In memoriam…Gill Van den Broeck! The Bariloche….AND several 1000 km. flights in Australia!

Today I start with a sad moment as one of the icons in [female] soaring passed away and though I did not know her very well and I have not seen her for years , I do recognize the impact she had on soaring and for that I remember her with pride.
As Frauke Elber wrote:
—” Gill was an icon in soaring world wide. Her enthusiasm was contagious and the void she left behind is hard to fill. Last year Gill was honored with the Majewska Medal, the highest honor for a woman glider pilot.—“

And from her family;

—–Madam, Sir,

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our aunt Gill, Gill Van den Broeck, last Friday after a short time of illness. She was surrounded by her beloved ones.

You can find a mourning card containing all information in attachment, as well as a beautiful picture by means of which we can enshrine her memory in our hearts.—–

She will be sadly missed!

I am 100 % sure Gill , as a REAL gliding-lady, would have not mind,  that I continue very happy now  as Australia has had a BOOMING day of soaring today! And from great soaring and lot’s of awesome flights I still get goose-bumps.
Over a huge area great clouds were spread out so good flights from Tocumwal [Ingo Renner  670 in Discus A, 11.000 ft and 37 dgr.] ] all the way up North and East as Corowa [ 38 dgr. and 800 km. in Ventus 2CM/18m] and Temora [ 670 in St Cirrus and 594 km. in St Libelle] and Narromine.
Last year the famous Narromine Cup Week had terrible weather with only rain! The weather gods make it up for them this week as several great flights have been made already , with today “the cherry on the top of the cake”   for Narromine with the first 1000 km. flights from this season and for both pilots also their first 1000 km.
Allan Barnes showed already his good form over the last weeks to be the best x-country pilot in Australia. Today he flew a 1000 km. FAI triangle in his LS 8 from Narromine!
Also a 1000 km. for Brian du Rieu in the 18m. LS 10!!! 38 dgr. in Narromine!
And for sure NOT his first one , [he flew a few with us in the past as well and also in Corowa] but still a very exciting[ —Un dia increible , says it ALL !!!] one from Pepe 1.029 km [ 943 FAI triangle] AND one from Paul Mander in his ASH 25, know Paul since 1984 and ….he will be pleased, 1.023 [ 814 FAI triangle]!
Great flight in a DG 400/17 m.  as well; Terry Bellair with an 800 km FAI triangle!!!

Also NZ had a good [wave up to 6000 but only once have a look at the OLC] ] day with a nice 1000 km flight by Max Stevens. He did not make it home but the guts to set a 1250 km. from Omara , first a bit to the S and then passing Omarama again to fly high up N. is just good and shows caracter certainly when you fly it in a Discus. He calls it himself “a failed 1250 attempt”, I find it worth mentioning.

This year some members from the Perlan Project have arrived in Argentina to enjoy the wave-paradise from the Bariloche , as they call it themselves; The second-Perlan-Project-scouting-trip.
Morgan Sandercock, from Australia and well known pilots Jim {Payne} and Dennis {Tito} from the USA,  have settled in and the first long flight from  Nahuel Huapi in the DG 1001M is a fact; 1.110km., not yet with big speed [80 km./h.]  but it is only the first one , for sure more to come!!!
Before Swiss pilot Jean-Marc Perrin flew already 1.361 km. [speed 129 km./h.] from Los Antiguos in Argentina in a 15 m. conversion of a DG 808.

Hope my American friends had a great Thanksgiving day and that those who went shopping on Black Friday have been not blue from being too much squeezed.
For all the other news you can go to www.soaring.eu
Have a guest for lunch, but if more exciting “things” happen today you will hear it later.

Cheers Ritz