North West Regionals 2005

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Released by Oscar Goudriaan: 20th April 2005

All is progressing well for the Regionals. We currently have 21 confirmed entries. As is usually the case however, we expect a couple of late arrivals. Please just drop me a not saying that you are coming. This will save you R150-00 late entry penalty fee.

 We have had a tremendous amount of rain in the last couple of days, and there is a cold front approaching from the Cape . I hope that Sven will arrange for the Worcester guys to keep the door shut during the contest. In view of the above, the name of the contest will be the “winter games”.

 Unfortunately the officer commanding of the Army Support Base has rejected our request for the use of one of his hangars. Apparently they had a serious incident during the EAA air-week held at Potch, and are sceptical of the sport aviation community. The process is now underway to secure hangar space for future contests.

 What this effectively means is that we will try and accommodate as many gliders as possible in the 3 private hangers to our disposal, with preference given to the big ( open class) gliders. The rest of the guys wanting hangar space, we will handle in sequence of their entry dates.

 There is adequate tie down space in front of the hangers, but you will need to bring tie-down pegs and ropes in case you don’t get space in one of the hangers. The whole airfield is very secure, as it is surrounded by a security fence, and inside a military area. I personally know of no incidents of theft over the four years that we have been operating there.

 Water refilling points are installed at the tie down area, but you have to bring your own hose-pipes or canisters.

 

The following people have been appointed as officials for the contest

 

 

Details of the accommodation available in Potch have been on the web at www.sssa.org.za/nwr2005 for some time now. As there is also a rugby tournament at the University on the weekend, I would suggest you book in advance, or else you might end up with no bed.

 For this weekend, we will have tugs available on Saturday and Sunday. Antionette Howse will also provide a lunch and soft drinks on Saturday and Sunday. If any of you want dinner on Saturday evening, please arrange with me before Friday noon . The officer’s mess, who will do the catering, has a private function on Saturday evening, and we will thus make alternative arrangements for this weekend.

 Winch launching will be available both for the practise weekend and the regionals. We will do the winch launches before or after the aero tows, or at the discretion of the CFI.

 The airfield will be closed for incoming or departing traffic ( except emergencies) during takeoff and during finishing. I will circulate the local rules and procedures as soon as I receive them from Uys. We have had a lot of assistance from the Potch Council, especially from Francois du Toit, ( who is in charge of the airfield) with the preparation of the airfield. The airspace FAR 75 to the west of Potchefstroom has also been de-activated for the duration.

 Indications are that we will again be competing in three classes  

 This might change at the pilots meeting, which will be held on the 27th April at 10:00 at the airfield. There will be a compulsory safety briefing at this meeting.

Drive safely and see you soon.  

Day 1 27th April 2005

From: Piet Koornhof

Yesterday (27 April) was the first day of the North West Regionals at Potchefstroom, hosted by the Akavlieg Potch Gliding Club.

 Early morning, the weather looked dismal – cold and misty.  

Pilots meeting was at 10 o’clock in the hangar of Attie and Uys Jonker (which is actually the impressive production facility for their newly designed 18-meter racing sailplane).  

Contest director Robbie Cooper extended a warm welcome to everyone, cleared up a few organizational issues before Uys Jonker (CFI for the contest) suggested finishing and circuit procedures and Oscar Goudriaan announced the tasks of the day.  

Fortunately, the weather soon improved tremendously, and by noon the Club Class started launching, followed by Racing - and Open Class.

29/04/05

Report from the North West Regionals at Potchefstroom, continued….

 My apologies for the skimpy reporting about Day 1. On Day 2 I was kept away from the airfield by commitments in Pretoria for most of the day. Also, score and task sheets were unavailable electronically due to computer problems, but have been sent to the SSSA website in the mean time. Herewith a little more meat on the bones…

 A few impressions that stand out after three contest days:

 - The members of the hosting club Akavlieg Potch, especially the students from the Faculty of Engineering at North West University , and other people, young and old, who with boundless energy and enthusiasm helped wherever they could, and who on several occasions were seen in more than one place at a time. Marc Howse, for example, displayed the uncanny ability to suddenly appear from nowhere with exactly what was needed – like a bucket of water to wash off Pieter Nouwens’ main wheel after it had gone through a patch of mud on the way to the hangar at the end of the day.

 - The ladies at the make-shift “restaurant” in the club hangar, where food and drink is available at any time: hamburgers, hotdogs, pancakes, assorted snacks and beverages. At the helm is Antoinette Howse who works round the clock, and is assisted in shifts by her daughter Cheri, Brenda Kloostersiel and Esmie Koornhof.

