smooth field with a nice upwind slope, but it had just been drilled with oil seed rape, so the farm manager wasn't over the moon. A profuse apology and he seems to be ok. Must get a bottle for him. On the phone to Lasham and soon there are a few great people on their way to pick me up (Thanks Alison, Jill and Nigel) and the day ends with a beer and a story to tell.

What a wonderful day.

Richard Amlot, Mark Lapicki

Two one to one courses ran the week beginning 22nd August with Richard and Mark. Richard had some previous gliding experience "in my youth!" and Mark had some time learning to fly helicopters. Monday was rained out but the simulator worked overtime.

A full days gliding on Tuesday was followed by a full day of rain on Wednesday, more talking, more simulator!

Thursday was fine except for a thunderstorm. Friday was good. Mark did his first solo before lunch followed by a 28 minute soaring flight. Richard went solo in the afternoon.

Instructors Bob Johnson and Darcy Hogan conducted a full debrief in the bar and wondered if anyone had gone solo in two and a half days before.

Well done Mark and Richard!

Richard Whitaker

Date: 7th August
Task: Lasham - Grantham - East Ilsley - Banbury - Lasham
Distance: 500km

After a frustrating season, especially for weekend pilots, everything looked good for August 7 - a perfect combination of a Sunday and a great weather forecast. As I rigged I heard rumours of the Nationals task being 660km, so surely this was my chance to try for a 500! After the briefing, Malcolm announced that pilots who wanted to launch before the comp should be on the runway immediately. PANIC! I was still filling up with water.

Fortunately my well oiled flight prep machine was working (!) so I towed out, parked the car, got in to the glider, made a hurried electronic declaration, did the pre-flights, and launched at 10:20. Cloudbase was only 1900ft so I hung on to 2500ft between the cumulus, dropped off tow overhead Lasham, and headed off northwards. This was nearly my undoing as I ended up waffling around Old Basing at 800ft - so I had to dump my water. Colin Jackson and I worked some weak burbles of lift together and after what seemed like an age I found something strong enough to climb in before going back to the better lift near Lasham (thanks, Colin). I then set off again into improving conditions. By the time the comp had finished launching, I was passing Bicester and it was starting to get really good, with good streets and a 4000ft cloudbase.

It was quite a long haul into the 12-18kt headwind, but most clouds were working reliably and I arrived at Grantham at 14:15 - only 15min behind the target I had set myself. I then had a superb downwind dash to Ilsley - 160km in an hour and a half. The exhilaration was marred by the GPS losing its signal somewhere near Corby, probably due to an antenna problem (I'm told that GPSs are inexplicably sensitive to badge flights). I decided not to worry about it too much - I would be over familiar ground for the rest of the flight and the vis was good, so navigation was not a problem, and I could worry about the badge claim later.

Having turned Ilsley, complete with a GPS signal, I faced the headwind again, but the streets were working superbly and by this time the cloudbase was 6000ft ASL. At 16:40 I turned Banbury at around 3000ft ASL (again with a signal), then joined a couple of gliders in a superb thermal over the town to climb at 5kt average to cloudbase. At 6000ft, with only 100km to go, a tailwind and a classic sky ahead, I could finally relax! Another stonker at Kidlington took me back to cloudbase and on to final glide. That was a nice feeling. I did turn once later on, but unnecessarily - I just wanted a bit of height in hand in case Lasham was busy with finishers. After a final leg of only 50min I was back at the circuit at Lasham!

Despite several missing chunks of GPS data, the BGA accepted my Diamond Distance claim on the basis that I had good position readings for the start and finish and around the turning points and a continuous reading of pressure altitude in between.

I'm still keen to do it again, though!

Mike Rubin

Date: 7th August 2005
Aircraft Type: DG 300
Registration: 393
Task: Lasham - Grantham - Graffham Water - Birdlip - Lasham
Distance: 501km
Speed: 77.7kph
Task Duration (start line to finish line): 6 hours 27 minutes

Today didn't get off to a great start as I was drawn last in the Surrey and Hants ballot. Despite that I managed to grab hold of the DG300. Having retrieved it from the hangar and DI'ed / prepared it I went to the competition briefing and decided to declare LAS-GRA-GRW-BIR-LAS for 501km at 9:55AM. This was pretty much the task that the club class were assigned. Then I had a mad dash getting it towed out to the club launch point and finally aerotowed off at 10:42AM ahead of the competition grid (The 2005 Nationals). I was flying dry as I do not know how to fill a DG300 with water yet! (Not that I had time anyway...)

Leg 1 - Lasham to Grantham (191.72km, 3h24m 56.22kph)

The first leg was by far the slowest. There was a northwesterly breeze, so I was going upwind and across cloud streets all the way. When I set off about 10-15 minutes after launch cloudbase was just over 2000'AGL (2600'QNH). I tiptoed my way northwards as cloudbase steadily rose. I did however hit a sticky patch around Bicester when I got as low as 2100'QNH, but eventually got away back to cloudbase and continued on. I made steady but slow progress upwind and eventually made it past Rutland Water. That was one helluva view passing that lake. If only I'd had time to take pictures. By now I thought that if I get home I'll already surpass my previous best distance of 380km. So on I went ever northwards, further north than I'd ever glid before. Saltby northwards was rather spreadout and the wind was stronger, so I took it slow and stayed high, and that paid off as I made it comfortably around the Grantham turning point. (I was also thinking that I do NOT want to land out almost 200km from home!) Also by now a number of competition gliders had caught up with me and helped by kindly marking the best thermals.

