Wednesday 18th February 2015

Lots of happy faces again today after another successful racing day. Launch was delayed somewhat with a wait for the temperature to rise on the ground and then the wind changed so the grid had to change ends.

All gliders were launched by 2:30pm into a largely blue sky but climbs of 3-500ft/min were there with lift topping out between 5 and 6,000ft. The PW5's had mostly blue thermals in the east with a little cloud later on  while the open could take advantage of the cloud which formed with a convergence running to the ranges in the west. At Te Aute looking to Gwavas, the next turn, the lift was marked with wispy cloud which developed more as the day progressed. Along the top of the ranges another convergence had formed which gave  a climb to 8,000ft and it was possible to run along this to south until it ran out west of Ormondville. Some pilots elected not to push in to the ranges and had slower runs as a result. Two more climbs in the convergence over the flats had pilots on final glide from Tikokino back to Waipukurau via Rakautatahi.

Tuesday 17th February 2015

The weather reverted to normal and a task was set with launch at 12:15pm. After some hiccups, everyone was on task by 1:50pm and enjoyed reasonable thermals to 5,000ft AGL and a challenging task in parts. The sky was best in the east which is not the norm here and contrary to the RASP forecast. A pair of pilots completed a competition task for the first time which is great as these regionals are for training. A couple of GPS files couldn't be read in the open class. But, most pilots had a smile on their face and looked forward to another flying day tomorrow.

Monday 16th February 2015

The morning weather looked promising so gliders were gridded and tasks set with big circles around the turn points to allow challenges for all pilots. However, the forecast overdevelopment came in at around noon and cut off the heating. A PW5 was launched as a snifter but was quickly back on the ground. Once the day was officially cancelled, the temperature rose as the cloud thinned which did allow some local soaring.

Sunday 15th February 2015

After a non-event practice day due to poor weather, today saw a morning of rigging and preparation. The contest was opened with contest director Neil Faulknor welcoming pilots to the event. After some great weather in the previous weeks, the competition start invited the drought breaking weather with unfortunately not much rain but cool south easterlies. A forecast of overcast skies with patchy drizzle and some clear patches with thermals for the day meant no task was called by task setter Graham White. However, local soaring was possible and a number of pilots launched to view the area with the longest flight being almost two hours.

Information on Centralines 2015 Central Districts Gliding Championships

11 February 2015

Centralines 2015 Central Districts Gliding Championships

Sunday 15th to Saturday 21st February 2015 inclusive with Saturday 14th available as a practice day

Welcome to all.

We thank our sponsors and recommend them to you.

Check in and daily briefings will be held in the club rooms on the aerodrome at Waipukurau (there is a map to the airfield on our club web site at http://www.glidinghbw.co.nz/contact-us.html)

The draft programme is as follows:

1. 10:30am Saturday 14^th February - check in and initial briefing starting at 10:30am. All entrants will be required to fully complete and sign an entry form if they have not already done so.

2. Saturday 14^th February – practice day - a decision on setting a task will be made on the day

Sunday 15th through to Saturday 21st inclusive - contest days

3. 10:30am daily briefing – everyday Sunday through Saturday inclusive unless otherwise advised.

4. Planned Meals:

a. Sunday evening – our Club is running a BBQ

b. Wednesday evening – our Club is running a BBQ

c. Friday evening - at a location yet to be confirmed

Numbers will be requested and costs confirmed closer to each planned meal.

5. Further information will be given at the briefings each morning.

6. For those that wish to have a filled roll or other items from a local bakery, orders can be taken at briefing

7. Tow fees, meal costs and any outstanding entry fees will be invoiced at the completion of the contest for prompt payment. Actual tow costs will be charged based on the costs incurred.

Enjoy your time in Hawkes Bay and further afield. Keep the weather gods happy by having some refreshment for them each evening at the friendly aeroclub bar.

Competition Information

1. Grid lines will be allocated for Sunday and then rotated every flying day for fairness. First to arrive in each line are to grid on the far side of the runway so the next glider can go alongside.

