TASMANIAN WAVE AUSTRALIA - Gliding Australia Magazine
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G LIDING AUSTRALIA Issue 57 September - November 2021 magazine.glidingaustralia.org TASMANIAN WAVE MATTHER SCUTTER’S EUROPEAN ADVENTURES: WGC FRANCE 15M CLASS - E3GLIDE VARESE
G LIDING
AUSTRALIA
MAGAZINE
38 OCCURRENCES
42 AROUND THE CLUBS - FIRST SOLOS
During the Autumn months, glider training continued at a rapid pace as
No. 57 SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2021 many new pilots around the country achieved first solos
43 CLASSIFIEDS
COVER: SIMON HACKETT FLYING WAVE IN TASMANIA IN HIS TAURUS ELECTRO G2
Parachutes Australia have been
supplying the world with emergency 2 FROM THE EO
Read the essential updates from the Executive Officer, Board
parachute systems for Civilian and Members and Association Departments.
WELCOME TO GA 57
The outlook for the soaring season looks difficult for those of
Military applications for over 40 years 4 EVENTS - BADGES us in the eastern states. With a persistent lockdown in NSW and
As the 2021 gliding season warms up, check for upcoming events in your
The Thinback and Slimpack Emergency Parachute Systems Victoria, many of us cannot even get out to our gliders let alone
state, coaching opportunities and competitions.
manufactured by Parachutes Australia are designed, tested Slimpack Emergency Parachute System go flying. However, the health measures in place will surely
and manufactured beyond regulatory requirements and provide 6 AIRWORTHINESS
succeed in allowing a full return to our beloved sport.
the maximum safety, performance and comfort. All aircraft begin to deteriorate as soon as they are manufactured. Learn
how to inspect for fibreglass damage in your glider. This is the sixth issue of GA in the new formats. As long as you
• Certified under FAA TSO C23(b) with Certificate of Type Approval issued by
CASA together with Production Approval No. 515899 have an internet connection on your device of choice, you can
8 SAFETY
• Manufactured from durable Cordura fabric. read GA wherever and whenever you like. Go to magazine.
Sidney Dekker compares two types of just culture, retributive and
• Military specification harness webbing and hardware for reliable strength and durability.
Stainless Steel closing grommets and ripcord assembly.
restorative, and explains why the latter is ideal for our gliding glidingaustralia.org.
•
Thin, soft pack for pilot comfort.
community.
• You can also download a PDF version of GA from magazine.
Also available: 10 WAVE IN TASMANIA glidingaustralia.org/past-issues.
• Sheepskin Accessory Option for improved comfort and hygiene. At his farm in the beautiful mountains in Tasmania, Simon Hackett uses
You can order a very special DIGITAL PRINT copy of the
• Static Line Deployment Option. SkySight to predict and soar the local wave.
magazine as well. Each magazine will be ordered and printed just
Thinback Emergency Parachute System
12 EGLIDE AT VARESE for you, so it will be a limited edition – rare and collectable. Order
Matthew Scutter's European adventure took him into Italy to defend the
eGlide Championship title that he won last year. your very own copy here bit.ly/2TUkFs5
I would love to hear what you think about the new formats and
16 DEVELOPMENT WITH EMILIS
the magazine in general, so please contact me any time. Or you
Emilis Prelgauskas discusses the importance of making gliding connected
and welcoming, to attract potential club members in the local community. can leave me a message on the website at bit.ly/2McMqYu
I hope you enjoy this edition of Gliding Australia Magazine.
18 MATTHEW SCUTTER'S WGC FRANCE
Overcoming challenges at every turn, Matthew battled his way from Sean Young
Queensland to Europe to place 3rd at the World Championships 2021.
26 HISTORY OF THE E-TUG
ETugs have a long and fascinating history in Australia, and now perform a
vital function in every club. GLIDING AUSTRALIA
MEMBERSHIP & CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION & related
28 TRAINING - AEROTOWING OUT OF PADDOCKS
Tanya Loriot tanya@glidingaustralia.org
Prepare yourself for the next time you landout in a paddock and learn the
key factors to consider before you call the tug pilot. AIRWORTHINESS & GFA TRAVEL
Fiona Northey fiona@glidingaustralia.org
Online Glider Facility 30 GLIDERS - AS 35 RETURNS
If you are sending documents they must be emailed to
Schleicher has built a new Open Class glider, their 20m AS 35. Bernard returns@glidingaustralia.org
Eckey reveals its attibutes and abilities.
SHOP The GFA Online shop has a range of useful
We are excited to offer Australian glider owners a 34 WINNING THE MENTAL BATTLE PART PT 5
products including a Form 2 kit,
www.store.glidingaustralia.org
unique glider insurance experience via our online All pilots can make the most of their decision-making and observational
GFA OFFICE
skills when flying, and learn to trust their in-flight intuition.
glider facility offering: Before calling the GFA office, please check out our website
www.glidingaustralia.org to buy items, find documents and other information,
36 OPERATIONS - SAFE AEROTOWING and renew your membership.
Aerotowing has inherent risks. Many of the most significant are tug 9am-5pm Monday - Thursday, 9am-3pm Friday
• Competitive insurance premiums upsets. Learn how to avoid them while you're still on the ground. Tel: 03 9359 1613 Fax: 03 9359 9865
C4/ 1-13 The Gateway
Broadmeadows VIC 3047
• Broader policy coverage Sean Young
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS
We invite editorial contributions and Non GFA members are welcome to subscribe to Gliding Australia.
Editor
sean@glidingaustralia.org letters. 1 year is $64 inc. GST. www.glidingaustralia.org/shop1
• Option to bind cover on the spot email sean@glidingaustralia.org
Adriene Hurst Other large files and photographs
Deputy Editor and can be uploaded at WS Media Design & Publishing Services info@westsunsetbooks.com
adriene@glidingaustralia.org www.glidingaustralia.org/ga
www.glidercover.com.au DISPLAY ADVERTISING &
Official publication of Gliding Australia - Gliding Federation of Australia Inc.
Contact MAGAZINE ENQUIRIES
sean@glidingaustralia.org ABN 82 433 264 489 (GFA).
The Gliding Australia ia a member of the Féderation Aéronautique International (FAI)
David Tait or Vanessa Edwards GLIDING AUSTRALIA
www.glidingaustralia.org
through the Australian Sport Aviation Confederation (ASAC)
Opinions expressed in Gliding Australia are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor does the publisher give
07 3274 4732 assurances or warrants that the information published is accurate. Readers are advised to check any information
contained herein. Editorial submissions are welcome but the publisher reserves the right to edit, abridge, amend
Tel 0490 502323
admin@aviationinsurance.com.au and correct any material supplied for publication as the publisher sees fit. All rights reserved. Reproduction without
permission is strictly forbidden without the permission of the publisher. © The Gliding Australia
www.aviationinsurance.com.au Print Post Publication Number PP 381712/02675
date of these Credentials and explain how to use and download
FROM THE EO key items, including proposed
changes to the organisation
questions regarding any of our IT
systems you can email returns@
ensure that you apply for a new
version when you receive the
the file. An Official Observer (OO)
needs to verify the flight, so ask at
It seems that Covid is once again structure and voting procedures for glidingaustralia.org. reminder. your club, or you can look at the
severely impacting many of our the Board and Executive. INTEGRATED TRAINING We are creating a few videos that green Reports tile under Menu, and
clubs. We survived 2020 fairly well, Unfortunately, this has not been PROGRAM will lead you though the process of click on customer reports to find
and it looked like 2021 would be achieved as a result of border The Operations and the Soaring adding Credentials to your record. the list of OOs.
