ACCOMODATION

Just a note to those who plan on just "turning up".
There are limited camping spots and you need to contact Trev to make sure there will be room at the Inn.

Trev also advises he has a 3 bedroom family house in Tauhara Rd Taupo, very handy and its $100 per night.
For all this and more contact Trev

Ph 0274-908566
or the big E.... trev@trevterrymarine.co.nz

5 weeks and we are in to it.....

Entries still coming in 6 formals and a number of "yes I will get a round tuit" messages.

Now what was that about a prize of a Race around the speedway in a V8 supercar-of course for a non fly day when we can all watch :-)

Keep it up.

Roy
PS. Have started a facebook page "Taupo Nationals", so join the team as I will be updating this closer to the start of the comp.

and The Finalists are!!!

Early entries have now closed. But we would still appreciate you entering as soon as possible to help us plan Tow Planes and such things.....

Entries for the draw for the handheld Radio include

NM-Dave Jensen
TZ-Trev Terry
PD-Eduard Devenoges
VM-Brett Hunter
DX-Nigel McPhee
ZI-Vaughan Ruddick
TL-Luke Tiller
VH-Roland Van der wal
XL-Chris Richards
KM-Maurice Weaver
GB-Marc Morley
ZN-Dane Dickenson
KZ-Stewart Cameron
KT-Steve Wallace
KR-Bernie Massey
ZO-Ian Finlayson
ZA-Bill Walker
XG-George Wills
LA-Mark Robertson
RY-Alan Belworthy
NV-Bob Gray
YD-Ross Gaddes
LK-Peter Himmel
RR-Bill Mace
UY-Bhrent Guy
TT-John Roberts
OI-Adrian Cable
XP-Tim Bromhead

A most interesiing selection which includes 4 South Islanders, some previous competition winners coming back from the wilderness...Ok OK they went and had family time for a few years.

Interesting to see that a bunch of "regulars" have not yet registered....Maybe their computer was broken...
We need another 4 entries to complete the Sports Class and 3 entries for the Club Class (yep I know of at least 3 slack lads...)

Enjoy your new year and a rapid recovery for any who tested their "fun" limits last night :-)

Roy

Getting Closer

Seasons Salutations

Christmas Dinner is over.......now to gliding matters.

Get online and enter.

No cost!!!!

Some have asked how they pay. Paying is done once you have arrived at Taupo and done some flying.

So if you are not sure whether you will be able to sneak away, just enter-we understand if you have to cancell.

I will publish the luck entrants for the special prize drawer after 1st January when entries close....


Keep it up

Roy

Seasons Salutations!

Tis only 14 big sleeps until Christmas!

Only TWO months until the big event!!!

For the money conscious
Trev has got the discount thing sorted with Ferry charges.
There are some prizes (not cups or trophies) to be won.
Early entry Handheld radio being a goodie!!!
Remember for those with a fresh Silver C and first Nationals.... big savings!!

And yes Veronica we do have entries from the South Island. Either 2 or 3 depending how one categorises Dane :-) a true Nuu zeelnder in that he seems to live everywhere.

If you havent yet organised your accomodation yet then suggest you pull finger as there is an event happening in Taupo on the weekend of 21st Feb that may take away some of your options.

As I keep saying.
Enter online, enter online, enter online NOW!!!
Stop prograstinating and do it NOW!
Book some accomodation and get on with it!

I understand that Roland gave a wee talk at the South Island Regionals about Taupo.
Appears some wallies were worried about Taupo having all AAT tasks. Seems they were thinking that the fun contests of the past were the indicator of what was going to happen at the NATIONALS....... Twill be like the Nationals of the last 6 years, racing tasks will be set!!

Things are progressing well. Russell Thorne is doing a sterling job in producing the airspace file which will be available early in the new year(just doing some testing and resolving a couple of hiccups in definition from Airways-nothing major).

As Gavin Wills so nicely put it to me some years ago at a Nationals in Omarama. We are here to give you advice. The decisions are yours :-) . The decision of this Contest Director is that pilots WILL ENJOY THEMSELVES!!!

Best wishes to you all for the festive season, fly your hearts out

See you in Taupo next year.

Roy

THE COUNTDOWN STARTS!!!

The Central Plateau Contest is over for another year!

By all accounts a bunch of fun was had by a bunch of pilots.
I was fortunate to spend last Friday visiting Taupo, reviewing the operation and going on a retrieve to pick up a fellow Tauranga pilot. Taupo certainly has the potential for some great competition. Already in November there where some stunning conditions.