 - A main water pipe on the airfield that burst early on Day 1, but was fixed promply by airfield manager Francois du Toit whose whole family helped. Francois is the local airfolks’ hero: he keeps the airfield in pristine condition and is always willing to do whatever it takes to keep flying people happy.

 - The jumping castle for the kiddies, organised by deputy Contest Director and chairman of Akavlieg Potch, Johan van Eeden, helping many a young mom to have a break.

 - North West University ’s Director of Innovation, dr Rudi van der Walt, who seems to have forsaken his office for the airfield this week. Each time he saw a sailplane, whether on the ground or in the air, he could be overheard saying, “maskas, maar die goed is sexy! Is hulle nie te mooi nie!?”

 - Lourens and Oscar Goudriaan who finished Day 1 with spectacular – and I mean SPECTACULAR! – high speed low level passes that had the locals gasping. If Rudi had false teeth he surely would have lost them…

 - People like Uys Jonker and Dick Bradley who effortlessly hopped from tug planes to their gliders without even a moment to catch their breath. These guys are amazing!

 - The cameraderie among sailplane pilots, even when competing, that outsiders find so impressive.

 

Day 2

 The day claimed three outlandings: Dieter Haage and Richard Glennie both landed near Coligny, while Rob Bottomley ran out of lift near Lichtenburg. Richard ran out of snacks and found a peanut field irresistible. The nervous peanut farmer had his retrieve crew tread REAL CAREFULLY under his watchful eye to avoid any further damage to his crop.

 

Day 3

 The final results of Day 3, as well as the task forms, will be available tomorrow morning after the pilots’ meeting and will be emailed to the SSSA website soon thereafter.

 It was the strongest day so far with no outlandings.

 Jenny Bradley almost didn’t make it back, landing just short of the threshold of runway 21 on rough terrain and having her undercarriage collapse. Both pilot and glider seem reasonably intact.    

Day 4:

 Never a dull moment, right? How about this, for truth being stranger than fiction:

At a few minutes before noon , with all the gliders lined up and ready for take-off, a police officer shows up wanting to know urgently what this business is of the airport being closed. He’s followed by a whole procession of police vehicles and fire brigade, which duly positions itself strategically beside the runway.

 The officer is informed by contest director Robbie Cooper that the airport is indeed “closed” for the duration of the take-off for the day, and again will be for the return of the contestants, and that the appropriate notems had been sent out.

 That cannot be allowed, says the officer, since the Premier and her entourage is due to land their any minute!

 Though baffled a bit, Robbie and Oscar Goudriaan immediate agree to have the runway vacated so that the Premier of North West Province can land unhindered.

 Hardly had any gliders been moved off the runway, when a business jet appears on finals, to land comfortably short of the majority of gliders still on the runway.

 Much to everyone’s amazement and merriment, the jet – now get this - a Premiere 1, belonging to John Fourie of Chubby Chic – taxies to its hangar, and out gets John Fourie with his family, stows everything, gets in his car and leaves! Where-upon the police and fire brigade reception for the Premier sheepishly packs up and leaves, without so much as a word of explanation or apology.

 Makes one wonder, doesn’t it…..

Day 5:

 The weather all week has been fantastic. General agreement that the tasks and the flying have been gorgeous.

 Day 6, final day:

 Weather not as good as the previous days, but the tasks get done with only one outlanding.

 It seems that the contest was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone -  pilots, crew and spectators alike. Weather was fabulous, the organisation was great, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Without exception, all the pilots said that they would definitely be back for the next contest at Potch.

 Some comments, quoted verbatim:

 Dave Mortimer: “Fantastic – what a good site!”

 Rob Bottomley: “Fantastic! Coming next year – coming again, together with, maybe some English guys….and girls, possibly…”

 Sven Olivier: “’n Hemelse lekker kompetisie! Ek kannie glo die weer [is so goed] hierdie tyd van die jaar nie. Nie een kompetisie was al so lekker nie!”

 Dick Bradley: “The weather has been extraordinary, and I guess you have to take credit for that [turning to Uys Jonker and shaking his hand], and the organisation has been impeccable! What more can you ask for?!”

 Pieter Nouwens: “Ek dink dis moerse! Baie lekker! Briljant! Alles is eerste klas! Absoluut fantasties!”

 Werner Kienhofer: “The competition was great…the competition is still great!”

 Richard Glennie: “I missed the first day, I landed out on the second day, and today I had a terrible day! What more do you want to know? Anyone wants to buy a ‘20’?”