German Gliding Nationals 2019
Flugplatz Stendal EDOV 8.-19. Juli 2019
2019-07-20 10:00:00
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  • About
    • About the Event
    • Stendal
    • Competitor Info
      • Airfield
      • Contest Area
      • Getting there
  • Impressions
    • Videos
    • Pictures
  • Downloads
  • Language: EN
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Aktuelle Infos

Aktuelle Infos

walter
07/162019

Interview with Walter Hermann – Meteorologist of the Gliding Nationals Stendal

News Meteorologe, Meteorologie, Meterologist, Weather, Weatherforcast, Wetterbriefing, Wettervohersage

Interview with Walter Hermann, Meteorologist, 14 July 2019

The weather conditions make the present championship challenging not only for the pilots but also for the weatherman. What has been the most challenging day for you so far?

The most difficult day for me so far was yesterday [day 6 of the championship] because there was a dichotomy in weather conditions: on the one hand, a strong atmospheric instability in the east and, on the other hand, stable conditions in the west. And we were exactly on the edge between the two. And the problem was to discern or to predict when and where the overdevelopment and possibly thunderstorms would occur. And if this difficult situation happens, to inform about it the competition management to the best of my knowledge and belief, because one cannot say with 100% , not even 80% certainty: “There and there thunderstorms will occur” . We could see yesterday that after initial overdevelopment in the east, the weather stabilised for a short time, during which it became possible to fly a short task but shortly afterwards again overdevelopment occurred followed by the thunderstorms and rain showers.

I have heard positive comments about the decision making on that day. People were impressed how the competition management managed to catch exactly the window to fly. Could you tell us more on how and when the decision to fly was taken on that day?

After a thorough analysis of the weather situation, I normally inform the task setter about the current weather and in cooperation with him [we develop] the possible route to be flown. Coming back to yesterday, it was difficult to establish both the start time and how long the weather would remain flyable to complete the task or when to expect an early end of thermals due to a rain shower or thunderstorm activity.

There is always a balance between, on the one hand, the desire to have as many flying days as possible in order to meet the requirement for the number of valid competition days and, on the other hand, the need to be on the safe side and not to put the pilots at risk. How do you make your judgement – based on the ‘prudence principle’?

Safety is always paramount. Whenever I give advice to the competition management, I am always aware that even my choice of words will be of decisive importance for the decision that the competition management will take. If I am 100% convinced, I express myself quite differently than when I have certain doubts. And then I convey my doubts to the competition management. In the case of yesterday it was extremely difficult and I had butterflies in my stomach the whole day about how the conditions would develop. And we were lucky yesterday, I must say. Many years of experience on my part played a certain role in the decision.

You are a glider pilot yourself and you used to fly competitions. How does your gliding experience help you in your present role?

I began flying 50 years ago, started flying competitions relatively soon afterwards and flew until 1987. After that I confined myself mainly to flying in the club as a flight instructor. I still fly crosscountry today, but most of the time I concentrate on the club activities. Of course, the experience I have gained over these fifty years helps a lot: I have about 4500 flight-hours. In addition to that, I am in regular contact with the glider pilots who I met over time. The experience from forecasting at different competitions also helps a lot. This is on the one hand. On the other hand is, of course, my professional experience since I worked as an air weather consultant with the German Army, the army aviators. There, day after day, I advised pilots, and then, unlike the German Weather Service, I got a debriefing from them and had an opportunity to verify my forecasts and learn from mistakes.

You have been acting as a meteorologist at fifty gliding competitions for more than thirty years. What do you find most challenging in this job?

The biggest challenge is certainly to always make a correct forecast (smile). That was difficult at the beginning, you go often wrong in your predictions, if you do not have much experience, this is understandable. A second big challenge is always to have a good relationship with the task setter. You have to build up trust: the task setter must have confidence in the meteorologist, and vice versa. Thanks God, I have been always lucky over the past years, with few exceptions.

And here it is also working well, I presume?

Yes, sure. Otherwise I would not be here for the third time.

For the third time in Stendal? With the same team?

With Christoph [Christophe Barniske, task setter].

You have been the Team Meteorologist of the German National Team and the German National Women’s Team at various World and European gliding championships. Is there a difference between doing a job of a team meteorologist with the national team at an international championship and being the meteorologist at a championship?