much better, but that is not to be. closures, so we will have to rely on Development departments have The main points are:
Country clubs are able to operate in meetings by Zoom. been working for more than 18 l Credentials cannot be updated. SPORTING LICENCE
most states, but given that most We will share proposals with months to upgrade the GPC training You must add a new Credential of If you have ambition to fly a
members are from the capital members before seeking your syllabus and resource material. This the same type. The previous one record, you will need an FAI
cities, many clubs are struggling to support at meetings some time in is a joint approach due to feedback remains in your history) Sporting Licence. The requirements
operate. 2022. from members indicating that l Click on the green ‘add are that you have a GPC and that
South Australia, Tasmania, training should be updated and credential’ button and search you confirm that you have read the
Western Australia and Northern GFA ANNUAL GENERAL should aim to ensure that a through the drop down list to find Sporting Code. Look for the FAI
Territory have experienced little MEETING member with a GPC the one that you need. Sporting Licence Credential and
impact and are doing well, but all The 2021 AGM will be held on l Can fly and soar the glider l Look up the evidence required apply.
of the larger states are finding it Friday 24 September via Zoom. The safely at the required standard for the Credential, available via the
very difficult. We are hopeful that success of last year’s online AGM l Is aware of the threats and TERRY CUBLEY AM green Documents tile GFA AWARDS
increased vaccination and has encouraged the Board to use errors that may arise and has the EXECUTIVE OFFICER The GFA awards officer Kerrie
improving weather will enable clubs the same approach in 2021. ability to manage them BADGE CLAIM Claffey has invited members to
eo@glidingaustralia.org
to return to normal operation in Members from all states were able l Has the skills to soar the glider With the weather destined to nominate people for various
October. to join the meeting and participate and competently and safely fly Membership and look through the improve shortly, it may be time to national awards and also to apply
in the decision making, resulting in outside of gliding range of their list of items available. Look for the look at claiming some badges or for some national performance
GLIDING COMPETITIONS the best attendance we’ve ever take-off airfield, navigating to a credentials button to the right of records. In Go Membership, under trophies. We have received a
STRUGGLE WITH COVID had. This year will be a much selected site and complying with all your photo to see the credentials the menu button you will see some number of nominations and the GFA
State Gliding Championships are simpler event as there are no aviation regulations within the that you currently have. new colourful tiles. One of these is Board will make a final decision in
likely to proceed as they don’t rely motions to change the constitution limits of their authorisations Some are required so that you ‘Badge claim process’. This takes time to announce the results at the
on pilots travelling from interstate (GFA Articles), so the amount to l Can fly independently subject can show that you satisfy what is you to the application form where AGM. The winners will also be
to attend, so the Queensland voting will be significantly reduced. to maintaining their competency needed to fly a glider – things like you will be asked to attach your announced via the GFA web page
(October), NSW (November) and We are encouraging members to As you can see, this is well your Medical, Flight Review, Radio igc. file for your flight, which comes and magazine.
Victoria (December) State Comps register and then login on Friday beyond just going solo, and Operator, C certificate, GPC, etc. from your flight recorder.
look likely to go ahead, as do a evening, 24 September. requires development of some core You should be aware of the expiry Ask your Instructor or Coach to
number of regional events. Check One of the tasks of the AGM is to soaring skills. Final steps are
VALE MIKE BURNS AGM
out the GFA calendar, via the web approve the appointment of Board currently in progress, and we
page at www.glidingaustralia.org members, who are nominated by expect all the documentation to be
and then click on Calendar. This the Regions, and Executive available to members shortly. A few
lists the events and provides details members, nominated by the various clubs have been trialling the engineer, assisting many with
I worked with and was helped a lot FRIDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021
from the organisers. Departments. resources and the changed engineering approvals for their
by Mike. Mike passing is a great loss 7:00PM AEST
National Championships are more All members will be invited to approach. The management group modification projects on their gliders.
to GFA, he worked with and for GFA
difficult, as the Soaring attend the meeting, and also to will arrange for upskilling of He was also trying to bring them all
since about the 1980s. He wrote and This year’s annual general meeting
Development Panel have nominate for the positions of instructors and coaches to assist to closure but because he was so
developed most of the GFA system of will be held virtually using Zoom. You
determined that pilots from all President, Vice President(s) and them with implementing the new busy on many complicated projects I
airworthiness ie. Basic Sailplane can participate online using your
states/territories must be able to Treasurer. By 3 September, you will approach. They have already am sure it now worries him how his
Engineering, MOSP 3, the system of smartphone, tablet, or computer.
attend should they wish to but, receive a notice giving details on started working with Soaring projects will be finished. Don't worry
ADs and ANs, that we can service You will be able to view a live
given the various lockdowns, this is how to participate in the activities. Development Managers, CFIs and Mike, we will work it out.
TOST releases, etc etc when he webcast of the meeting, ask the
not always possible. The Multiclass RMOs and getting a lot of positive Mike was not easy to work with and
worked for GFA as the Chief Engineer. Board questions online and submit
Championships were scheduled for IT ADMINISTRATION feedback. I am sure there are a few members
He sorted out our early days of your votes in real time. As usual you
October at Kingaroy in Queensland, After many years of running the out there that ran fowl of Mike. But if
being somewhat less safe, worked may also provide voting instructions
however, with border restrictions in GFA IT systems, Tim Shirley is GO MEMBERSHIP you worked with him, he was very
with CASA to develop how we would to your Proxy by completing the
force this had to be cancelled. The stepping down from his various We have made a number of helpful, and must have put in
operate and therefore also our proxy form (See https://tinyurl.com/
Championships have now been paid roles. A number of people are improvements to Go Membership in thousands of hours helping us all. I
current day freedoms and Form 2 gfaproxy).
added to the Club Class Nationals now taking over some of these recent weeks, and hopefully you learned so much from Mike but
system of maintenance. Mike stopped All attendees must register if
at Benalla in December, and we tasks. will find these changes make it possibly the main item was just to
working for (being paid) by GFA you plan on joining the AGM:
now wait to see what the situation Sharon Brunton from Qld is now easier to use. find a way and get it done, and
decades ago, but he continued to
will be close to the middle of running Go Membership, and Ian Go Membership provides details properly.
assist with organising the Engineering
November. Munro from NSW is looking after of your membership of GFA and Mike will be sorely missed by us in HTTPS://BIT.LY/3ZMAD8Z
side of GFA; the design approval
Salesforce. Various staff members enables you to log a range of GFA airworthiness.
procedures manual, and fighting this
GFA BOARD MEETINGS have taken responsibility for achievements and ratings. Your Once you register, you will be
through CASA. As usual Mike just got
We have been trying to run a face handling various other products, Credential and Qualifications show emailed a link to let you join the
it done in his own way on his own. ROB HANBURY
to face Board meeting to enable such as Google Drive, Stripe what you have achieved. I meeting
He had in recent years, now over DEPUTY CHAIR AIRWORTHINESS
valuable discussion on a number of payments and so on. If you have encourage you to login to Go We look forward to you joining us!
80, continued as the mainstay GFA
DEPARTMENT, GFA
2 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 3
GLIDING Come and Fly
G
BERYL HARTLEY
LIDING
FAI GLIDING BADGES CLAS FAI CERTIFICATES
with US!
