In May 2018, SOSA had a new glider joining its fleet. We have purchased a pristine Discus 2.
 
The Discus 2 is one of the top glider performers of the Standard class in the world. This one is already equipped with Flarm and an Oudie and being a Canadian registered glider, means we can start flying it right away.
 
The glider was brought by Herrie Ten Cate who made a 6000km return trip to pick it up from Saskatoon. Please join us on thanking him to volunteer for the retrieve.
 
After a quick inspection, weight and ballast, etc. it will be available to club members. The checkout requirements for the Discuss 2 will be the same as the LS4.

This is the first of the monthly summaries of our cross-country activity recorded on the OLC (on-line competition).  It is a fun way to compare our flying to previous years and to other clubs.  Source:  https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-3.0/gliding/clubRanking.html?st=olc&rt=olc&c=CA&sc=&sp=2018

As everyone has noticed 2018 has started late with our wet field conditions.  As of May 31st we have logged 3473 km in 26 flights by 18 members. The good news is that we are double the distance (1740 km) for last year at this time.  However, we are well below average as shown on the graph below.

Why record your flight? Logging our flights is a good way to demonstrate how active we are as a club. You do not need to have the best flight of the day. OLC counts every flight over 50km, so even if you are just going to Brantford and back, you can add to our club total.

Our average flights might not be as long as those by Canadian Rockies pilots, but with lots of SOSA pilots contributing, we can make a big total by the end of the season. Remember 2016, we had 51 members record 115,000 km on OLC? That gave us the biggest total in the country. Well, May 2018 finds us in 11th place among Canadian clubs, so the season has started faster out west and in Quebec. Let’s hope the weather cooperates as we look forward to another great year of cross-country flying.

To record your flight just go to OLC and tap on the Claim Flight tab: https://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-3.0/gliding/olc.html?_flowExecutionKey=_cB613C844-98DA-7726-486D-84EFF77C7F11_k7E5FA207-D936-42C9-F9FB-889A897951D6

​Select the file and upload. You can use XCSoar to record your flight on your smart phone or copy the file from the flarm in the glider. If it is your first time, you will need to register as a pilot (name and birth date) on OLC. Then join in the club challenge of seeing how far we can go in a season. Have fun! Fly safe!  
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The Board and CFI Team has approved our Annual Cross Country Clinic. The clinic will commence on Monday July 9/18 and will run until Friday evening, July 13/18. This will be a fun and low key event, designed to convince newer members to expand their soaring horizons.

The clinic will commence at 09:00 with ground school, followed by a weather briefing, in the Club House. Assuming good flying weather, plan on spending the entire day at the field.  A registration fee is required to cover expenses. Any surplus will be donated to the Youth Team.

Who will benefit from this clinic? Ideally, members who have completed a minimum of two (2) two hour solo flights and/or their 50 km. Silver Distance. Members with less experience will be accepted but it is likely that your Instructor will actually do much of the flying. Members who are working on their Gold badge (300 km) and/or planning to enter the competition arena, will benefit greatly, from the clinic.

The following allocation of gliders will apply:

1. Members who have completed their Silver Distance will have top priority.
2. Members who have completed all requirements for the Bronze Badge will have next priority.
3. Members who are still working on their Bronze Badge will fly if instructors and gliders are available.
4. All members may attend the morning ground school no matter what their flying status.

The Puchacz will be assigned to basic thermalling training and will not engage in serious cross country tasks – no trailer.

The ASK 21 gliders, and Duo Discus will be used for cross country tasks. Depending on demand and member qualifications, a Junior and an LS 4 will be allocated for solo flights.

If Private owners wish to participate, they are most welcome.

Note that you must be registered to participate in the clinic – instructor resources are limited and instructors are sacrificing personal soaring and career time to help you become a more skilled soaring pilot.

Please contact John Brennan offline for further information.