The assignment of the meteorologist at competitions is to give general advice, how the weather will develop during the day. When advising a team, there is already some forecast given by the competition management. And my job is to identify if there are any alterations that are likely to follow, from my perspective, and to inform the team members where the crunch points, the difficulties can occur today. As well as to provide information during their flying on the basis of weather reports, satellite images, radar images, partly in the encrypted form, so that the other nations do not get it, to give appropriate tips or help by their decision making and developing the tactics of the flight.

What can you say about weather conditions in Stendal? Are there any typical characteristics of the weather in the area?

Stendal and the surrounding area feature good sandy soils, where thermals can develop with even little sunlight. In addition, there is well known Fläming, a small forested hill, which helps thermals to develop more quickly if the weather conditions, especially in the northern or northeastern part of Germany, are difficult as it sometimes happens.

You will also be here in Stendal next year at the World Championship. Hopefully the weather will be better than this year.

Hopefully. This year is simply a crazy year. This is my fourth competition this year, and the fourth competition where the weather conditions are difficult. The first was in Klix, the second was the German Championship for the small classes in Zwickau and the third was in Hockenheim. And all of the competitions were at the edge in terms of the number of flying days, they had to fight to get the required number of competition days, because of the weather.

So, for a meteorologist, unlike for pilots, it is probably easier with blue thermals than when the weather is like now? 

Actually not. To predict the border between blue thermals and one to two eighth cumuli – this is sometimes very difficult. Nuances can be crucial when blue thermals were predicted and then suddenly cumuli come. And that makes a big difference in the speed of the pilots: with cloud thermals they are certainly much faster than with blue thermals. And this has an impact on the length of the task etc., etc. This is a difficult problem. It is easy when it rains (smile), or when you really have a weather with high cloud base and constantly high pressure as we sometimes had last year.

In what type of weather is it most difficult to make a forecast? In the conditions like yesterday?

This is the most difficult situation because you have a great responsibility for setting up a task when there is a risk of thunderstorms in the area. Then you really have butterflies in your stomach.

Thank you very much, Walter, for this interview and good luck!

 

The interview was taken by Evgenia Alexeeva.

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07/142019

Interview with Alberto Sironi and Elena Fergnani, Italy, flying Arcus T (iAM), on day 6 of the competition

News Doppelsitzer, Doubleseater, Interview

Interview with Alberto Sironi and Elena Fergnani, iAM, doubleseater class, winners of day 6 of the competition, 13 July 2019

It was a difficult day, the weather was challenging, but it was successful for you. Could you describe your day?

Elena: Yes, the weather was tricky at the beginning but we made an early start, and in the end it worked very well and it was good fun!

Alberto: At the first leg we had a thunderstorm at a certain point in front of us and we had to make a deviation to the right and, anyway, we got to the first turnpoint and it was OK, together with the others. But then we decided to make a deviation to the south in the second area, second turnpoint, and this was the right choice. And then the leg when we came back was really easy. But at the end, we did not have the energy any more, so we climbed again just forty kilometers from here, just to arrive here, so it was not really difficult.

Which decision was the most difficult to take during this flight?

Elena: Getting southern way at the second turnpoint. Most of the people went north, and we decided to stay more to the south. Although we had a calculation that we should have arrived a way later than forecasted, we kept on pushing a bit longer into the second turnpoint and then we turned back. And i think, that made the difference.

What about flying conditions here in Germany? Is this the first time you are flying in Germany?

Alberto and Elena: Yes.

How do you find flying conditions here in Stendal?

Alberto: I think the meteo is not really normal at the moment. The meteo conditions are not good these days. But every time we go flying, it is fun and a good experience. It is a massive flat area, where we are flying now.

Is it easier or more difficult as compared to where you normally fly? In this flat area?

Alberto: It is OK, it is normal.

Elena: It is very different from the Italian flatland. Because we have weaker conditions and no wind normally. With this wind, you would not fly there. But here you have more energy in the air. So, even with the wind it is still working and it is working pretty well.

How do you find the facilities here? How do you like the grounds?

Elena: It is huge, it is enourmous, it’s great.

Thank you both, Elena and Alberto!

 

The interview was taken by Evgenia Alexeeva.

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07/142019

Day 5 and 6 – The first day off and a tricky one behind

News 18m, Day 6, Doppelsitzer, Doubleseater, Offene Klasse, Open Class, Tag 6

Friday was neutralized for all classes due to the weather – continued rain in the morning. There was time to take a look at the area or to recover from the hardships of the last few days.