SI
1 MARCH - 31 MAY 2021 ADS FIED OFFICER
AUSTRALIA
NO faicertificates@glidingaustra-
ONLI W
Issue 11 March - April 2013 www.glidingaustralia.org
AUSTRALIA AUSSIE
lia.org TEAM AT
NE
News - features
A CERTIFICATE - sPorts - CoNtaCts
RICHARD GRAY
WGC ARGENTINA
MURRAY BRIDGE GLIDING CLUB
PAVEL KALENOV BOONAH GLIDING CLUB
NICOLE WILSON WARWICK FLIGHT
JOHN HUTCHERSON BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY INC
The newest gliding
STEPHEN JOHNSTON magazine
BEVERLEY on the grid
SOARING SOCIETY
STEPHEN MIRANDA ADELAIDE SOARING CLUB LACHLAN POND SUNSHINE COAST GLIDING CLUB
is packed full of
RICHARD GRAY
great stuff about gliders, NICHOLAS COOK
MURRAY BRIDGE GLIDING CLUB BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY
gliding
PAVEL and theBOONAH
KALENOV pilotsGLIDING
who fly them.
CLUB INC PETER UNDERHILL SUNSHINE COAST GLIDING CLUB
JOHN HUTCHERSON BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY KARSTEN BOJESEN BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY Lake Keepit Soaring Club is a great place to fly…
LACHLAN POND SUNSHINE COAST GLIDING CLUB A 7 day a week club operation with a relaxed, fun
RICHARD TOLLEY BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY
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NOTE If you want to buy or sell a glider,
JEAN-YVES PROVOST SOUTHERN CROSS GLIDING CLUB fleet and launches are by aerotow and winch. The
C CERTIFICATE
the classified section is now online.
ISAAC BROWNING
PETER UNDERHILL
DARLING DOWNS SOARING CLUB
SUNSINE COAST GLIDING CLUB DAVID GIBBS MELBOURNE GLIDING CLUB/VMFG
multiclass - wgc benalla - news - orange week - barnes’ amreica
region’s varied terrain from plains to mountains
with plenty of safe out-landing opportunities and
KARSTEN BOJESEN BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY SCOTT CREW ADELAIDE SOARING CLUB year-round good conditions make LKSC ideal for
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RICHARD TOLLEY BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY BEN JAMES
Cover_11.indd 1
NORTH QUEENSLAND SC
3/5/2013 5:42:27 PM
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SOMETHING TO SELL
KIRREN THOMPSON NT SOARING GRANT NICAUD CENTRAL COAST SOARING CLUB
TO GLIDER PILOTS? If you want to learn to fly gliders, get cross-country
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CENTRAL COAST SOARING CLUB
ADVERTISE to the biggest
SUNSHINE COAST GLIDING CLUB
training, fly badge flights, work towards a GPC,
or be part of the best gliding club in the country,
B CERTIFICATE geographical gliding come to Lake Keepit.
STEPHEN JOHNSTON BEVERLEY SOARING SOCIETY community in the universe
For Display Advertising Tel: (02) 6769 7514
GFA CALENDAR Airport, Cunderdin WA glidingclub.org.au
Call 02 9332 2822 or email Email: manager@keepitsoaring.com ���������
Use the Contact
and click
Competition Organiser Cameron
GFAthe classified link on the menu bar
McDonald 0400 581 132
and on sean@glidingaustralia.org.
the comp web site
glidingcomp.flights/vsa2022
www.keepitsoaring.com �������
24 Gliding Australia www.soaring.org.au
menu at www.
glidingaustralia.org to send NSW COACHING WEEK - CLUB AND MULTI CLASS
event details to the GFA NARROMINE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Secretariat for publishing 14 – 20 November 2021
Narromine Gliding Club, Build it yourself
BENALLA
Glider Trailer
12 - 19 December 2021
Kit Ad_Pages.indd 24
online and in GA. • Light weightSun
All suitably rated pilots are Aluminium Clamshell
12th is a practice Trailer7
day, leaving
LKSC AD Gliding Australia 20-6-11.indd 1 20/06/11 9:38
welcome to enter and improve
QUEENSLAND STATE •
their cross country skills. Tail / Wing and Belly
comp days.Dollies
See included
CHAMPIONSHIPS Contact Armin Kruger – NSW glidingcomp.flights/cs2021/
SO YOU’VE HAD
25 September - 1 October SDM
2021 0477 945 387 SKYRACE GP BENALLA
Kingaroy Soaring Club 3 - 10 Jan 2022
See kingaroysoaring.com.au for
registration details.
NARROMINE CUP
21 – 27 November 2021
Narromine Gliding Club
Leeton, NSW
Practice Day - 3rd January 2022
Contest Days - 4th January - 10th
ASO YOU’VECALL?
CLOSE HAD
A CLOSE CALL?
MULTICLASS NATIONALS The Narromine Cup will be running January 2022 Often the experience is something you’ll never forget and you have learned from it.
4 - 11 October 2021 this year. Contact Beryl Hartley skyrace.com.au Why not share your story so that others can learn
Kingaroy Soaring Club on email arnie.hartley@gmail.
Whyfrom
notit share your
too? If we story
publish so that
it, we’ll give others can learn from it too?
you $500.
V- Towing Bar, Auto- Reverse, Spare com for futher details.
info@skyrace.com.au If we publish it, we’ll give
Email us at fsa@casa.gov.au you $500.
See kingaroysoaring.com.au for
Wheel, long retractable Jockey Wheel, lockable one - hand
central Latch on Back ofdetails.
registration Clamshell, large Hatch in front, Vent WORLD GLIDING Articles should
Articles be between
should 450 and
be between 1000
450 andwords.
1000 Ifwords.
preferred, your identity
Grill on back, Solar Vent in centre - all standard NSW STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - will be kept confidential.
If preferred, Email us
your identity fsa@casa.gov.au.
willatbe kept confidential. Clearly mark
CHAMPIONSHIPS NARROMINE
KHANCOBAN MOUNTAIN FLYING NARROMINE your Ifsubmission
you have video footage,field
in the subject feelasfree to submit this CLOSE CALL’
‘SPORTAVIATION
November - December 2023
Bed made- from 25mm GFRP Panels, Clamshell constructed
BENALLA 28 November – 4 December with your close call.
Narromine Gliding Club is
from cnc -29
cutOct
and –bent aluminium
2 Nov 2021 sheet parts Clamshell is
2021 Please do not submit
structuralKhancoban
when latched Mountain
giving torsional stiffness to the bed for honoured to be selected by the articles regarding events
Flying Narromine Gliding Club that are the subject
speeds tested in excess of 100mph. IGC and we look forward to
Contact Mick Webster of a current official
Melbourne Cup Weekend hosting an amazing gliding investigation.
Approx Cost: Starting from
Hosted by G.C.V. 6,700 Euro ex. Factory + Shipping & GST.
mick260649@gmail.com f competition. Submissions may be
Contact - Mark Goodley or further details edited for clarity, length
If you would like to be a part of and reader focus.
markgoodley@hotmail.com the organisation and running of
VICTORIAN STATE GLIDING this World Championship
CHAMPIONSHIPS - BENALLA Register your interest now so you
CARTER CUP - GCWA Competition please go to the
4 – 11 December 2021 don’t miss out. Costs on
30 Oct – 7 Nov 2021 Contact Us page
shipping will be and
kept tell us about
to a minimum,
Gliding Club of WA, Cunderdin Competition details will be yourself asanda number
how you of flat
can packs
help.
published shortly at will easily fit into our shipping container
. Please do not submit articles regarding events that are the subject of a current official investigation.
