Still Planning a few additions here !

Briefing 10:00

The weather forecaster call for thermals to start at 12:00 and end at 6:30.

Task was announce as a 417.7 Km, multi turn point course ( 7 turnpoints), with a grid time of 11:00.

Take off was at 12:24 with a tow to 600 meters ( MSL 800 Meters). The thermals were weak, 0.1 to 0.2 m/sec. The Gate opened at 13:07 and we scratched for a few more meters until we went through the gate at 13:15 with 1100 meters (MSL). There was a high thin cirrus cloud cover at this time.

To 1^st turn : Moenchsheide Bad BRE : Sailplane field 82.6 Km.

The first thermal worked was at 13:30 with altitude of 400 meters AGL. This one produced 1.6 to 1.9 m/sec-integrated lift. We circled with C4, to 1250 Meters MSL and headed further along the course.

Three thermals later at 14:01 we saw a gaggle and entered the thermal at 700 Meters MSL and worked the 0.2 to 1.0 thermal to 1200 meters MSL. The flight in the gaggle was an adventure, with only 500 meter attitude separation and 23 sailplanes in this thermal, we had almost always 3 to 6 planes at the same attitude.

We reached the Moenchsheide turn point at 15:15 an about 200 meters above ground and scratched around for 10 minutes without finding a workable thermal and found ourselves at 100 meters and less hope. Then we saw three hawks nearby and flew in 50 meters under them and found a 1.0 – 1.5 m/sec thermal at 15:25, which saved the flight. As we started to climb, the other sailplanes begin to descend on our thermal, like vultures over the dead cow. Soon there were again 20 or so planes fighting for a place in the only workable thermal to be found.

To 2nd turn : Bad Marienberg/Oberr : Sailplane field. 57.1 Km

At 1350 meters MSL, we headed out to the next turn with the group. About 15 Km further, we found a gaggle circling.

After one turn with the gaggle, we decide to fly further. We were in an area call WesterWald, which is mountainous, with only short, sloping fields in which to land. The next air field was Dierdorf, about 30 Km from the first turn point and our last thermal, which was at the limit of our glide range.

The sky was completely overcast, and the dark CUs we had previously worked, were no longer to be seen. We flew on hoping to reach Dierdorf to land, as it was clear the day was finished. As we flew along watching 49 ( in first place standing till now) below very low, wondering if he would make the field, at what appeared to be tree top level.

49 Landing at Dierdorf after the straight in approach

As he landed straight in, we turned into pattern at 200 meters. This later proved to be a mistake, as we could have flown on 3 or 4 Km further and set our marker and returned to land.

Dierdorf

After we landed at 16:00 about six planes had already landed out here, then other planes started to fall out of the sky like a flock of ducks landing.

Soon 30 planes had landed, which gave the normally quiet field, something to liven the Saturday afternoon. Thirteen out of the field of 26 total Double sitters landed here today. After calling for the crew to bring the hanger, we went to the outside patio in front of the fields small restaurant-pub and order a cool glass of German beer direct from the keg and set with BG, and others pilots, discussing the weather and flight, until the next beer arrived. After washing our plane, the hanger arrived, this time the first one of the double sitter class at about 18:00. We disassembled the Duo Discus, and drove back to Aachen arriving at about 20:00, to find Aaron grilling the hamburgers, and the onions, tomatoes, and every thing else for an American hamburger evening ( including, the customary sherry followed by German wine and beer.) Naturally in the tent due to the rain.

Later at the club house and beer pavilion, the contest director found me to explain that we would receive 0 points for day 2 due to not having documentation in the logger, proving we did not enter C Air Space. After that he bought us a round of beers, to ease the pain.