Valentine Glide is now only 96 days/ 13 weeks / 3 months away.
So get planning
Get organising

GOOD news for our South Island cuzzies. Trev Terry and the team have negotiated a 20% discount on the lowest fares on the Interisland ferry. Contact Trev to get the good oil.

Entries can now be done online at
http://www.gliding.co.nz/racing/championships/nationals-entry/

There is a MIGHTY EARLYBIRD special for entries BEFORE 1st January
$240 includes an entry in the drawer for a new ICOM Handheld radio.

Just think.... if you are the lucky pilot you will be able to talk on two frequencies at once!!!

For those poor disorganised souls who cant get their act together and enter after Midnite New Years eve. Then the entry fee will be $295 with no chance of a new radio.


Just remember you only pay at the contest but we need to know if you are entering. Dont be scared of enterring online. If you get it wrong try again until ou get it right.

Now am off to organise all my Valentines merchandise!!!!!

Glider pilots are good at Keeping it up!

Other Contests?

Aha-I had a senior moment and forgot my blogging password! But such moments have passed and normal service has resumed.

In June I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the US Nationals in Montague-Northern California. Like all good soaring sites it is out in the country, away from city life. Lovely and the weather was great for this kiwi winter escapee. Mid 30s most days low humidy...luverly...

It was with some sadness I noted that entry numbers were way down in these challenging times. 10 entrants Open Class, 10 entrants Standard class. I was at briefings for 5 mornings and observed the organisation, to see what I could learn that would help make our competitions better. Readers will be pleased to know that(OK I might be biased) but I think our Nationals are at the top of the game. One lesson that became very clear to me, and yes I suspect we suffer from this, Competitions are not run as PR events!!! During the 5 days nobody wandered over to this "enterested looking" old bloke to strike up a conversation.

Therefore gentle readers, expect me to be chatting to spurious visitors during valentine glide!

From the pre contest bulletins site I have just read the checklist for pilots for the last South African Nationals

A reminder to all pilots that the following documentation as per CAA Regulations are required to be carried on board when you fly (photocopies are probably a safer bet, but have the originals somewhere safely):-
The Certificate of Registration
The Certificate of Airworthiness, however in our case the ATF (Authority to Fly) as approved in our MOP by the Commissioner.
The appropriate licence for the pilot in command
The Aircraft Radio station licence
Noise certificate
The list of visual signals for use by intercepting and intercepted aircraft

Of course for Valentine Glide you will be under NZ rules. You need to sign that you and the Glider are legal for the duration of the competition and have public liability insurance to the value of $500,000. But you dont need a list of visual signals.............

Progress at the Taupo club is steaming ahead(not Geothermal steam but good old fashioned sweat)
The new construction is well advanced on the new Contest/Managers Office with great facilities and a plenty of space for scorer and other bodies who need to "do stuff" to enable the competition to run smoothly.
The Airspace is being "booked" with CAA so we can get high, stay high-final glide!!!

Any day I am expecting the entry fee to be finalised and then the entry forms will be put on the GNZ website for your eager entries!!!!! Remember it is better to enter if you think you might be able to fly and then maybe cancel, rather than put in a late entry...Also early entry will save you dosh with a goodly discount.

Now to write down that blog password before I forget it again!!

Roy

Spring is in the Air!

Blossums are heralding the begining of spring and the return of good thermal days. Ridge running and wave is Ok????? but a tad boring really. Anyway thats my view.

Many thanks to the SRC committee members who have pointed out that at the AGM Contest pilots meeting 6 intrepid souls carried the day in a motion to re establish the PW5/World Class

For those of you who dont religiously seek out such information on the GNZ website look up (I admit I am a prodigous reader but this one eluded me.)

http://www...gliding.co.nz/racing/pilots-meeting-minutes

I look forward to seeing all the new rules which should be out in a few weeks time.

Trev Terry advises that Airspace changes are going thru the final stages having passed the scrutiny of CAA and Airways policy dudes. We only need the "consultation" with other airspace users to be completed and then we are "sweet as".

Construction/demolition is underway at Taupo with the "old" office having been destroyed and a new bigger and better version being built. Will try and visit next week and get you some photographic feedback of whats happening.

Had some reports from a pilot trying to land an F16 at Taupo (Google earth flight simulator function) after a trip round the local area. He reports buying a joystick as the mouse control was not "natural" to him.

Personally, set up a final glide from Rangatieki back to Centenal park. In a previous competition had "bottled out" of starting this as I figured it was all tiger country. Actually not quite the case but the flight simulator glide was both informative and entertaining. Yep I would have made it in the trusty ASW20 if I had bigger dangly things.

Keep it up!

Roy