Interunis Competition 2022
In July 2022, CUGC participated in the Inter-university competition at Saltby airfield, hosted by Loughborough University and Buckminster Gliding Club. Our newly graduated captain Charlie Brooker trailered our glider CU up to Saltby and planned for a 300km task. The first day turned out to be blue, and he decided to cut his task short to 50km after seeing the weather forecasts.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team arrived at Saltby with our instructor Andrew Watson. The weather was very hot in the day, and really cold at night! As the only one in the team camping, I found out that the closed glider trailer was warmer than my tent flapping in the wind.
During my spare time on the airfield, I learnt to drive the winch in light wind conditions. My first unsupervised winch, it was in fact Charlie on his 300km attempt – which he successfully completed! We avidly followed his progress on the ground as the day went on; he flew coastward, then down to Cambridge and back to Saltby.
For doing conversion check flights, Andrew decided to use the Grob 103 Twin Astir, which felt very strange to fly – the rudder pedals need to be moved aggressively to see any effect! In any case, after seeing that I was able to adjust to new squirrelly flying characteristics, I was sent on my way in CU. Even around 5pm in the evening, there was enough lift for me to do my 1 hour flight and Silver height, although I have to confess that I launched immediately after Andrew and followed him to find lift.
Darren also successfully converted to CU the next day. On his second launch, the tail dragged up a trail of sparks! Just as it lifted off, the tail skid came off and tumbled along the tarmac runway. The screws holding it in were completely worn smooth, something we’ve never seen before, but at least now we learnt why there is a no-tarmac ground handing rule.
We got to fly in a vintage T-31 and a Grob 109b motor glider. During my cross-country training, I saw a sea front convergence and we abandoned the navigation immediately to have fun up and down the coast!
CUGC will be hosting the interunis competition this year at Gransden Lodge on 1st – 9th July. It’ll be exciting!
Teddy Ong (CUGC Co-Captain 2022-23)