How does your club review its soaring achievements for the year?

Here is how Piako does it. Article by David Jensen

Well, La Nina certainly made its presence felt (especially if you live in the Hawkes Bay). Our rainfall records show we had 3.5 meters of rain over the last 12 months…or more especially almost 2 meters over our traditional soaring season. I believe there is a name change in the wind - West Coast Gliding Club… And yet we still managed 55,000kms on the OLC…down on the 70,000 the year before but still a good effort despite the trying weather. And where did people go?

• Firstly, these are Piako Club members only launching from Matamata and Taupo. • Clearly, we can see the ridge is very popular and well used…no surprises there. • The run up to Port Jackson is becoming more commonplace. (If you haven’t been up to the top of the Coromandel’s first talk to some-one who has…and who got back). • We are very good at staying within the airspace boundaries. (Airways owes us a chocolate fish) But we should get better at accessing controlled airspace because we are missing out on some good flying in other areas. • Flights originating from Taupo are now stretching out into the Urewera’s and down towards the Kaimanawa’s. • Taranaki airspace is at risk of being penetrated (invaded might be a better word)…by Tim I suspect. • The military danger zone south of the Desert Rd is now within range…although the term “military danger zone” in the NZ context could be an oxymoron…which is a good thing

So what’s next? This year is forecast to be a El Nino which should be more conducive to better days, higher cloud bases and drier ground. Also our best flying is typically with a S to SW air flow rather than N to NE. Start thinking about your summer calendar. Contests, badge flights, FAI tasks and the like. We often talk about getting organised for a X-Country flight or a contest but that’s almost always the last minute stuff…batteries, water, instruments, organising your glider etc. But before all that you might like to form a plan. What task do you really want to do? How do I do that? (where’s the most likely place to fly, the land out strips on task etc). Who should I talk do who’s done it before…or keeps missing out (me)? Set some realistic tasks on SeeYou to get an understanding of the terrain, the airspace and the escape options.