Monday, December 24, 2007

Annual New Years Day Gathering at SOSA

Every New Years Day, SOSA members gather in the clubhouse to usher in the new year.

Please join us starting around 11 am for this pot-luck gathering. The wood stove will be glowing, the beer fridge will be well stocked and there might even be some nice hot soups.

While the recent snow storms have dumped lots of snow, hopefully the warming trend over the last week will be enough to melt the snow to the point where we can safely fly.

see you there

Thursday, December 20, 2007

So you want to be a fighter pilot...

first you need to be a competition glider pilot.

A recent article in the British Sailplane & Gliding magazine was an interview with John Allison the former Commander in Chief of RAF Strike Command (and glider pilot). In the article he says:

"Based on my background as a fighter pilot and my understanding of the qualities that you need to be a good competition glider pilot, many of these qualities are the same as those needed by frontline aircrew in the RAF.

The ability to think lucidly under pressure while operating in a slightly uncomfortable environment.

The ability to make on-going tactical decisions over a period of time without fatigue or loosing concentration.

The strength of character to manage risk successfully.

The ability to overcome personal fear.

The willingness, at times, to put it on the edge to achieve success.

The ability to think laterally.

Gliding is quite a cerebral activity. Anyone who could be a successful competition glider pilot has in my opinion bucketloads of aircrew qualities as I recognize them in a military context."


Interesting...




Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Ridge Soaring in the 505 (Video)

This video was filmed on the 3 Nov weekend when Spencer Hunt and I went to Ridge Soaring in Pennsylvania to extend our season a little with some Ridge Soaring in the 505.

As you can hear from the radio chatter there was a lot of activity that day. Look closely and you can see the other gliders on the ridge, and if you listen closely you can hear my instructions to Spencer about ridge flying. Of course, I had no idea that he was recording at the time!

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Workshop Upgrades

Over the last couple of weeks, the SOSA workshop has been a flurry of activity in preparation for the LS4 project scheduled for this winter.

The team consisting of Andrew Corrigan, Dennis Dyke, George Haeh, Scott Hube, Spencer Hunt, Al Grant, Ange Savoia, Dave Springford, Luke Szczepaniak, Ping Wu all led by John Brennan installed a ceiling in the shop to reduce heat loss through the roof.

Over the following week, the propane heaters were mounted to the ceiling, the propane tanks were delivered and Roy Auwaerter wired the electrical to the heaters before the gas fitter arrived to finalize the installation and hook up the gas.

We now have 90,000 BTU heating capacity in the shop to keep the workers toasty warm as we start on the LS4.

We were also able to sneak a little flying in between the work and before the snowfall covered the runway.

Friday, November 02, 2007

New gliders at SOSA







The SOSA Board at it’s last meeting unanimously approved the acquisition of two new additions to our fleet of gliders. The Board has selected the fiberglass ASK-21 to function mainly as the new training craft for our students and they will replace the aluminum Blanik craft. The excellent characteristics will also appeal to club members as well. Orders for the new planes have been made and we expect to take delivery late next year in time for the new season in spring 2009.

Many clubs have the ASK-21 as club craft forming the backbone of the training fleet. Designed by Rudolf Kaiser and manufactured by Alexander Schleicher, the ASK-21 (more commonly known as the K-21) is recognised as one of the leading training gliders of its generation. The K-21 is a versatile, rugged aircraft, easy to fly yet well able to stand up to the daily use and abuse which a training machine endures. It is a particularly easy machine to handle on the ground and is capable of carrying a wide range of pilot weights in both the front and rear cockpits.

The ASK-21 is a two-seater mid-wing glider with a 17 meter span. This aircraft stands out particularly because of the wide range of flying tasks which it is suited to. The ASK-21 meets the requirements of the student pilot from instruction up to the first cross-country or competition flights. The experienced pilot can make use of its suitability for aerobatics. The high production quality, as well as the low maintenance and very rugged design offers a versatile aircraft for everybody, fit for everyday service and lasting in value.
The plexiglass canopies are hinged fore and aft and together with the upwards-hinged instrument panel in the front seat they enable comfortable entry and exit. The layout of the canopy locking levers plus the fitting of a canopy interlock mechanism (which prevents the front canopy from being secured unless the rear canopy is also secured) reliably guarantees their locking, particularly for the rear canopy which is an asset on solo flights or when carrying rear-seat passengers.
The landing-gear has shock-absorbing rubber mounts which not only absorb the smaller bumps which are common on every takeoff and landing, but are also very forgiving of the loads of a heavy landing. The seat positions are adjustable for comfort and minimum fatigue and all of the controls and operating levers are ergonomically designed - facts which are not lost on flight instructors especially after a long instructional day.




