SOCIAL EVENTS

Hoar Cross Downhill Soapbox – Saturday 29 December 2007, 10.00 am

Gather at the club before strolling down to the village ‘en mass’ to watch the antics at the race as 30 teams take turns to career down the hill in home made carts.  We aim to leave the club at 11.00am.  Food and drink is available throughout the day in the village.  If you’d like to know more about the Downhill Soapbox - visit www.themadclub.com where you’ll find pictures and videos of previous events.

Skittles Night – Friday 11 January, 7.00 start

Venue – Burton Bridge Inn Cost, £15

Join us for the ever popular Skittles Night – a bit of friendly rivalry, warm fires and good beer.  Buffet supper included.

Quiz Night – Friday 1 February, 7.30 start

Venue -  TBC, Cost - £15

Davy’s Quiz Nights never fail to entertain!  Three rounds of questions. Tickets include a buffet supper.  Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available

Visit to Assault Glider Trust, Shawbury – Sunday 3 February

 This visit consists of a talk about the history of airborne operations and the project to reconstruct a replica Horsa,  followed by a tour of the hangar and a look at their aircraft.

The Weather Show - Starring Bill Giles OBE - Thursday 7 February – 7.30

We will be making a block booking with the Garrick, closing date Sun 6 Jan, full payment required with booking.

Visit from Hagley Falconry – Saturday 16 February

Venue - NFGC, Charge - Dependent on level of interest, but no more than £35. 

The team from Hagley Falconry will bring a selection of birds along, they hope to include the following: Little Owl, American Kestral, Indian Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle, Harris Hawk, Saker Falcon, American Buzzard.  They will talk to us about the birds, their different characteristics and skills.  They will do flying demonstrations and members will have the opportunity to handle and fly some of the birds themselves.  Dependent on numbers, this day will probably be arranged into two sessions, morning and afternoon.  A hot lunch will be available between sessions at a small additional charge.  

Talks and Workshops

Brighten up your Saturday afternoons with a visit to the club, join us in dreaming of the thermic days awaiting us in the months ahead and gen up on your gliding knowledge for the coming season.  With the exception of the Flying Workshop on 23/24 Feb, all presentations will be held in the clubroom   Start time will be 2.00 pm or, if we are able to fly, as flying finishes.

Practical Airfield Skills Workshop - Saturday 5 January

An informal, practical workshop that covers a number of ‘airfield’ skills, with hands on practise where appropriate.  We’ll be looking at working with dyneema, in particular how to join it; the mystical art of splicing ropes; the use of radio - both on the ground and in the air; and the care and use of parachutes (OK so the last one’s not really an ‘airfield skill’ as such but it seemed to fit in with the format of this session, and no we’re not going to ‘do it for real’).

Stalling and Spinning – Saturday 12 January

This talk concentrates on recognising the onset of the stall, why a stall turns into a spin, when it’s most likely to happen and how to prevent it.  We’ll discuss some of the Stalling and Spinning re-inforcement exercises and why they’re important – good background knowledge for those who haven’t yet reached this stage in their flying and a valuable refresher for those who have.

Know your Aircraft – Saturday 19 January

Understanding the gliders you fly.  Their design, construction and handling characteristics.  Can you tell how it will handle just by looking at it? From DI’s to what to look for when buying a glider, from what speed between thermals to min sink and best L/D?  Come and learn how to get the best out of the gliders you fly.

The Shuttleworth Collection Talk – Saturday 26 January

Come and listen to Steve Hichingbottom’s talk about the fascinating Shuttleworth Collection, its history and the beautiful aircraft they fly.  Illustrated with Steve’s stunning photographs, this talk is definitely one not to miss.

Get more out of your flying – Saturday 9 February

Do you know what you want to achieve with your flying this year? From going solo to flying a 300k, this session aims to help you identify your goals, with lots of practical advice on setting your own goals, interpreting the weather and analysing your flying

Flying Workshop with the BGA Simulator Saturday 23 / Sunday 24 February

Costs to be confirmed

Book a session in the BGA simulator and come and brush up on your flying skills, from soaring and navigation to aerotows and aerobatics.

Field Landings – Saturday 1 March,

Whether you're off on a cross country or if you inadvertently get low whilst local soaring, the ability to pick a suitable field and land the glider safely is an essential skill.  This presentation looks at choosing fields, crop recognition and flying your circuit. In other words, lots of practical advice on landing away from site.