Borders Gliding Club Blog: 2019

Sunday 1st December - First Solo

Kevin goes Solo

Congratulations to Kevin O'Keefe who was sent solo by Bill Stephen. Well done Kevin.

Monday 21st October - First Solo

Bernie goes Solo!

Congratulations to Bernie Hartnett who was sent solo by our CFI. Well done Bernie.

Tuesday, 8 Oct 19

FL 240

BordersGliding Club has another good wave day on Tuesday, 8 October with a lot of successful flights. Two flights warrant special attention. Adrian Loening and Trevor Dale both achieved FL240 with the help of Scottish ATC. Both suffered extreme cold (-33 degrees C) and endured icing on descent but, for Trevor and subject to the usual scrutiny, it may be a Diamond height gain. Well done to both pilots.”

Sunday 17th February - a Diamond day

After Friday's fun flights Sunday didn't look very promising and the previous night's RASP prediction was weird - the winds the opposite of the Met Office forecast. When we opened the hangar doors there was no significant cloud but a reasonable breeze from the SW. Mike Rose took an early tow, before 10am, and contacted lift just to the S of the field followed by your blogger who did likewise. The initial climb rate wasn't very exciting and both Mike and I looked upwind for lift but didn't find anything. Coming back to the site produced the same slow start but then, with several other gliders now in the system, things started to get interesting. By 3000' there was a solid 3 - 4 kts and higher, bursts of 6 - 8kts. The only thing which caused a problem was the wind strength which went from 45 to 60kts in places. We made the call to open the wave box, (which in hindsight was far too late), and Stuart Black 'held' at FL182. We received a call that it wasn't available until after 1.30pm. so, as it was only around 12 noon, decided to descend. By that time though he and your blogger had reached around FL194 so a quick photo shoot before returning home.

Now, this surprised me, Stuart doesn't have a Diamond height badge but, on landing he realised that this flight would qualify.We just need to sort out a calibration certificate and fill in the form.

Stuart took some photos on Friday and today showing some of the fantastic views.

Now that the club gliders are all fitted with Flarm loggers we were able to post height claims for the DG505, Ka21 and Astir which has made Borders the Club of the Month on the National Ladder.


Friday 15th February - a wonderful view of Berwick


Textbook lenticulars on Sunday 17th February

FL190 photo opportunity

Time to go home

More Winter Flying at Milfield

Friday 15th February

A lovely sunny day with just a few wisps of very high cirrus didn't look very promising but with the forecast wind being in a good direction we never rule out wave at Milfield. True to form we launched straight into it and away we went. Keith Arkley & Ken Marston in the DG505 and then your blogger & Ian Surley in the K21 took the 2 seaters on some long overdue cross country flights whilst Peter Johnson & Stuart Black logged up several hundred kilometres between them, Stuart getting the highest flight of the day with just over 14,000'. Meanwhile Adam Wilson & Kate Ashley both achieved comfortable Silver heights - well done and congratulations !

Some of the flights are shown below :-