APRIL 2021 VOLUME 14 - No 7

GLIDINGlNTERNATIONAL

In This Issue: A 30%April 2021 Increase In Performance Could Be A Possibility1 April 2021 VOLUME 14 - No 7 Editor: John H. Roake

Manager: Janice Armstrong

Correspondents: lNTERNATIONAL Aldo Cernezzi GLIDING Robert (Bob) Downe Joseph King Myles Hynde Arthur Liddington

Gliding International published by: Gliding International Ltd

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INDEX Gliding International is published monthly with the exception of December and January. Ten issues per annum. A Thirty Percent Performance Increase 4

Wings and Wheels 7 Subscriptions: Birdy – Better named Ingenuity 8 Printed Version Air Mailed: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development 16 1 Year: $136 ($US82) or equivalent 2 Years: $259 ($US165) or equivalent First Hydrogen Motor Glider 17 (all prices quoted in NZ Dollars) or Glories of the Southern Alps 18 the equivalent in your currency. So, You Want Wave? 24 Digital Version emailed: 5G Explained in Detail 26 1 Year $86 ($US56) or equivalent Competing in Gliders 31 2 Years $163 ($US106) or equivalent 1000 Year Old Thermals - Iceland 33 (all prices quoted in NZ Dollars) or the equivalent in your currency. Russian Success – Tripling Battery Capacities 37 Personal cheques acceptable. International News For Glider Pilots 39 Things With Wings 46 New subscriptions can be originated Cumulus Soaring 47 through the magazine’s secure web site by using a Visa or MasterCard credit card at: www.glidinginternational.com

Advertising: Contact the magazine’s advertising department by email at: Cover: Everyone’s Dream. The three klm long summit of Mt Cook (3,724 metres – 12,200 feet), in the South Island of New Zealand. Photo: Milan Kmetovics [email protected]

2 Gliding International April 2021 3 Would You Believe A 30% Improvement In Your Sailplane’s Performance Is Possible ?

n eagle eyed subscriber has alerted Gliding International There appears to be no reason why their new design cannot be Tamarack claims that reports of ATLAS-equipped flight control wing loading sensors (located in the aircraft’s fuselage) and a to a unique situation that could (repeat: could) have adapted to high performance sailplanes. departures were overblown, a view shared by the NTSB investigator moveable load alleviation surface. The latter looks like a small Aconsequences on the future performance of the next in charge of the probe of the fatal crash. aileron at the junction of the wingtip and winglet. It’s used to generation of sailplanes. Dialogue will need to take place between Tamarack recently received a Supplemental Type Certificate from essentially “turn-off” the winglet during short gust or manoeuvring sailplane designer engineers and the Tamarack Aerospace Group, a the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their ATLAS active “One of our customers filed a false pilot report early last year, events, alleviating loading on the wing and thus the requirement for U.S.A. company that appears to have had major success with their winglet system which allows them to claim that ATLAS can reduce reporting a failure of our system. He claimed the outcome of the a beefed-up wing structure that passive winglets impart. new winglet, a design that improves the performance they claim fuel consumption in a business jet by 30-33% - a claim that has met failure was more dramatic than it actually was.” to be at least 30% better than any winglet fitted up to this date. with amazement and not a little scepticism. Guida says he came up with the idea while returning from a Steely Investigators found that the reporting pilot did not have the active Dan concert in 2009. Prior to that he’d spent years as a consulting There will be many hiccups in adapting Tamarack’s winglets to a Critics around Tamarack grew a little louder when its ATLAS system winglet system serviced as Tamarack recommended. Meanwhile, aerodynamic/loads engineer at Aviation Partners working for Joe sailplane, because Tamarack’s 110 winglets now flying world wide came under scrutiny following reports of flight attitude departures the company has repaid all of its creditors, has continued to service Clark. are all fitted to Cessna Citation Jets and the better than 30% they from which pilots had to struggle to regain control. In April 2019, its customers, and secured a confirmed reorganisation plan. are claiming relates in reality to fuel burn consumption. EASA issued an airworthiness directive noting that the active load “I worked on the [API] passive winglets for Hawkers and alleviation system (ATLAS) appeared to have malfunctioned. So the small Sandpoint, Idaho, company appears set to continue Gulfstreams,” Guida says. “The whole time I was doing it, I realised Nevertheless, if a transition is achieved that produces only 50% of in business. It has installed the ATLAS winglets system in over 110 that there had to be a better way. I saw all the disadvantages of the Citation success (?) a major change in the future of gliding is The FAA immediately grounded affected aircraft. Five loss of control aircraft. Despite those sales, it still has a sales job to do on its winglets, not just the good parts.” on the cards. incidents including a fatal accident were noted by the FAA which, performance claims. along with EASA, required changes to Tamarack’s ATLAS system. Among those was the weight generated in the form of structural But lets have a look at what we now know. Although you may not However, the FAA accepted Tamarack’s proposal for compliance But how can the addition of winglets generate a 30% reduction in reinforcement to the wing to handle the aerodynamic loads that have heard of them, the Idaho-based company called Tamarack to the AD, terminating the groundings. A month later, Tamarack fuel burn? By doing more than a pair of passive winglets, Tamarack winglets create. On a 767 that works out to almost 3,000 pounds Aerospace Group have been making noises in aviation circles with received a fresh commitment of investor funding. says. ATLAS is a system that combines the vortex reduction of of additional metal, according to Guida. their “startling performance claim for a compound active winglet traditional winglets with real-time aerodynamic load alleviation, system called ATLAS”, that they have installed on Textron-Cessna The grounding led Tamarack into Chapter 11 bankruptcy a process light weight and increased climb performance. “My idea was that we don’t need to take the winglet up to the business jets. from which it is about to successfully emerge, according to company [maximum] limit-load of the aircraft. The gust manoeuvres [that executives. “We have a lot more explaining to do,” says Tamarack founder, wing experiences] are short lived events. Why do we need to take Conventional passive winglets, the kind you see on airliners like Nicholas Guida. “When we come out of the box setting an informal the whole wing up to the [maximum load] levels during one of these the 737, are generally agreed to be good for a 3% to 4% decrease “We’re almost completely out of the Chapter 11 process at this world record on our first flight (a claimed 1,853 nautical miles in the [brief] events?” in induced drag and corresponding increase in fuel efficiency when point,” says Tamarack President Jacob Klinginsmith. “We’re in company’s CJ), given what’s been claimed (for winglet efficiency) installed on aircraft with large, cruise-optimised wings. The Seattle good health and we’ve continued sales through this process, even we have to train everybody to realise it’s about getting to altitude The small aileron at the wingtip deflects when load sensors detect firm Aviation Partners, which was founded by the late Joe Clark, through the grounding. Things are looking pretty good for the quickly and being efficient at altitude.” vertical loads on the wingtip/winglet, countering the force of popularised the addition of fuel-saving winglets to business jets company’s future.” those loads and the aerodynamic affect of the winglet itself. This and then to airliners in the late 1990s. ATLAS is comprised of a wing tip extension, a highly tuned winglet, momentary “load alleviation” means that the wing does not have

