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Later – 1.30 p.m.

The task has been cancelled – so no flying today, but if anyone wants to take a launch they could.  However no one seems to be that interested in getting airborne. Our guys are not planning to fly – some are still organizing computers, instruments, etc. whilst Attie has gone to town to buy a few things.

The other aspect now, of course, that with the pilots being on the ground, as we all know that when pilots are on the ground they start picking holes and finding things to niggle and complain about, and so forth!  With the first official team managers’ meeting on Friday, perhaps there will be the result of some of today’s machinations!!

Uwe Engström, who was so good to the S.African team at the last worlds held in Eskilstuna, Sweden, two years ago has been here visiting for a few days. He has now been assisting with the computer connections and it seems he has worked his charm on both LG’s and QM’s computer, so that they can now access what they need to. LG’s email is now working.   Hooray.  The miracles of having someone who is so technically clever.

 

Wednesday 30th July

This morning we awoke to a cloudy sky and much cooler conditions.  Already there has been a light spattering of rain.  So presumably the front moving from the UK has arrived sooner than they expected.  Even the forecast on this morning’s TV showed that it was going to be hot in this area with the rain only further to the west.

Our team hut has a distinct ‘ smokey smell’  after that huge wheat field fire of yesterday afternoon.  Looking at the field I am amazed that the whole field is not blackened, but just a section of it.  Guess the farmer is happy that some of his crop is still standing.

So this morning being a bit cloudy and dull, I have LG and QM working on their computers trying to get them to talk to the LAN internet facility that we have in the team huts.  It is amazing to me that I, who knows very little about computers, was able to plug in my computer and get it to talk to the server with no problems.  Whilst none of the others have been able to get their laptops to ‘work or connect’ to the server. For once neither my computer or me are ‘blonde’!!

Briefing was held at 10 a.m. and then followed by an informal team manager’s meeting at 11 a.m.  Today if we fly, the self-launchers will be gridding to south side of the airfield, whilst the rest of the field will be launched on the northern side, with the tugs landing between the two.  There were various details about aspects that had cropped up from yesterday’s flying, e.g. tows will be at 130 kph, gliders should not get in too high a position, change of team frequencies (we will now be sharing with Greece!), loggers’ time interval, and so forth.

Weather today predicts a very strong wind sheer, with the lower levels NE, and at 1000m SW.  The temperature is expected to be about 28°.  They are hoping for a window for flying during the afternoon to allow a 2hr. AAT to the NW, back to the SE and then NE back to Lusse.  Tomorrow they say should be better again.

The main matter for the team managers was the fact that the Official Partner with the Organisation, Lufthansa, are wanting their sponsorship stickers placed on all of the gliders – the sticker is about 2 ft. long, and they are wanting it placed below the cockpit.  Needless to say the pilots have a few problems about this – practically, aesthetically, aerodynamically, etc.!!  As the Contest Direct is absent (he had other business that he had to attend to this morning), we will have to wait to learn what the agreement was and the decision.

So that’s the news for the day so far.

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