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Eight Junior Wing members and their parents went to the Adelaide Soaring Club gliding field at Gawler
on Sunday, May 26th.
The trip was organised as part of the Aldinga Aero Club junior program. Seven guys and one girl were given
15 minute flights by pilots of the Adelaide Soaring Club. Some of our juniors, being too light, had to be seated in
the rear seat for proper balance and even those who were heavy enough to fly in the front seat had to take ballast.
The two-seater gliders were launched by aero tow. The weather was absolutely glorious, sunshine and blue skies
but, unfortunately, the cumulus that started forming late morning did not produce any thermals.
One young lady, the sister of one of our juniors, took an unscheduled, self financed flight and was bitten by the bug.
She made a solemn declaration on her return that it was not going to be the last one. We were told that we can now
expect a membership application in the post.
All the juniors who flew were over the moon, their faces reminiscent of a Cheshire cat. Some younger brothers,
there to watch the activity, burst into tears and demanded that they also be given a dose of whatever it was their brother just had. One little two year old asserted that it would be OK for him to share one seat with his brother.
Even the parents had a good time, the club facilities are excellent, at each end of the runways there is a shelter
with benches and tables. Those who did not use the tables could spread their blankets on the grass picnic style.
We are now working on another exciting experience for the Junior Wing, subject to the monthly fund raising sausage
sizzle producing enough profit to finance the enterprise.
Thankyou for a great day last Sunday.It was really fun flying up to Gawler from Aldinga.
When we got to Aldinga one of the spark plugs wasn't working properly so we got delayed for about half an hour and then we had to re-fuel the Cessna before we took off (I was allowed to remove the earth lead).
On the way to Gawler Steve asked the Adelaide control tower if we could fly over our house and we got permission to fly over our house so we did but I couldn't see the house because I was on the left side of the plane. From my seat I saw the Mitsubishi factory and the city.
We landed at Gawler at approximately 10:30. It was great getting to see all the different planes that were up as well. When we were about to land we saw all the people that were waiting to go up in the gliders. When we landed Mum and Dad got the food set up and we had some thing to eat.
Finally it was my turn to go up in the glider. My instructors name was Michael. I got to go in the racing glider. When we were getting pulled up Michael told me all about the glider. When we were high enough I got to release the rope. When we were free Michael just straightened up the glider and I kept the glider straight. I got to fly the glider on all its straight paths. After my flight I got awarded a great certificate.
On the way back to Aldinga Steve's radio went crash so we had to do some laps around the airport at Gawler so we could land safely. After about 15 mins we were back in the air and going back to Aldinga. This time we had to go the long way back because there was another plane coming towards us. We saw the freeway tunnels on the way back to Aldinga.
from Nick
Dear Les,
I know that Tom had an absolutely fabulous time and it is an experience he will never forget.
I would like to sincerely thank you for the great work you do and the opportunities you are giving our children.
It is experiences like these (the gliding club) that help children make life-changing decisions for their future.
Many thanks again
Sheryl
[please take off the "Dear Les" bit - ............................. the commendation is deserved by the club as a whole. Cheers, Les]
Gliding
 On sunday the 26th the junior wing went to Gawler to experience gliding, most people arrived at about ten thirty and then we went to get all the paper work done. I was the first one up and at first it felt really weird because you didn't have the noise of the engine, but after a while you got use to it and it felt as if you were a bird. We got to take over the controls which I thought was really good and I found out that the glider is alot more sensitive to the movement of the controls and that you didn't have to move it to far in any direction to get it moving in the way you wanted it to. After about nineteen minutes it was time to land and when you were down it was quite a bumpy ride but it felt great to have flown a glider. The person who took me up was Don Kerr and he was very nice and he made you feel alot more comfortable to take over the controls. I think that it was a great day out and we all enjoyed it and we would have learnt alot. I know that I'll be back because of the feeling you get when you're flying without an engine and you're just like a bird. I hope we can go on alot more excursions like this one. written by Tim
Rhiannon's LetterGlidingOn Sunday 26 of May we went to the gliding place at Gawler. Before we went up we had to get weighed. Then we went and moved the glider so it was ready to get pulled up by a plane.When I went up I had to go in the back because I was to light to go in the front. Then when it was time to go they noticed that there was a knot in the rope so we had to wait for the knot to be cut out. finally we were on the way up when we were high enough we pulled a cord that let the rope off .I was up for about 20 minutes when we got out of the glider we got a certificate for the first time gliding. I had a great day. WRITTEN BY RHIANNON
Ryan's LetterTrip to Gawler Sunday 26 May. We arrived at Gawler Airfield around 10:00am. When we arrived we thought that all the gliders were single seaters. We were not too keen in going up alone as we had never done this before. But sure enough they were two seaters which made us feel better. Watching the other members of the club going up and coming back with a huge smile on their face made me just want to jump into one and fly away. About an hour later, it was my turn and I was keen to get up in the air. The instructor showed me the layout of the cockpit and what not to touch. Not long after we were up in the air, being towed by an old looking Piper. The instructor gave the word and I detached the tow rope and we started gliding. I was able to fly the glider straight and level, and then a bit later on did some 360* turns. The view was great and the feeling of flying a glider was amazing. About 15 minutes later we were on final but then with a bump we were on the ground. Once I had finished, My sister was starting to like the idea of getting in one. Sure enough she was up and when she got back, you could tell she changed her mind about flying. At the end I wasnt happy to be leaving and I would say that goes for everyone there. Thanks to everyone who organised this event and we all had a great day. Regards Ryan
Tom's LetterIt was really exciting at first & my knees went weak when we took off. It feels really weird to be 2165 feet in the air and taking control of the glider. Going forwards and backwards on the control was really sensitive but left and right was not as sensitive. Coming down wasnt fun, but it was great! Thanks Les. |
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