4 Gliding International April 2021 5 to be strengthened, saving weight. It also allows Tamarack to add points out, but common sense would suggest that it’s a necessary more span to the CJ wing. The Tamarack winglets involve an over step for the company’s growth. five feet wing extension, a reason why their claimed performance SOARING of 30% cannot be simply transferred to a newly designed sailplane. For the Tamarack winglet to be a success on a sailplane, some Sailplanes already have that wing extension. Thirty percent better serious research money will be required, and the name of a likely performance is obviously not achievable, but at 50% of the power sailplane manufacturing company likely to get involved also escapes aircraft’s achievable advantage? Just maybe! this reporter as I write. So maybe it’s all just a pipe-dream but certainly a story worth telling. SUPPLIES “But we extend the wing and add a winglet. That’s why we have three to four times the savings in fuel as a passive winglet,” says BUT MEAN TIME & PILOT SHOP Tamarack. The Bombardier Challenger and Cessna Citation XLS series are “If you take a CitationJet, fill it up with fuel and fly, you should be likely candidates for Tamarack’s ATLAS conversions. But so are back on the ground within three hours and 900 nautical miles from other aircraft, particularly those that require good hot-high altitude • • * launch point or else you’re going to be nervous. With a Citation with performance and significant range/loiter time. Both the military and Largest Selection 100% Customer Service Same-Day Shipping active winglets you can fill it with fuel, fly for over four hours and go unmanned air vehicle OEMs have aircraft with such needs. Already 1,350 nautical miles,” Guida asserts. Tamarack are in talks with drone manufacturers, the U.S. Airforce and entirely independent producers of OEM systems but not we Bizjets won’t be the only beneficiaries, Tamarack says. The company’s believe with any sailplane producing plants. analyses of the 737 and A320 show an 18% to 20% fuel efficiency increase with the ATLAS span extension/active winglets. Pursuing Tamarack won’t identify any Air Force officials it has spoken the commercial aircraft market is obviously part of Tamarack’s long- with. When asked whether the company has spoken with any AIRCRAFT PARTS PILOT SUPPLIES INSTALL/ GROUND term plan but it has other targets first, including those who have U.S. Department of Defence acquisition authorities, Guida and • Batteries/Chargers • Accessories MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT difficulty digesting its claims. Klinginsmith will only say that they have had discussions “at the • Brake Conversion Kit • Apparel • Aircraft Tubing • Canopy Cover Pentagon” and possibly with the Department of Energy. When • Brakes & Parts • Books • Cable & Wiring • Glider Covers these took place is unclear but no names have been offered. • Canopies/Windows/Rails • CamelBaks • Connectors and Switches • Glider Tow Bar • Contest ID & Decals • Emergency Equipment • Instrument Hardware, • Sailplane Rigger CONVINCE US • Launch & Tow Equipment • Headsets Tamarack just may have an exceptional product but one that has Mounts & Covers • Trailer Vents • Seatbelt / Harness • Plotters yet to produce verifiable performance numbers beyond initial sales • Pilot Relief System • Wing Stands Textron-Cessna acknowledges supplying Tamarack with baseline • Skids & Tip Wheels • Seat pads & foam cushions • RAM Mounts • Wing Wheel wing/engineering data for the CJ but told this reporter it has no success. “The problem with having the best winglet system in the • TE Probes • Gifts & Gift Cards world right now,” Guida offers, “is that you almost discredit yourself • Speakers • Tail Dolly active relationship with the ATLAS maker. Textron adds that it • Tires, Tubes & Wheels • Decals, Videos, T-Shirts, Hats • Wax & Polish • Trailer Drawer has not validated Tamarack’s performance data for the CJ series. by making all the claims we’ve made.” Whether Tamarack has asked for such validation or not, Textron won’t say. Question: Can we ignore the Tamarack’s Atlas system?

For its part, Tamarack says that it has had aerodynamicists from JOHN ROAKE potential clients review its data. But the company can point to no COBRA TRAILER AVIONICS/ TAPES/SEALS PARACHUTES formal third-party validation of its claims. Tamarack says it has 30 • Axle & Brake INSTRUMENTS • Cloth, Zig-Zag, Transfer, V-Seal • National patents related to ATLAS and points to numerous testimonials by • Draw Bar • Airspeed Indicator • Teflon Fabric Tape with Adhesive • Paraphernalia - Softie their 110-plus customers it has done conversions for. Validating • Extras • Altimeters • Foam, Gap, Mylar, PTFE • Strong and certifying ATLAS data is expensive and time consuming, Guida • Ground Handling • Antennas • Combi, Dimple • MarS • Inside Trailer • Compass • Lights • ELT • Ramp • Flight Computers • Trailer Top & Bottom • GPS & Data Loggers • Hour Meter/Clocks/Gauges OXYGEN • Power FLARM EQUIPMENT • Radios/Transceiver • Aerox • Slip/Skid indicator • Mountain High • Transponders • Variometers

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6 Gliding International April 2021 7 ‘BIRDY’...... but better named...... ‘ INGENUITY’

• Genius • Creation • Originality • Adroitness • Imagination • Determination • Inventiveness

here are three major sailplane manufacturers in Germany, but There are very few aircraft types in Europe below 120 kg empty few know of a fourth. A very small company has in recent times weight (for example the Swiss Archaeopteryx). Aviation enthusiasts Tbeen established, whose niche product is a 13.5 metre motor- in a hurry thought about it in Germany. After two years at the glider, the BIRDY, which Gliding International believes is misnamed. AERO exhibition a group exchanged first sketches on paper. But It is the only German made sailplane designed for 120 kg class and you need a manufacturer that could make such a special motorised has features that only sailplanes twice its costs have as standard. self-launching electric sailplane. As the group found out - good advice is expensive. The Birdy is a self-launcher and few realise that pilots who own a 120 kg aircraft regardless of whether it has or does not have a The three big ones - Manufacturer DG-Flugzeugbau, Alexander motor, you do not (in Germany) need a medical. Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau and Schempp-Hirth were not interested. All three had a forward order book-full. The group Also, the Birdy is one aircraft that does not have to have an annual found a small company near Nurnberg that was already producing review certificate. That’s what makes gliding very possible for cladding parts in small numbers for trikes and other aircraft parts. those who have an Ultra-light certificate and are at an advanced This company called Klenhart Aerodesign indicated that they would age. Whilst for whatever reason a grounding might be impossible . undertake to manufacture the prototype. Initially the group’s non- . . you could be failed by the flight doctor. profit company considered their position and the project started heading faster than originally planned.

8 Gliding International April 2021 9 DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE DATA

Span 13.5 m Fuselage Length (Incl prop) 5.98 m Wing 8.3 m²

Empty weight 115 kg Glide ratio 40 Max take-off weight 180 km/h Stall speed with flaps 63 km/h

The original three “would-be” sailplane owners were surprisingly “You actually want to fly your glider when the weather promises united in their ultimate design and performance requirements, so particularly good thermals. Often, unfortunately, there is no one planning, early construction, and costs presented no problems. around during the week to pull them up. Bad weather is inevitably There are many sailplane designs flying even today whose proto- announced for the weekend. I want (as so many do) to have a motor type presented their designer/manufacturer with one gigantic glider available that I can assemble on my own and one I can easily problem after another, but not the Birdy. Asked to outline their make airworthy from its trailer. Avoiding hangarage costs is a must dream about the project, one would-be owner wrote: for me”. That was the dream and that’s how we developed the Birdy. It is landing field.” The maker explains, “The CFRP / GFRP structural a single-seat, electrically powered motor glider with a very high components are manufactured by the German aviation company aerodynamic quality that meets the requirements of Germany’s Klenhart-DESIGN and partner companies in NC-milled GFRP moulds 120 kg class. The Birdy concept is based on the initiative of the from the most suitable composite materials in order to achieve experienced 9500 members of Germany’s Ultra-light gliding high overload capacity, practical surface robustness and still low organisation. It is intended to prove that, despite the empty weight empty weight. Hans-Peter Schneider (Technical Director of the limited to 120kg, a practical, light and easy-to-fly aircraft with very DVLL, experienced aircraft manufacturer and approval expert) is high soaring and cruising performance is feasible. In connection responsible for the independent quality assurance of production.” BEST L/D = 40:1 with an optional trailer with photovoltaic modules, Birdy does not need any other infrastructure or auxiliary personnel other than a LIGHTWEIGHT, HIGH-TORQUE ELECTRIC POWER start and a landing field. An Eck-Geiger electric drive in the area of the centre of gravity Birdy made its first flights on 7th August 2020. The 264-pound with 12 kW or 16 kW continuous-power motor drives the removable, empty weight puts it 10 pounds above USA’s FAA Part 103 254-pound folding 1.3-metre (4.27-foot) propeller through a long shaft. This type limit. But Euro craft in that category are not as limited in top or of drive starts immediately when required, does not require motor cruise speed. Birdy’s light weight required clever arrangement of extension or retraction “and avoids the otherwise unavoidable, components to enable a maximum take-off weight of 280 kilograms strong increase in aerodynamic drag in motorised cruise flight.” (616 pounds) and pilots up to 1.95 meters (6’ 5”) tall. Its 13.5-metre (44.29-foot) wingspan carries only 13.9 pounds per foot, enabling THREE POTENTIAL MOTORS FROM COMPANY’S 40:1 glide ratio at around 90 kilometres per hour (55.8 mph). Its 8.3 SELECTIONS HAVE RATHER AMAZING SPECIFICATIONS square metre (89.3 square foot) wing area lifts only 6.89 pounds per square foot, enabling a 63 km/hr (39 mph) stall speed with The HPD12 produces 12kW continuously and 15kW peak from flaps. Birdy can top out at 180 km/hr (111.6 mph), well above FAA a weight of only 3.75 kilograms (8.25 pounds). Turning over at a ultralight constraints. leisurely 2,180 rpm, these little disks can spin a fairly large propeller slowly and still produce substantial thrust. The slightly larger, 4.7- SINCE IT’S A SAILPLANE, THAT MAY NOT COUNT HERE kg (10.34-pound) HPD16 puts out 16 kW continuously and 20 kW at peak at 2,280 rpm. For the same weight, the HPD20SD generates It can operate in a highly independent way, able to take off on 20kW continuously and 25 kW peak at 2,600 rpm. All of them use an its own power and capable of being recharged by its “optional MC300 Motor Management System which can pass 300 Amperes trailer with photovoltaic modules, [and] does not require any other of current continuously, 400 Amps for approximately three minutes, infrastructure or auxiliary personnel other than a take-off and and 600 Amps for around 30 seconds.