Submissions may be edited for clarity, length and reader focus.
4 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 5
For more information ANZ Agent - Swain Johnson: 0412827252 Gliding Australia www.soaring.org.au 25
or email swaino@hotmail.com.au or http://aero-works.de
AIRWORTHINESS
AIRWORTHINESS AND AGING Anthony Smith
Chair Airworthiness Department
clubs that operate near
major capital cities may
cmd@glidingaustralia.org
FIBREGLASS AIRCRAFT
have higher risks in this
regard.
The recent mouse
All aircraft begin to deteriorate as soon as they are manufactured. Generally the rate of deterioration is plague has highlighted a
very slow at first, but the resulting damage is cumulative and the deterioration accelerates with age. The couple of airworthiness
term ‘aging’ is usually applied to aircraft as they near or exceed the original design life. For many general issues. Mouse plagues
aviation aircraft, the design life was 20 years. That is, the designer only had to consider the effect of aging happen periodically in
out to 20 years of life. Australia. Mice love to
gnaw on things. While
This concept also applied to a few sailplanes as well, they are less likely to
like the IS-28B2 which had an original design life of 35 sailplanes have surveys at around 6,000 hrs. Many of
gnaw on fiberglass than
years. It may be a surprise to many that the average age these aircraft will take 76 years to get there!
wood, for example, they
of sailplanes with a current Form 2 (at the time of writing) See Figure 2: Aircraft Hours versus Age. Many first
have been known to cause
is 36 years, and that many designers of fiberglass aircraft generation FRP sailplanes have yet to undergo a survey
physical damage to the
in the 1970s did not anticipate their aircraft to still be due to the low flying rate. OiiWAK 12 MP wireless endoscope Figure 1
aircraft structure. Possibly a greater concern is mice
operating after such a long period of time. gnawing on pneumatic tubing, but the instrument failures
See Figure 1: Sailplanes with a current Form 2 by build THE ENVIRONMENT Deterioration of exterior coatings, like gelcoat, will
are typically found during the daily inspection.
year. The spike at 1977 is due to the tremendous influx of One of the biggest factors in the rate of deterioration is result in damage to the underlying structure. Ultraviolet
There is even a story of a mouse gnawing the bottom
first generation fibreglass types (eg Libelle, Std Cirrus, the environment in which the sailplane is operated and light will penetrate the cracks and will damage the resin
corner of the plastic casing of a lead acid battery till it
LS-1, DG-100) at that time. stored. The environmental factors include: very high or underneath. If left unchecked, this will result in significant
broke through and the acid drained out – the acid damage
In the world-wide aviation community, many significant very low temperatures, sunlight / UV, moisture, salt, the repair work being needed.
was considerable, but the fate of the rodent was
issues arising from aircraft age have not been recognised acidity / alkalinity of the soil / dust, atmospheric pollution Delamination can be caused by simple knocks to the
undetermined. A rodent nest in the aircraft can lead to
and addressed until after accidents (sometimes fatal) had (smog), and even rodents. structure during flying, ground handling, or hangar and
other problems, as the urine is quite acidic and will cause
occurred. More recently though, the general principles of Large temperature swings can affect where different trailer rash will gradually grow in size. In general, the
corrosion damage to metal components.
system deterioration, which affect all older aircraft, are materials are bonded together. The different thermal larger the delaminated area, the faster it will grow, either
receiving renewed attention. This results in pre-emptive expansion rates can cause disbonds. Extremely high in a similar way to metal fatigue with cycles of applied
THINGS TO LOOK FOR AT THE FORM 2
inspections rather than reactive inspections. These pre- temperatures encountered on hot days in trailers can stress, or the same thing happening in the same place
Because of the low flying hours, fatigue cracking can be
emptive inspections are intended to find the problem on soften resins and allow plastic deformation. repeatedly, such as in the hangar or trailer. Delaminated
ignored and corrosion of metal components becomes the
the ground rather than in flight. Exposure to moisture, particularly due to leaking trailers areas may become critical as delamination allows the skin
most serious risk. Corrosion is calendar-based and not
Discussions on aging aircraft often include fatigue, and hangars, is famous for causing corrosion problems. to buckle at much lower stresses. Delaminations around
flight time-based like fatigue. Corrosion happens around
which is based on flying hours rather than calendar life. Temperatures below freezing will cause moisture to turn the cockpit can have a significant effect on the protection
the clock, independent of whether the aircraft is flying or
An aircraft with a high usage rate will consume its fatigue to ice. Where this moisture is trapped between surfaces of the pilot(s) in the event of a crash.
not. The highest risk in aging aircraft are components in
life in as little as 10 years. However, in Australia, the eg in crevices and cracks, the expansion of the ice will
areas that are not easy to get to – hence, they are not
average sailplane flying rate is very low – just under 80 wedge the surfaces further apart. FRP sailplanes kept MANAGEMENT
usually inspected. Corrosion of pushrods was highlighted
hours per year. Early fiberglass (FRP) sailplanes typically outside in rain or heavy dew that later freezes can be
in AD 688. While this was an extreme case due to the
get surveyed at 3,000 hrs. It takes the average first susceptible to widespread gelcoat damage if the water One of the key components to managing aging aircraft
highly acidic nature of the contaminant, similar problems
generation FRP sailplane almost 38 years to get to the gets into pores and micro cracks and then expands into is the annual inspector’s diligence and willingness to
can occur in other out of the way places like bell cranks
first survey. Just under half of the sailplanes built in 1977 ice crystals. explore further. Older aircraft require a greater degree of
and mechanisms inside the wing and the vertical fin. See
(ie 44 years old) from Figure 1 have yet to reach 3,000 hrs The ultraviolet component of sunlight is well known to thoroughness. Just performing the basic inspection is
EASA AD 2020-0138 for Grob Astir and Twin Astir aircraft.
and undergo a survey. Many of these sailplanes may have cause synthetic materials to break down, including cockpit liable to repeatedly miss potential problem areas. Be pre-
Figure 3: Deteriorated paint and corrosion on the
spent extended periods stored in trailers. harnesses and structural resins. UV light will also break emptive and look a little further or in different areas that
elevator torque tube in the fin of a Standard Libelle.
Figure 3 This problem will get worse as many of the later FRP down paint coatings and leave the metal underneath aren’t usually inspected.
Inspecting out of the way corners is often achieved
vulnerable to corrosion. Report any defect to the CTO-A. This may result in
using an inspection camera. These are frequently taped to
airworthiness advice being passed on to other owners /
a long rod in order to inspect the length of the fuselage or
SALT, POLLUTION AND PESTS operators of the type, as well as the manufacturer / type
inside the length of a wing. The most common inspection
Salt is not just a problem for coastal certificate holder. Reporting the defect before it becomes
cameras are 1080P or 2 MP in resolution. These often do
regions. Australian soils are well a problem in flight may well save someone’s life. GA
not give a clear picture of what is going on. The most
known to be affected by salt – notably Figure 2
recent generation of inspection cameras are 8 MP and
in South Australia and Western
even 12 MP. These high
Australia. This means that metal
resolution cameras give a
components exposed to dirt and dust
much more detailed view
from higher salinity soils are at
and corrosion and cracks
greater risk of corrosion. Similarly,
are far easier to see on
soil acidity / alkalinity in more
the screen.
extreme pH soils will deteriorate paint
coatings and then cause metal
SOME EXAMPLES OF
corrosion.
