I forgot to mention that at last nights bash while the VGC were giving their own awards they also acknowledged the efforts put in by the Norfolk GC members who worked tirelessly to make the event a success .

The "Petrel" with motor.

The "Petrel" without motor !

A T21 takes one of the last launches of the rally.

Club flying with the K21

The last de-rigs

Lofty starts to disassemble the "Rhonsperber"

Marja takes the "Kranich 2" apart.

Nearly all our guests are gone and we finally close the Hangar doors on the event

Why couldn't they take these bums home with them.

Stragglers enjoy a last supper at the "Fox and Hounds"

Vera , Johannes and Ziggy

"Stella " Jack entertains the troops !

Vera

TIB mob

And now it really is all over. Best wishes and safe travels to our visitors , And a massive pat on the back to the TIB team who put it all together.

A lot of people have started on their long trek home , so there were only a few at briefing for the las days flying.



Anyone lost a locking pin ? !

We flew untill it was obvious we were going to get washed out ! The NGC Cadets having toiled all day didn't get to fly , We will have to make it up to them.

The following pics are not in the correct order - But take it or leave it, It's all that's coming at you .


Matt trying to play with the big boys! See you again jn a year or two !

The Good , The Bad & Mike Bean

I told her where my caravan was - She must have forgotten !

"Yet" Honestlly That's her Name !

We don't need your help !

The " Nutty Boys " !

Mr.Cool - He thinks !

This Lady runs the "Swing Band" I think her name is Karen !

God, I'm slow off the mark !

The crowd plead for more

The Swing Band

See You all at briefing in the morning at 9:30 !

Jans prepares for a big night !

Taking over for next time

Joker and Legs are the MCs for the night

Christoff & Graham

Prepering for a night on the P++s !

Another good afternoons soaring !


Some of the Characters around this week :-

Rob "Yo-Yo" Van Geffen - Thanks guys forlending me your prde and joy (The Grunau Baby). But you could have warned me not to go up in just a T Shirt - At Cloudbase I had to keep reminding myself that I was having fun !

Ulf "The Main Man" Kern. One very special individual (I say that because I doubt/hope that there's not two of them !)

Jans " The Joker " Forster

Jans relaxes,

"Pretty Boy" Daniel - Thanks for lending me the "Rhonsperber" complete with Audio Rudder !

Aren't the French Peculiar People ?

"Lofty" Russell falls in to place as Danny boys Wardrobe Manager.

Stefanie "Legs" Gester. So much prettier than my last interpreter ! (Sorry Klaus)

Yup ! It's BBQ Time/Weather. We will be entertained tonight by the South Norfolk Youth Swing Band, But I suspect by the end of the night it won't only be the band that's swinging ! The closing ceremonies take place tonight , The whole thing has gone so fast (Except for the gliders ! ) It's towards the end of the rally and I've found some Cava in my caravan which needs using up before it goes off . Pictures of tonights procedures may appear to the untrained eye to be out of focus !

Weather ok for the morning ! (Whether I'm ok in the morning is another matter !)

Chin, Chin !

We're out and flying !

For Sale !

The Scottish contingency take the NGC 21 for a trip

Not everyone appreciates the Paparazzi

In the meantime here's some pics from during the week

The "Steinadler"

Forward view from the back of the "Kranich 2"

Made more sense than most people doing the briefings !

Mike tries a dish from the Burger Van which advertises a peculiar type of relish

Old friends meet up. Keith, Mike Lee (took me on my first ever X/C, We landed out at TIB !), Kay Lee(East Anglias Tokyo Rose) and yours truly

Sorry about no earlier blog update today but I/we have been out flying all day ! We have had a great day with some sort of soaring available throughout. Reports are back that there has been 2 landouts so far , one being the Hols Der Teufel which is somewhere on the North Norfolk Coast ! I can't imagine why he didn't punch his way back in to wind ! Here's a few pics of today to whet your appetite. I'll try and put some more on later but I'm off to dinner with a bunch of bums soon so I probably won't be able to blog with any accuracy ! "Chin, Chin" !

Some "Ugly Bugger " reliving his youth !

The famous " Rhonsperber"

A picture of the site from the back of the "Kranich 2"

The evening rounded off with demonstration of Morris dancing and a superb Aerobatics display by Christoff in the Habicht. I can honestly say this was the best gliding aerobatics I have ever witnessed ! (Watch out Team Swift). Following that A Fish and Chip Supper was enjoyed by all (except me , I had a Tandoori mixed grill !)

Briefing at 9:30 , Rig and place for R/W 21

We got lucky withe the weather and got couple of hours long soaring window with the bad weather passing to the West of site. But now it's all gone pretty flat overhead.

Rob Van Geffen takes the front seat

Christoffs Habicht

Stefanie Gester in the Zugvogel 3a

Soaring prospects are good ! But due to the Wind strength/direction and the number of gliders involved we are limited to Winch launching only on Runway 33.

Our local aviation photographer Keith Sowter has been at the event taking shots of all the different gliders.  Have a look see if yours is on there...Tibenham VGC flickr Page . 

Please note these images are copyright so if you want to use them for further publication you need to get the permission of the photographer - click on 'contact me' and I will forward your request. 

Mick "Mustard" Hughes - Resident NGC Instructor shows off the latest syndicate machine at Tibenham.

