Glider pilot optimism

Australians are optimistic, especially the ones who fly gliders. Following a miserable forecast at Narromine, they moved their national championships to Tocumwal, a six hour trip by car. After only four days' notice the entire crowd (probably in excess of 100 people) was ready to start racing today. This morning they were greeted with this:


It must be difficult to remain optimistic, even for the Aussies!

This reminds me of an experience I had once.

Earth Science Picture of the Day

This photograph is very small. This is intentional. It makes you want to click on it and read about it, doesn't it?

Belly up

TV Breakfast

The 2012 PMSC Sunday breakfast schedule is not actually a secret, we just haven't published the calendar yet. The member in charge of the schedule claims she was busy with an appearance on national TV. I thought supermodels could do anything. I guess I was wrong about that.

Anyway, the first two breakfasts were successful, and the third one will be on Sunday at the Crossroads Cafe in White River Junction at 10am at the Farmer's Diner in Quechee at 9am. If you show up early, you might catch a glimpse of a TV star.

Pampas

The idea of a Continental Gliding Championships has been around for a long time, but until recently, the only continent to stage such an event has been Europe.

The Third South American Gliding Championships started yesterday in the lowland plains near Buenos Aires. The contest is also serving as the practice contest for the upcoming World Championships at the same site, in December 2012.

The US Team is there. Sarah Arnold, Peter Deane, Francois Pin, and Tom McKnight are racing around the pampas, not too concerned, apparently, by the finer points of field selection:


So far, SoaringSpot has been a better source of results than the contest website, and at least one competitor is keeping a blog (the source of the photo above).

Sarah came in second yesterday!

Continuing education

EAA is offering a series of webinars over the next few months. At least two of them look to be interesting to glider pilots. The first is about emergency parachutes and will be given by our friend Alan Silver in less than two weeks, on January 19. The other one is on radio communications, scheduled for February 22. Both take place on weekday evenings at 8pm.

The webinars are free, and you don't have to be a member of EAA to attend, You must pre-register, however.

Happy New Year!

We may not be flying (much) this time of year, but at least we can look forward to some social events.

We can expect the 2012 Breakfast Schedule any day now. I'll look for a copy posted at the local library. Our annual meeting will probably occur in early February, as usual.

The NESA party will be January 21 in Springfield.

There will be a combined birthday/Mardi Gras party in February, at an undisclosed location in Post Mills. Details to follow.

Rumor has it that one of our more handsome members is featured in the 2012 SSA Calendar. I'd like to get one, but I can't afford the postage. If anyone can think of an economical way to get a hold of a calendar or two, let me know.

Happy 2012!

Wright Brothers Day 2011

108 years after Orville and Wilbur ruined their best glider by putting an engine on it, a few hardy PMSC members celebrated by going flying. Andy, Rich, Rick, and Tim took off from Post Mills in various airplanes and headed for Springfield where the hardiest of all NESA members, Walter Striedieck, was preparing a gliding operation.

We flew the PW-6 (I1) four times, and Tim found a nice 2-knot December thermal that gives us the right to claim that soaring is a year-round sport in Vermont.

Meanwhile, Tony (7H) had almost as much fun on a 159km jaunt down in Florida. He must be practicing for his Diamond Distance flight later this Spring.

Near miss

At 1:50 in the video. You never know what you will find up there.



[Thanks a lot, Gregg. You can give the next club safety briefing. -Ed.]

Soaring 100 Celebration