The past weekend had the makings of being busy – Nigel was to clean out his “old” hangar and move into the new, Dion anticipated a group of friends on motor bikes and our students anticipated flying. The weekemd turned out to be flat out. With Cath Conway instructing on Saturday with Pete Siddal in the tug, the day “ran out of daylight”. During the day, 3 french visitors visited the Club, each taking an AEF. A large group enjoyed Jean’s provision in the evening – over a few reds.

Its been a long time since we have had so many students on the airfield together (Michael, Jarred, Stuart, Alannah & Ben on Saturday). On Sunday, Nigel Instructed (and I towed), again to a full house, with a similar number of students (Jarred, Stuart, Alannah, Ben, Matt).

John Hudson

There was another great weekend at Waikerie.

Saturday saw some good flying before the Clubs AGM. Several pilots were “away” for a few hours, under Cu with climbs to around 6000.

The highlight of the day however was the first “in-command” flight by Bradley McKay. After a few flights with Bill Mudge – it happened. Congratulations to Bradley on this milestone in his flying career – he had a smile when he landed that you couldn’t walk around. Well done Brad.

On Sunday, Matt Morgan went solo. Well done Matt! It was a good one.

It was good to see Graham Parker during Saturday afternoon: he flew in from Gawler in his AS G29.

Saturday’s flying finished early because of the Club’s AGM.

A separate report in Club forums will provide information and detail for members.

I thank those members who have contributed to the operations of the Club in the past 12 months – in particular to those who actively contributed to the Multi-class competition a big THANKYOU.

A new Committee was elected;

I thank Allen Hudson for his efforts and commitment to the Committee over the past several years and I welcome Dion to the Committee.

On behalf of the members, I extend special thanks to the Committee for their efforts and ongoing support over the past year.

I also thank the membership of the Club for re-electing me as President of the Club for another year and  for the show of support at the direction we are taking.

There are always tasks which would benefit from the effort of members – the benefits to the Club and to individual members is great and personally rewarding. I encourage every member to get actively involved – and if you need help to select a task, talk to me – I’ll gladly assist.

Again thanks for the opportunity presented – I’ll endeavour give my best.

John Hudson

Saturday started off with Alto Cu forming to the North with no sign of any ground based Cu. Around midday some beautiful wave clouds formed underneath the Alto Cu as a result of an Easterly wind on the ground and a North Westerly up top causing shear wave.

It only took another 1 hour for the two air streams to mix and the Alto Cu to connect to the ground at which point the temperature had reached trigger point and we were launching. 6 to 8kt climbs were available to Cloud base (7,500ft) and I spent some time trying to find a climb up the side of the cloud without wanting to dump my water.

Interestingly the climbs were on the downwind side under the Cu which makes sense given the mixing of the two air streams. Pete Paine, Craig and I blasted around under the cloud streets until we got separated and then did our own thing.

As the day went on the sky overdeveloped and as Craig was landing I had a long glide from 7,500ft  down to 2500ft in still air back into a sunny patch, thinking that the day maybe finished when things started to bubble again finding a 4kt thermal which quickly turned into 9.6kts all the way to cloud base. A line of cloud then formed from Waikerie to Blanchetown. I had dumped all my water just prior to this thermal which was ideal to see if there was any thermal wave in front of the cloud. I found myself half way up the side of the cloud at 8,500ft using the momentum from the 9.6kts as I approached the base of the cloud. I found 1 kt as I ridge soared the cloud for around 10mins which basically maintained my height as I flew up and down the North Western edge.

The cloud street to Blanchetown drew me away and I zoomed off to Blanchetown at 100kts without turning then back along to Notts Well then Maggea and home.

It was well worth hanging on at 2500ft instead of heading for home and landing as this last part of the flight was most enjoyable and very relaxing. 340kms for the day flying under cloud streets and only going below 5,500ft once.

Peter Robinson, 13 March 2010

Favourable weather was forecast again for Saturday 13th March. On Friday 12th, Mark (Morgan), Ron (Brock) and Allen (Hudson) went flying in good conditions under Cu to the north of Waikerie. During Saturday, the Cu again developed and progressively spread from the north of Waikerie to the west and south, providing good conditions to 6000-7000 Ft - but with a late start.

Two of the Club’s three new students – Matt Morgan and Sam Doecke were keen to get flying. Bill Mudge and Mark Morgan were the Instructors for the day. With check-flights for Peter Paine and David Lawley done – Matt and Sam got to fly before Craig (Vinall), Peter (Robinson) , David (Lawley) and Peter (Paine) all got airborne.

Later in the day, Hiro Yamada arrived, and after a check-flight with Mark Morgan in the Nimbus, Hiro also took off cross-country.