10 Gliding International April 2021 11 Alternatively, an Eck-Geiger electric drive can also be fitted on the centre of gravity with 12 kW or 16 kW continuous-power motor driving the removable, folding 1.3-metre (4.27-foot) propeller through a long shaft. This type of drive starts immediately when required, does not require motor extension or retraction “and avoids the otherwise unavoidable, strong increase in aerodynamic drag in motorised cruise flight.”

It weighs only 5.5 kg with the necessary electronics. The electric motors from Geiger-Engineering are the most popular worldwide. They are the biggest manufacturers and sell more than any other manufacturer. Their motors are reliable, extremely light, have a very high efficiency and are also considered inexpensive. This made it clear that the engine had to be on the centre of gravity, thus the designer simply had to find space within the fuselage.

ENOUGH ENERGY TO HAVE SOME REAL FUN

Birdy can carry single or dual Geiger battery packs of three kilowatt- hours or six kWh enabling ranges of more than 200 kilometres in pure powered flight. Each battery pack holds 3.6 kW-hr of energy and has its own battery management system (BMS) to enable monitoring and optimal charging. A possible range extender could increase endurance “almost at will in the future”.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE FLIGHT TESTS

The first test flight was mid-August. This first took place at the Mengen-Hohentengen airfield, whist the flight continued in Bad Waldsee. Here, a third battery pack was installed to meet the requirements of the flight test. A sufficient number of take-offs can be flown with it per day. The calculated parameters for Birdy, such as the glide ratio of 40, seem to be achieved, this was determined in a comparison flight with a DG-400.

HERE ARE A FEW IMPRESSIONS FROM THE FLIGHT TESTS: Germany’s Aerokurier reports

Their website Sustainableskies compares Birdy with the high-end South African JS-3 RES.

BIRDY FLIES! the CAD model. Six NC shapes were milled, laminated, sanded and polished. The first components will be created from this. Birdy successfully completed its maiden flight with our pilot Günther Spitzer. The flight characteristics of the prototype were SHAPE FOR THE BIRDY CABIN described by Günther as very good, the rudder still needs to be increased a little and the electric drive has vibrations that interfere The wedding finally took place on April 7, 2019, the wings fitted with some load settings. BUT: Birdy flies and in the next few weeks to the fuselage straight away and the prototype finally took on flight tests will be carried out, during which all important flight concrete forms: parameters will be flown. Hans-Peter Schneider, who has developed a special computer for flight tests, will help us with this. WEDDING OF THE PROTOTYPE

STRESS TEST So we were able to present the still fresh prototype to the public at AERO 2019. It received a lot of attention, and a number of interested The official static load tests were staged on May 12, 2020, in the parties signed up on the lists on display. presence of an examiner. A series of measurements was carried out in order to measure and prove the resistance of the prototype to BIRDY defined static forces. Birdy is intended as a light, easy-to-fly, electrically powered 120kg LOAD TEST ON THE WINGS HAD A TOTAL LOAD OF OVER 1000KG motor glider with very good soaring properties, which members of the DVLL can purchase as a kit or later as a finished aircraft. Except for a few details, the tests were so successful that we can With an optional trailer, Birdy should make it possible to take off begin flight tests soon. Before that, an emission simulation for the individually and independently from each take-off place, to reach a entire rescue system must be carried out and the engine, hood and good starting height with the engine and to return to the starting instruments installed. point after the glider flight.

THE PROTOTYPE Thrust should be used optimally where it is most efficient is, and that is clearly still behind the tail unit. Klenhart-Design developed the first Birdy prototype on the basis of

12 Gliding International April 2021 13 SAILPLANES ARE TOUGHER THAN THEY LOOK. SPAR TEST SHOWS BIRDY’S HIGH STRENGTH

Since Birdy can maintain level flight at about 80 to 90 kilometers per hour (49.6 to 55.8 mph) on a mere 3 kW (4 hp), even a single battery pack will allow some thermal hopping and safe returns to the pilot’s home field. A rate of climb of three meters per second (590 feet per minute) should require full power for only a few minutes, leaving a reasonable “cruising” range.

Klenhart Aerodesign is already prepared for the first manufacturing series, as each of the founding members await the delivery of their own plane. Obviously the “Group” partners come first! At a price for the ready-to- fly aircraft of €75,000 net. To be able to guarantee a euro price, some parts will be manufactured CFRP shells as produced in the Czec. According to current planning, assembly will take place in Spalt near Nurenberg respectively. For the kit one has the idea of something I want to take over €50,000 net. A direct competitor in the 120 kg class on the 3rd Swiss Archeopteryxl does not exist at the moment. The planned and somewhat cheaper GP 11 from Poland is not yet flying and also requires a more powerful drive (maybe 20W) hence feature part designs stolen from the Diana or the Silent 2 Electro are heavier and more expensive anyway. The maker explains, “The CFRP / GFRP structural components are manufactured by the German aviation company Klenhart-DESIGN After being under the test leadership of Toni Roth, who was and partner companies in NC-milled GFRP moulds from the most responsible for the integration of the propulsion system is also suitable composite materials in order to achieve high overload responsible for the flight tests. capacity, practical surface robustness”. The Birdy was to have appeared at AERO 2021, but that program ENOUGH ENERGY TO HAVE SOME REAL FUN has been cancelled and is not expected to be detrimental to the planned sales and production time table. Birdy can carry single or dual Geiger battery packs of three kilowatt- hours or six kWh enabling ranges of more than 200 kilometers in There is an option for those in a hurry with an advance payment of pure powered flight. Each battery pack holds 3.6 kW-hr of energy €25,000, associated with a fixed price guarantee. and has its own battery management system (BMS) to enable Proof beyond doubt - Wing strength test monitoring and optimal charging. A possible range extender could Compiled from numerous interviews and re-written. A total load of over 1000kg increase endurance “almost at will in the future”. Photos by Hellmut Penner and supplied by Jean Molveau of Vol a Voile.

14 Gliding International April 2021 15 Same Subject - The World’s First Liquid- Different Perspectives Hydrogen Motor Glider °C (32 °F) using “a complex tubing system” before being run through a 1.5 kW fuel cell to charge a buffer battery that powers the electric Toyota - Big Advances propeller motor on the aircraft’s tail. The AeroDelft team plans to fly the Phoenix this July on battery power, then on gaseous hydrogen a few months later, and finally, somewhere in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development around (Northern Hemisphere) Fall this year, the students will fit the liquid hydrogen system.

