by Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

  A recent cool and scattered showers for many is a welcome relief from the hundred degree temperatures that have been blistering the area but glider teams participating in the 38th FAI World Glider Championship, it has kept many of their sailplanes on the ground. 

  Austrian Pilot Wolfgang Janowitsch said, “The Weather is our motor: No good weather= no sailplane flying.”

  The South African Gliding Team posted the following on their Facebook Page late Wednesday afternoon:

  “Seems like chaos all round today, with only 1 out of the 66 competitors actually completing their task. 14 gliders physically landed at other airfields, in fields or lakes, the rest all started their engines to get home.

Both EL and IMS landed at alternate airfields, as although they both have working engines, with the storms around there was no ways for them to get back to Uvalde Safely. They’ve both arrived safely back at Uvalde by trailer. And the rest are all strapped down safely for the night. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.”

   According to a report posted on the Official World Gliding Competition Facebook Page, one glider did make it up into the cloudy skies and eventually had to ditch the plane into a lake.

   “The carnage is almost complete. After the launch, you could see the storms popping up to the east and heading to affect the task area. Survival was the name of the game, and everyone was trying to safely maximize their distance to get the most points possible. I can say all the pilots are safe.

   We did have one glider that landed in a lake. The pilot did a good job sitting it down and getting out of the ship. However, it was an electric powered ship and when they were pulling it out of the lake, the batteries shorted out and caught fire. The ranchers who were helping put the ship back in the water to put the fire out. We do not know of the status of the glider currently. We will try and get more information tomorrow at the pilots meeting. There are still many crews retrieving gliders. Even though all of the Open, 20 Meter and most of the 18 Meter ships have motors, some ran out of gas and still landed out.”

 According to a weather forecast by the National Weather Service for the Uvalde area temperatures are expected to reach a hgh of 94 degrees.

 The following is from the National Weather Service Office:

 Today

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 100. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 73. East southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 103. East wind around 5 mph.

 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

August 20th, 2024

  The gliders stayed out later than in previous days. When they did head in for a landing after 6 PM, they came in thick and fast. 

 Several locals showed up to view the gliders approaching the runway at Garner Field for a landing.  A local person named Mary B. (She requested her first name and last initial be used only) she was thrilled to see the gliders make their landing approaches. She asked if the Hesperian could take a picture of her with a glider in the background. 

While out in the small field across from the runway at the intersection of Ham Lane and Garner Field Road, I met a very knowledgeable man from South Africa who had connections to the Jonker Sailplanes. 

Following the landings, I headed over to the back field where the pilot and their teams were making final e