On Sunday, a high Cirrus delayed warming but provided excellent conditions for a couple of AEF’s for a father and son from Adelaide.

John Hudson

During December a cross country coaching week was held at Waikerie. The weather did not co-operate, as usual, but some good flying was had regardless.

Saturday dawned with a cool southerly, and low cumulus, with a base of 4200ft. Peter Robinson and Craig Vinall set a 203km task, WGC – Bakara – Pata – Overland Corner – WGC.

Peter Paine (LS7), Nigel Zimmermann (Discus) and myself (LS4) set off about the same time. We worked lift under scrappy Cu to 3600 for the first half hour on track to Bakara, at which point the sky blued out. I fell a bit behind the others, but arrived at Bakara at around the same time, setting the pattern for my day!

We set off towards Pata into the blue. 10km East of Bakara I found the best thermal of the day so far, reaching 4800ft at 4-5kt average. Peter Paine joined me and thanked me for the thermal!

There were very strong and narrow cores embedded in the patches of lift, which proved difficult to centre, one had to time entry perfectly and  bank very steeply to stay in the best lift. I was cruising with Pete Paine and Nigel most of the way but somewhere along the line Pete found a better thermal and slipped away.

Turning Pata it was decision time, should I cut through the Loxton irrigation area, or divert around it to cross the river further west? After attempting the direct route, sink ensured I was soon back over the paddocks to the east of Moorook and climbing.

I spotted Nigel in the Discus low but circling near the Overland Corner turnpoint, and pointed the LS4 at his thermal. Arriving about 300ft above him I was surprised to find only broken weak lift, so I clipped the turnpoint sector and headed off towards Waikerie. Nige later told me he was drifting with the weak lift into the turnpoint.

A couple of kilometers further on a patch of stronger lift was encountered. After a couple of minutes I spotted Nigel thermalling a couple of kilometers away, and above me – damn how did he manage that! Once final glide was achieved, I set off to return to Waikerie, arriving about 3 minutes behind Nigel.

All in all it was we all agreed a great fun flight, working together at times and separately at others, to get around on a marginal day.

Peter Paine managed 78 km/h, Nigel about 72 and myself 70.8. The difference was just one good thermal that Painey found and Nigel and I missed. (where was the radio call Pete eh?)

Dave L

Our newest trainee tug pilot
On Sunday 13th December at Waikerie our newest trainee tug pilot was seen familiarising himself with the cockpit of the tug, all strapped in and ready to go, only one problem he cannot reach the starter switch, or the pedals and a few other minor things….
He was Hamish Robinson aged 2 and half.

1st flight in a glider
Zoe Robinson aged 4 and half had her first flight in a glider on Sunday and she loved it! Zoe is already asking when she can learn.
15min flight to 1600ft with 2 turns in a thermal. Zoe only wanted me to turn so that she could see the ground.

Peter Robinson

The 31st of October looked pretty promising, with a trough bringing good Cu conditions to Waikerie.

Of course, as usual the Cu were everywhere but near the airfield, which was in a blue hole about 10km radius.

As the day looked to be a good one I loaded the LS4 with 4 tubs of water (About 90l). For some time I have been trying to improve my XC speed to above 100kmh, by flying 100km triangles, WGC-Maggea-Kingston Bridge-WGC. Last year my last 2 attempts were 99.3 then 99.67 – just a bit annoying!

On this day I released at 2500 over the bend in the river North West of the airfield, finding and then losing the lift in the blue. There were some Cu to the west so I headed over, and to my annoyance every time I got under a cloud and started to climb the thermal petered out after a couple of thousand feet, the Cu disappearing too. At this stage I dumped about 20 L of water, and things improved immediately. I guess the glider was just a little too heavy to circle in the best part of the lift.

Eventually I got a good climb to around about 9000ft. Now 10km East when I looked back towards WGC I was amazed to see a Cu forming just north of the club, offering the chance to climb just outside the start
sector. Even better a street had now aligned itself almost directly between WGC and Maggea. A good climb to the North took me back to 9000, and I flew thru the start sector at 8700 and120KT.

Half way to Maggea, at Holder I saw Robbo circling to my right, but the climb rate did not feel too good, so I pressed on. About 2 km further on track I hit a ripper climb and spent 3 minutes in 4kt back to 9000ft. I then continued to Maggea, turned for Kingston and then hit the big one, 5.8kt for another 3 minutes put me on final glide, only 30km into the flight. From there it was simply a case of cheering along the LS4 at 85-105 kt for 23 minutes. The last 20 Km was under a dark overdevelopment which gave no lift at all, lucky I had climbed to 1300 above final glide in that last thermal!

