26Jul14 - Flightless Saturday

Flightless Saturday

26-Jul-14

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From: Kevin Rodda
Date: Sat, Jul 26, 2014 at 10:01 AM
Subject: No flying today
To: cgcmem@mailmanlist.net.au

No air experience passengers, no trainees, overcast, cold, low cloud, and storms forecasted ... the day has been cancelled.

Dave Donald, Tor McCaul, Rupert Perry and I are heading for home.

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Who would have thought that a dawn as beautiful as this could result in a miserable morning as described in my email above?

Dave Donald (Duty Instructor), Tor McCaul (Tug Pilot) and Rupert Perry (Duty Pilot) at about the time that we called the day's gliding operations off.

This photo (looking north from Bribie Island Bridge on my way back to Speedy at YCAB after dropping Dave off at his Dad's place) was taken late morning and shows just how poor the conditions had become.

And this is what some members come to the airfield to do in their "spare time" at weekends to keep the Club running ... Bernard "Speedy" Gonsalves in search of the air brake problem that had grounded GYK.

Speedy found the source of the problem ... the alloy roller supporting the push-rod had developed a small flat spot and, being over-centred, the push rod was sliding on the flat spot instead of rolling. He has returned GYK to service now that the previously "unknown" source of the defect in the spoiler action is known and has been determined to be a "MINOR". He has advised however that an intermittent bump can be expected to be felt at the end of the closing of the spoiler until a new roller can be found and fitted. Many thanks for your efforts Speedy!

Regards,

Kevin Rodda