CLICK on images to enlarge



Sunday, October 28, 2007

505 at the Ridge










Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Team Work

Team work is what keeps the flight line running efficiently and what better team then Patricia and Adam on duty sunday afternoon.

The Puch overhead on Sunday.

Although there was a lot of overcast throughout the day, as with Saturday, anytime the sun hit the ground this unstable airmass popped off a good thermal.

Monday, October 01, 2007



click on the picture to enlarge

click to enlarge



For more information about the K-21
check out the specifications here

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

North windsock



and some people said it wouldn't last for the season!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

16 Sept - A good day for SOSA on the OLC


The top four places on the Canadian OLC were taken by SOSA members this past saturday. Sergei Morozov flew 504 km, Joerg Steiber flew 491 km, Adam Zeiba flew 484 km and Dave Springford flew 438 km (455 with an additional turnpoint above the OLC limit). The day started early with Cu popping before 11 am and cloudbase and good lift to 5000 feet by 1130!

(click on the pics to enlarge)


The picture below shows the flight paths for the 4 flights.

Sergei in DW (light blue trace) flew first to the Bothwell area along Lake Erie, then back to SOSA, followed by Flesherton and then home.

Joerg in JS (green trace) flew to Priceville, Lucan, Hagersville, Guelph, Brantford then home.

Adam in POM (purple trace) flew to St Thomas, then Shelburne, Woodstock, New Hamburg, Brantford then home.

Dave in 2W (red trace) flew towards Priceville to intercept Joerg at Mount Forest, then Lucan, Hagersville, Reid's Field, Ayr, Guelph then home.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

DG 505 to the Ridge in October



In the spring we planned to take the 505 to the ridge, but the weather did not cooperate, so many people expressed an interest in trying again this fall.

If someone is interested in becoming the lead organizer for this venture, please let one of the directors know that you will take charge. Your job , with assistance from the board, will be to organize the glider, trailer, tow vehicle, instructors and students for the trip and to select the dates for the trip. From a club perspective it is not unreasonable for the 505 to make its way to the ridge in early October and stay for 3-4 weeks if enough members will partake.


Flying at a new site and learning ridge soaring skills will be fun, challenging and exciting and leave you with new knowledge and abilities. Who's in?

Monday, September 10, 2007

Mid-week Student Training Nights

As we approach the equinox, the days are rapidly getting shorter and it is time to finish off the Tue, Thurs and Fri student training nights.

The weather for Tues looks marginal, but Thurs looks good - so contact Tom, Pat, Ray and Joerg and arrange to get some flights before the sun sets!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Summer General Meeting

The SOSA Summer General Meeting will take place in the clubhouse on Sat 15 September. The meeting will start at 1930, with sign-in at 1900.

Only sustaining members whose accounts are in the black are eligible to vote. However, all members are encouraged to attend to hear from and provide feed back to the directors.

Account statements as of 31 Aug will be emailed prior to the meeting and this statement will be used to determine your account status.

Mira

The following is the eulogy read by Dave Springford at the service for Mira. The family from Czech Republic have sent a letter to our members and this follows the eulogy.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s said “Life was meant to be lived”. This now so reminds us of Mira, a person who embraced a spirit of adventure and lived life to its fullest. Many people have visited with Tomas, Lukas and David this past week and reminisced about Mira’s life remembering that adventure, challenge and spontaneity were important in her life, and that taking the easy path was never an option.

- the adventure of Tomas and Mira’s life started in Czechoslovakia 18 years ago. At that time, Tomas had the dream job of any young man as a receptionist in a female University dormitory and this is where he met Mira. Amongst the 400 or so girls, Tomas only had eyes for Mira, and within 3 months their love was celebrated in marriage and their adventure together was started.

- Life for Tomas and Mira was meant for broader boundaries so they forged travel documents and escaped from behind the iron curtain on August 18th 1989 and lived in a refugee camp in Austria. They earned a living together doing dishes and washing windows to get by.

- Living conditions were tough without the warmth of close family but the young couple found refuge in an old priest’s house which they had bargained for free in return for repairs and decoration. Tomas and Mira lived here for almost 2 years, While in Austria, both Lukas and David were born and Tomas recalls that these were some of Mira’s happiest moments.

- Canada held more opportunity for adventure for Mira and Tomas and although further distant from family ties they took the challenging step of emigrating in 1997. For Mira, Canada was a, beautiful vast and open country, full of nature as well as the opportunity to progress and allow her boys to grow.

