A Long Wednesday

I spent 6 hours out on the deck filming spot landings, something I've never done before and will probably never do again. Surprisingly it was really very entertaining and I plan to put the films on You-Tube when I can work out how to do it. 56 aircraft made 2 engine off and 1 powered spot landing, starting at 2:00 pm and finishing at 8:00 pm. The general standard was very high indeed. Of the engine off landings 65 out of 112 (just under 60%) scored the maximum 250 points, with many more only missing by a whisker. This meant that the task was won on stopping distances and some were spectacularly short. 21 of the flexwing landings were of less than 30 metres with 6 less than 20 metres. Robbie Keene stopped his Quik GT450 in an amazing 22 metres. The biscuit, however, goes to Richard Rawes who put his Chaser down in a mere 18 metres. Pace it out when you get a moment and then imagine landing and stopping in that distance! There were loads of nice aircraft flying but of the flexwings the 3 GT450s with their distinctive winglets really stood out. I couldn't find a decent photo of Robbie's trike so I've used on of Stever Slade's shots from Over (thanks Steve).

Catching Up

It's 6 am on Friday and the first chance I've had to catch up with my blog. It seems that whenever I wasn't running around the wi-fi was down. Enough excuses, I'll make up for it before everyone gets up for breakfast.

Having lost Sunday's spot landings from the programme because of the weather there was pressure to get things weaving. On Monday a navigation task was run, rather short and rather late, but the last minute addition of hidden gates spiced it up a bit. Chris and Claire Wills in their very tidy Escapade scored maximum points in the dual 3-axis class on this, a great start to their competition. Richard Rawes in his Chaser maxed in the solo flexwing class while Rob Grimwood and Chris Saysell did the same in their GT450 in the dual flexwing class. The solo 3-axis class having been declared invalid because only 3 nations were represented, this gave us a first place in each of the valid classes, very positive stuff. The task was followed by a spot landing under power.

Our Place in the Sun?

My first blog so don't give me a hard time. For my sins I'm Team Leader of the British Microlight Team flying in the 10th European Microlight Championships in Leszno, Poland. Being Team Leader puts me pretty low in the pecking order, just below the team and way below Len Tanner and Malcolm Finch who are doing a great job managing logistics and catering. My office is in a double toilet tent, not much but mine own and so far it has kept the rain out.

Did I mention the rain? "We've been waiting for this rain for three months," said the Mayor of Leszno during the opening ceremony. Well, I dare say he has but by now I suspect that even HE has had enough! Nigel Beale, who has been coming to these events since 1986, can't recall worse weather. We had a couple of really hot days at the start of the week to lull us into a false sense of meteorological security. Since then the temperature has dropped by some 15 degrees (and I don't mean Fahrenheit) and it has bucketed down. The only dry spot is the team marquee and we regularly murmer little prayers of thanks to the blessed St. David Daniel who procured it for us. We shiver around the camp in our fleeces and flying suits marvelling that the sky can hold so much water. But enough of rain, already.

There are 8 aircraft in the team, 4 two-seat flexwings, 2 single-seat flexwings and 2 two-seat 3-axis. (If you're new to all this I'll add some photos later). More to the point, the team also includes 5 international gold medal-winning crews. Of our 4 two-seat flexwings, 3 have gold medalists on board. And I only have two Union Flags. Ooops, I shouldn't have said that, should I?

In the single-seat flexwing class flying in his first international we have Rees Keene (we have more Keene's here than you could shake a stick at, the whole family but for Abbie who is home minding the farm). We also have the reigning World Champion Richard 'Tricky' Rawes. However, Tricky's track record in keeping his engine in one piece is not wonderful; indeed, the last time I saw him he had his starter motor spread all over the gound. Nevertheless, motor willing Richard ought to do well.

Of course, Paul Dewhurst, holder of a phenomenal number of medals, is flying his Sky Ranger. He and David Hadley seem to be working very well together and what with the 912S motor and David being built for speed they probably won't have a problem getting out of the box. The box, by the way, is the 100 metre takeoff and landing deck; if aircraft run out of the 'box' on takeoff or landing they lose 20% of their task score. Here are Paul and David outside my toilet tent. Note the fleeces and hats; and this was before the serious rain started.

Anyway, I must now rush off to a Team Leader's briefing. There is a rumour that we will be flying wet-weather spots this afternoon. Judging by the state of the ground I suspect the first person to land will hit his brakes and broadside his way out of the box and across the airfield while the last will land in a large muddy trench! More later.