A shot of NGC Cadet Peter Carter putting the Land yacht through its paces on Runway 33, Shortly after turning on to Runway 26 young "Get" Carter picked up even more pace resulting in him shooting off the end of the runway , across the peri track and well into the camping/caravaning area narrowly missing a very expensive looking vehicle and an even more solid looking caravan ! Sadly your photographer missed a chance to capture this event due to rolling around in laughter along with the rest of the watching membership ! The only quote available from "Get" Carter for about 15 minutes was "I'm sorry".

Yup ! It's Vintage Rally Maintenance !

Unlike last night "Nutty Boy" Christoff did not jump out of the helicopter this time !

"Benny"

And te "Jets"

The Model Gliders didn't fly today

Maybe Graham was right ! I fear the normal Gliding holiday 10 pin bowling challenge may be on !

Following a stumbling start - including a reversal of decision on which way to launch ! The day provided soaring to 5.000 ft with at least one K6 completing the Presidents Triangle. The launchpoint got very busy for a while but fortunately most found lift and stayed up and away . Personally I terminated a flight early in the Rhinadler at 4.000 ft to come down and meet a journalist who never turned up ! Many long flights were enjoyed by the pilots. The forecast for tomorrow is dire but I'm not so sure that we won't get belts of rain with good soaring opportunities inbetween. The VGC boys will be having their AGM in the morning but the rest of us "mere mortals" could be taking advantage of the occasional soaring opportunities.

What an atmosphere ! A good soaring day has filtered well in to the "International Night". Friends both old and new enjoying a superb day and evening ! Gabriel started proceedings off with a great aerobatic display in the Yak. I make no apologies for loads of pics - I still couldn't do the night justice ,


Gabriel prepares for the off !

Ding his stuff !

And again !

Where'd he go !

Norman " The Guvner " Clowes, Giving away drink that I can assure you stains white T shirts very effectively

Some mistake surely !

Some Brits supplying their national dish of Tandoori Chicken ! They sold out !

Don't tell the wife (1)

Keith displaying Joys Buns !

Don't tell the wife (2)

The "Meise" boys. Do you know what will happen if you tell me your winch launch was too fast one more time ? I suggest you call the medic first !

Rattys new marketing policy starts to pay off !

Fantastic day & night. Sleep well all and let's hope for good weather in the morning.

At last a soarable day ! We were very lucky with the weather, Heavy rain and storms passed both to the East and the West of us allowing some soaring until one band of rain went through leaving excellent unstable/soaring conditions for one and all !



Some things were moving too fast even for our intrepid photographer !

NGC Chirman John Roche-Kelly (right) Blags a go in a T21 fitted with the latest proximity awarenes device

Some things passed too quickly - even for our intrepid photographer !

NGC Chairman John Roche - Kelly blags a go in a T21 complete with the latest proximity warning device

1st Solo flight on Saturday, I can honestly say I have never worked so hard for a leisure activity.Tim made it his mission on Saturday to progress me with 6 flights.

I'd like to thank the team at Tib for the time they have spent helping me to get to this point, also to all the members for making my family feel welcome.

Plenty are out rigging and the sky's looking good. Let's hope it stays that way.

Vintage gliders were everywhere yesterday, both on the ground and in the sky. Soaring conditions weren't great, but 2-3 knots could be found in places. Here's a taster, but there's lots of photos on the VGC Photo Site.



Everyone seemed to have fun, with quite a few club flights taking place between the Vintage launches. Ben Magnami was duty dog, with many others helping out. Chris L and Tom S managed short cross countries, and Paul W was out in Pinky.

H Having seen the Hols de Teuful, Worzel and Mike have been inspired to undertake a new project

FIRST SOLO ! Congratulations to Paul Gould on his going solo . Paul is pictured above with Instructor Tim Davies

Josie & Mike preparing for a flight in Mikes T21

Paul & Tim "I won't pull the bung" Davies

Glider flying has now finished, but the modellers are out in force.

We've now got many gliders rigged, and flying started a couple of hours ago. Here's a snap of some of the rigged gliders, but check out the VGC Photo Gallery for more.

We've now got many gliders rigged, and launching started a couple of hours ago. Here's a snap of some of the rigged gliders, but take a look at the VGC Photo Gallery for more.

Get the Winches out Chaps !

Norman Clowes "The Guvner" briefs the "Yellow Perils" in the Big Top.

Roll up ! Roll up ! (See the tattooed Lady)

The waiting throng.

John Roche-Kelly (Chaiman NGC), Richard Bacon M.P., Chris Wills (VGC), Jan Forster (VGC), Roy "Woody" Woodhouse (Pres. NGC)

The Chairman sticks his oar in !

Site Briefing by Mike Bean

"Met. Man " Graham Parker trying to part the waters !

Mark Wright C.F.I. (If I'm doing the Blog I get to put my picture in !)

Now we just wait for the weather !

Good Morning Peeps, An unexpected start to the day , It appears to be raining ! (Trans - Ill pluet!) Looks like an easy day for weatherman Graham Parker. Another factor that has come up is that the toilet cleaner has walked out on the job - anybody got a few hours to spare ! Opening ceremonies will be taking place this morning in the "Big Top" Followed by a site/flying briefing by Beano and myself, For some reasons the Germans started reffering o me as te "Commander" at the launch point yesterday - much to the mirth of the local Pi***oc*s. Going to work on my tan now so I'll catch you later

Fortunately the French contingent are serving breakfast this morning which shoul help make the start of the day a little more bearable !

More news will be added as it happens, Hopefully this will include some Gliding !