The Weather is Still Very Nice! Updated!

15.30 :Here is the nice story from Gary who crews for Bill [ WE],  Enjoy!

Oh No – Not Now!!

The launch has begun, you are roughly 50th to launch. Time to turn on all equipment and get ready to get into the glider. Oh No!! The main variometer just died. Heat stroke, dust, who knows; it just doesn’t function any longer. Now many pilots in this situation, like this writer, would just freak out, cuss, and rip the manufacturer, but not Zbigniew Neirnadka (AKA LM), the 18 meter Szeged champion. Well, he didn’t cuss much, but coolly pulled out the dead vario, did the once over to confirm it’s demise and sent out for the extra one his Crew Chief had available in their crew car near by. Then, as gliders launched on their 600 kilometer tasks and tow plane engines roared with the launch line getting shorter and shorter, Zbigniew coolly popped in the new instrument, did some quick tests, got a little smile on his face, and was good to go. It’s amazing how these World Champion pilots are not just great pilots; many also have the patience of Job to make the most of the one shot they have to get it right. 

 Gary Carter

The weather still looks great here at Uvalde. The pilots in open class go fast, 15 m. as well, but they still have to go far. It looks like M6 with Matthias Sturm is up front with VS, Stefano from Italy on his tail and EI, German pilot David Bauder. Speed about 144 km/h.
See on tracking nice heights up to 3000 m ASL for the open class pilots and a speed of 146 km./h.

The 18 m. class just passed by  Uvalde and are on their way to the south with about 200 km to go.
It’s getting more busy now, certainly around the two TV’s with the tracking. About an  hour, it’s 5.50 PM now, maybe less, half an hour????, as they seem to go fast; I hope to be able to announce the finishes in the next blog!

Here’s a nice picture made by the Dutch during the start today.

Spoke to Loek Boermans today from OSTIV. A lot of people asked if I knew more about times and place to be. From today onwards you can find all news on the official site and the OSTIV site, times, place-to-be etc.

Spoke to Tilly and Gerhard Waibel. Gerhard has visited ALL WGC’s since 1960, except for one in Argentina in 1962. He flew himself in 1970 in Marfa and from 47 competitors in the standard class he was 6th then. Good on him and now he is still going strong.

From the GAGGLE-TALK  corner:

—just heard that my favourite at the Olympics from Holland won GOLD. HURRAY!!!! Epke Zonderland, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, what a hero!!!!!! In a MORE than good mood now!!!! The Dutch entered the top 10 on the medal list, with a total of 14 medals and 5 gold and…as you know we are just a very small country. No…I am not a chauvinist but, I feel the happiness from the winners.

—Ron Clarke made a nice picture of Andreea and me, with a wet scarf around my neck to stay cool all day at the airfield…the girls who are “keeping the world updated about Uvalde ” as he calls the picture.

The “future” and the “past”
“young” and “old”
but not written of!

—In between the USA team works hard to make the tent look even nicer. Crews are busy to make pompons in red, white and blue and the “girls” decorate the tent in a USA red , white and blue way. Great to see!!!

 

 

WE Crew