THESE NEW
Atmospheric pollution or smog will
GENERATION
form weak acidic solutions when
INSPECTION
dissolved into water. Again, the acid
CAMERAS ARE:
solutions will attack paint coatings
Depstech WF060 8MP
and cause metal corrosion. Several
endoscope
6 GLIDING AUSTRALIA www.glidingaustralia.org
GLIDING AUSTRALIA www.glidingaustralia.org 7
SAFETY
A RESTORATIVE JUST CULTURE PROFESSOR SIDNEY DEKKER reintegrate the person
into the community, and
Retributive Restorative
the ‘payment’ is typically
Wrongdoing creates guilt, and Wrongdoing creates needs, and
In the previous issue of this magazine, we looked at the typical way of thinking about a ‘just culture’, one demands punishment that obligations to meet those needs
made in a different
where the line between what is acceptable and not acceptable is clear – which turned out to be anything
currency. compensates it
but clear. Such a just culture is essentially retributive.
For restorative Account is something the offender pays Account is something the offender tells
practices to be or settles and listens to
It asks: addressed using restorative principles for millennia
meaningful and seen as
l which rules are broken? and many non-Western and First-Nation societies Asks who is responsible for the Asks what is responsible for the
just by all involved, you
l how bad is the breach? apply them to this day. The aim was always to not incident incident
have to be collaborative
l what should the consequences be? only do justice, but to preserve and strengthen the
Learns and prevents by setting an Learns and prevents by asking why it
and inclusive. Effective
Such a ‘just culture’ is organized to focus on the relationships of trust that held a community
single ‘offender', and asks what they have done together.
restoration relies on this example made sense for people to do what they
engagement. It will likely did
and what they deserve. But many have found that In a restorative just culture, the impacts and
involve the following
simplistic guidance about pigeonholing human acts obligations are acknowledged and articulated. Focusses on what people involved in Focusses on what people involved in,
steps and people:
does not take them very far. In fact, it leaves all They are met by different stakeholders, preferably the incident deserve and affected by, the incident need
the hard work of deciding what is just, of what is in collaboration. Creates justice by imposing Creates justice by deciding who meets
l Encounters between
the right thing to do, to them. A pilot involved in an incident can, for example
stakeholders. The first proportional and deserved punishment the needs arising from the incident
Research shows that it tends to favor those who be obliged to:
one is likely to be Meets hurt with more hurt Meets hurt with healing
already have power. Because of the inevitable
between your club’s
problems that answering these questions can l Acknowledge errors and honestly disclose his Looks back on harm done, and assigns Looks ahead at trust to repair, and
training panel or CFI and
create, which we discussed at greater length in the or her role in the incident, giving an account to the
the person(s) involved in
consequences invests in relationships
last issue, an increasing shift – in healthcare, others involved or affected. Builds trust by reinforcing rules and Builds trust by repairing relationships
the incident
policing, schooling, even some oil and gas l Recognise the needs of others, such as their
l Encouraging all those the authority to impose and enforce between people whose safety depends
companies – to a different model of justice has club, their training panel, the GFA bystanders and
involved to give their them on each other
resulted. You can see a documentary about one of community.
accounts, ask questions, Table: the different ways in which retributive and restorative processes try to
these under ‘Just Culture – the Movie’ on YouTube. l Show remorse and be open to various ways to
express feelings and work
In contrast, restorative justice holds great put things right. create justice.
toward a mutually
promise, even for us as a gliding community. l Be part of identifying pathways to prevention
acceptable solution.
Restorative justice asks very different questions in in collaboration with others. relationship that is hurt or broken when things go
l Acknowledge the impacts, restore the
the wake of an incident: A training panel and club can embrace the
balance and address future In This may andwrong.
both retributive
intentions. It is this
restorative relationship people
approaches, that needsarerestoring.
held accountable for
obligation to: Both kinds of trust can be important for your
involve all club members. their actions. Nobody gets off the hook. Retributive justice asks what a person
l Who is impacted? l Offer support to members by supporting open club or community, but it’s good to know when you
The two forms of just culture also do
must approach trust
to compensate for their action and its consequences: the account is
l What are their needs? disclosure and by not jumping to (retributive) are investing in which – and how.
differently. Retribution builds trust by reinforcing
l Whose obligation is it to meet those needs? conclusions; something they have to settle. In bothRestorative
retributive justice achievesapproaches,
and restorative accountability by
rules and the authority of certain parties or persons
l Not sanction people just because they were listening to multiple accounts
people and
are looking
held ahead
accountable at what
for must
their be done to repair
actions.
to enforce them. It says that where people work to
Such an approach to justice and accountability is involved in an incident; the trust and relationships
Nobody that were
gets off harmed.
the hook. Retributive justice asks
get things done, there are lines that should not be
more inclusive than a retributive one. An incident l Ask itself honestly what was responsible for what a person must do to compensate for their
crossed and, if they are, consequences will follow.
may impact a variety of people – fellow pilots, the incident, not who;
students, the training panel, bystanders, onlookers, l Perform an investigation on the premise that
Think about it this way: if This
you find
point that differenceaction
of people makesand its consequences: the account is
it important for others to understand why it made
‘get away’ with breaking rules or doing sloppy something they have to settle. Restorative justice
the club, the GFA, the surrounding community. The people did not come to fly to do a bad job, and sense for the person toachieves do what accountability
they did. Their account is something they tell. It
by listening to multiple
work, you won’t have much trust in the system or
logic of restorative justice is really quite simple. asking why it made sense for people to do what also offers an opportunity to express
accounts remorse.
and looking ahead at what must be done
in your community’s ability to demand
Impacts create needs, and needs create they did; to repair the trust and relationships that were
accountability. Your trust can be restored if you see
obligations. Restorative justice is achieved by l Identify pathways to prevention, in Restorative approaches are
harmed. open to multiple voices, and are willing to see
an appropriate and assertive response to such
systematically considering those needs, and collaboration with the people involved in the
behaviour. You can once again practitioners
rest assurednot as offenders or causes of an incident,it but
that This point of difference makes important for
as recipients or
working out collaboratively what and whose incident. others to understand why it made sense for the
the system, or your community, does not accept
inheritors of organisational, operational or design issues that could set up others
obligation it is to meet them. person to do what they did. Their account is
such behaviour and responds forinfailure
ways thattoo. make
Restorative approaches are therefore more likely to identify the
Identifying and meeting obligations is ultimately something they tell. It also offers an opportunity to
that clear – to everyone.
l Retribution imposes a deserved and about putting right what went wrong. It is about deeper conditions thatexpress allowedremorse.
an incident to happen. They are better at
Restoration, on the other hand, builds trust by
proportional punishment. making amends. In restorative practices, this combiningFiduciary
accountabilityRestorative
and learning, at making
approaches arethem
openwork in each other’s
to multiple
repairing fiduciary relationships.
l Restoration repairs the trust and relationships means promoting reparation and healing for all favour. Where retributive approaches
voices, and are to a
willingjust
to culture
see meet
practitioners hurt
notwith
as more hurt,
relationships are relationships of trust between
that were impacted. affected by the incident. This notion of reparation, offenders or causes of an incident, but as recipients
restorative
people who depend on each other to make approaches meet hurt with healing, and with learning.