“Development of the liquid hydrogen system is going swimmingly,” said Prototype Project Manager Sam Rutten. “We’re ending the design phase. Liquid hydrogen is a very difficult thing to work with. For it to stay liquid, you need to cool it to around 20 Kelvin, very close to absolute zero. Our Propulsion team has developed a special tank, and also other support systems, which will allow us to fly with liquid eroDelft ( Netherlands based company) has revealed a one-third hydrogen. We’re already starting the production phase, the first steps scale prototype of its Phoenix two-seater, which aims to be the have already been taken to construct this tank according to all the Aworld’s first liquid hydrogen aircraft. Writiing from Europe about relevant certification.” hydrogen’s potential as a transformative technology for green aviation in gaseous form, AeroDelft claims hydrogen offers an energy density The full-size two-seat Phoenix is also already being built, with a reveal much higher than lithium batteries, and that offers a genuine path scheduled for July. It should fly on gaseous hydrogen by summer 2022, toward the decarbonisation of short-to-medium range air travel. and the first full-scale liquid hydrogen flight is planned for 2024. Both the prototype and the full-size Phoenix stand to set all kinds of records, But extending their claims, AeroDelft say that the biggest planes are the but the project is also focused on advancing hydrogen aviation by biggest emitters, and to eliminate emissions from long-range airliners, working with certification boards to develop a framework within which compressed gas hydrogen systems – which offer about half the range a liquid hydrogen aircraft can be certified, identifying risks related to of an equivalent jet fuel powertrain – will never be able to do the trick. liquid hydrogen aviation and working out systems to help mitigate nergy - Toyota packages up a ‘crate’ fuel cell module you can use developments outside its own product lineup, Toyota has packaged up a For that, we’re going to need liquid hydrogen systems. Liquid hydrogen them. for anything. fuel cell module you can buy more or less like a crate engine, ready to systems can store upwards of three times the energy by weight of E plumb into whatever device you’d like to power with hydrogen. a gaseous system, meaning that a large-scale liquid hydrogen airliner Commercialising the Phoenix is not on the team’s radar at this point, Toyota’s new horizontal type module produces 60 or 80 kW of power at could conceivably fly farther than today’s fossil burners. although it’s happy to speak to anyone who’d like to take that on. 400-750 volts. It was unveiled late February, a compact module available Toyota is heavily invested in hydrogen, as is Kia/Hyundai – a reflection of AeroDelft does have plans for a larger scale aircraft though, including in four models that the company hopes to begin selling anytime now. the Japanese and Korean governments’ commitments to working towards It’s not quite that simple! Liquid hydrogen has terrific energy density a liquid hydrogen airliner capable of flying 19 passengers plus pilots up a hydrogen energy economy. As one of the only companies producing fuel by weight, but terrible density by volume, so you’d need to design your to 925 km (570 mi), which it calls the Greenliner. There are technical Stemming from the company’s experiences in developing hydrogen fuel cells at scale, it’s looking to provide a very easy way for other companies aircraft with significantly more fuel storage space and potentially deal mountains to climb with the Phoenix, however, before the Greenliner cell systems – such as in the Mirai FC electric vehicle (FCEV) and Sora to buy and use its technology. with additional drag as a result. But it may be one of the only clean fuel project gets too far along. FCEV bus – as well as its larger efforts to popularise FCEVs and fuel cell technologies that can get zero-emission intercontinental airliners into technology, Toyota hopes this new module system will suit the needs of Thus, it’s announced its intention to manufacture “FC Modules” that can mainstream use in the medium term. The Phoenix is a very exciting project in a field that has genuinely companies across a variety of industries. easily be integrated into cars, trucks, buses, trains, ships, stationary transformative potential. The world needs liquid hydrogen to advance generators and any other suitable application. Neverthless, this pioneering work from AeroDelft is quite exciting. A in leaps and bounds if we’re to eliminate the roughly 2% of global Toyota has identified hydrogen fuel cells as an important tool in team of 44 students from Netherland’s TU Delft has been beavering greenhouse gas emissions contributed by the aviation sector. It’s decarbonising a variety of sectors and contributing to achieving carbon Each module contains a fuel cell stack, boost converter, air compressor, away on the “world’s first liquid hydrogen fuel cell aircraft,” and has terrific to see the Delft team making significant progress, and we look neutrality. hydrogen pump and water pump, wrapped up in a spiffy box. You will now presented a 1/3-scale prototype that is scheduled for its first forward to following the Phoenix through the remainder of the project. need to supply your own hydrogen tanks, as well as clean air and a public flight this July. Toyota’s newly launched product packages in a single compact module an cooling circuit. individual hydrogen fuel cell system along with components that enhance The Phoenix will be a hydrogen-retrofitted version of the two-seat Gliding International’s technical experts have told us performance, such as the FC stack, as well as components that handle air The output is a supply of electricity, operating at a range of voltages e-Genius electric glider, developed at the University of Stuttgart and that: Liquid hydrogen will not succeed as a fuel. It is supply, hydrogen supply, cooling, and power control. between 400 V and 750 V, which you can route to a buffer battery or run first flown in 2011. The e-Genius has flown over 400 km (250 miles) in difficult to store, is incredibly dangerous, as anyone straight through a work circuit depending on what you’re doing. its record-breaking history on battery power alone. It can get around familiar with space rockets will know, hydrogen can be In particular, Toyota’s experience with fuel cell development led to the 1,000 km (620 miles) using a petrol-powered range extender. The full- very explosive. Now add that every time flown, all the company being able to eliminate the humidifier, instead circulating water Two shapes will be available: a “vertical” unit and a horizontal unit sized Phoenix will carry 10 kg of liquid hydrogen, with an estimated hydrogen gas will have to be drained off the aircraft, as generated during power generation through the FC stack. measuring 1,270 x 630 x 410 mm). Each of these will be available in range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and an endurance up to 10 hours in even storing the aircraft outside will carry risks of leaks 60 and 80 kW versions, and Toyota claims they all offer “world-class, the air. and resulting explosions. Then add, these uses will not be This, in turn, has led to what Toyota describes as “world-class, top level” top level output density per unit volume” and “simple and infrequent” the occasional flight; a hydrogen leak on an active airfield output density per unit volume. maintenance. The modules can easily be combined to scale things up, The one-third scale, remote-controlled prototype is not small; it’s got will, almost certainly close the airfield down until all gas and Toyota is more than willing to commit engineers to help companies a 5.7 m (around 19-ft) wingspan, weighs 50 kg (110 lb) and carries 1 has been dispersed . . . and checked to be so. While on Fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen, so they’re a key part of the design efficiently around them. kg (2.2 lb) of liquid hydrogen, enough for an estimated endurance of paper a great idea, sadly, the use of hydrogen gas to powertrain for hydrogen-powered electric vehicles and aircraft. But they around seven hours and a range around 500 km (310 mi). The hydrogen replace more complex hydrocarbons will never become can also be useful in a range of other applications, and in order to promote Source: Toyota is kept in a cryogenic tank at -253 °C (-423 °F), and warmed up to 0 widespread . . . there are simply too many risks involved.

16 Gliding International April 2021 17 The Glories of the Southern Alps Peter Wooley

o see the South Island’s sprawling ranges for the first time, from a little airliner window at 30 000 Strange how on an otherwise good day you can just lose it! Just over 115km in a little under two hours. More ft is to be struck speechless with awe. Having spent 25 years flying among the rugged sandstone about this out landing further on. Tmountains of South Africa’s south western Cape Province, I was still absolutely stunned by my first glimpse of the Southern Alps. Surely there is no other sight on Earth to compare? Day four was another launch via Magic Mountain, then north along the Barrier Range, across the Hopkins River to Mt Glenmary. From there we returned southward along the Ben Ohau Range, past Lake Ohau, on In fulfilment of a long-time dream I never really thought would be realised, I booked myself in for a week- to the Benmore Range and finally a scenic tour of the Omarama area via the Hawkduns, with some low-level long mountain flying course with Kahu Soaring, operated by Milán Kmetovics, currently New Zealand’s only ridge soaring on the east side of the Buscot hills. Three hours, forty minutes and approximately 190km. commercial gliding instructor. Milán, in a small way therefore, fills the void left by the closure of Gavin Wills’ Glide Omarama. The experience is similar, except at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one instruction. Day five was yet another launch to Magic Mountain from where we ventured north along the Barrier Range, east to the Ben Ohau Range and into the Jollie River valley, where a serious struggle took place, Milán getting Of the seven days I was there, we flew five, all blue except one. Six of the seven days were flyable. At the us out of a hole with patience and skill. Sufficiently topped up again, we continued as far as the Murchison time, NZ was dominated by a nasty high pressure but even so, we traversed various mountain regions on Glacier. From here we had superb views of Mt Cook, the Tasman Glacier with its piles of dark moraine, as every flight, the furthest extending to the Tasman Glacier below Mount Cook. Unfortunately, the famous well as Lake Tekapo. Returning south over the mountains, we skirted the east side of Lake Pukaki on final wave eluded us, but it’s something to look forward to. glide for Omarama. Even the Duo’s long legs failed us in this, and we joined the foothills of the Benmore Range at rather low altitude. Luckily, there was a suitable strip nearby. Once again, Milán saved the day During this week-long period, the thermals, though generous, proved to be consistently small and rough. with skill and patience and we made a safe arrival on the lush green grass of Omarama airfield. Four hours Nevertheless, some carried up to 11 000 ft all this despite the typically hazy appearance of stable air. A forty-five minutes for 300km, but what an amazing flight! The highlight of the five. bonus of flying here is the generous allocation of airspace, quite unlike what we are used to in the North Island. The previous professional Glide Omarama tugs have been replaced, courtesy of Keith Essex, with a brand- new Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic, powered by a 115hp Rotax 914 engine. It does the long tows to the outer Without wishing to bore with too many names, our flights went something like this: jump-off points with ease. But we also had tows behind a Carbon Cub and a Super Cub.

Day one we towed to Mt Cuthbert, also known as Mt Horrible, because someone once crashed up there. Milán proved to be extremely patient. I had not flown a Duo before and was also unaccustomed to an ASI From there on to the Hawkdun Range, and north to the Grampian Mountains before crossing over upper reading in knots. There is a certain style of soaring needed in these conditions where the pilot must sense Lake Benmore on the return to base. About 180km in around three hours. An exciting introduction to the the initial rush on entering the thermal and turn immediately. After a quarter turn the vario will confirm area. whether on not you have picked a proper thermal or just a small bubble. If it’s only a bubble, move on, but if the vario is up for half the turn or more, stay there and refine your circle. The key is to feel the lift and turn Day two we towed to a popular spot that the pilots call Magic Mountain on the Diadem Range – a longish before the instrument registers. tow but worth it. From there we headed northwards up the Barrier Range as far as Mt Huxley, then south along the Huxley Range along the Hunter River Valley, which leads into Lake Hawea. Further south we The spread of peaks, ranges, lakes and valleys can be bewildering for a pilot unfamiliar with the area, but traversed the St Bathans Range and from there returned to Magic Mountain, before heading back home. each one has its name, and slowly you get a mental picture of the names and the layout of the terrain. It Approximately 200km in just over three hours. seemed daunting to think about what would happen should you over-extend yourself and find the air in which you are flying has become somewhat stable. In actual fact, the valleys and surrounding plains have Day three we again used Magic Mountain, on to the Huxley Range, crossing Lake Hawea and on to the dozens of small strips, most of which can be aerotowed out of – although a road-retrieve can often be a McKerrow Range. From there we ventured north to the Bexley Range before turning south, over the Haast tedious affair, as we discovered on day two. Pass and down the Makarora Valley, where we landed out just above the very top of Lake Hawea.

