Lasham (England), south-west of London; from 3 to 10 August.
I arrived on the 5th, just in time to set the table for the international dinner in the big marquee set up next to the club’s café and clubhouse.
That was the only day flying was not possible, due to bad weather and rain.
For the rest of the week, though with a few cloudier days, I was able to devote myself to taking photos, filming and flying the gliders I was offered: three single-seaters (Slingby Swallow, Hol’s der Teufel, Rhönesperber) and the two-seater (Slingsby T-21), from which I could take some aerial photos.
98 gliders registered for the rally, with 144 pilots from 15 countries who, together with their companions, added up to almost 400 people. Most of them stayed in a camping area set up at one end of the field. A total of 1,456 launches were made, of which 982 by winch (2 winches with 4 lines) and 454 by tow plane (6 tow planes).
It is curious to see how, in a great gliding club like Lasham, with more than 700 members, its school is based mainly on the KA-13, with wood-and-fabric wings (9) as against 3 modern ones in fibreglass.
J.I.G. Colomo
