This article by Chris Cullinan was first published in Australian Gliding, October 1971.
The Club's annual dinner dance was held on the 7th August with a capacity crowd in attendance. Our Club's first President, Dr. Tom Thompson even travelled from Sydney for the event. Response from Club members and guests was so great that we regretfully had to turn away some friends of the club.
During the evening Steve McFarlane, new Club President for 197/72 had the pleasure of awarding the Club's trophies. The Langlands Shield for the most deserving pupil was awarded to Mrs. Shirley Griffin and the Ballinger Trophy for the best club member went to Max Hedt.
After immeasurable delays Max Hedt finalty decided to complete the paper warfare for his Diamond Height gain and and became triple diamond No. 6 in the Register. He was presented with a Gold Badge with triple diamond crown by the Club.
The present fleet consists of a Mark 2 Kookaburra, a Boomerang and a Blanik with a DH8 2 as tug. Utilization during l971/72 financial year exceeded 250 hours per sailplane and in part this is due to Treasurer Vic Maddern's encouragement scheme. Hiring rates commence at 7 cpm on the 1st July each year and reduce by 1 cpm after each 15 hours flown, with a maximum of $15.00 on any one flight at any stage. The more you fly the cheaper it gets, bottom rate currently being 3cpm. Boomerang utilization increased by 100 hours last year under this system.
Currently negotiations are under way to replace the DH82 with a Chipmunk. Besides increased towing capacity this will give a better cross wind component and pilot heating when attempting wave flights. The ES60 can be equipped with a syndicate owned, 90 channel, Bayside VHF Radio; an Al4A oxygen system good up to FL450, all installed in minutes, and all we await is some regularity in the wave. D.C.A. have given us unlimited access above flight level 210 and waived their I.F.R. requirements. Our wave area is in the middle of the Adelaide - Melbourne air lane and we operate in controlled airspace under part I.F.R. rules whilst ATC send the jets around us. On our last sortie Max Hedt spent an hour towing the ES60 with Steve McFarlane aboard at 10,000 feet but due to wind shear no contact could be made. The lennie was clearly marked at 30,000+ feet and helpful DC9 pilots passed comments as to turbulence as they flew overhead. The airstream was insufficiently stable with at least two wind shears operating so we must await another day.
Despite rumours to the ease of access into this wave let it be known that we do not, will not, and cannot turn the Wave on and off upon request.
As a follow up to 1970's visit we again had a re-run through the RAAF decompression chamber at Point Cook, Clubs joining us in the venture being Colac, Geelong, Kurweeton, Sunraysia and V.M.F.G.
Committee for I971/72 is:
- Steve McFarlane, President,
- Joe English, Vice President,
- Mrs. Shirley Griffin, Secretary
- Vic Maddern continues as Treasurer.
The Club is now back in the syndicate scene. A Hutter 17 is currently giving a lot of fun to its owners but regretfully must soon be sold. As we have no winch/auto two capacity the speeds inherent in aero-towing by a Chipmunk will be too high for the 'Udder Hutter' and a replacement will need to be found. A pity because it's been "a ball", open cockpit, etc. At the other end of the scale a syndicate Standard Cirrus is due to arrive in October/November and looks like commencing regular weekly services between Bordertown, Mildura, and back to Horsham.
Our Ninth Annual 'Horsham Week' is from the l2th-20th February, 1972, and is also the Victorian State Championships. Proposals are currently to run four separate contests. Open and Standard Class with scoring based on the Wallington System for the State Championships; and also a 'Club Class' for sailplanes with an L/D less than 31/1. ES60 pilots without Gold distance may make application to fly in this Class. The prize for the 'Club Class' will go to the winning sailplane, not to the pilot.
With the newly arrived Blanik as an attraction, membership is edging upwards and a shortage of sailplanes looks like being a problem over the summer. Still daylight saving will give an opportunity for more midweek flying and correspond- ingly higher utilization. Socially our club room, 'The Sin Pit', still goes from strength to strength as members enjoy relaxing after a day's flying. Wimmera skies remain blue, thermals strong, and cross countries are multiplying, so a good year awaits us. Visiting pilots continue to drop in and are always assured of a warm welcome.