18 Gliding International April 2021 19 Barren scree slopes, braided river valley and mountain peaks Aoraki Mount Cook and Omarama as far as the eye can see. Razor-Sharp Peaks And Afternoon Sea Breeze Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain at Cloud Moving In From The West Coast The land out at Makarora was on the well-known “Piano Field” 3,724m/12,218ft. In local Maori legend, “Aoraki” is above Lake Wanaka. This is rather a long way from home, their most sacred ancestor from whom they derive and here I experienced the only negative event during my their identity and status. Aoraki possesses power stay in Omarama. over life and death and represents a link between their natural and spiritual worlds. We sadly discovered that none of the gliding folk at Omarama would retrieve us that afternoon. Not to be daunted, we This mountain generates gigantic wave structures hitched a ride to Wanaka with a most interesting Kiwi and innumerable flights are recorded in the 30,000 gentleman, and prevailed upon Mattias, one of Milán’s to 35,000 feet range. Many world height records mountain climbing buddies, to drive us back to Omarama. have been flown above Mount Cook’s phenomenal system. Mattias and later their friend Charlie proved to be stalwart friends, and on the following morning we were all on the road Prior to the Covid-19 epidemic, gliding and Mount at 0600 hrs with a trailer to retrieve the Duo. By 1200 hrs it Cook combined to entertain thousands of tourists. was back at Omarama, rigged, cleaned and ready for launch There is no alternative description - it is a mecca – not a bad feat considering the circumstances. for soaring pilots, especially the nearer experienced pilots from Australia and the United States. Various Duo Discus gliders are available to fly at Omarama, as well as two singles, which I was told are little used at The demise of Glide Omarama combined with present. Covid-19 has produced a dampening effect on soaring at Omarama. That scene has change dramatically and The particular Duo we flew in was pristine and belongs to a restoration of the former exciting atmosphere that the Omarama Gliding Club. It was recently acquired through previously prevailed, is now just around the corner. Keith Essex from the Barron Hilton setup in the US, having approximately 600 hours on it. Those who have cancelled their visit to New Zealand should rethink what can now be foreseen as providing It has a nice Sage vario plus an LXNAV S100 system, and was its previous challenges. No longer a need to put that also fitted out to clip an Oudie 2 straight in. planned trip on the ”back-burner.” It’s only days (not months) for you to see New Zealand open its borders As this was my first encounter with a Duo, I found it slow to again. It’s all here ! roll and therefore difficult to coordinate in rough air while close to terrain. Additionally, on the ground floor, Aoraki/Mount Cook is often under-estimated by international climbers. It was fortunate having a man in the back seat who has over Although not high by international standards, it is its 2000 soaring hours in this area. relative height and the level of glaciation that makes Another range, another valley - Photo Milán Kmetovics this mountain so impressive.

From the road end at Mount Cook Village to the top of the mountain it is over 3,000m/10,000ft. Most earth bound climbers choose to negotiate the first 1200m by ski plane or helicopter to maximise the A Very chances of success on the mountain.

The ground surface climb involves sustained glacier travel with rock and ice climbing and a 15-20 hour Special summit goal day. The level of difficulty can change dramatically depending on weather, snow and ice conditions. This is expedition-style climbing, where you have to be patient for the right weather. Play Ground

Omarama and Mount Cook await the ambitious soaring pilot, and the equally ambitious ground climber to test his/her fitness on this world-class • mountain climb. Fantastic guides and soaring safety pilots are ready for the new/old/experienced/novice pilots and climbers. It all awaits the aspiring! Few Equal Philip Wills (Great Britain) led one of the first expeditions to discover what Mt Cook has to offer. He is on record as saying - “One of the greatest ever discoveries for gliding. This mountain has very few This Location equals!” John Roake

20 Gliding International April 2021 21 cheap (and a lot more than Drury’s supercheap $NZ60 tows), especially the long ones to Magic Mountain. In retrospect, worth every cent. Peter Wooley began gliding in his mid-30’s at Worcester near Cape Town, South Africa, in 1987. This gliding site has good access to various mountain chains which are a prominent feature of the Just in case you have not been there before, Omarama Western Cape Province. Peter immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand with his partner, is a tiny town in Otago’s Mackenzie Basin. Lots of trees and the surrounding mountain scenery make it Susan, in 2013. He has just over 1300 gliding hours, mainly flying his Mini Nimbus in the mountains, an attractive place. Most necessities are available and but also nowadays in the green, hilly country of New Zealand’s Waikato. He has three Diamonds and there are all levels of accommodation, plus a Four Square hopes to complete his 1000km in New Zealand’s South Island sometime soon. mini-supermarket in case you are self-catering. Raising sheep is serious business in this part of the world, so it follows that the name of the establishment where the best coffee in NZ is served, in my opinion, is the Wrinkly Rams.

The Mackenzie basin is seriously sheep orientated!

There is plenty more to do other than gliding. Activities like cycling (Omarama is on the Alps2Ocean Route), walking trails, rock climbing, ice climbing, kayaking, Soaring best described as “Awesome with a capital A” flights to Mount Cook or the glaciers by various types of aircraft from Pukaki airfield or Glentanner Park, scenic drives, e-foiling and much more.

If all this sounds a bit over the top – it is – and I can’t You are in the heart of New Zealand’s mutton country when you soar the wait to go back and fly those awesome mountains again, McKenzie Basin (Omarama - Mt Cook). There are 28 million sheep in New especially while the airspace is relatively quiet during Zealand. this Covid period. Once Covid is better controlled and borders re-open, I expect there will be a concerted rush of overseas pilots and tourists who most have now Author - Peter Wooley been waiting over 12 months to experience gliding at Omarama. Peter Wooley began gliding in his Photos: Milan Kmetovics mid-30’s at Worcester near Cape Town, South Africa, in 1987.

The Worcester gliding site has good access to various mountain chains The new contact for Omarama which are a prominent feature of and Mt Cook soaring the Western Cape Province. Peter immigrated from South Africa to New Zealand with his partner, Another range, another valley - 20 minutes north of Omarama - nearing Mt Cook Susan, in 2013.

MILAN KMETOVICS He has just over 1300 gliding hours, GLIDER INSTRUCTOR | mainly flying his Mini Nimbus in PHOTOGRAPHER the mountains, but also nowadays in the green, hilly country of New [email protected] Zealand’s Waikato in the North KAHUSOARING.NZ Island. The Wrinkly Rams +64 21 238 2889 He has three Diamonds and Many of you will remember Milán from his stint at the Drury club hopes to complete his 1000km (Auckland, North Island, New Zealand). He is friendly, polite and, in New Zealand’s South Island above all, is thoroughly professional in both his practical and theory sometime soon. instruction. I am planning to fly with him again (as soon as possible) for some local wave flying instruction before venturing out in a single seater to explore this magnificent area.

The costs? Not as much as you probably think. Instruction and glider for a week: $NZ3100; accommodation bed and breakfast $NZ60 per day; car rental from Queenstown $NZ20 per day. I chose a “farm stay” in the Lindis Pass, 10 minutes out of Omarama. Air NZ return costs are variable but generally pretty cheap. Aerotows vary depending on duration and aircraft being used – certainly not Day five - Brian Savage in his ASW19 above the barren scree slopes Photos: Milán Kmetovics

22 Gliding International April 2021 23 So You Want Wave . . . . .

This “Black and White” study was photographed by Milan Kmetovics near the summit of Mt Cook. Talking about it after the event, Milan told Gliding International that the scene was unimaginable and left him with the perception of “now I know what it’s like being scrubbed up in a rotating washing machine”.

