Yesterday afternooon was just fine, literally: hot, sunny and soarable.

Yes, everyone soared, for as long as they could stand the heat, but Andy S fared best, having made sure he was flying the only glider in our fleet fitted with air conditioning (Al's hi tech T21).

On Saturday, the airfield will not be available, but the club premises, workshops and hangar will all be open: there is lots of work for everyone to do (and it should be cooler).  Sunday: normal flying; lets fill our boots.

Meanwhile, here is a report from Jim

I'm back home now. Had a fantastic time at Ocana (spain), the weather was good for all but one day when there were storms. I achieved 16 hrs flying in all and about 450Kms cross country over two flights; unfortunately I missed out on a gold distance because of failing conditions. The previous day, Daz stormed around the same 300 in 2hrs 55mins in the DG505, so he sent me on task the next day but cnditions weren't as good: and blue until I got 100 kms to the south. The 1st leg was quite slow but the 2nd a lot faster. I flew an average speed of 78 kph over the distance. Eventually I landed out in a massive field ( about 100 acres) with a nice clear approach, possibly the easiest field landing ever. I also managed a type conversion into a Pegass: very nice to fly, comparable to a Discus. I was dissapointed to miss out on a gold distance but I had a thoroughly good time, I got a couple of good cross country flights and I was grippoed up by a local Spaniard who thought I had crashed when I landed out. That's all for now. I'll see y'all at the airfield soon.

The CAA's final word; follow this link:  http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/news.htm

Although this seems like an obscure technical issue, it affects us all.  The CAA's original, overbearing, proposal has been beaten back to something much more sensible.  We are hugely grateful to the many BGA volunteers who have been working on this for us.

Friday's trial lesson evening was enjoyed by everyone; it is a pity we don't do more of them.

This has been a pig of a weekend for any sort of soaring forecast: a situation so complex that anything could have happened.  As it turned out, Saturday provided lots of thermals & Sunday very few.

Hannah P is making super progress.  Her first Bronze leg would could continued for the full hour if she had not been called down for a Battle of Britain Flight Dakota flypast.  Nice to see, but these powered aircraft do get in the way of proper flying.

A good weekend with plenty going on, but, for now, just one hugely important report ...

Perhaps the most important event in any pilot's life is their first solo.  It is certainly the flight that everyone remembers, and that is just what Hannah did on Sunday.

Congratulations !

(and please could we have a photo to post here?)

During any normal British summer, Saturday would have been considered "quite good".  Several cross countries achieved reasonable distances before being curtailed by weather;  John B soared locally for an hour, qualifying for one leg of his Bronze badge.

Sunday, however .... my, oh, my.  Here are the achievements:

Jon A 750km in Discus 2 JA (750km Diploma)

Oscar C 506km in Janus 16 (Distance Diamond)

Brian P 5hrs in K18 R32 (Silver Duration)

Arran A in Discus JKX 430km (creditable distance)

Al S & Rick F in K21 R73 180km (another fine distance)

Ron P & Merv in the Falke O&R Lasham (with the engine off)

Further afield Dave P & Gaz B, competing in the French Interservice Championship, are wishing that they had been flying in English weather.

(Seasoned glider pilots may wish to read that sentence again)

Even further, Mark, Richie & Andy are having a variable time in the Alps, with a couple of modest days, but rather more astonishing ones.

Finally, 33 years?  Yes, this is certainly the best season since 1976.

Club history was made today when Jon Arnold flying his Discus 2 completed 750km being the first Bannerdown pilot to do so and the first from Keevil.

Oscar Constable achieved a life time ambition by flying Diamond Distance in Janus 16.

Brian Paulson enjoyed what has so far almost certainlt the best day of the year with fantastic thermals and visibility helping him achieve his 5 hours. Aran Armstrong flew over 400km and even the K21 managed a 180km quad.

Let there be more days like this please!

Well, the forecast did warn us - this weekend would not be anywhere near 2009's standard.  The instructional flying kept going, of course, and Andy S finished off his Bronze C - well done, this is an important qualification.

Sunday was better, provided you could dodge the showers: between them, aerobatics and strong thermals provided plenty of fun.

Jim H will be off to the mountains next week, joining a Navy expedition to the Pyrenees.  Mark, Richie, Andy & Kathryn are already in the French alps, but finding conditions, so far, rather damp.

3rd June: an excellent afternoon with plenty of soaring for the Wendesday group.

Meanwhile, news from Scotland:

It seems that Bob is enjoying some good flying up at Aboyne with a flight to Ben Nevis (258km task) with thermals to nearly 8,000ft, with no wave.  The climbers on Ben Nevis were seen taking photos of Bob in his DG.  His flight is on the BGA Ladder.

Thanks for that report Aaran.

We've mentioned Gaz; Dave P is also off to do battle at the French Inter Services Competition.  Bannerdown often puts up a strong team for this event and these pilots maintain that standard.  Best of luck guys - send us some news and it can be posted here.

These pages have been just a little thin in recent weeks, but for quite a different reason.  Your correspondent has also been battling foreigners, in committee rooms in Schloss EASA (it's on the banks of the Rhein).  Nowhere near as much fun as competition flying, of course, but the results could be longer lasting.  You will be hearing more of this work during the next few years.

To cover these gaps, it is obvious that we need one or two more correspondents - training can be given.  Volunteers please.

Oh my word - 2009 just keeps producing superb soaring.

Friday (29th) was the best day of the soaring week, some good tasks were flown and we finished off with a great evening for our trial lesson visitors.

Saturday was even better!  Arran flew 300km to complete his Gold Badge & gain a diamond.  Gaz rushed around the same task, training for victory; he will be competing in the French Inter Services Gliding Competition in a couple of weeks time.

We had been pleased to be able to offer a flight to a Children In Need Auction.  It is great to be able to contribute to the community this way & great to give the lucky winner an hour's good soaring.

Sunday was interesting:  a fabulous forecast and mouth watering sky triggered great hopes, but lee wave a few miles up wind, which normally provides such fun, proved impossible to cross.  Still, Jim got his instructor's ticket back: good news.