LOG BOOK
NEW PICTURES OF THE ARCUS from Bernd Weber of Schempp-Hirth The Arcus flew cross country from the Hahnweide Kirch airfield in Germany over the Easter weekend. This was a break from the more rigorous testing that the two seater aircraft is going through. The pilots who flew the Arcus expressed great delight in its handling of the rough thermal conditions. Flight data from two flights is available on the Schempp-Hirth website.
MATAMATA ACCIDENT
APOLOGIES
It is reported that both the pilots involved in the PW6 accident
There was some confusion over the authorship of the Central
at Matamata in April are expected to make a complete recovery.
Districts Championship report last issue. David Davidson says that
The accident occurred during a training flight at an Air Training Corp
he was the author and inexperienced contest director. Graham White
camp at Matamata which was not being run by the Piako Gliding
was the very experienced task setter. We apologise for the mistake.
Club. The instructor was Tom Orr from the Taupo Gliding Club with a low rope break simulation on aerotow. The glider released at
The FAI accepts claims from the world’s largest gliders too.
about 250 feet but then pitched up and spun to the right. GNZ
On the FAI website, just above the ratification of Jenny
ROO Brian Chesterman is conducting the investigation.
Wilkinson’s feminine 15m glider speed out and return record
a fourteen year old cadet trainee. The flight was supposed to be
Steve Wallace (Auckland Aviation Sports Club) who visited the
is this record:
airfield a few days later and got first-hand information says that
Ratified World Record - Claim number: 15213
the ATC were well organised with their own ‘crash rescue’ 4 x 4
Category: General
with a territorial trained medic that raced to the scene. The local
Group: Absolute records
ambulance arrived within 10 minutes and the rescue chopper was
Type of record: Assembled mass of spaceships linked in
on its way to Waikato with the cadet within about an hour.
flight
He adds, it was a very nasty crash but well handled by those at
Course/location: Kennedy Space Center, FL (USA)
the airfield whom obviously had a crash plan in place and executed
Performance: 388,777 kg
it well. Perhaps a timely reminder for us all to dust off our club infor-
Team: STS-126
mation folders, read our crash plan and make sure it is up to date.
Crew: Christopher FERGUSON (USA), Eric BOE (USA), Stephen BOWEN (USA), Donald R. PETTIT (USA), Robert
SOARINGNZ CALENDAR Advance orders for SoaringNZ calendars are being accepted now. Thirteen high quality photographs of soaring in New Zealand by John McCaw and others. Designed and produced by the team that make SoaringNZ look so good. A4 size pictures, traditional 12 month calendar. Would make great Xmas gift. Easily postable. $20 including p&p within New Zealand. Available October. Email soaringnz@mccawmedia.co.nz to ensure you get yours.
Shane KIMBROUGH (USA), Heidemarie M. STEFANYSHYN PIPER (USA), Sandra MAGNUS (USA), Michael FINCKE (USA), Yury LONCHAKOV (Russia), Gregory CHAMITOFF (USA) Spacecraft: NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter “Discovery”/ISS 1J/A Date: 30.11.2008 Previous record: 367,964 kg (25.03.2008 Team, International)
STOP PRESS
George Wills, flying a Duo Discus with
Markus Lewandowski won the French Nationals in the two seater 20m class, story next time.
June 2009
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