FAI European Gliding Championships 2009 - 15m, 18m, Open Class
June 27 - July 11 2009 NITRA, SLOVAKIA

Competition - 2nd Jul 2009

2009-07-02 19:08:11

Domino, deputy director has just replied "Vitaj doma", "welcome home" to MP's call. Even though he is cruising in on his engine. Welcome home, indeed.

All gliders now accounted for.

Thanks to Arthur.

2009-07-02 18:53:01

72 SA K2 home. LB and CC trailers are on the road. We just need to hear from MC, Milos Dedera,now and we can shut up shop.

2009-07-02 18:28:21

1A is home. PF 176 1E MC trailers are hitched up. NB trailer is leaving.77 too. VB WR and ZF landed Young Arthur's Dad, XXL, is just turning finals. Relief.

2009-07-02 17:51:29

SV had a better day today, landing now. XY confirmed outlanded. VS 4T KT KM V7 N1 110 GI trailer has only just left so he has had abit of a wait! Boom - first thunder and first flash of lightning on the threshold LSJ landed, Open Class. 15m and 18m classes all accounted for HX is outlanded.

2009-07-02 17:24:14

It is quite rough on the approach, some dancing wings PX WG M 5A EH PL FT 63 57(Mike Young,1st overall after Day 3) N6 CZ VI X PX CX 71 XT 7D OG 2W HE SI B K1 LE Z3 ?? did not JR OG AB SD 46 gliders already landed here

2009-07-02 17:06:30

WO, FS Y 1R TE EQ (Bouderlique, France, 2nd overall) AZ AS F2 ED GO M E1 all landed.

2009-07-02 16:58:43

29 and RP landed, 2C, LK, EF, V8,EW BX

2009-07-02 16:19:16

YB landed out. The Antares, BT, is out too. It is still very hot and humid at the airfield but not too stormy yet., BT,

2009-07-02 15:59:09

XY is trying again after all. AX and GI outlanded. 10 returned with the help of his engine.

2009-07-02 15:56:48

I have a helper this afternoon. He is Arthur Aboulin, 12 years, son of Laurent, who won Day 2 and grandson of Michel, who is also crewing for the French Team.

2009-07-02 15:04:37

XY has thrown in the towel for today after two attempts to get away.

2009-07-02 13:19:06

32 degrees C out on the grid. The crews and helpers will be very glad to come back into the shade after the last launch. 18m startline has just opened.

2009-07-02 13:13:24

One very hot steward, Visa-Matti Leinikki from Finland, has just come in and says that this will be a real tactics day. The dissipating Alto Cu is not being replaced by real Cu. Open class startline opens at 13.41.

2009-07-02 13:08:00

Alto Cu in the SE area is disappearing. 15m class can start from 13.28.

2009-07-02 13:06:59

Task B for all classes. A lot of thunderstorms to the N which we hope will not influence the chances of pilots too much. At least, they have had non-stop practice in storm-avoidance this week.

2009-07-02 12:14:39

And the first glider past the window is on his way. Good luck, stay up, keep looking out.

2009-07-02 12:09:10

This building, which also houses the Control Tower and an elite police commando unit, is undergoing renovations today. Lots of drilling and hammering to add to the aero-engines. Last night's friendly Slovak evening of cabbage soup, iced liquor and very charming traditional music was similarly blighted by a night exercise in helicopter movements on the edge of the apron!!

2009-07-02 12:04:23

Still awaiting the conditions but tugs are firing and moving into position.

2009-07-02 10:28:35

That should have been scheduled first launch, 11.30. I was trying to be too quick and missed out the 3. Sorry.

2009-07-02 10:27:13

Pressure is slowly decreasing. Winds light, gusting to 8-10 mps but generally averaging 2-4. A change is on the way, with the wind NW by tomorrow.

2009-07-02 10:25:06

As predicted, Racing tasks for all classes, if Task A goes ahead. Scheduled first launch, 11.00. The wind is showing a tendency to turn SE from N NE once thermals start being triggered so launch will be from runway 15 but landing as usual on 33.

2009-07-02 09:49:44

...and a British duel is building up in 18m, with only one point separating leader Mike Young from Russell Cheetham.

2009-07-02 09:45:54

Watch the 15m class results closely today. There are only 25 points between the 3rd and 16th places. Everything to play for!

2009-07-02 09:43:47

Briefing at 10.00. The tasks will be similar to yesterday, if a little longer, with again, a fall-back task of AAT around the same points. With additional met information, the northerly area, which seemed good earlier, looks likely to overdevelop sooner.

2009-07-02 08:35:58

Good morning, The task setters are at work now, wondering how to circumvent today's selection of thunderstorms. Perhaps by using the more northerly areas.