2. Contest Director is Neil Faulknor - 027-496-6372. Text landout co-ordinates to this number if possible.

3. The Gliding Hawkes Bay & Waipukurau Club contact phone is 027-288-7522.

4. Aerodrome phone number is 06 858-8226. Note this is not always manned.

5. Within 5km of the airfield all traffic will use 119.1

                            a. Outside this range use 133.55

                            b. In Napier Control call 124.8

                            c. In Hastings CFZ use 125.8

                            d. In upper Airspace call Ohakea on 126.2

                            e. In the Dannevirke/Gorge Airspace call Ohakea 125.1

                            f. Transponders are mandatory in Napier and Ohakea Airspace

Refer to current airways maps for required frequencies and airspace requirements. These will also be covered in the briefings.

6. All thermalling within 5kms of the airfield will be left hand. Outside this normal thermal rules apply; first into thermal dictates the direction.

7. Starts are to be given out on 133.55 within 15 minutes of starting.

8. Ops Normal calls on 133.55 hourly or on request in format “YP, Leg Two, ops Normal”

9. Do not taxi or use a motor in rigging or tie down areas.

10. Pilots without a personal crew must have a vehicle attached to their trailer and keys identified and available on the designated board.

11. Cloud flying is prohibited.

12. GPS tracks from a height recording GPS are the only acceptable soaring mechanism. More than one unit may be accepted at the discretion of the Contest Director.  GPS units shall be handed in as soon as possible on return to the airfield.

13. Pilots shall announce distance and direction of finish @ 5NM and @ 2NM on 119.1.

14. Pilots may land straight in as far left as practical or fly through (High Energy). High Energy finishes must be notified on 119.1. The minimum altitude for a High Energy finish is 100ft AGL.

15. Waipukurau Aerodrome is 430ft ASL, radio for circuits 119.1. All circuits (both left hand [runway 02] and right hand [runway 20]) are to the west of the aerodrome away from the town.

16. Because of poor mobile coverage, pilots should try to radio the planned out-landing site co-ordinates in degrees, minutes and decimal minutes.

17. Pilots shall complete and hand in land out sheets to include land out co-ordinates and landowner’s name, address and phone number.

18. All distances are to be given in miles.

Newsletter January 2015

26 January 2015

Dear fellow pilot

Happy new year to all.

It is now less than four weeks to the Central Districts Championships to be held from Waipukurau Aerodrome from Sunday 15^th to Saturday 21^st February 2015 inclusive with Saturday 14th available as a practice day.

We currently have three towplanes organised to be available for towing. We appreciate all of those who have confirmed their entry to date. For those who have advised they will be entering, it would be appreciated if you can get your completed entry forms to us as soon as possible to help with planning. A copy is available at http://www.glidinghbw.co.nz/links.html.

For newer pilots, this is an ideal first competition and we ask you all to consider entering to have the experience of a fun competition flying over safe country with all types of lift being possible. Consider grabbing one of your instructors and a two seat club glider and come and join the flying while learning new skills.

Below are some photos and a brief report from Gliding Hawkes Bay & Waipukurau member Craig Hunter who flew last Sunday and took some photos:

After one 18 minute attempt, I re-launched releasing above the Pekapeka swamp at 3,000ft just south of Hastings. I then  continued on a southward track  noting turbulence and wisps forming over Lake Poukawa. Soon after I struck lift of 4 to 6kts and climbed to 7,000ft. I then proceeded using a line of convergence to the SW passing Te Aute, Argyll and then eventually Kereru, then NE across the Ngaruroro river to the Taihape Rd then directly tracking back to Hastings. Best altitude 8,000ft. Really enjoyed the blue conditions and the fantastic views. Photos below.

The flying for the contest area has plenty of reasonable priced accommodation available from on field tent sites to cabins, motels and hotels etc all within reasonable distance of the airfield. There are plenty of activities for those odd non-flying days with a wide range of wineries, beaches, cafes and restaurants in the Hawkes Bay area.

Graham White will again be weatherman and along with other experienced pilots, will set tasks suitable for all pilots. Neil Faulknor will be contest director and volunteers have been arranged for ground duties and any retrieves. A number of BBQs and a restaurant dinner are planned for during the event. Any further volunteers would be appreciated and can contact us either prior to or during the competition to volunteer.

Further information will be sent to confirmed entries in the week leading up to practice day on Saturday 14th February.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s competition