Leg 2 - Grantham to Graffham Water (72.31km, 42m, 104.29kph)

Once I got away from the spreadout and back past two ATZ's around Peterborough, I picked up a huge cloud street which took me straight downwind to Graffham Water without turning - fantastic! I appeared to leave other gliders behind at this stage too which was rather nice. I managed to stay around or above 4500'QNH for the whole run down the street. The stronger wind showed with the LNav showing a tail wind as high as 17 knots at times. I left the street when I was close to Graffham Water, crossing the lake and the turning point. Again the view was gorgeous - my first visit to this lake too.

Leg 3 - Graffham Water to Birdlip (133.61km, 1h31m, 88.29kph)

From then on I pretty much never looked back. With cloudbase getting nice and high now I tried to stay above 3500'QNH most of the time as there were areas of heavy sink and gaps to cross. It was pretty much a straight forward thermal hop all the way to Birdlip without any dramas. Most of them I could just slow down without turning and gain some height, while stopping for the better thermals and topping up before crossing gaps. Again every now and then gliders kindly marked the best lift in a couple of places, which helped reduce the workload a bit. At one point West of Banbury I got as high as 6200'QNH (Approx FL60) with 4-8kt climbs to be had.

Leg 4 - Birdlip to Lasham (103.69 km, 50m, 124.43kph)

Once round Birdlip I had a stonkingly fast glide home downwind. Once through the Fairford gap I climbed in strong lift (6-7kts) just South of Swindon to 5000 feet above Lasham, and was able to final glide my way home from there. I landed at 5:23PM, with an average speed of 77.7kph - not fast for the conditions but fast enough for the day. :)

So hey presto! My first ever 500km flight. This ride was rather like a roller coaster. The first leg was the slow rickety climb to the top that seemed to take an eternity. Then the other legs were after the release. A fast and thrilling ride in a huge zigzag back to base followed. Another note was that I was shivering for a lot of the flight too as it was only 4C up at height and I spent quite a lot of time in cloud shadow. It felt more like May than August (which may not be a bad thing as May is often a good month). This is the icing on the cake for a rather good month (despite the poor Regionals weather) where I have flown more kilometers than ever before. (OK being on holiday helped.) Suddenly 300km doesn't seem quite so far any more.

John McCullagh

Date: 28 July 2005
Aircraft Type: Discus B
Registration:150
Task: Sisteron-Grand Berard-Mont Blanc-Sisteron
Distance: 373km
Speed: 75kph
Duration: 5 hours

The temperature had climbed to 29 degrees and the wind had shifted to a 10 knot southerly. It was 1pm and time to go. The launch was to 2800 ft above Sisteron airfield beside a small mountain called Malaup about 11km away.

40 minutes later I was at 9500ft after a climb in some unexpected wave and set off northwards towards the big mountains. Crossing into the Barcellonette valley, I gained 2700ft in just over three and a half minutes, reaching 11500ft.

It was quite a good day, though hazy. After few more climbs I was above the edge of another big valley, the Maurienne, where, I later discovered, a local French pundit had just lost over 3000 feet in a minute and had decided to go home.

I must have chosen a different route to cross and so I was able reach the other side and climb to 13000ft in another wave-enhanced thermal. Some well-known ski-resorts appeared beneath: Val Thorens, Meribel, Courchevel and La Plagne but no landable fields. It was therefore comforting to know that the nearest landable area, Albertville airfield, was only 40km away.

Visibility was improving and so it was only then that a large white object could be seen: Mont Blanc. I reached it at 12000 feet and looked down into Chamonix but it was time to turn for home. Suddenly I was reminded of the southerly wind. I was going to be downwind of every mountain on the way back.

However I cruised back into the Maurienne feeling fairly secure until I reached the point where the Frenchman had probably been. The vario stuck at 10knots down for ages and the headwind increased to 25knots but I was just able to make it into the next valley. I was then over 50km from the next airfield and only 7000ft above it. In those conditions this safety margin was too small, so the next climb was a relief.

A few more climbs brought me to the start of an 80km final glide and I cleared the final pass with 1000ft to spare. Some good Provencal cooking and wine completed a memorable day. Try France, it's great.

Michael Mangion

Date of Flights: 20th-22nd June 2005
Aircraft Type: K13
Registration: H
Task: To go solo in a week!
Duration: 3 days

Michael had tried paragliding in Malta and the French Alps. He realised that using his feet for an undercarriage was not a good idea whilst studying a hospital ceiling.

Believing that he might go solo in a week of 1:1 instruction on a Lasham K13, he was surprised and delighted to be tasked with a solo flight from a winch launch by his instructor, Clive Thomas, at the end of day three.

He went solo from an aerotow launch on the morning of day four followed by solo soaring in thermals; and, on the morning of day five, he flew an unassisted loop after a brief introduction to aerobatic flight .

Michael's very successful week ended with the weather breaking down into a vivid electrical display as thunderous downpours terminated all aviation on Friday at lunchtime.

Michael has now returned home to Malta but threatens to return soon.

(Submitted by Clive Thomas)

Read about the Solo in a week course here

Darren Kershaw

Date of Flight: 25th May 2005
Aircraft Type: K13
Registration:B
Task: First Solo
Duration: 6 minutes

Started gliding on the 20th April 2005, so just over a month before. Thanks to all of the instructors (I think I had just about everyone once) at Lasham for your patience and wisdom. Special thank you to Merv for his enthusiastic tuition to send me solo during the great Wednesday evening mervsmarauders group. Hoping to get Bronze and XCountry quickly now, there is a field with my name on it waiting out there somewhere.

Graham Garnett and Kim Tipple

Graham	Kim

Date of flight: 9th April 2005
Aircraft Type: Nimbus 3DT
Registration: 880
Task: Lasham - Cocking - Hastings - Bembridge(IoW) - Lasham
Distance: 301km
Speed: 88kph

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