of restitution or ‘paying back,’ is central to or inheritors of organisational, operational or
something work. Consider the work done in your
Restorative justice is as old as humanity. Property retributive justice too, of course. In restorative design issues that could set up others for failure
own club. People depend on each other. Every day,
disputes, and also more violent crimes, have been practices, however, everything possible is done to too. Restorative approaches are therefore more
perhaps every minute, they have to trust each
other that certain things will get done, and get likely to identify the deeper conditions that allowed
Retributive Restorative done in a timely, appropriate, safe manner. an incident to happen. They are better at combining
They might not do these things themselves accountability and learning, at making them work
Which rule has been broken? Who has been hurt? in each other’s favour. Where retributive
because they are not in the right place, or because
Who did it? What are their needs? 4
they lack the expertise or authority to do them. So approaches to a just culture meet hurt with more
How bad is the infraction, and so what Whose obligation is it to meet those they depend on others. This creates a fiduciary hurt, restorative approaches meet hurt with
relationship, a relationship of trust. It is this healing, and with learning.
do they deserve? needs? GA
Table: contrasting retributive and restorative questions to ask
8 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org
GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 9
Restorative justice is as old as humanity. Property disputes, and also more violent
crimes, have been addressed using restorative principles for millennia and many
WAVE TASMANIA
up toward 10,000ft and
EXPLORING THE WAVE IN
continued to track east, a
cloud band set up behind
me, giving me a good
NORTHWEST TASMANIA
visual indication that I was
in the right place.
CLIMB RATE
The closer I got to the
best part of the wave
system, the better the
climb rate was, with the
best climb rate being
around 4 to 5kts. I wound
up in that wonderful
situation that happens in
wave systems where I was
pointed into a 40+ knot
wind with essentially zero
ground speed, sitting
hands-off and just
watching the world as the
aircraft climbed all by itself
in the silky smooth air.
Gradually I worked my
way up to almost 16,000ft,
for a height gain of about 10,000ft. The
BY SIMON HACKETT cloud systems built up down below me
on each side of the valley, but the Mole
Creek valley itself – in the lift zone –
days in winter, the SkySight forecasts show strong wave lift in remained clear. I was rewarded with a
Our farm in Northwest Tasmania at The Vale (http://www.thevale.
this area up to more than 25,000ft. Even with the need to start really magnificent view of the central
com.au) includes a remarkable asset in the form of a 1,300m grass
at around 5,500ft to get above the local terrain, Diamond alpine plateau to the south, the valleys
runway. We are at the foot of a magnificent 4,000ft mountain called
Height potential is clearly present. stretching out to the east and west, and
Mount Roland, part of a very scenic and, for glider pilots, very
On 7 August, I observed the prediction shown by SkySight. a view to the north all the way to
interesting system of ridges and valleys.
(see image) Having organised a local oxygen supplier so I could Devonport on the coast, and well into
Mole Creek, the valley on the immediate south of the Mount charge up my recently acquired Mountain High Oxygen Bass Straight.
Roland ridge system, gives way in turn to the northern end of system, it was time to start my first real exploration of this
the Tasmanian Central Plateau. This plateau, including the wave system. SENSATION
world famous Cradle Mountain, is a magnificent alpine zone. I fired up the battery electric launch system in the Taurus to The sensation of flying in wave is
When the wind streams across the plateau from the southwest, take off and motor over to the middle of the Mole Creek valley, really quite wonderful. It has a peaceful
as it frequently does in winter, it creates a magnificent wave and shut down at around 6,000ft. aspect to it that is quite unlike the effort
system that sets itself up right beside our airfield! I was almost immediately rewarded with the wonderful, and motion involved in thermal or ridge
smooth, sensation of wave lift. While slowly climbing, I pointed soaring. The process is one of gently
WINTER WAVE into wind and crabbed over to the east toward the area that feeling out the lift system, aligning to it,
I had been looking at the SkySight wave predictions for this SkySight predicted to hold the best wave lift. During this initial and then just letting it generate a quiet,
area for some time, along with the associated lenticular clouds, climb, no clouds could be seen in the valley at all. As I climbed smooth, magic carpet ride up into the
and I have long appreciated the remarkably heavens.
fortunate location of our airstrip. Indeed, on many The OLC trace of the flight, with some
annotated pictures along the way, is at bit.ly/3l2suIW
On some days, the SkySight prediction shows wave systems
that not only run to more than 25,000ft, but that sometimes
can extend in large northwest-to-southeast bands from our
airfield all the way to Hobart. Beyond the obvious potential for
height gain, this creates the possibility of interesting wave-
driven cross country flying as well.
I look forward to continuing my flying exploration of this
remarkable place in future months and years.
GA
LEFT: View of wave prediction in Skysight.
RIGHT: The trace on the OLC showing the details
of the flight.
10 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org
GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 11
E3GLIDE
relative to weight, which will
make things a bit harder for
me in days going forward.
EGLIDE MIXED BAG
We had a complete mixed
MATTHEW WINS AGAIN bag today, with blue and
weak conditions at the start,
blundering into rough and
BY MATTHEW SCUTTER broken rotor, even a little bit
of wave, into regular cumulus
and eventually into weak blue
again.
I thought the majority of the
gaggle was going to outland
or flatten their batteries at the
first turn while Luka and I
climbed high in the rotor
behind, but they seem to
have actually got away and
climbed into the wave, getting
the jump ahead. I almost
caught them before getting
my own wave climb behind
them, but I finally got caught by the
variable turnpoint system - usually,
I turn shorter being in a lower
performance glider, but the only
climbs were deeper inside the
sector so I was forced to go in with
them and almost fell off the bottom.
It can go the other way too, though,
and so far I've been luckier than
not.
I dropped all my water so that I’d
be able to engine more efficiently to
catch onto the back of them again,
even though it would make for a
slower final glide and commit to
finishing behind. Pilots ahead were
pushing much too aggressively and
I was able to get a bit of a jump on
prevent a bad situation developing.
After finishing third in the World Gliding Championships 15m Class, all but a lucky couple of them.
The tactics for optimal energy usage will certainly be
Matthew Scutter continued his European adventure into Italy to defend the The maximum time of 20 minutes behind the
totally different in the mountains compared to the
eGlide championship title that he won last year. Here is Matthew’s story. leader really minimises the penalty for errors (too
flatlands last year, and that's exactly what makes
much?) so everyone is still in the game.
eGlide interesting - it's like flying before MacCready
HOW TO FOLLOW UP 21 DAYS OF theory, where no one really knows what's optimal and
MOUNTAIN FLYING
GRUELLING FLYING? it's as much a race of figuring out the optimal
I may not know a lot about mountain flying, but
ANOTHER 10 DAYS OF FLYING! overarching strategy as it is of day-to-day gliding.
I have up until now at least had the edge of
After flying at the WGC Montluçon-Guéret I continued
having flown eGlide before and knowing what
into Bruschal in Germany where, thanks to the very GOOD START
strategies work for using energy and which don't.
generous Holger Back of DG, I have an immaculate LS8 The first day was a good start for me. If the scoring
My competitors have been learning quickly
Neo-FES to defend my title with at the e3Glide contest looks confusing, it's because it's elapsed time showing
though and it's been getting much harder every
[the third eGlide competition] in Varese, north of Milan minutes behind the leader. In the next days, the slower
day to keep up!
in Italy. pilots need to catch up by that many minutes.
