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GNZ Newsletter June 2026




From the president


Welcome to June, 2026

It's now officially winter but believe it or not we are only 21 days away from the shortest day of the year so very soon the days will be getting longer and we will be on the downhill slide to summer.

May was a good month with club airfields still all remaining open although cross country thermal flying has certainly reduced with the onset of shorter and colder days. Wave and ridge however just need the wind to blow from the right direction and fun flights are still to be had.

It's AGM and Awards season starting with the GNZ AGM, Symposium and Contest Pilots meeting this weekend in Christchurch. Clubs will be generally following suit over the next few months and plans will be getting made for summer.

Enjoy what flying you can and think about what you can do to support your club over winter as there is always much to be done in preparation for summer.

Nigel Davy

GNZ President

Congratulations


PAUL CLEGG

First solo. Nice one Paul!


HEATH DUNNET

Conversion to single seater.



JULIUS SCHAEFER

Conversion to DG 100


DAVID DAUGHTERY

First solo. Nice one David!


ANGELIE MADSEN

First solo in a power plane. Now just 100 hours and a tow rating is on the agenda!


FLYNN STEVENS

First solo age 15. Well done Flynn!


GLENN MILNE

First solo and all smiles. Nice one Glenn!


Craig goes wave hunting

Craig Hunter




Wave Hunting in Taupo


Sunday morning eating breakfast and watching the sky, as per usual. I take note of the rotor cloud lines with spacing capping Mt Tauhara, hmmm! At the airfield there's 18 to 20kts south-westerly, promising potential for wave from the west. Bhrent Guy agrees and soon enough I'm strapped into SS aiming for a height gain. Hooked on and away. Through 3000’ the climb rate increases, 3500’ over the rubbish dump I released in wave.

A quick 360 diving turn, to mark the release and I was rocketing up the leading edge of the rotor cloud. With a steady smooth 8kt climb indicated. Moments later passing 5000’, the vario pegged 10+kts, I'm looking upwind over the cloud tops and checking out my next steps. The lake showed signs of the wave band positions, so I pushed the speed up and set forward from 9500’. Don't look now, the vario shows 8kts down, as expected. Slightly relieved at 7500’ I encountered strong lift, as expected, up we go! Southwest of Rangatira point, repeat the process, 9500’, pushed upwind again.

(see picture)


The next band was a little more difficult to secure as the lift was broken on the northern end, however, roll cloud was solid 1/2 a kilometre south. 8kts up, smooth and constant. I made a few beats and was back to max attitude. What now? Upwind rotor cloud was inconsistent and I was happy with the progress, so I turned down wind to retire and get home. Much easier with the tail wind now, I jump three bands back, climbing up to clear the cloud lines. East of Mt Tauhara, 8000’, not bad! Time to descend, brakes out, heading towards Centennial Park and penetrating out of rising air. Business as usual, circuit and landing. Thanks Bhrent for the tow!

So I'll get the height gain trophy? No, Trace had already been there done that, at Waipukurau. Oh well, a rare and exciting experience for Taupo gliding. Next time I will have the O2 with me and airspace sorted...cheers.

Craig Hunter

GNZ AGM & SYMPOSIUM

6th & 7th June 2026, Distinction Hotel, Christchurch




GNZ AGM & SYMPOSIUM 2026

Sat 6th June 2026 - Sun 7th June 2026

It is now only less than a week until the GNZ AGM & Symposium. If you live in Christchurch and even if you can't make the symposium during the day, come and join us at the Distinction Hotel for the evenings festivities, awards presentation and a talk from the team at Ocean Flyer - Sea Gliders.


​Saturday's Agenda below.

‘Annual Report’ booklet available for download on the GNZ web site here https://gliding.co.nz/2026-agm-weekend/.

Youth Glide New Zealand

Funding available for youth pilots



Over $6,000 has just been paid out in flying subsidies towards youth flying accounts across New Zealand!
​
​That’s more flights, more experience, and more opportunities for young pilots to get airborne.
​
​Want to help grow youth gliding in your region? We’re keen to support clubs interested in hosting youth events, a mini-camp, or even a dedicated weekend or day to support young people in gliding.
​
​If your club is interested, we’d love to hear from you - get in touch with Youth Glide NZ
​
​ https://www.youthglide.org.nz/contact
​
​#YouthGlideNZ #GlidingNZ #FuturePilots #YouthInAviation

From around the clubs


Happy days at Kaikohe. The tractor and mower is back and getting some TLC.


