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Swiss Gliding Team

Swiss Gliding Team

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Blog of Swiss National Gliding Team competing at the world championship in Uvalde, Texas, USA in 2024

WGC 2024 Uvalde Last Day and Closing Ceremony
Well it's hard to believe but WGC 2024 Uvalde is over. The final 18M task was a 3:00 AAT south and west of Uvalde. Yves finished 19th and after a late start, 22 minutes behind his team mate due to a balky flight computer, Werner finished 31st. Overall the 18M winner was Stefan Langer, Germany, Yves place 16th and Werner 31st. In Open class Felipe Levin, Germany finished 1st. The most amazing story of this event was 87 year old Karl Striedieck and co pilot Sarah Arnold winning the 20 Meter Dual Seat class!! It was my pleasure and honor to serve as Swiss Team Captain and I hope to see you in the skies of Switzerland soon. Duff Zimmerman
... Mehr sehenWeniger sehen

1 month ago
WGC 2024 Uvalde  Last Day and Closing Ceremony
Well its hard to believe but WGC 2024 Uvalde is over.  The final 18M task was a 3:00 AAT south and west of Uvalde. Yves finished 19th and after a late start, 22 minutes behind his team mate due to a balky flight computer, Werner finished 31st.  Overall the 18M winner was Stefan Langer, Germany, Yves place 16th and Werner 31st.  In Open class Felipe Levin, Germany finished 1st.  The most amazing story of this event was 87 year old Karl Striedieck and co pilot Sarah Arnold winning the 20 Meter Dual Seat class!!  It was my pleasure and honor to serve as Swiss Team Captain and I hope to see you in the skies of Switzerland soon.  Duff ZimmermanImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

WGC Uvalde 2024 Day 12
Day 12 weather was more typical of Uvalde, scattered clouds, bases starting at 4500 ft rising to 6000 ft later in the day. The task was an AAT nominal distance 592 km. There was some concern early of rain showers near the 3rd turnpoint but it never materialized. Yves flew 585 km at 130 km/h finishing 15th. Werner flew 574 km at 113 km/h finishing 27th on the day. Overall Yves is the best Swiss team member in 16th place. A podium place is not possible now but the team will still try to have great flights on tomorrows task.
Our friends from Eagleville Soaring came to the team house and brought pizza and salad and wine. We had special guests Leo Benetti-Longhini and David Coggins from Jonker Sailplanes. David is also in charge of ground operations for the contest coordinating 8 tow planes and 65 ropes to get everyone in the air in under an hour, all as a volunteer. Thank you David. A fun night for all. Friday night is the final party with all the teams and Saturday morning the Closing Ceremony. Team Captain Duff
... Mehr sehenWeniger sehen

1 month ago
WGC Uvalde 2024 Day 12
Day 12 weather was more typical of Uvalde, scattered clouds, bases starting at 4500 ft rising to 6000 ft later in the day.   The task was an AAT nominal distance 592 km.  There was some concern early of rain showers near the 3rd turnpoint but it never materialized.  Yves flew 585 km at 130 km/h finishing 15th.  Werner flew 574 km at 113 km/h finishing 27th on the day. Overall Yves is the best Swiss team member in 16th place.  A podium place is not possible now but the team will still try to have great flights on tomorrows task.
Our friends from Eagleville Soaring came to the team house and brought pizza and salad and wine.  We had special guests Leo Benetti-Longhini and David Coggins from Jonker Sailplanes. David is also in charge of ground operations for the contest coordinating 8 tow planes and 65 ropes to get everyone in the air in under an hour, all as a volunteer.  Thank you David.  A fun night for all.  Friday night is the final party with all the teams and Saturday morning the Closing Ceremony.  Team Captain DuffImage attachmentImage attachment

WGC Uvalde 2024 Day 10
What a day! With 65 total gliders in all classes only one completed the task! 14 actual landouts where auxiliary motors could not get them back to the airport, and one in a lake! The 18 meter task was a 389 km racing task to the south, west and back home. The weather looked OK at the start but as fate would have it a storm cell set up directly over the first turn point and all classes had to turn there. The pictures tell the story. There were distance points awarded and Yves finished 8th, Werner 25th. Team Captain Duff
... Mehr sehenWeniger sehen

1 month ago
WGC Uvalde 2024 Day 10
What a day! With 65 total gliders in all classes only one completed the task! 14 actual landouts where auxiliary motors could not get them back to the airport, and one in a lake!  The 18 meter task was a 389 km racing task to the south, west and back home. The weather looked OK at the start but as fate would have it a storm cell set up directly over the first turn point and all classes had to turn there. The pictures tell the story.  There were distance points awarded and Yves finished 8th, Werner 25th.  Team Captain  DuffImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
Pictures from Day 8 and Day 9Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

WGC 2024 Uvalde Day 8 & Day 9
Task 8 was an AAT of 445km nominal distance to the South, West and North if Uvalde. It was obvious early that the race was against an approaching thunderstorm as much as other gliders. The storm approaching the airfield from the east was moving west at 20 km/hr. Both pilots landed safely about 20 minutes before the gust front arrived. Yves finishing in 22nd and Werner 25th place.
Tuesdays Task 9 ended up being cancelled due to showers in vicinity of the airfield and on course. We gridded and waited but it was not to be. Looking forward to tomorrow. Captain Duff
... Mehr sehenWeniger sehen

1 month ago
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Will start on the 18th of August 2024

 

  

Results & Tasks

 

Results

News from the Competition

  

The Team

 

Duff - Kopie
Team Captain
Duff Zimmermann

Duff Zimmermann is kindly supporting the Swiss team as Team Captain. Duff is a glider pilot, starting competition flying in his ASG 29.

werner
Pilot Werner Rüegger

Werner is competing in a JS3 in the 18m class. He lives in the USA since 30 years and has accumulated some local knowledge.

Yves2
Pilot
Yves Gerster

Yves is competing in a JS3 JET in the 18m class. He has won several national and international championships and likes to fly cross-country flights and set records.

WhatsApp Image 2024-07-31 at 17.14.29
Crew Ueli Preisig

Ueli is a sailplane and tow pilot for more than 45 years in the Swiss gliding club SG Cumulus. He will be supporting the team from the ground

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Crew Spot still open

  

Photos

 

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