24 Gliding International April 2021 25 machine to machine areas. Developing aviation communications within Low-band 5G uses a similar frequency range to 4G cellphones, 600–850 the 5G networks is high on the list of network managements. More on MHz, giving download speeds a little higher than 4G: 30–250 megabits this to follow. But note - 4G cellphones are not able to use the new per second (Mbit/s). Low-band cell towers have a range and coverage SATETLITE WEATHER CHARTS COMING networks, which require 5G enabled wireless devices. area similar to 4G towers. Mid-band 5G uses microwaves of 2.5–3.7 GHz, allowing speeds of 100–900 Mbit/s, with each cell tower providing The increased speed is achieved partly by using higher-frequency radio service up to several kilometres in radius. This level of service is the TO SOARING PILOTS IN FLIGHT waves than previous cellular networks. However, higher-frequency radio most widely deployed, and should be available in most metropolitan waves have a shorter useful physical range, requiring smaller geographic areas in 2021. Some regions are not implementing low-band, making cells. For a wider service, 5G networks operate on up to three frequency this the minimum service level. High-band 5G uses frequencies of 25–39 bands – low, medium, and high. A 5G network will be composed of GHz, near the bottom of the millimeter wave band, although higher networks of up to three different types of cells, each requiring specific frequencies may be used in the future. It often achieves download antenna designs, each providing a different tradeoff of download speed speeds in the gigabit per second (Gbit/s) range, comparable to cable vs. distance and service area. 5G cellphones and wireless devices internet. However, millimeter waves (mmWave or mmW) have a more connect to the network through the highest speed antenna within range limited range, requiring many small cells. They have trouble passing at their location. through some types of materials such as walls and windows.

FIRST . . . BRINGING GLIDER PILOTS UP TO DATE

e are surprised to find how little gilder pilots know about 5G IS DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH, 5G. Its availability and it’s technology is the next major RESILIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY The 2020’s: 5G - 5G’s big promise is to connect more “things,” as hardware continues its relentless march Forty years ago (1990s) the first development in wireless communications. Whilst telecom W toward miniaturization. -At the end of Q3 2019, Ericsson estimated the world had 4.2 billion 4G subscriptions generation of wireless networks companies preach about the 5G “revolution” and governments scramble Perseverance in technological innovation is contributing to a timely and 1.4 billion 2G/3G subscriptions. -By 2025, Ericsson expects 2.8 billion more 5G subscriptions, 300 wasn’t called 1G, it was just “G.” to win a “race,” we are often left scratching our heads. In this guide, we’ll economic recovery and will continue to drive prosperity in a post million more 4G subscriptions, and 1 billion fewer 2G/3G subscriptions. - Qualcomm expects over 1 billion 5G These analog networks carried get you up to speed on what matters about 5G. pandemic era. 5G is vital to this evolution. 5G advances mobile from connections by 2023, which would mean it hit the mark two years faster than 4G. On 5G networks, it takes 3.6 voice transmissions between the connecting people-to-people and people-to-information, to a unified seconds to download a two-hour movie. first (very clunky) cellphones. Over the next decade, 5G will support 4K video streaming on your connectivity fabric connecting people to everything. Our analysis phone, 10x faster internet browsing, lightweight augmented reality (AR) shows the integral role 5G will take on in the global economy in terms Due to their higher cost, plans are to deploy these cells only in dense excitement across aviation industries. sunglasses, and self-driving cars. For better or worse, next-gen networks of sales enablement across all industries, and 5G-value chain related urban environments and areas where crowds of people congregate such will enable us to put the internet in every thermostat, toaster, and output and jobs by 2035. as sports stadiums and convention centres. The above speeds are those The fifth-generation cellular network standard promises extremely truck. It is going to have significant enterprise applications, supporting In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth generation technology standard achieved in actual tests in 2020, and speeds are expected to increase fast communication, with ultra-reliable low-latency links for real- digitalisation and connection across industries. New services, such as for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began during rollout. time communication and interaction, along with the support for huge remote surgery or vehicle-to-vehicle communications, can be built on deploying worldwide in 2019, and is the planned successor to the 4G numbers of connected devices in small areas. the back of 5G networks. For businesses (and sports), the 2020s will networks which are/have been providing connectivity to most current The industry consortium setting standards for 5G is the 3rd Generation truly be the internet of (so many) things, officially labelled LOT. 5G cellphones. 5G networks are predicted to have more than 1.7 billion Partnership Project (3GPP). It defines any system using 5G NR (5G 5G will be able to support the rapidly growing number of connected and will boost bandwidth, speed, capacity, and efficiency, while significantly subscribers worldwide by 2025, according to the GSM Association. New Radio) software as “5G”, a definition that came into general smart devices in both the consumer context (IoT) and industry (IoT). On reducing latency. 5G has superfast speeds—up to 20 Gigabits-per- use by late 2018. Minimum standards are set by the International the consumer side, users will experience reliable and fast communication second—a 100x improvement over the former networks. At peak 5G Like its predecessors, 5G networks are cellular networks, in which the Telecommunications Union (ITU). Previously, some reserved the term 5G and new real time applications such as virtual or augmented reality and speeds, you can download an Ultra HD two hour movie in 10 seconds. service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G for systems that deliver download speeds of 20 Gbit/s as specified in highly responsive gaming. Vehicles and their sensors will be constantly wireless devices in a cell are connected to the internet and telephone the ITU’s IMT-2020 document. connected to both each other (V2V) and also to local infrastructure (V2I) THE G GROWS UP: A BRIEF HISTORY network by radio waves through a local antenna in the cell. The main enabling efficient, safer and autonomous driving/flying. advantage of the new networks is that they will have greater bandwidth, SO WHAT’S ALL THIS TO DO WITH Wireless communication has evolved in stages. Originally there were no giving higher download speeds, eventually up to 10 gigabits per second SOARING? - MARKET OVERVIEW Adoption of IoT is increasingly becoming part of the global digitalisation Gs, just the telephone networks we used for most of the 20th century. (Gbit/s). Due to the increased bandwidth, the new networks will not trend in the aviation industry, and the network operating IoT in such But improvements started 40 years ago. Fifth-generation networks exclusively serve cellphones like existing cellular networks, but also The 5G market in the aviation sector is expected to register a healthy facilities requires a high-speed communication network. For example, are being built on a dizzying array of new technologies and technical be used as general internet service providers for laptops and desktop CAGR (Compound annual growth rate) of over 7.7% during the forecast Schiphol airport in the Netherlands has about 70,000 sensors collecting standards. What you need to know is that 5G New Radio tech lets computers, competing with existing ISPs such as cable internet, and period (2021 - 2026). 5G technology is starting to appear in a few real-time information on the performance of elevators and walkways. network operators efficiently leverage existing airwaves. also will make possible new applications in internet of things (IoT) and cities and on a few consumer devices. The phrase itself is stirring up Wearables can also be used in an airport to drive efficiency.

26 Gliding International April 2021 27 change over the coming years due to 5G. With the growing proliferation of technology and smartphones, consumers are increasingly expecting THIS REPORT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR POWER AIRCRAFT, digital engagement and personalised experiences in airports. BUT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF 5G TO AVIATION, IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO GLIDING AS IT IS TO OTHER AVIATION DISCIPLINES.

