back to business

One week to go and we'll be heading for the Multiclass Nationals to Benalla again. Ziggy is flying the 55 in standard class and I will be treating myself with the ASG29E in 15 meter class. We've got one more weekend to get some practice. Gliders and trailers are cleaned, equipped with maps, waypoints and airspace data bases. All ready to go.

before comp cleaning

this fleet covers all possible competition and record classes 

The PW-5 visible on the above picture is also available for any record attempts over the next week. She even comes with the official observer Keith as a package ;-) I'm all ready and on stand-by. We'll see what the weather will do.

way too many choices

they seem to like each other

dolly deigned by Max fits them all!

Life is good here in Horsham and so is flying. Cheers!

Christmas present

Wow, what a surprise! In the morning of Christmas Eve I received a call from the VSA to inform me that the Victorian Soaring Association has decided to sponsor my participation in the upcoming Women's World Gliding Championships in France. I have never asked for any kind of support so the surprise is even bigger. They all know that I will be representing Poland but still decided to go ahead with the sponsorship. The reason for this support is my engagement in promoting women in gliding and all the other things I voluntarily put my hand up for. Honestly, I have never expected any kind of reward and this call left me speechless. I am very thankful for this support and will make sure that the money is well spent.

In my opinion we shouldn't give up the idea of trying to get the future Women's Worlds to Australia. This would be a one of a kind chance for Australian female pilots to experience such an event and to compete with flying women from all over the world. So this is the next thing we should put our hand up. Unfortunately I can't do it myself but I know well how to prepare a winning bid ...

Thank you!

http://gliding.asn.au/

fleet addition and final renovation works

We are back from Adelaide and brought Mrs. TF to her temporary new home. We will rig her tomorrow and I will start flying weather permitting of course. I've got some additional pressure knowing that Graham will be following the results in Benalla every day. It would be a shame not to do well.

We stayed over night and enjoyed Nigel and Heather's hospitality. They have an unbelievable workshop that they both built themselves. The place has absolutely anything you can only think of.

yes, this is a workshop

every decent shed needs a chandelier 

view from the shed

TF parked for the night

bar area at home

Back in Horsham we started finishing off our aerodrome renovation project. The club rooms together with the bar area are now hard to recognize. It took us a surprisingly significant amount of time to convince some that changes were long overdue and that they are not asked to do anything but say yes to the upgrade. We finally succeeded and were allowed to start working. Ziggy and myself came up with the idea but it all wouldn't have happened without three people: Wayne Jackson, who did with no doubt the most of the work, Max Hedt and Mark Griffin. Even during the process we had to accept some individuals complaining about the way changes were going. It sometimes wasn't pleasant at all but we don't give up once we've started something. There is still some works in progress but we already were able to take out all the furniture that goes back in and give it a decent pressure wash after 40 years of service ;-) (somebody was in hurry and started putting the dirty things back in the room making spots on the new carpet here and there) You would not believe what was hidden on the bottom of chairs and tables: spider webs and ... antique chewing gum.

Ziggy washing the furniture

Looking at the "close to final" results today I just can't stop myself from posting the before and after pictures. OK, three, two, one, here we go:

1. club room before...

and the same club room after:

2. view from the bar before:

and view from the same spot after:

3. The bar before...

and this is how the bar looks now:

Too bad that you can't picture the before and after smell of the room ;-)

Some of the "watchers and beer drinkers" found a big pleasure in complaining about my color, glass hangers etc. choice. I told them back then that I know what I'm doing and take full responsibility for that. If they still don't like the color: "get a brush and paint over it any color you want".