The forecast for Saturday, however, looked better again. Grid-time 8:30 – 10:20 AM, start direction 26, briefing at 10:30 AM.

Walter Hermann, our meteorologist, yesterday described the weather as unstable and humid from the west – including the requirement for showers and thunderstorms – so everything is possible. The cloud base should be at 12:00 AM UTC – ie 2:00 PM local at 1000m. This means that before 1:00 AM hardly any launches are possible.

The thermal end was not really predictable, depending on the storm, it could be abruptly over or stop a little longer.

True to the motto of Christoph, our sports director: “Not to fly is still an option” the field briefing for the open class was carried out quickly at 12:00 o’clock AM because there was a small change in the task sheets regarding an airspace. The competition rules stipulate that a briefing must always be carried out in changes of task sheet information.

Since it was Saturday, there were also some visitors who wanted to watch the spectacle up close.

The first aviator has already started including a camera team for air and air-to-air shots.

The following tasks were advertised:

The open class was allowed to fly Day Task A, an Area Assigned Task (AAT) with a minimum flight time of 03:00 hours and a distance of between 305.0 km and 504.5 km. From the departure point Stendal Nord they went first to Vogelberg, then to Gajki and back again to Stendal airflied.

The doubleseaters had Day Task A, an Area Assigned Task (AAT) with a minimum flight time of 02:30 hours. The route could be layed by the pilots between 257.4 km and 427.6 km. Their task was to fly from Stendal-East to Kammermark via Strasburg and back to Stendal-Borstel.

The 18m pilots received Day A task, an Area Assigned Task (AAT) with a minimum flight time of 02:30 hours. With a distance between 223.3 km and 396.4 km, they started from the departure point Stendal West to Perleberg via Herzfelde and back.

13:40 was the departure released for the open class when the doubleseaters were already towed.

The pilot speaker of the DoSi’s reported this morning at the pilot speaker briefing, that it was a bit chaotic under the different levels of cloud base. It was all in the frame, but it is always a bit tricky with a low cloud base and less thermal options.

Towing the 18m class, rumbling began in the east. A thunderstorm cell passed the square and brought a few thick raindrops. Also on the horizon a little further away, the cumulus clouds piled up in this labile stratification to Cumulonimbus (thunderstorm clouds).

The weather window was very sharp. As soon as all the planes were released in the air and the start of the 18m class, a huge cloud of shivers crossed the airfield and turned the dusty desert into a muddy field.

Via live tracking it was easy to see how the pilots moved through the air.

The shower was over, and the first open-class pilots arrived in front of the finish line and landed in the square in front of a dark gray backdrop of thunderclouds passing by west of the course.

You can find yesterday’s scores here.

In the open class Markus Frank (FE) wins with his EB29 and an average speed of 125.42 km/h:

The DoSi’s day’s win is made by Alberto Sirogni and Elena Fergnani (iAM) of Italy in their Arcus T with a 114.75 km/h average:

 

The winner of the 18m class Ronald Reith (iES) from Romania with his ASG29 and a speed of 99.54 km/h:

Congratulations.

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63-interview
07/132019

Interview with Frank Fröhlich and Stephan Stöcklein in ASG 32 Mi (63), day 4 of the competition

News ASG32mi, Doppelsitzer, Doubleseater, Interview, Piloten

Interview with Frank Fröhlich and Stephan Stöcklein, doubleseater class, glider ASG32Mi D- KSFF, competition number 63, 11th July 2019, day 4 of the competition

Frank and Stephan reached 3rd place on the second scored competition day of the doubleseaters.

Their rating can be found here.

How was your flight in general? Are you satisfied? 

Frank: Yes very. But at first, when starting the task, we had concerns, if the weather would play along at all. Because the sky was clouding over from the west. But we knew it was clear in the East. And whether or not you would still get a thermal connection after the start, was questionable at first. The problem resolved itself directly after the engine shutdown, because you could climb well and then we could fly to the startline Tangermünde. Then we started the task without waiting for too long. The startline was opened and we crossed the line approximately 10 minutes after the start gate was opened.

Stephan: It was a very good decision that Frank started the task pretty soon. And so we had a good weather window and very good thermal lines.

Did you have any negative or positive surprises during your flight? 