NORTH AMERICA TO REGISTER THE LARGEST TO RECAP . . . . GROWTH DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD A range of new communications technologies are included in the term Although the majority of these subscribers are being served using ‘5G,’ including new radio access technology and antennas operating in proprietary technologies in the unlicensed 5GHz spectrum, the use the low, mid and high bands of the radio frequency spectrum, as well as of 5G technologies in the licensed spectrum is expected to grow more efficient approaches to beam forming. But what does 5G actually across the aviation sector across the region. Also, the ultimate rise in mean and what form factors will need to change to enable its adoption on passenger traffic (ex Covid-19) will lead to an increase in demand for aircraft, at airports and in maintenance or IT networks? better internet connectivity in airports as well as connected aircraft, hence smart airports across regions will boost the growth of the 5G Initial radio specifications for the 5G new radio were formally introduced market in the Aviation sector. by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) a consortium of seven mobile telecommunications and wireless network standards organisations The eMBB is an evolution to the existing 4G network across the US representing more than 700 telecommunications companies that also region which is the initial phase of introducing 5G services. Prominent gave the world the air interface for 3G, 4G and 4G LTE networks. Signals applications involved with eMBB including in-flight entertainment, real- for 5G networks are to run over new radio frequencies within one of either time air traffic alerts, real-time video streaming, games with 3D and 4K three different types of networks used by service providers including low- resolutions, and high-speed internet access for latent-free cloud access band (1 GHz and below), mid-band (1 GHz to 6 GHz) and high band (up to are expected to fuel the demand for 5G market across the region. millimeter wave mmWave).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE According to mobile networks industry trade group Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), current 5G networks The 5G market in aviation is moderately competitive and consists of that have been deployed are those which are considered to be 5G a few players. In terms of market share, some of the major players nonstandalone, meaning it is a radio architecture that builds on 4G currently dominate the market. However, with the advancement in the LTE, whereas the type of high-speed low latency technology making frequency band thereby growing application in the aviation sector, new headlines recently is 5G standalone (5G SA), which is expected to players are increasing their market presence thereby expanding their become increasingly available in the next two to three years. During a business footprint across the emerging economies. presentation in London in February, Huawei’s Yang Chaobin described the various elements of their 5G product line, including the unveiling of November 2020 - The new SESAR project funded by a European their new Blade AAU antenna and said that it integrates the active 5G government-industry consortium will use Nokia’s 4G and 5G wireless AAU and passive 2G/3G/4G antennas into one box, and that operators network infrastructure to test new wireless network technologies for can use it to replace 3G/4G antennas to facilitate 5G deployment with commercial airline controllers to pilot data link communications (CPDLC). single antenna space. Yang also shared an end-to-end slicing solution, and a series of ultra-broadband solutions designed to support a maximum In February 2020 - Nokia deployed 5G private wireless network for bandwidth of 400 MHz. Lufthansa Technik’s virtual inspection trial. The trial was to utilise hyperfast wireless connectivity to enable remote engine parts Higher speeds enabled by the more capable air interface for 5G 5G - Promises for the glider pilot - more expansive on demand weather reports - earlier local traffic reports - inspection, offer high definition video link which takes customers introduced by 3GPP are expected to, for example, reduce the time better communications - better position identification - more advanced mid-air alarms and real-time air traffic directly to the overhaul shop floor, and the 5G network - to save time required for a smartphone to download or update a new application. alerts, and no-fly zones - easier map-reading - but to name advances already on the drawing boards. and cost, as well as improving efficiency and operational performance. According to Qualcomm’s website, 5G is expected to deliver up to 20 Gigabits-per-second peak data rates and 100+ megabits per second The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport improved years to come. MAJOR PLAYERS: DASSAULT SYSTÈMES SE, GOGO average data rates, or enough speed and capacity to reduce the time it facility management using a solution that combines mobile devices, LLC, SITAONAIR (SITA.AERO), BAE SYSTEMS takes to download a two hour movie to just seconds. smart sensors, and a cellular network. The growth of 5G broadband is expected to complement the existing PLC, DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AG 4G technology, using similar frequency bands, but with higher data On the ground, some companies are already taking advantage of the 5G, SCOPE OF THE REPORT rates, greater reliability and lower latency or lag. Further, carriers and Advancements in electronic flight bag (EFB) applications are providing though there is currently no cellular radio or antenna available that is device manufacturers will be able to use frequency bands that have not pilots and aircraft operators a number of benefits, including the ability capable of enabling 5G standalone connectivity on a commercial airliner. 5G will open up new opportunities for the Internet of Things (IoT) and been used in cellular communications before but are commonly used in to get weather updates to decide how and whether to proceed with a However, 5G research and development and initial use cases are occurring private Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. With 5G, connectivity will aerospace and radar applications. flight, seek re-routes, save fuel and fly more efficiently. throughout aviation right now. flex to address different IoT-use cases of augmented assets (motorized, un-motorized assets, baggage tracking), enhanced operations (catering, In October 2018, the Civil Aviation Administration of China organised A decade after the introduction of the iPad, pilots are using EFBs to 5G for Aircraft and Airports turnaround optimisation, passenger flow) and smart airports (building an experimental verification project for the ATG-LTE technology in civil eliminate the onboard portage of heavy flight bags with thousands of management). 5G on the ground will help unleash the full potential of aviation applications. CAAC has approved the technical verification of pieces of paper for each flight, and EFB apps are allowing pilots to “Towards the end of 2021 we will have sites built and we will start flight satellite constellations in orbit where the satellite systems have useful 10 routes in China. lessen planning time, previously spent studying charts and figuring how testing,” said Mike Syverson, senior vice president of engineering at Gogo, attributes for 5G in terms of security, resilience, coverage, mobility conditions would affect flights. whose company is developing new antennas and modems designed to and delivery of broadband, and in this future environment, the choice The 5G mobile communications technology using the Ground-to-Ground enable the world’s first in-flight connectivity (IFC) 5G air-to-ground (ATG) of communication technology will be transparent to the end-user and Communications has already completed the first phase of full-function Pete Grau, the lead principal engineer for the SAE ITC ARINC Industry network by the end of the year. based upon location, type of service and cost-efficiency. standardisation, and by the end of 2021, the 3GPP R16 standard will Activities Program, who runs SAE’s EFB Users Forum, said that COVID-19 be approved. With the launch of independent 3GPP R15 networking led to the cancellation of the spring 2020 forum, as airlines have Gogo’s 5G network will only (meantime) be available in North America, GROUND-TO-GROUND COMMUNICATION TYPE IS standards, 5G communications spectrum has been distributed in some instituted bans on unnecessary travel. Staff are working reduced hours leverage the existing 250 towers in the region that enable its current 3G EXPECTED TO REGISTER A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH countries, and 5G communications will enter the large-scale deployment and face significant layoffs. The EFB Users Forums are spring and fall and 4G IFC networks. The 5G network will use unlicensed spectrum in the phase. gatherings of airline avionics engineers, EFB program managers, EFB app 2.4 GHz band, with a new modem and beam-forming technology providing As ‘5G Use Cases’ are becoming more and more well-articulated by and mount-makers, and airplane and systems designers to formulate the aircraft-to-ground station link. The network will use licensed, shared the industry, the ultra-high reliability and low latency of 5G comes into Apart from technological innovation in the equipment used in the industry consensus on the safe and secure use of EFBs in a way that and unlicensed spectrum across low, mid and high bands. the picture. The aerospace sector scene will surely be increasing in the industry, the ground staff and airports are expected to see a significant regulators can manage. Despite the cancellation of this spring’s forum,

28 Gliding International April 2021 29 Grau said that “new and more sophisticated EFB applications continue Do our technical research engineers that have produced our latest to be developed.” current electronic flight enhasser instruments have the skills to lift gliding another level - into the exciting future that is unraveling itself “Satellite weather is commonly accessible, and TASAR (Traffic Aware elsewhere? We must earnestly follow the current research and add even Strategic Aircrew Requests) has been successfully tested and is now more enjoyment and more support for the soaring pilot. available,” he wrote in an email to Avionics International. “Developed by NASA, TASAR leverages cockpit automation and connectivity While ‘Stratus Insight’ does not connect to satellite communications for optimised airborne rerouting. Current weather, winds, airspace devices yet, the app does connect to many ADS-B receivers other than restrictions, and other traffic are all considered, while horizontal, Stratus receivers, to send TIS-B [Traffic Information Service-Broadcast], vertical, and combination solutions can be selected. Pilots can also FIS-B [Flight Information System-Broadcast], GPS and attitude choose from different objectives such as minimizing fuel burn, trip time, information to the app. If an aircraft has in-flight WiFi, users would be or cost for operational savings. TASAR is also adaptable to different able to connect to the internet and utilise Stratus Insight’s enhanced aircraft types and can be installed on various EFB architectures.” weather products, and users would also be able to submit pilot reports of turbulence (PIREPs) over that connection, according to Garberg. Seattle-based APiJET’s TASAR-based EFB app, Digital Winglets™, for example, aims to provide fuel and flight time savings. The app Like other EFB app creators, Boeing’s ForeFlight LLC has taken advantage incorporates avionics data from onboard navigation equipment, data of the benefits of AIDs to increase functionality. “When connected to sharing from airborne and ground sources, communications leveraging IP an aircraft interface device that provides inflight Wi-Fi, ForeFlight can links with the aircraft, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast stream high-definition weather, both real-time radar and many kinds of (ADS-B) IN surveillance data to de-conflict route recommendations for forecast data, as well as all other data that is normally only available nearby traffic. TJ Horsager, the vice president of business development with an internet connection on the ground,” said Stephen Newman, and sales for APiJET, said that the surveillance data increases Air Traffic executive vice president of sales and marketing at ForeFlight, LLC. Control acceptance rates “translating into more fuel and flight time savings for airlines”. In terms of enhanced capabilities for pilots, Newman said that the ForeFlight Mobile app “offers integrations with a myriad of installed For a number of EFB app suppliers, aircraft interface devices (AIDs) are avionics and portable aviation receivers.” key, as they facilitate access to multiple aircraft data and communications channels. With the increased use of EFB apps and the elimination of “These integrations can enable pilots to obtain inflight traffic and paper charts and binders, AIDs have become the foundation of most weather, view aircraft position and attitude information, share flight Aircraft Data Management (ADM) systems. Using tablets and computer plans to and from their installed avionics, and much more,” he said. screens in aircraft, pilots are able to receive all the benefits of EFBs “Together with industry-leading Jeppesen navigation and flight via their AIDs for improved decision-making to bolster situational data, ForeFlight’s capabilities drastically increase a pilot’s situational awareness and safety, minimise errors, monitor aircraft parameters and awareness and put critical information at the pilot’s fingertips.” reduce pilot workload. So herein lies a big “soaring” orientated question. THE BEST GLIDING BOOK BUY EVER Fly High With Mountain High!! The Mountain High MH EDS O2D1-2G™ portable oxygen system makes your flying at high altitudes safer and more comfortable. Experienced glider pilots know the danger of oxygen starvation (Hypoxia) and depend on MH-EDS Oxygen Systems. Visit our web site at www.MHoxygen.com for a list of dealers in your area. FEATURES TO COMPARE: s Electronic individual auto-profiling “Pulse Demand™” system s Surpasses the duration of all continuous flow systems s Automatic altitude compensation, no knobs to turn s !UDIBLE .O &AULT ALARM added safety for pinched tubes, or accidental disconnect s !UDIBLE APNEA DETECTION to ensure continuous breathing s $IGITAL -ICRO #OMPUTER electronics for accuracy s Does not require dual lumen or bifurcated cannulas s 0ORTABLE EASY TO CARRY systems s WWW-(OXYGENCOM s SALES -(OXYGENCOM

