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The member-focused newsletter by SOSA Gliding Club
May 2023
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Well, it seemed at first that the season would never get started – snow squalls in April, Canada geese floating happily in the middle of 36/18 – and yet we persevered. Gliders and trailers getting washed and polished; new shingles on the clubhouse roof, recalcitrant tractors and mowers fired into service, gazebos constructed, new orange thingies on the warning wire at the end of 36, a gorgeous new wind sock waving proudly at passing Highway 8 traffic. And as surely as the swallows come back to Capistrano, SOSA's 75th season was underway.
We've already ticked off a number of early season tasks – check rides ongoing, winching (with a new cable!) begun, new instructor candidates being instructed, our first BBQ a smashing success (thanks volunteers!), some serious XC flights tallied (see below), the first (elegant) land-outs and lots of plans underway leading up to the summer's signal events – the national soaring championships beginning in late July and our 75th birthday celebrations in September.
Welcome back and thanks to everyone who helped get things up and running. It's shaping up already to be a great season. See you out there.
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Pictured:
- The Duo Discus lands out in what looks to be the perfect farmers field
- Aircraft Maintenance Director Dan Aberg installs a new transponder
- New and old members meet at the first BBQ of the year
- The gallery seating looks on as Reza and team grill
- Dave, Paul, and James make quick work of the Duo retrieve
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🗓
Upcoming SOSA Events:
June 24: SOSA BBQ
July 1-3: SOSA Mud Bowl (Club XC contest)
July 10-14: Cross Country Clinic
July 24-Aug 4: National Soaring Championships
Aug 28-Sep 1: Acceleration Week
Sep 16: Precision Landing Contest
Sep 16: 75th Anniversary Celebration
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As soon as the field allowed, we were out and flying regularly. Many check rides were completed in the first flyable weekends of the season and new students have been shown the ropes. We are now in full swing, following a spotty April, weather-wise.
Our first major XC flight in May was by Paul Parker on May 11 with a 251km flight. May 26/27 was blue but saw some great flights completed by some of our best XC pilots: On May 26 Sergei Morozov flew 533km, Rafael Bravo flew 425km, and Adam Zieba flew 338km. Then, on May 27th, Luke Szczepaniak flew 480km and Dave Springford flew 430km. The best flight for May so far was by Luke at 583km on May 17th. Who knows, we might have some more great flights May 30/31.
SOSA is currently sitting in third place nationwide in terms of cross country kilometres logged via OLC (as at May 30) with 12,274km. CuNim sits second with 13,846km, with Montreal Soaring Club in first place with 19,107km notched.
Congratulations to new member Aleck Covaci (pictured above on May 28) for his first solo glider flight. Aleck is a licensed power pilot on a path to cross country soaring and towing with SOSA.
May's Flying Stats:
- 450 Total Flights
- 283 Instructional Flights
- 7 Intro Flights (started later in May)
- 401 Club Glider Flights
- 49 Private Owner Flights
- Longest Flight in Club Glider: 5hrs59mins
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Gazebo on 03:
If you build it, they will come
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Early work on the new gazebo on 03. Many hands make light work.
Thanks to all who pitched in.
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Aerobatics update
Acro training for 2023 is scheduled for Thursday evenings and Sunday later afternoons (Sundays will be on a best effort basis according to instructor schedules). We would like to get the program up and running asap. However, I would like to know how many people would be interested in an information session and orientation flight/intro? Normal training flights are to 5000'agl, however, an orientation/intro flight would be to 4000'agl and would involve a demonstration of the various maneuvers above 2000'agl, and below 2000', we could start introducing you to some of the exercises you would begin your training with.
We could incorporate these flights into the regular Thursday evening training or set an evening aside if there is sufficient interest. See Click and Glide if you're interested. Indicate either "training" or "intro" in the comments.
If you haven't seen our Acro Hangar Talk, you can do so here:
Thank you,
Poul and the AB Instructional Team
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Celebrating 75 Years of SOSA
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As you may have seen on Click and Glide, we're planning our official 75th birthday party over the September 16-17 weekend. Plans are in the works for lots of fun stuff, so stay tuned for more details. Already in the lineup is a precision landing contest on the Saturday, weather permitting. We're open to any and all celebratory suggestions – drop a line or have a chat with James W, Jeff K or Sean C. We're very interested in your stories, factual, historical or merely legendary. Photos most welcome also.
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👋
Welcome New Members!
Jared Turnbull
Mitchell Phillips
Peter Gate
Edy Mekontchou
Angel Mekontchou
Reg Braithwaite
Howin Tsui
Mina Rosnick
Les Stadnik
Precious Patrick
Brian Milner
Jack Fitzpatrick-MacPhee
Johan Hugo
John Edwards
Miguel Vieira
Kieran Grimshaw
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Let's be Frank, your hat's seen better days!
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A fresh consignment of perennially stylish SOSA bucket hats, as worn here by student pilot Frank Swenor, are now available for purchase.
You too can look like Frank!
For more info, contact James Wood via Click N Glide.
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There's still time to register for the 2023 Canadian Nationals!
SOSA Gliding Club will host the Canadian Nationals at the Rockton Aerodrome from 26 July - 4 August 2023.
How to Register
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⚠️
Safety Corner
Reminder on Wing Runner Responsibilities
After retrieving the rope from the tow plane, look to see that there is no tail dolly on the glider. Check that the spoilers look closed and flush with the wing surface – ask the pilot "spoilers closed & locked" if unsure. After glider hook up, check that the canopy looks closed and locked – ask the pilot "canopy closed and locked" if you suspect it might be open. Then, proceed with your scans looking for traffic in the circuit and on the runway before commencing the launch.
There's no requirement to ask the pilot about these items unless something looks wrong. It is the pilot's responsibility to go through their prelaunch checks but, if interrupted, the pilot may miss an item that the wing runner can help to catch.
Got questions about Safety at SOSA?
Reach out to members of our Safety Committee via Click N Glide
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75th Anniversary: Tales of Yaw
(Say this with an English accent. Sounds like Tales of Yore! Thanks, James.)
More classic photos from SOSA's distinguished history! (Thanks to Pat O'donnell and Chris Wilson for sharing some of their collections.)
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🔈
The Thermal Podcast
The Thermal is a monthly podcast, hosted by former SOSA member Herrie ten Cate, devoted to the sport of gliding. You’ll hear about the latest cutting-edge sailplanes and technology. There's also conversations about gliding safety, instructing, gliding history, cool pilot interviews, towing, winching and a whole lot more. New podcasts will be released the 1st Saturday of every month.
Listen here ->
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📢
Help Promote SOSA!
Follow SOSA on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and "like" or "share" our posts to help spread the word.
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2023 SOSA Executive, Officers & Directors
President - Joerg Stieber
Secretary - Sean Christie
Treasurer - Tom Coulson
Chief Flying Instructor - Malcolm McLaren
Aircraft Maintenance Director - Dan Aberg
Grounds Director - Michael Viechweg
Membership & Marketing Director - James Wood
Member at Large & Communications Director - Jeff Keay
Chief Tow Pilot - David Springford
Dean of Students - John Estey
Safety Officer - Hans Juergenson
Safety Committee - Bill Vollmar, Will Nyland
Flying Committee - Rafael Nuñes, Michael Viechweg, Bogdan Banas
Social Committee - Kathryn Huntsman, Jeff Keay, John Estey, Reza Darvish
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