Frank: Some competitors did not really follow the circle flight rules. So, they cut other competitors off, which was unnecessary, because, as a result, we flew very close to each other.

Stephan: A positive surprise was that we did not think at all this morning, that the weather would be so good and that in the end we would also have very good lines, good cloud streets. After the last turnpoint we thermalled again and then flew 90 km straight home.

Which decision taken during the flight was the most successful?

Stephan: The decision that we only circled in good lift. Only at three meters climb rate at the end of the task, and of course, Frank’s decision on the lines he flew, and that we just did not fly too low like some others did. It must have been difficult for them. Frank flew pretty close to the cloudbase and we matched the line almost perfectly.

Which decisions were most difficult to take?

Frank: When to start the task.

As a team of a double-seater plane, do you take decisions jointly as a team or does the pilot flying take the decisions?

Frank: Always as a team. The lines are also discussed.

Stephan: But the [responsible] pilot still decides. You have to say that. Since he [Frank] has more experience from the two of us to date, I do not have that much experience in competitions. But it works well.

This is the first German championship for you, Stephan, isn’t it?

Stephan: Yes, exactly.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Stephan: What I like is that, despite the difficult weather conditions, they [the competition management] have taken good decisions with regard to flying. For example, to start so late again yesterday – that was done very well. At first I did not think that we would be flying really.

Thank you, Frank and Stephan for this interview!

 

The Interview was taken by Evgenia Alexeeva.

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Bildschirmfoto 2019-07-11 um 21.12.18
07/112019

Day 3 and 4 – Pretty fast during the Flight

News 18m, Day 3, Day 4, Doppelsitzer, Doubleseater, International Stendal Glide, Offene Klasse, Open Class, Tag 3, Tag 4, Tagessieg

Day 3

Yesterday (Wednesday) we were finally able to send all classes into the competition. The weather “snoop” started at 1:09 PM local in gray sky.

Somewhat delayed, the rest of the doubleseaters started and was completely up in the air until 2:50. The flown day task A, a racing task with a distance of 296.7 km, started from the departure point Stendal-South first to Barby, then to Torgau via Flaeming Ost A9 towards Wuster Damm and back to Stendal-Borstel. All scores of DoSi’s here. Steffen Trapp and his co-pilot Chr. Reiss won the day at 120, 74 km / h in the Arcus M (1H).

The open class started at 3:00 PM local and was instantly in the air. For them, the B-task was activated due to the weather window. A racing task over 220.7 km from the departure point Stendal-East via Leitz to Zahna and back to Stendal-Borstel. The rating of the open can be found here. This time, Jim Acketoft (1P) took the day’s victory with his EB29DR and an average of 137.27 km / h.

The tail light was the 18m class (International Stendal Glide or pre-World Cup), which were towed locally from 15:15 clock. They had the day’s task B, a 174.6 km racing task from departure point Stendal-West to Lindau via Luesse-Belzig and back. Take a look at the rating here. Laurens Goudriaan wins the day’s victory in his JS3 (LG) with 136.27 km / h average speed.

For all helpers and teams, the exciting live tracking via OGN already began after the start.

Too fast, the three classes were back home – the first reported already at 5:30 PM in front of the target circle. The first scores were seen a short time later in Strepla and formed a hot point fight between some participants.

All participants landed back in Stendal-Borstel. The cleaning and reworking of the aircraft could be done in warming evening sun.

Day 4 (Today)

Last night it was rumored that the weather would be rather difficult today. This morning, the world looked a little different.
Walter Hermann, our meteorologist, was a bit hesitant at first, but then cleared the way for the open and double-seater class.

The sky was mostly covered. Nevertheless, the thermals on the track brought good to very good climbing values: “My beard had integrated 4.1 m / s!” (Quote participant).

Since the departure window was weather-beaten by Stendal-Borstel only short, the sports director decided to neutralize the 18m class today from the beginning – so not to let start.

The open class was allowed to fly a racing task (A) over 244.9 km from the departure point Stendal-Ost to Neustrelitz via Fürstenberg to Rathenow and back. Scoring can be found here. With an average speed of 146.6, / h, the fastest Felipe Levin (FL) was quite fast with his EB29R, closely followed by team partner and world champion Michael Sommer (EB), also in an EB29R.

The DoSi’s flew a racing task over 193.0 km from Tangermünde to Wittstock via Rheinsberg to the Wasserkuppe and to Stendal-Borstel.