A tricky day on the coast. Sunshine, rain and rainbows. Flying from Whenuapai.


Anton Shipov enjoys some PW5 flying from Whenuapai


Angelie takes a photo of not the best flying sky on a May day at Drury


Bill DeRenzy in Standard Cirrus GJN takes to the skies on a May day at Piako


Ben Sly tries on the LAK 17 FES for size at Tauranga


Rotorua Aero Club, Young Eagles visit Taupo


NZ Air Womens Association include a gliding competition as part of their Hastings Rally


Great shot Laura Wagstaff at Gliding Hawkes Bay and Waipukurau


Martin Moncrieff once again finds himself over the waters of Palliser Bay on a May flight from Papawai.


Mark Aldridge flying from Spingfield takes a great shot of the high wave


Angus Tapper heading home to Omarama from 19,000' overhead Glentanner




What has V.K. been up to?



Schempp-Hirth ZK-GFJ museum rebuild progress.

GFJ is being rebuilt to a museum quality display for the Tairawhiti Aviation Museum Gisborne at Rob Shuttleworth’ s business workshop in Morrinsville. This sailplane still holds the NZ Altitude record of 37,288ft when the late Doug Yarrall flew into the Wairarapa Wave system in 1968. When he decided to descend his altimeter was indicating 40,000ft with the outside air temperature of over – 55 degrees. This NZ record has never been contested.

The question that does come our way from time to time is why rebuild something that will never fly again. The answer is very simple. So, this record holding SHK can be displayed for people to view, admire, and acknowledge the record. By doing this, we will keep our rich New Zealand gliding history alive, which is V.K’s prime objective of course and the reason museums worldwide display such pieces of history.

The work itself is considered straight forward. Godfrey Larsen has designed a simple fuselage jig to keep the fuselage true during the reconstruction. He is also overseeing the construction of the fuselage frames that may be required. Fortunately, only a couple of full main frames are required to be made. The other fuselage frames that were damaged will be stitched together with doublers and joiners, so the wrecked fuselage will remain together, which makes the reconstruction just so much easier. We are also supported by a great team of volunteers helping with this project. The project lead is Bill De Renzy.


One wing has been broken off clean just before the aileron. As this is a spar less aircraft this makes this repair not too difficult and should present no real problems.

The initial target for this work to be completed is by this November as it is to be a Winter Project. Whether that is achievable will depend on a number of factors. So far V.K has been lucky to have had some donated materials passed our way to help support the project. However, a few extra Dollars would be of great benefit to help keep the project in the black, as it were.

We would really appreciate any GNZ member who might like to donate to the GFJ project and become part of its history, any donation would certainly be gratefully received. The SHK funding account is 02-0832-0002332-004 with many thanks.

Where are these gliders now?

Peter Layne - Gliding Historian


A note from Peter Layne

A team of six, headed by Jill McCaw, is making steady progress towards a coffee table style book on the history of gliding in New Zealand from 1909 till 2025 due for publication later in the year.
​I have been assembling a "fates" appendix for every glider to have held a ZK-G registration to the present day. It is a "best endeavours" as there are gliders whose fates may never be confirmed. Over the last fortnight I have emailed over 60 gliding personnel and aviation historians both locally and abroad seeking information on 60 gliders. So I have had responses covering about half of them. There have been some interesting surprises.
​If you can provide any information on any of these gliders please contact me at thelaynesnz@gmail.com It will be gratefully received,


​Thank you

Peter Layne

Where are these gliders now?

GBY Skylark 2: Is it stored in Northland (Whangarei area)?

GCE Skylark 2: Is it stored in the Kaiapoi area?

GCJ K4: Stored in Northland with the intention of having an engine fitted?.

GCK K4: Stored in Northland.

GDO Sagitta: Is it stored? Possibly Drury?

GDS K7: Is it a restoration project somewhere and by whom?

GES Bryan HP-18: Did this crash near Nelson about 1995?. Is it stored somewhere?

GEX K6: It crashed on Kapiti Island/ is the wreckage stored in the Wairarapa?

GFU Phoebus B1: Stored at Masterton?

GFW T53: Damaged glider was held in the SOAR hangar at Matamata for many years. Where did it subsequently go?

GII Cobra: Stored in Canterbury?

GIO Blanik: Where is this stored?

GIT Blanik: Where is this stored?

