Cambridge University Gliding Club

On Saturday 20th September, one of the most hard fought competitions of the summer was finally completed. Gliding varsity happened at last!

The competition was due to happen way back in June, when a full team from Oxford came up to Gransden to join us for a weekend of flying. However, the weather was against us and we sat in the clubhouse watching the rain and low clouds. A few members of each team were able to stay and fly on the Monday, with 2 scoring flights made by each team. Current scores; Oxford 213, Cambridge 261.

Further attempts were made to organise a rematch throughout the summer vacation, but weather or availability let us down. And so, the teams reconvened on this bright, sunny Saturday, with not a cloud in the sky (not so great for thermals!). However, the forecast looked promising, so we all rigged and towed out, then sat around wondering who would be first to go. The Oxford team, Seb and Philippa, had their check flights, and Graham took a launch in CU, but nobody stayed up for very long.

 Adam launched in the Discus, and somehow managed to find the weak lift in the blue. He was soon climbing away, and so I decided to follow him in CU. We both made respectable scoring flights, though the day was still young. next to fly were Seb, and then Philippa in CU. Seb did very well, with a height gain of over 3000ft, and at that point in time had the highest scoring flight....

Never fear, silver C pilots are here! Graham in the Discus, and then Peter B in the Pegase out-soared us all, putting Cambridge firmly back in the lead. Peter had a particularly spectacular flight, with an overall height gain of almost 6000ft! Well done to all the team, with special thanks to our trusty reserves Kate and Brendan.

Overall scores: Oxford 396, Cambridge 558

Yey, we won!!! Thanks to everyone for all your efforts.

Becca 

Bookings are now being taken for our May week trial flight day. This will be on Thursday 19th June and includes transport from the Sidgwick site to the airfield and back.

The sessions start throughout the day and last three hours (including transport), and flights are £18 for the first and £14 for any subsequent flights. See the "Trialflights" page for more details - click the button at the top.

Hello all!
 
I suppose some of you might be wondering what on earth this Inter-University Gliding League thingy is. Well, this ought to clear things up for those people; http://www.interunisleague.co.uk/
 
The 'IUGL' is the main mode of competition between Universities. All badge claims (and parts of badge claims) get us points. Provided, that is, I am notified that you have got said badge so that I can submit the claims for you!
 
Firstly; A big thank you to all CUGC members who have not-worked hard (and flown hard instead ;) ), got claims and submitted points; CUGC is presently top of the ladder!
 
Secondly; Could all CUGC members please notify me (Adam Spikings) as and when you get claim forms signed off. Please do not delay too long - we lose 50% of points per two months late the submission goes in. Please, 1) support your Club 2) have lots of fun flying and 3) keep us ahead of the scum in third place!!!
 
Thirdly; The Inter-Uni Task Week takes place at Lasham between 19th and 27th July. It is a great opportunity to get some intensive training, go solo, get badges, and this year aerobatic training is also available. Of course, it is a lot of fun too! If you want to go and havn't already, please let myself or Martin Hughes (mch46) know.
 
That's it from me for now; see you all at the airfield!
 
Adam Spikings

The club is pleased to welcome back into circulation the Undergraduate Trophy. The trophy will be awarded to the person who most recently completed a qualifying flight and will stay in their possession until another pilot completes a qualifying flight, or they leave CUGC. The criteria are

• The task should start from Gransden Lodge Clubhouse (GRL)
• The task should include the Oxford East turning point (OXF)
• The task should be a closed circuit
• The task should be completed
• The task need not be declared

The Undergraduate Trophy was presented in 1958 by Mr Harold C. Edwards to mark his sons' connection with CUGC. John was Secretary in 1947-48; Anthony was Assistant Secretary in 1956-57 and Assistant Treasurer in 1958-1959. Later on Anthony was Chairman in 1969-1977 and President 1978-1996, at which point CUGC converted into the Cambridge Gliding Club, enabling the University members to perpetuate the CUGC name.

Bookings are now being taken for our summer evening trial flight days. Evening slots are quite short, so you don't have to take much time out of revision (!) and with the summer weather the flights tend to be really lovely! So why not give it a go?

Dates available are:

• 10th May
• 17th May
• 24th May

(ie, all Saturdays) The sessions start at 17:45, and flights are £18 for the first and £14 for any subsequent flights. See the "Trialflights" page for more details - click the button at the top.

As you may be aware, the dates for the IUTW have been pushed back a week and are now 19th to 27th July. The IUTW is a massed competition between university gliding clubs, where points are achieved for doing almost anything - from first solo to cross-country flights.

This means there is no real excuse for not entering, so let's put out a big contingent and come top of the table! Let me know if you're keen.

Hi all;

Some notices from your trusty, reliable Equipment Officer; 

The Certificate of Airworthiness of our Ka8, CU, has now expired. She is out of action and cannot be flown until her annual inspection is completed and the paperwork has been checked by the authorities. The inspection will hopefully be done in the next couple of weeks. I will post again when the certificate has been issued and she is flying again.

With the soaring season coming at us like an ASH25 full of water, please also note the following as regards equipment;

CU has rigging notes, but rigging is NOT PERMITTED unless you have been cleared to rig her. If you want to get cleared, speak to myself, Kate Woods or Peter Buchlovsky.

CU's trailer is in need of some TLC and presently is out of action except for storage and slow towing around the airfield. This is currently being sorted out. 

Loggers and our GPS system are kept on the bottom shelf of the battery-charging cupboard in the small briefing room (Office building). All CUGC-members are, of course, welcome to use them but PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE RETURNED AT THE END OF THE DAY. Should you need a trace downloading for a claim, speak to an OO (Official Observer, if you don't know who has a rating, ask) on the day of your flight. If it cannot be downloaded there and then, leave it with a note saying it needs to be downloaded and contact me about it. I'll sort it out.

That is everything for now. Summer's coming, get ready for it everyone!

Adam

Following the Annual General Meeting of the Cambridge University
Gliding Club held on February 20th 2008 at Lucy Cavendish College,
the following have been elected to the committee:

Peter Buchlovsky (Chairman)
Kate Woods (Treasurer)
Donnie McAusland (Secretary)
Rebecca Ward (Captain)
Julia Robson (Social Secretary)
Adam Spikings (Equipment Officer)
Markus Brosch (Webmaster)
Graham Bell
Martin Hughes
Nick Laux
Dr Peter O'Donald (Senior Treasurer)

It’s time for our AGM and things so we’ve decided to go for a full on evening of entertainment:

Wednesday 20th February

19:30 – Dinner at Teri Aki for delicious Japanese food
21:00 – Head to Lucy Cavendish Bar for:

• AGM and elections
• Trophy presentations
• Cheese, port, and nibbles!
• Potentially a bit of a table football tournament on Lucy’s new table football table

Aloha

 Thanks to a handy tip-off by an anonymous committee member, we have an excellent venue for this weeks social - the Cambridge Winter Ale Festival!! Its on from Thurs until Sat, in the university social club (opposite the Mill pub) see http://www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/winter/ for moe details.

We will be meeting in there to sample some fine ales, at 7.30 pm on Friday 25th Jan. The entrance cost is a mere £2.50!  I know some people wanted a social on Thurs, but unfortunately I have formal in Girton, so if you want to go 2 nights running I'm sure I'd recommend it (if it's bad blame Peter - oops)!

See you all on Friday - please come along even if you don't know us very well yet, we'd love to have a large contingent there.

Becca x