Today I was pipped on the finish line by a few
Varese has a really nice vibe to it, a beautiful lake and The task was along the route I'd flown on the three
seconds by a local pilot, Alberto Sironi, but I'm not
town with spectacular vistas of the Alps to the north. practice days, while most of the competitors had
too concerned as winning days is not the goal
I've only done limited flying in the mountains, enough arrived just for the last practice day. So, unusually, I had
anymore. Instead, it’s just a mtter of keeping
that I feel safe flying cross country among them, but a bit of local knowledge about where to stay high. I
headroom on the two Slovenian pilots close
I've never raced in them, so I feel a little on the selected what I thought was the best glider to play the
behind me who are experts in both mountain
backfoot again. The possibility of using the FES during handicap game, and used that to full advantage,
flying and engine management. ABOVE CENTRE: LS8 NEO FES, THE TYPE OF
the race adds a lot of comfort as, instead of waiting hanging back going into turns and staying high coming
In my opinion, the most naive strategies are either GLIDER MATTHEW FLEW AT E3GLIDE.
until you get into a bad situation and relying on the out of them. Unfortunately, they are planning to change
holding onto the energy until it's needed to save you
engine to get you out of it, you can use it earlier on to the handicap system tomorrow to also include energy
12 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org continued over page
GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 13
E3GLIDE
variable-sized turnpoint handicapping all fell in awkward Varese is an extraordinarily diverse and challenging
locations for my handicap today, with the safest choice site to fly, but the eGlide concept makes it possible for
being to continue into the turn past my radius to the even beginner mountain pilots to compete effectively
same place as where the higher performance gliders as most mistakes can be papered over with a bit of
would turn so as to better align with the terrain and engine time.
cumulus. The dynamics of the event were totally different to
I thought I'd be able to get away with turning short last year, when we needed our engines just to stay
and using a little bit of engine instead, but it ended up airborne. Here, however, we were using them for
consuming a very large amount of energy and I actually strategic and speed advancement and never actually
ran out of my allocation less than halfway around the needed them. The ability to use them proactively
task. I then arrived very low on a difficult ridge and had greatly increases the safety in the mountains with much
a real scramble to get back up again, losing 40km on less time spend grovelling below the tops or squeaking
the leaders. over passes, and it becomes a good concept to teach
The cloud bases were just above the tops of the mountain flying.
ridges, which made several of the glides from one ridge The contest becomes more about medium- to long-
to another a real test of best glide performance. Since I term strategy rather than sequences of perfect short-
was flying in the second-lowest performance glider term decision making that normally dominates flying in
here, that made for quite a struggle to reconnect each the mountains. I think the key decisions for me were
time. coming four days early to familiarise myself with the
I almost just went directly home when I ran out of my task area, and bringing such a viceless and forgiving
energy allotment - the rules say you won't be scored as glider that gave me versatility in all the types of
slower than 20 minutes behind the leaders, but that weather we had. I was really happy with how I was
doesn't include penalties for a low finish or excess flying, with only one major error through the week that
energy consumption with the engine, which creates a the scoring system let me get away with.
whole set of perverse considerations. Thanks to the organizers for running a great contest,
If I continued with the task and needed to use the to Holger at DG Group for lending me his beautiful LS8e
engine to return home, I would instead either need to Neo, and everyone else who supported me to get there. GA
from a low point, or to hold onto it right until the end of
actually outland, or break airspace to virtually
the flight and use it to get a jump on the gliders around
outland before using the engine, in order to not
you. My strategy last year was to instead use the FES
accrue penalty time for engine overuse.
on low power all through the flight whenever I was
I wanted to keep going with the task though,
climbing, basically standard Macready theory with
in case I was lucky and was able to pull myself
boosted climbs. But due to both the mountains and also
less than 20 minutes behind the leaders.
to learning from watching the new strategies my
Ultimately, I decided I would try my luck
opponents are coming up with, I've come to the
pushing on with the task. I hope the IGC gives
conclusion that this may not be the right strategy after
the rules some more thought and closer
all, and I'm coming up with a new theory of engine
attention for next year.
management.
Going into today, I had a significant lead that
This is exactly what makes this contest so interesting
has been whittled down to a razor-thin margin.
– there is no textbook that tells you how to make
I hope to try and defend that tomorrow on
optimal use of your energy. We're really working
what could be the last flying day, as Friday
together to discover between us what the equivalent of
looks uncertain.
'Macready theory' in e-gliding is.
MOST CONSISTENT WEATHER DAY
THE GOOD AND THE BAD
The next day was the strongest, most
After winning the next day, I went from hero to zero.
consistent day of the contest, which gave the
It was a tricky day with a lot going against me. The
little LS8 a bit of a challenge with the V3s
comfortably out-gliding me at the 180kph+
cruise speeds. I quickly fell behind but made
some better routing decisions and was able to
pickup stronger climbs behind to stay
attached without using too much energy,
then instead use it where it counted most to
top up a few weaker climbs. E3GLIDE
It was the first day of the new handicapping
today, which now gives the double seaters
VARESE ITALY
50% more energy, so I expected strong
28 AUGUST - 4 SEPTEMBER
competition from Luka and he did not
disappoint, with a close race to the finish. 1 MATTHEW SCUTTER KINGAROY SOARING CLUB LS 8 ENEO 15M
2 STEFANO GHIORZO ACAO – VARESE DIANA 2
LAST DAY 3 JERNEJ LOKOVŠEK ALC LESCE VENTUS-3F 18M
We had yet another flying day yesterday,
making 10/10 flying days in a row for me and
permitting me to defend my title. Full results at soaringspot.com/en_gb/e3glide-calcinate-del-pesce-2021/
14 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org
GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 15
DEVELOPMENT
RELEASING/REALISING THE POTENTIALS OF SINKING THE SHIP
That federation-driven obligatory method –
outreach. This model of going where the advantageous
resources already exist is found in other aviation forms
GLIDING BY EMILIS PRELGAUSKAS encapsulated in that single aspirational vision – has
itself left damage behind with a monstrous load of
and in gliding as practiced overseas.
Individual clubs can then choose to focus on being
The racing-centric description also comes across to social entities relevant to their user segment and on
The existing traditions within gliding that have manuals and rules and expectations – now literally able
society as snobbish, elitist and insular, implying clearly attracting their segment of like minded people suiting
impacted our ability to remain viable are well to sink whole local and regional gliding organisations.
that gliding has rich benefactors and therefore will not their place, interests and capabilities. In the same way,
known, within and beyond our own ecosystem. Just observe the number of ‘unfilled’ positions at each
be needing community connection or support. pilots with their own motorgliders might choose to
Commentators within and external to the gliding level in the hierarchy of gliding from pilot upward step
That single, aspirational, national-centric vision can operate independently with access to clubs only for
community describe us as imbued with an by step to federation. Each in turn hides larger numbers
be seen in at least at one major gliding site in each BFR, maintenance help and proficiency as well as social
interlinked cascade of barriers to releasing or of job descriptions that are no longer carried out
region. That is good and relevant as far as it goes, but contact as they need it. Experience over six decades
realising the potentials of gliding in today’s diligently or at all despite having a titular incumbent.
in a broader sense, gliding is much more diverse than tells us that most pilots fly in a club environment for the
world. The primacy of going flying has been squashed by
that. It can be argued that about 40 gliding clubs have enjoyment of the interaction with peers.
these other layers.
succumbed since 1984 in their inability to match that
In essence, gliding today is still described in visionary
Current participants are principally male, high order vision, leaving only a handful of the of the 60 STAYING RELEVANT
terms as it was in the 1950s, just with lots more
predominantly Caucasian, now mostly in our 50s or well remaining gliding clubs today to carry the load of Each club secures those things its peer group needs
baggage. In reality, with modern systems and
beyond, some insular as individuals, as is noted more relevance to today’s society. – dispensing with the other layers that aren’t relevant
opportunities, much more can be done with less.
broadly below, and also as pilots, administrators, to them and freeing resources including people to go to
However, contrary to the existing national overriding
volunteers and supporters of our activities. CLUB DIVERSITY where they are needed. That prevents devoting
philosophy, not every gliding club needs to do
Citizens are diverse in their own preferences. headspace to those things that aren’t pertinent, for
everything – that is, not every gliding club needs to be
COMMUNITY BARRIERS AND CONNECTIONS Thankfully, gliding has many diverse clubs, each with example, building OGN repeaters in regions never
a training organisation.
