markfgilliland

As expected, the former spacious clubhouse has been reclaimed for business premises. Plans have been submitted for a clubhouse on the airfield, making use of a concrete area close to the usual entrance on the east side. It is hoped to start construction before the winter. For the present, the converted milk float is towed to the launch point and acts as flying control tea waggon and clubhouse, proving that the show can carry on without alcohol. A most successful week’s course was supervised by D. Ford during which a few more fearless diesel winch drivers were converted. Winching on the short runway has been producing 1,300 – 1,500ft launches. The convex nature of this runway calls for conscientious. signalling, as the glider is already climbing well before it comes into view of the winch. Consistent light signals are now obtained with a semi-automatic signal producer of cams and limit switches devised by S. Perry to give the proper time intervals. 

Clubhouse improvements continue with the former committee room well on the way to becoming a small dormitory, under the inspiration of Suzy Johnstone. CFI Dave Schofleld’s birthday party was a great success and he was presented with the ultimate in cold weather gear – complete with tassel! We now have a Piper Cub tug and aerotow retrieves are available most days for those who land out at South Marston. We were sorry to lose Pete and Angela Higgs, who have moved away from the area after years 01 hard work for the club. The search is on for a replacement for our Blanik which has gone to the Crusaders GC in Cyprus.

Our proud boast in the April issue of having flown five 300kms on the same day was somewhat deflated by the printer deleting the word five! Despite such adversity we are currently trying hard to improve our last record having already completed more than 5000km by the beginning of June, including Silver distances from Colin McKewan and Steve Nash to complete their Silver Cs. The poor weather during the “Hambro cup week” only allowed six pilots to fly on one day, completing over 1300km including three 300kms. Our usual problems of a shortage of new members and reliable launching facilities are still with us – our resident tug has been laid up since last November. Hopefully our recent massive increase in membership and flying charges has not put off too many, but maintaining a club fleet of five gliders operating only at weekends by a club the size of ours is unfortunately getting more difficult. We are currently debating whether or not to say goodbye to our Skylark in an effort to further tighten our belts. 15 However, we are looking forward with optimism to the Summer season with its usual crop of flying weeks, parties. barbecues etc and we hope to cultivate two new instructors. Phil Gaisford and Mike Beattie. the former also having got his name down for the British Team Training Scheme. Visitors are always welcome but please remember that we are only permitted to use the runways and tugs must have permission from Vickers ATC.

The last few months have seen the bar prospering as a result of numerous celebrations of Cs, Bronze C’s. etc. These have been achieved mainly by this year’s new members, whose enthusiasm seems to have paid off, particularly their ability to get up early ID the morning. Not that the old hands have been idle, however, Jack Purchase having notched up our first Gold C height. 10 The volunteer wives were called upon again, in the fund-raising field, and did an excellent job organising a barbecue in June. and a jumble sale in September. A word of caution here to other organisers, be sure that all you. sell is jumble. One of our members is now minus his camping gear. Our tow-car fleet has been supplemented, although perhaps not improved, by the addition of an F 500. “What a ride! Does anyone possess a spare workshop manual for the above or the F-100? We could certainly use one. We have a new and rather unique winch under construction which should prove very useful on our local ridge. Dave Schofield is the “genius” behind this. backed up by our invaluable mechanic, Doug Rawlings.

After five years of existence, we now have the first syndicate formed within the dub. This is the ex Dunstable Grunau, which has been acquired by Messrs. Bailey & Co. A second group has formed and will be taking delivery of a Skylark 4 in the New Year. Much aerial activity has taken place since our last appearance in these columns. The latest solos are: John Thorpe, Howard Johns, Ian Stokes. Colin Maxfield. The ladies have also had, excellent results; loan Savage, Jenny Wills and Margaret Young. Well done. girls! Cs have been completed by Chris James, Joe Pippa. Dave Bailey, Howard Johns, Mike Hoffman, Bill Rawlings, and Geoff Turner. Now for the hard stuff: Malcolm Parkins and Jack: Purchase both gained Silver legs-distance and height-by flying to Dunstable. Clive Castell flew to Lasham for his distance, using a cloud street all the way, and’ arrived at 5,000 feet. 7 Other cross-countries include G. Turner, 12 miles; me, 12 and 25 miles; Jack Purchase, 5 miles; George Turner, 275 yards: John Young (El Supremo), 34 miles. Chris James managed 6,000 feet in the Swallow but without barograph. Various members have already sampled the Huish ridge, and this should prove most useful during the winter. Before the AGM Stan Perry and Sam Colborne’ resigned from the committee, and this was a great loss for us. We are indeed indebted to the tremendous amount of work and effort they have given to the dub.

Soaring started in February and by the end of May we had achieved far more cross-country kilometres ‘than the same period last year. Phil Gaisford leads the ladder with Norman Parry second, Norman having had a remarkable wave climb of 12 000f1 earlier in the season. Cross-country pilots have had to pass a written test on air law and navigation, set by CFI, John Baxter, before being let off the leash. The Blanik, which replaced the T-49, isn’t yet as popular as the K-13 but spends a lot of time in the hands of Steve Nash and others giving passenger flights. The Astir and Skylark 4 have joined the K8 but the Skylark needs a new trailer before it can fulfil its proper cross country role. Local real ale bas replaced the fizz served in the clubhouse and in addition Angie Higgs and the girls now provide food most weekends. John Chapman has gone solo and Bob Locke completed his Bronze C. We have a passenger flying weekend on June 21-22, a task week starting June 28 and a Competition Kitty weekend on July 19-21, with the annual barbecue arranged for July 19.

We look set to exceed the 1979 cross-country kilometres by a fair margin in spite of some Indifferent weekend weather recently, though il is disappointing not having had any Silver distance flights so far this year, Henry Devonshire organised Ihe task week, the larges1task being a 212km quadrilateral completed by Colin McKewen (K-6cR). The British Team Squad representatives arrived with some high-powered machinery for the Competition Kitty weekend and the Saturday night barbecue proved that they can dance as well as fly. On the one frying day most people landed at about the same spot so there was no real winner (see report in the next issue). John Devey has gone solo and Steve Parsonage and helpers are filling out a trailer for the Skylark 4.

Our season ended with more than 15000km flown, an increase of 40% on 1979. Colin McKennan (Kr6CR) and Brian 6eale (Dart 17R) have their Gold distances and Bob Lock (K-8) has completed the first and only Silver C of the year with a flight to Booker. Mike Nield and Mike Beattie are on instructors’ courses this month. 16 The Blanik recently dragged 1000ft of cable across the dual carriageway and through some bedroom windows before dropping it in a local housing estate. We all learned a lesson and batmen now watch like hawks for cable overruns. Eric Winning has become Projects Officer (again) and is organising his 30 or so volunteers in various winter type jobs.

There are times when we have more instructors than pupils on ‘the airfield, no doubt due to the combined effect of the weather and the recession. Another factor is that the bar is closed and being rebuilt by Steve Foggin, John Baxter and others. At the AGM in December Pete Higgs was re-elected Chairman and there was a debate on the club fleet with the decision to defer a decision to next year (as we did last year!). Our annual dinner-dance is in February.

We had a very successful open weekend on June 20-21 with Club flying between 4am and 9am on the Saturday. Cooked breakfast was provided by Angie Higgs, Anne Bradley and Alison Lock and as a result of the weekend we have several new members. The Humbro task week wasn’t as successful as last year due 10 the weather but creditable performances were achieved by John Le Coyte. Eric Winning, Bev Hill and our CFI, John Baxter.