JULY ISSUE - GLIDING INTERNATIONAL

GLIDING INTERNATIONAL
ISSUE JULY 2015


Your copy of Gliding International will be in your mail box next week. This issue has a wide range of exceptional stories and photographs including :

* An appraisal of what a well configured simulator can do to your club. (Not just a desk top computer type operation either). Apart from being a financial generator, it can sustain and add to membership and create a whole new club atmosphere. A desirable situation. Aldo Cernezzi, our in house, sailplane evaluator reports on the sophisticated operation now running at the Milan (Italy) club. This article should be read by every club committee member!

* Elke Fugslang-Petersen spent two days at the Aero 15, Friedrichshafen, Germany, spying out the next new models and reporting on what the sport can expect in the next 12 months. She is a good journalists and an exceptional reporter with a keen eye for detail. Worth reading by every soaring pilot.

* New African soaring centre - this one is in a modern civilised town -where the comforts of home welcome the soaring pilot to the soaring scene of a life-time. Its called Kuruman and is on the Sth African/Botswana border. It promises to be cheaper than any other African soaring centre and our German reporter, Markus Geisen gives it the thumbs up. Hs writes well (about the 500 klm he did without planning one afternoon. Southern Africa, Namibia and now Kuruman are sites to be explored, but we recommend Kuruman for the soaring holiday of a life time.

* The Horton Brother made their fame in designing flying wings (aircraft with no fuselage) and actually designed a glider that flew in the 1940s in Germany. They made four flying sailplanes but none survives to this day. There is one non flying replica in a German Aero museum. Well one has been under construction for 15 years and nearing completion. Was displayed at Aero 15 this year. The story behind the story is told in this issue.

* The German Aero Research organisation DLR has found a simple way to repair glass fibre and have built a small machine that makes repairs a breeze. The unit on display in this news item for all to see.


* The story on the Soaring Condor is a nature study of interest to soaring pilots. Down to less than six breeding pairs 10 years ago they have been nursed back to survival. The Condor has the biggest wing area of any soaring bird and have the original flying wing with winglets. A fascinating story.

* This issue we take you into the 80 year old Winter Instrument factory
in Germany. A surprisingly complex organisation essential to the success of gliding.

* The DLR wing profile changing program that has been under development has proved to be eminently successful. Has profound possibilities for gliding and its future. A follow on story from the original that appeared in the previous issue.

* The United Kingdom to appoint an aviation ombudsman. This item will lead the way for similar appointments elsewhere and a welcome overseer to prevent hasty CAA hassels. Will your country follow up on this appointment?

* Blanik has come out with a new sailplane that has lots and lots of improvements. (Has a 6000 hour wing life). More in this issue with photos.

* Introducing a new book - 'Dancing with the Wind" devoted to wave flying, its problems, dangers and adversities. This 304 page text book on waves should be in everyone's library. Book now available. Printed in France in excellent English.

* An answer has been found to bugs sticking to wings. (At last) Will make bug wipers an unnecessary (costly adjunct) to wing design.

* The likely start to a war on white painted sailplanes. A group advocating colour - any colour but white.

* Plus 35 other stories that will educate and inform.

We hope you will join us.
JOHN ROAKE
EDITOR.

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