- Canada provided Mira and Tomas with the opportunity to work together and start their own business venture in the field of electronics. Rezek Technology has become important and successful in its field, targeting the broadcasting industries. Mira’s creative work is now used at major companies such as IBM, Media 3 and ESPN and her “go to” attitude will be missed. For most couples, working together is disastrous but for Mira and Tomas this was an opportunity for another adventure together

- Canada, now home for Mira presented more adventure and challenges. Her love of the outdoors led her to take up sailing courses and persuade Tomas to buy a keel boat. They bought a property near Parry Sound where weekends swimming and canoeing were favourite times. Not wanting to miss out on any outdoor adventures Mira took up a number of different activities such as horse riding, dog sledding, and even scuba diving and winter survival camping all of which are fondly remembered family activities. Mira’s mantra for life was to keep it full and happy. She certainly succeeded in this

- Riding motor cycles was another passion that gave Mira a sense of freedom and adventure. Tomas fondly recalls Mira’s spontaneity one day when she announced that with three days off work they would take an 1800 km trip to the east coast to ride the cabot trail.

-Soaring was another way that Mira found to express her sense of adventure, the love of the outdoors and a family atmosphere. Here at the club was the challenge of learning to fly as well as an extended family of 150 people. Mira’s personality was fun and outgoing, always keen to help. She brought a welcome and contagious enthusiasm that will be greatly missed.

- With all this activity Lukas and David were not allowed to be couch potatoes languishing in front of the TV like most children. To Mira, teaching the boys life skills such as cooking, cleaning and bushwhacking through the outdoors was far more important. David and Lukas have their own love of life, a maturity well beyond their years and their own sense of adventure, all very much influenced by their mother. For them their mother will be an enduring memory throughout their lives.

We are all deeply saddened as we come together to celebrate the life of Mira and mourn her passing. She was taken from us in the middle of her life but as many remind us, it is not how many years you have lived but the life you put into the years. For all of us Mira’s strong spirit of adventure, her many accomplishments and her love of challenge is an inspiration. She certainly did put a great deal into her life and fulfill many of her dreams. Her memory will be strong in all of us.

Before I close I would like to recite a poem High Flight that has become a mantra for many pilots. It was written by a Canadian Aviator Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee during the second World War

The verse brings to mind the adventurous nature of Mira’s life which we all celebrate here together.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence.
Hov'ring thereI've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF

We will all miss Mira and her life is an inspiration for us all. Thank you.


At Štramberk on September 2nd 2007 Dear Paul, Dear club members,

Let me have a brief look back to the recent days we spent with you and your friends. When I spoke to you Paul for the first time I was not able to concentrate my mind on anything. Mira´s mother and my family had been so desperate and helpless, we didn´t know what to do. At that time you came with the idea or question of our coming to Canada to stay by Tomas and his sons to say last adieu to Mira. Although we knew that a lot of things should be arranged for to be able to go to Canada, I started thinking of it and doing what was necessary, which helped us to overcome the hard time we lived through then. At the same time it made it possible for Mira´s mother and Alena to believe that they would be able to part with her beloved daughter and sister. It is necessary to say that we would not be able to cope with so much paper work without you and your friends to say nothing of arranging so many things in Toronto.

This is what Alena asked me to write : I had dreamed and longed to go to see Mira´s family for a long time, but our son Simon was just a baby which made it almost impossible then. Unfortunately the events unexpectedly turned to the worst side and I understood that I should do anything to stay alongside Tomas, David and Lucas to embrace them to share their grief with them at least for a couple of minutes. It was the only thing we could do for them because we are not able to do almost anything for them otherwise. I was surprised to see so many people coming to the funeral - people which liked Mira. I understand now that Tomas and boys are not quite alone there which makes me comfortable. Mira told me a lot of things about her friends and flying in Toronto last year that after coming to Toronto and seeing you I had a feeling I know you already. She liked their friends and flying very much and I now believe that the flying party will make a kind of family for the boys in the future too for which I am immensely grateful to all of you.

We were deeply moved to learn from Tomas that you collected money to cover our air tickets and the hotel bills, which means that you understand our not easy financial situation we have to face here now in association with that sad event. I would like to say we are extremely grateful to all of you. Let us thank you and your friends very much once more.