I finished at about 500ft, 120kt dumping water over the pad, followed by a normal circuit and landing.

Flight stats were;  100km in 43 minutes with 16% climbing and 84% straight. Speed was 142.88 kmh. Average climb 5.1kt!

My best flight from an all round perspective so far, and great fun!

I will buy a $30 bottle of Red of your choice for the first better this in a Standard class club glider this season!

Dave L

K21 maintenance

Saturday 5th September provided for another great days gliding at Waikerie. Following the completion of the annual Form 2 of the AS K21, and with Greg Jackson crewing the Tug, the ‘21 was test-flown by Craig Vinall and John Hudson, before John had an hour or so in it solo. The conditions started with weak lift, which progresively improved as the temperature climbed. Craig Vinall took of in the ‘29 followed soon after by Peter Paine in the Discus and David Lawley in the Boomerang. Peter Robinson spent most of Saturday in the workshop, sanding the wings of his Nimbus, which Mark Morgan had painted earlier in the week.

The opportunity was also taken for annual check-flights for Peter Robinson and Greg Jackson, some “spin” training, and an AEF. A visitor during the day was a 90+ year old gentleman, who was one of TAA’s (Trans Australia Airlines) first Captains. He now lives in Waikerie and enjoys talking aeroplanes. I am sure he will visit again – he enjoyed being made welcome and reminiscing. He has never flown without an engine – I will work on that when he visits again.

Around the fire

The conditions eventually died, the glider were put away and the Bar opened. After Dinner in the evening, “Ron’s” burnable pile was lit up – providing some substantial warmth on the outside for those who were present. Greg’s Muscat and Port provided warmth for the inside. We were visited by the local Riverland Police, who were following up reports by a local resident of a major fire – their visit was short and cordial, when it was apparent the appropriate preparations and safety measures had been taken.

John Hudson

Saturday 25th July presented with a cold northerly breeze. The gliders were prepared with several pilots eager to fly. Bill Mudge was the rostered Instructor and John Hudson in the Tug and runway 26 the elected runway. Slowly the temperatire increased – 16 degrees and 400 Ft, 17 degrees and 5000 Ft.

After a delay in getting started – battery U/S in the Tug – activities got underway. The first flight was the third flight for new member Bradley McKay, who joined the Club in June. Welcome to the Club Bradley – he has a burning ambition of a career in aviation – and the way he is progressing – he seems sure to succeed. The picture shows Bradley and Bill Mudge in the AS K21 about to take off.

Phill Hollick had his annual checkflight before the singles took off – Peter Paine in the Discus, Peter Robinson in his Nimbus, Craig Vinall in his AS G29, John Ridge in the Astir KYS and David Lawley in the LS-4. Grant Hudson had a training session on aerotows before Bradley had a lengthy thermal flight with Bill in the AS K21. Heights to around 6000 were achieved, with Peter Paine enjoying a flight of around 3 hours.

Bronte Woods ( a past RTO-Airworthiness) visited the Club on Saturday and renewed acquaintances.

On Sunday morning (14 June 2009) the appearance of Allen on his quad bike, with the ASW20 in tow, brought members armed with cameras from various parts of the complex to form a procession to the 02 gravel take off point. The previous evening he had said that, if we were interested, he would give us a flying demonstration of the “20”, weather permitting. We had left him in no doubt that we were interested.

While he went through serious preparations the rest of us got in his way taking photos from every angle and admiring his workmanship.

When he began “lighting the wicks” to the 3 jets, photographers dispersed to various locations.

Rolling for takeoff

It reminded me of film footage one sees of the first flight of any prototype, although this was the 5^th time it would fly jet powered. There were two cameramen, one on either side of the runway several hundred metres ahead, David Lawley, with a video camera in his car, immediately behind the glider ready to follow down the runway and when Allen settled himself in the cockpit, and gave brother John the O.K. to level the wings, the remaining members clutching cameras spread themselves at a respectable distance.

Within a few seconds the jets let us know that it was time, and after a few steps Allen had aileron control and John let go of the wingtip. The wind was from the northwest and the “20” climbed up over Brockies. Conditions proved to be gusty and rough so Al. kept the airspeed below 80kts. He was soon cruising around at 1,000ft on one engine and, as planned, did a low level pass but at moderate speed because of the turbulence. On the climb out he fired up the other two jets with impressive effect, then positioned himself for runway 02 grass, and shut down and retracted the engines for a perfect touchdown.

Jet fly-by

Allen can be very pleased with the results of the hours that he has put into this project. The power unit looks like a factory fit and is a tribute to his workmanship. The rest of us are very envious.

More jet-20 photos in the club photo album.

Graham Francis