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

Competition - 3rd Jul 2009

2009-07-03 18:46:59

LK EF F2 EW 2C a technical outlanding, home using his engine.

V7s blue trailer is heading south.

77 is about to land.

M, Makoto Ichikawa has just called his approach so that is a full house for today.

All gliders are accounted for.

If yours was not listed, sorry for missing him. It got a bit exciting up!

2009-07-03 18:11:40

BT SD 2W 10 MC SV AB

FU's trailer just sploshed through the big puddle that the brief violent rainshower made to collect N6, our Chilean guest.

CX N6 WG landed.

2009-07-03 17:34:33

176 N1 LB 110 CC 72 LE MP WO WR 7D NB 4T IE 71 OG BO CZ SA ZF VB K2 IA and now, all the space at the beginning of the runway is filled with gliders being hurriedly hooked up...

VI outlanded

2009-07-03 17:21:07

X XT MD, streaming water ballast on the ground, AZ, PL B Y (first in a group of 8) 57 JR HX GE E1 SDI EQ BX 176 N1 72 HE XXL AS PX KX LSJ

Outlanded, RP, 29.

2009-07-03 16:55:45

Outlanders already 15m class: EH FT 19 KT YB GI VS a couple of crews are hitching up V8 and AX are back in about 3h10

2009-07-03 15:54:01

Just been surprised, walking along the runway in the heat, to hear pitter patter on the wings of a parked Blanik and realise that it's raining hard. I wonder how long it will last?

2009-07-03 13:12:57

I know many of you look in to see how a particular friend, relative or country is doing. But for the general interest reader, here are the gliders and pilots to watch today: Can the brilliant Sebastian Kawa of Poland (29) hold the overall lead in 15m class? In the Open Class, Pete Harvey of Great Britain (N1) is only a narrow 10 points ahead of teammate Steve Jones (110). In 18m, the top three, all flying the ASW29/18m, are 57, Mike Young of Great Britain, at 2990 points, being chased by teammate Russell Cheetham (E1), 2965 and from Poland, PL, Karol Staryszyk, with 2960.

2009-07-03 12:13:11

Interesting to note how many gliders have the option of an engine at the end of a tough day.

In Open Class, only 3 gliders are without, LB, 77, and CC.

In 18m, 10 gliders: PL, 57, CZ, 71, M, WG, EF, EW, SV and BT are pure gliders.

The trend to motors means no outlanding damage and less fatigue for pilots and crews. Unless the motor refuses to start, of course. As happened to unlucky Ulf Ringertz of Sweden who went home after sustaining damage outlanding on Day 1.

2009-07-03 12:05:19

Launching has just started. Just a half hour delay for the conditions to build.

Much fresher and more pleasant outside today, if still hot. More breeze.

2009-07-03 10:55:17

So, A Tasks will again be racing tasks for all classes. There are no directional conflicts between classes in the A Tasks. There are fewer airspace restrictions today with but one additional one, LZ Dubnica which concerns the 15m class. Parachuting is taking place there anyone landing there for safety reasons will not incur penalties.

2009-07-03 10:50:41

There is a small inversion today but with luck it will only break up after everyone is back home. Wind is generally N NW light but with gusts at ground level around approach time. The outlook is promising for tomorrow. Pressure continues to decrease today and tomorrow and should then stabilise.