Yours truly Marta, Alena and Alois

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

What happened at the MubBowl

The MudBowl was a great success this year. We had 18 contest pilots including many junior pilots. The weather wasn’t great with only one race day but we had a lot of fun. The BBQ organized by the Junior team was attended by more then 75 people. I’m sure knowing that Lynne Gough was baking desserts helped boost attendance. The winner for a second year in a row is Chris Gough flying 44 an LS8 that his dad generously lent him for the race. I wonder if Andy was worried about competing against Chris? It’s about time that a new pilot shows the old guard a thing or two. Great job Chris!









Our Contest Manger Dugald and his team did an excellent job running the contest. Malcolm managed to keep all pilots registered and had pink tickets ready every day. Neil kept the line organized and efficient in his typical nice and easy way. Dave and Luke worked hard scoring and Joerg provided great weather forecast. There was a late night bonfire on Saturday evening and movie night on Sunday.

Thanks for our visitors Ulli Werneburg and Ed Hollestelle for joining in the fun. We hope you’ll join us again next year.





Monday, July 30, 2007

SOSA Mudbowl August 4, 5 & 6















We’re on track for a good and exciting MudBowl. We will use the Canadian Scoring rules and handicap list. There will be no water ballast and we do not require FAI approved recorders. The tasks will be easy enough for all pilots. All you require is a Bronze Badge. The cost is $10.00 per pilot. There will be a pilot meeting on Saturday morning at the clubhouse at 10:00 am.


Your organizing team is in place:

Contest Director: Dugald Stewart
Contest Manager: Martin Brassard
Weather: Joerg Stieber
Scoring: Luke Szczepaniak & Dave Springford
Chief Tow Pilot: Andrea Kuciak
Office Manger: Malcolm Dyke
Flight Line manager: Neil Wilson

The competitors are:

John Brennan DG505 505
Luke Szczepaniak LS4 DW
Anthony Kawzowicz Jantar Standard 2 HK
Sergei Morozov SZD51 Junior JR
Jay Allardyce Jantar Standard 2 MF
Chris Gough LS8 44
Dave Springford LS8 F1
Joerg Stieber LS8 JS
Martin Brassard LS6b KC
Steve Newfield LS6b U2 tbc
Thomas Rezek SZD55 TR
Andy Mazur SZD55 AM
Jerzy Szemplinski SZD55 XG tbc
Scot McMaster Club Libelle
Andrea Kuciak/Joe Stubs Salto JO
Paul Fish Discus 1W
Terry McElligott DG200 JT
Willem Langelaan DG800s OX tbc
Rod Crocker 1-35 K9 tbc
Hans Juergensen ASW20
Wilf Krueger DG808 K2 tbc
Chris Wilson/Tom Coulson Mosquito W2 tbc
Jaime Pinto PW5 PJ tbc
Tony Rywak AS20 LV tbc
Dave Webb Tinbus EZ tbc
Sean Coulton Hornet NES tbc
Kamil Jarosiewicz PW5 VS tbc

Monday, July 23, 2007

Mudbowl and BBQ Sat 4 Aug

The SOSA Youth Team will host its second fundraising barbeque of the year on Saturday, August 4th, 2007, during the annual SOSA Mudbowl. The theme of this barbeque will help usher in the fall season, with a delicious meal of freshly cut corn straight from the field, and tasty polish sausages or chicken breast. The usual sides including potato salad, caesar salad, and fresh buns will compliment this feast. Back by popular demand is Lynne Gough and her extravagant selection of desserts. If you missed her TRIFLE, you shouldn’t this time! At dusk, our CFI (chief fire igniter Adam Oke) will set ablaze all that graces the north fire pit. It is sure to be an excellent evening, and will be a great start to the annual Mudbowl. This will be the social event of the year!

The cost of the barbeque is $13 (or two for $25), and should be paid the night of the barbeque. Accounts will not be billed. RSVP by August 2nd to jay_airplanefreak@hotmail.com with the number of individuals attending in your party. Bring the whole family and all your friends to the club on August 4th for a great evening.

The 800Km Man!



Here is SOSA's 800Km Man, Adam Zieba. On holiday Monday, July 2nd, Adam flew an 802Km flight that lasted more then 9 hours. This is the longest flight flown out of SOSA. Well done Adam.



Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Another New License

Congratulations to Spencer Hunt who earned his glider pilot license this past weekend. Well Done!

Spencer will now hit the road traveling with Dave to the US Standard Class Nationals in Hobbs NM where he will get an introduction to contest life.

Monday, June 25, 2007

New Glider Pilot Licensee

We are thrilled to congratulate Dennis Dyke for getting his glider pilot license last Friday. He passed all his tests and will now work toward his Bronze Badge and passenger rating. I’m sure that his first passenger will be Malcolm.

Well done Dennis!