Day winners are Christine Grote and Ulrich Gmelin in the Arcus T (V8) with 134.84 km / h.

Both ratings can be found here.

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07/092019

Day 2 offers a Competition for the Open Class

News Day 2, Offene Klasse, Open Class, Tag 2

A short drizzle opened the second day of the German Gliding Championships and the International Stendal Glide.

No reason for doing nothing: starting as usual 8:00 – 9:50. Briefing 10:00. The thermals still took a while to come and brought threetimes a delay for launching time.

The doubleseaters were allowed to dare first and started towing or starting at 2:30 local time.

However, with a cloud base at about 1000m and low thermals, the class was neutralized along with the 18m class that had lined up at the back of the airfield.

For the open class, however, there was no escape. Starting 2:45 clock local time, after the landed DoSi’s rolled off track.

Not quite as easy was the daily task B from Stendal-Borstel East to Havelberg, Fürstenberg, Leizen and back to Stendal. An AAT over 2 hours.

The provisional ranking shows a double victory for world champion Michael Sommer (EB) and team mate Felipe Levin (FL), followed by Bruno Gantenbrink (YY) with his Nimeta.

Take a look at the daily ranking here!

Your Team Stendal

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07/092019

Update: 9.7. Open Class launched 2:30 PM, Doubleseater & 18m cancelled.

News Day 2, Launchtime, Startbereitschaft, Tag 2

Hello to the second day of the German Championship gliding and the International Stendal Glide!

The weather is unsure today but got better at the end.

Open Class launched 2:30 PM, Doubleseater & 18m cancelled.

Task: B

Watch them via Live-Tracking

 

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Bildschirmfoto 2019-07-08 um 18.20.39
07/082019

The first day is done!

News 18m, Doppelsitzer, Doubleseater, Offene Klasse, Open Class, Wertungstag 1

The 18m class has completed its first day of evaluation!

Some pilots had to “throw” the engine, some have not flown off or flown back to the starting line. Four outlandings.

The first feedback: “A good decision, it was really fun”.

The two other classes – open and double seater – were neutralized and were allowed to bring their gliders back to their parking space.

The strong wind has confused the hairstyle of many pilots, teams, helpers and visitors – in a pleasant alternation of sun and shade. And a beautiful backdrop of swelling clouds.

Find Photos and Videos here.

Let’s see how tomorrow works. We’re looking forward to it!

 

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07/082019

08.07. – Briefing 10 AM, no gridding yet

News

Good Morning everyone on this first day of competition!

Briefing at 10 am.
No gridding before.
Pilots representative at 9.

 

 

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07/072019

The German Gliding Championships Stendal 2019 will officially be opened 8:00 PM

News Eröffnungsbriefing, Live-View, Offizielle Eröffnung, Opening Briefing

We have looked very much forward to this moment. Today is the day when several months of preparations, logistics, set ups and planning will come together.

89 registered sailplanes, 12 countries in 3 competitive classes have taken the (for some) long road to Hansestadt Stendal in order to join the competition.

Today, the German Gliding Championship 2019 Stendal of the Open and Doubleseater Class as well as the International Stendal Glide 2019 for all international guests begins.

 

Don’t miss the opening briefing

Time: Sunday the 7th of July from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM
Location: Aerodrome Stendal-Borstel or via Live-View on Facebook

You can meet the glider pilots, teams, helping hands, and all specific briefings details for this exciting event.

The live tracking of the flights can be found in the menu tab “Live Tracking”. There select the respective class and follow live the competing sailplanes.

We are very excited to officially open this event.

We thank all partners, sponsors and helpers for this great support!

Join us via Social Media or visit us at the Aerodrome Stendal-Borstel and enjoy.

Your Orga-Team

 

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Latest News
  • Interview with Jim Acketoft, Sweden, EB29 DR (1P), on day 11 of the championship Friday July 19th, 2019
  • Interview with Hadriaan van Nes, Netherlands, JS1B-TJ (JS), on day 11 of the championship Friday July 19th, 2019
  • Interview with Takeshi Maruyama, Japan, JS3 (AX), on day 10 of the championship Friday July 19th, 2019
  • Interview with Laurens Goudriaan, South Africa, flying JS3 (LG), on day 10 of the competition Thursday July 18th, 2019

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