This narrowly defined, existing and visible cohort its own particular expression of what it is to glide, to crossed by racing sailplanes. In contrast, the ‘everyone
forms an inherent barrier to other segments of society suit that diversity and each attracts a segment of those in’ presumption of the federal description of gliding
USING OUR RESOURCES
feeling comfortable within our existing arrangements. It diverse aspirations. That diversity of clubs also assumes that this is the only path to success. The ‘old
There is already a small nascent culture of sharing
explains why more diverse but interested people will harnesses the ability of existing pilots to move within men in terry towelling hats’ is no longer a single path to
between gliding clubs that can be built upon. Those
stay away – unless we actively work at broadening our the sport between clubs, as their own preferences and diverse gliding succeeding into the future.
with the appropriate equipment can specialise in an
attributes to be welcoming. demands change during their lifetime of involvement. This comment draws on what we already know from
appropriate segment of the whole for themselves – ab
It is also known that gliding clubs themselves are That dominant racing description is not always previous analyses about the demonstrated willingness
initio training, BFR checks, outlanding training,
individually insular – happy with the current helpful, and not just because only 7% of pilots race of gliding clubs to adapt and evolve. Despite years of
independent operator rating, performance flying
arrangements as these have evolved in the past to suit despite an environment where more and more classes, internal development committees and external
training, for example – and offer it beyond their own
those ‘members of the time being’, and do so now. This venues and opportunities are emerging to race both consultant suggestions, it is GFA federally that has
pilots to those at neighbouring clubs as mutual
trait is exacerbated by the fact that clubs are often head-to-head and virtually. It is just the same names chosen not to diversify, adapt and evolve. GA
positioned on gliding sites well away from the rest of and faces who turn up to each format.
society. We know why this happens – the need to locate The real impact of that limited description is that it
somewhere with large land areas at affordable prices, doesn’t give equal time and space beyond the sporting
takes us to the point where gliding becomes insular aspect to all the other recreational and social aspects
from club to club. that exist under the gliding banner.
In terms of community connections, these conditions
form a further, inherent barrier well beyond those SOCIAL AND RECREATION GFA APPROVED MAINTENANCE ORGANISATIONS
described above. It means we are pretty much unseen The social aspect is where new opportunities reside
and thus unknown in the wider community, and often to engage a wider part of the community, strengthen AEROSWIFT COMPOSITES BALLARAT JOE LUCIANI 0428 399 001 comcom2 @bigpond.net.au
even among our neighbouring aviators involved in the volunteering that underpins a reinvigorated AUSTRALIAN AIRCRAFT KITS TAREE OLE HARTMANN 0429 165 498 aircraftkits@bigpond.com
other forms of flight on their separate aerodromes. This recreational gliding, and build a positive recognition AVIATION COMPOSITE ENGI TOCUMWAL PETER CORKERY 0439 842 255 corkerys@bigpond.com.au
note is based on regular interaction with gliding people across wider society for gliding. It follows that, by
AVTEC AVIATION BOONAH ROGER BOND 0409 763 164 avtecaviation@bigpond.com
on their own development journeys, as well as sitting in making gliding feel connected and visible, potential
on events such as the June 2021 S2F webinars. access from community, business and governments to CAMDEN SAILPLANES CAMDEN MIKE DUGAN 0418 681 145 camdensailplanes@bigpond.com
support it, including grants, becomes more likely. GCV WORKSHOP BENALLA GRAEME GREED 0428 848 486 gcvworkshop@glidingclub.org.au
SEEING OURSELVES The recreational side is what most citizens aspire to HOLMES HOLDINGS BRISBANE PETER HOLMES 07 5464 1506 holmbros@gmail.com
A lesser appreciated, broader barrier in that pack of in terms of operating expense and demands on their
JONKER SAILPLANES SA MARISKA NORTJE +27 82 879 8977 mariska.nortje@js1.co.za
issues is the fact that we have come to describe time, while allowing that top level racing vision to
ourselves federally to everyone else in just one principal dominate throws up further barriers that impact both KEEPIT GLIDER TECH LAKE KEEPIT GRANT NELSON 0417 843 444 keepitglider@outlook.com
way – as aviators of relatively exotic equipment, where gliding clubs and participants. LOCKWOOD SAILPLANES BENDIGO PHIL ORGAN 0407 315 511
the induction, training, fleet composition and end goal In the 1980s the concept of the ‘minimum 12 active MADDOG COMPOSITES IPSWICH ANDREW MADDOCKS 07 3143 3131 andrew@maddogcomposites.com.au
is racing. member’ gliding club was identified, based on the
MORGY'S GLIDER WORKS P WAIKERIE MARK MORGAN 0427 860 992 morgans@sctelco.net.au
That description does not help us to connect with the history of clubs that formed, stagnated and failed,
community. Lots of sports achieve column inches in the through knowledge drawn from the three decades of NORTH EAST AVIATION LACEBY DIANNE 0408 440 172 neaviation@optusnet.com.au
media via their prowess and exploits but gliding, among data then available. In any club of lesser numbers, too SL COMPOSITES TEMORA SCOTT LENNON 0438 773 717 scottl@internode.on.net
many other minor sports, secures none of this. few people were available to do all the required
T & J SAILPLANES TEMORA TOM GILBERT 0427 557 079 tnjgilbert@internode.on.net
One reason this description is a barrier to the wider volunteering jobs – President, Secretary, Treasurer,
ULTIMATE AERO P/L BOONAH NIGEL ARNOT 0437 767 800 nigel@ultimateaero.com.au
community is that this vision of performance isn’t committee, ops panel, airworthiness cadre and so on.
reflected in what people find on their first approach to a Since that time, more jobs have arisen – development Test Instruments: Conrod Bearing Clearance Tester (CGCT) required for 50 hour maintenance of 2 stroke engines
gliding club. Instead, they find the reality of hard-worked, officer, SMS manager, child protection, disputes arbiter John Amor jbamor@optusnet.com.au 0408 178 719 03 9849 1997. Bert Flood Imports david@bertfloodimports.com.au 03 9735 5655
somewhat worn, older generations of equipment and others – to further swamp those minimum volunteer
doggedly flying shorter local sorties so that ab-initios can numbers and drive gliding clubs into extinction.
take their first steps on that aspirational ladder.
GLIDING AUSTRALIA www.glidin
16 GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org
GLIDING AUSTRALIA magazine.glidingaustralia.org 17You can also read