GJB Blanik: Where is this stored? GJW Grob Twin Astir. To Australia? VH-???

GKB ASW-15: Withdrawn from use. Is this a restoration project somewhere and by who?

GKE K4: Where is this stored? Possibly in the Coromandel area.

GMK Blanik: Where is this stored?

GMO Grob Twin II: Exported? Where to?

GMV Blanik: Stored Otago?

GNG Std Astir: I think this crashed near Omarama. When and where?

GOH Eaglet. Where is this stored?

GOQ Piccolo: It was exported to China. Registration

GOV Puchatek: Is it stored somewhere in Auckland?

GPF Eaglet: Stored at Omaka?

GPG PW-5: Written off near the Kaimai Range. Is it stored somewhere in Auckland?

GSU Taurus: Cancelled June 2023. Exported? to where (rego) and when?

GUN Lak 12: Cancelled recently. Reason? It had an accident at Omakau on 7 Jan 09. Just that a time lapse of 16 years is quite long.

GVB HP-18: Possibly stored in the Wairarapa.

GXZ PW-5: Written off near Drury. Is it stored somewhere in Auckland?

Membership



Membership Display Panel

We had six joins and six resigns for the month resulting in a net zero movement of total membership for the month which is not bad for this time of year. This does mean we are still down three members in total, two months into the year to date so there will not doubt be much hay to make when the sun shines over the summer months. In the meantime your club should be thinking about what can be done to keep members engaged over the winter months. Mid winter dinners, awards evenings, AGM's, training lectures, club maintenance and improvements, spot landing competitions and planning for summer adventures are always a good start.

From the NAO


Airworthiness Advice Notice


Below is an Australian engineering note regarding the canopy latch of the Astir.


I would add that: In my experience this latching system can be problematic so good maintenance is required.
​The latch needs to be able to lock forward under its own spring force, if it is not doing so then attention is required.
​Items which can prevent the latch from spring locking forward can be:

  • Rusted/corroded rods and bushes
  • Build up of harden grease
  • Bent rods and missed aligned locating bushes
  • Old springs with reduced spring force
  • Build up of or replacement of sealing foams/silicon or similar around the canopy frame in an attempt to seal.
  • loose screws fixing the locking system to the canopy/cockpit frame.If you fly, own, or maintain an Astir with this type of canopy locking system you should pay attention so the system is operating properly.


​There are similar systems on other types of older models of gliders, early Schempp-Hirth gliders in particular.

Regards

Jason Shields

GNZ National Airworthiness Officer

021962269

Incident Reports

Incidents for April - May

  • winch power reduced as glider left the ground - winch driver thought launch was abandoned
  • ridge soaring close to airfield - then a wheel-up landing after forgetting landing checks
  • damage on outlanding after sustainer failed to start - cable to the deco valve had broken
  • brief airspace incursions by multiple pilots during a contest - screen contrast not adequate
  • tow plane low turn onto final over populated area with tow rope still attached
  • confusion over arrival and landing clearances issued by air traffic controller (2x)

You can access all back copies of the Ops Team Talking newsletters.

These have been placed on the Gliding NZ web site under News > Safety Bulletins A link to the GNZ accident & incident reporting form (OPS 10) can be found in the very top menu bar on the GNZ homepage, just to the right of the 'Classified Adverts'. You can now fill this form out on your phone at the airfield, so no excuses.


OPS 10 link: http://gliding.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/OPS10v7f.pdf

In the case of an accident, asap please phone: 0508 ACCIDENT (0508 222 433)

NOTE: The OPS 10 form has been renamed and amended to include reporting of accidents as well as incidents – previously it was intended for incidents only.
​(A CA005 still needs to be sent to CAA for accidents, but the OPS Team doesn’t require a copy of that now.) Consequential changes have been made to the MOAP and AC 2-08.

GNZ Classifieds


Do you love two seat cross country flying in a high performer?

How about a share of a Duo Discus and a hanger at one of New Zealand's premier North Island cross country sites.

A 20% share (and possibly 2 shares) available. Duo Discus, cobra trailer, parachutes, and very good hanger share. Located on the Matamata Airfield.

$39,000


Contact Information

Contact: David Jensen
​Phone: 027 451 7757


For more gliders and other gliding stuff you can check out the GNZ classifieds at the link below.

https://gliding.co.nz/classifieds/





Thanks for reading

All contributions, pics, videos and opinions welcome

EMAIL: president@gliding.co.nz