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30 Gliding International April 2021 31 1,000 YEAR OLD THERMALS

Gliding In Iceland sleep for over 900 years, a volcano in Iceland erupted on Friday (March 19), spewing molten lava down its flanks and bathing the cloudy night sky in an ominous orange-red. Of intense interest to the world’s Agliding fraternity is that Iceland’s gliding centre is close by and whilst Gliding International has tried, we have been unable to make a connection with the club. We cannot but wonder whether they have tried out the thermals obviously generated by the Fagradalsfjall volcano.

Gorgeous and fiery photos show the Fagradalsfjall volcano, located about 25 miles (40 kilometres) southwest of Reykjavik near the Reykjanes Peninsula, with streams of orange-red lava flowing out of a fissure at its top. It has already been reported that one daring visitor flew a drone just above the glowing lava river and the vent of the erupting volcano.

32 Gliding International April 2021 33 The biggest threat these types of eruptions can pose is from the gases they emit — notably, sulfur dioxide, which can be fatal in large enough doses. Although the IMO reported Saturday that it does not expect the pollution of this particular eruption to have detrimental health effects, the Met office has warned nearby residents to keep their windows closed. “Currently, gas pollution is not expected to cause much discomfort for people except close up to the source of the eruption,” the IMO said. “The gas emissions will be monitored closely.”

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Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson told the AFP that the eruption signaled a new eruptive period, “which may last centuries with eruptions, possibly 10 years to 100 years apart.”

Iceland is known for its volcanic activity, with 32 active volcanic systems; that’s because the island sits atop the mid-Atlantic ridge, which formed as a result of a giant crack on the ocean floor between which the North American and Eurasian plates slide against each other as they move in opposite directions. It’s this motion that can cause earthquakes and enormous flows of molten rock, known as magma, to rise rapidly toward the surface.

Gliding in Iceland is somewhat of a surprise to many. It is an active sport, and they have a well equipped fleet. Sandskeið is the main gliding center and home of the Icelandic gliding club, formed 86 years ago in 1936. It is situated 20 km to the east of Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital, by Route 1. They have a big grass airfield, the main runway is running 150/330 and is 200 x 1.300 metres with the new extension to the east which is 50 x 300 m to allow for greater height when winch launching.

There is also a north/south runway 60 x 800 m. On the north side there is an 18 x 800 m paved runway running 150/330. Height above sea level is 180 m (600 ft). The radio frequency used is 119,90 MHz and there is an ATZ open when gliding activity is present which goes from ground to 3000 ft msl and covers the airfield and a 12 km to the south, and 5 km to the east. The eruption comes after three weeks of intensifying seismic activity in the area, over which the island nation recorded more than 50,000 earthquakes. The volcano began spouting lava the Friday at around 4:45 p.m. ET There is a 10 km long mountain ridge only a few hundred metres from the airfield rising 400 – 550 metres above (8:45 p.m. local time) and continued throughout the weekend. the landscape, that makes ridge soaring possible in winds between east and through north to westerly winds. Mountains and glaciers to the north and east give rise to lee waves, and sea breeze often comes in from the west “It’s absolutely breathtaking,” Ulvar Kari Johannsson, a 21-year-old engineer, told the AFP news agency. “It coast, rarely from the south coast. Thermals are present from April until the end of August. Daily gliding activity smells pretty bad. For me, what was surprising was the colors of the orange: much, much deeper than what from June 1 until September 1. Weekends in May and September. one would expect.”

“The eruption is considered small at this stage and the volcanic activity has somewhat decreased since yesterday evening,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in a statement. The fissure the lava is spewing from is roughly 1,640 to 2,300 feet (500 to 700 meters) wide, according to the IMO.

Although Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport and the fishing town of Grindavik are just a few miles away from the eruption site, the lava flows aren’t expected to pose any danger. That’s because volcanic eruptions in the region are so-called effusive eruptions, where lava seeps out of the ground at a steady rate rather than building up and exploding outward as Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano did in 2010. Eyjafjallajökull released ash clouds high into the atmosphere, halting European air traffic for weeks until the ash had settled.

The club’s fleet consists of: ASK 21, LS 4, Duo Discus Turbo, Super Dimona 115 Hp turbo and an LS 8 18m. Privately owned gliders are 3 Lak 12’s, 1 Club Astir, 1 ASH 25 and 1 LS 4b.

34 Gliding International April 2021 35 EXPECT MAJOR PRICE INCREASES, COMPOSITE RESINS PRICE CHANGES

STAND BY FOR INCREASED PRICES. JUST ANNOUNCED - RESIN PRICE CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM MAJOR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS THAT SERVE THE COMPOSITES MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. RUSSIAN SUCCESS - March 8, 2021 AOC has made a price increase in the amount of $0.15 per pound for all UPR, gelcoat, pigment dispersions and synergistic EXPERIMENTAL MICROSPHERE, ANODES materials and up to $0.45 per pound for all vinyl ester products sold in the U.S, Canada, Mexico and Latin America. This increase is effective for all orders shipping on or after March 8, 2021. TRIPPLE CAPACITY OF LITHIUM BATTERIES March 3, 2021 As a result of the price escalation in the raw materials supply chain, Polynt Composites has announced an immediate price increase across its entire UPR vinyl ester (VE) and gelcoat portfolio for Europe. Numbers were not specified in the released report. This improvement is achieved due to a synergistic effect with a March 2, 2021 AOC, increase of €350 per ton for its entire UPR portfolio and €450 per ton for its entire epoxy vinyl ester (VE) portfolio sold combination of a special nano-structure and the composition of in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective immediately for all new orders or as soon as contracts allow. used elements.” Feb. 15, 2021 AOC, increase of €250 per ton for its entire UPR portfolio and €300 per ton for its entire epoxy vinyl ester (VE) portfolio sold As always with this type of research, translating these promising in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective immediately for all new orders or as soon as contracts allow. experimental results in a controlled laboratory setting into a Feb. 12, 2021 Polynt Composites is increasing prices by €200 per ton for its polyester resins, gelcoats and ancilliary products and €300 per battery that can power your smartphone for three days is far from ton for vinyl ester resins as a result of relentless logistic, freight and packaging costs. Effective March 1, 2021, or as contracts a straightforward undertaking. But such high capacity and excellent allow. cycling stability are very desirable attributes when it comes to Feb. 8, 2021 Lanxess is raising its prices for iron oxide and chrome oxide pigments globally, effective immediately. Prices for iron oxide next-generation batteries, so the research opens up yet another pigments will increase by €110 per metric ton and for chrome oxide pigments by €220 per metric ton or its equivalent in local promising avenue for scientists in the field to explore. currency. Customers will be contacted individually regarding the specifics of the measure as it applies to their products or regions. The research was published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds. Feb. 4, 2021 AOC has announced a price increase of $0.05/lb USD on all UPR, gel coat and pigment products and $0.12/lb USD for all Source: National University of Science and Technology via TechXplore vinyl ester products sold in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America. Effective for all orders shipping on or after Feb. 28, 2021. Feb. 3, 2021 The Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) division of Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), a portfolio business of J.M. Huber vgeny Kolesnikov and a team of material scientists at Russia’s Corporation, announces a global price increase of 7.5% for its Kemgard smoke suppressants, effective April 1, 2021, or as National University of Science and Technology (MISIS) have current contracts allow. While Huber continues to focus on minimizing the inflationary impact for its Kemgard products, cost Edeveloped a promising new anode material for lithium batteries. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLISHED REPORT: increases in raw materials, labor, packaging, regulatory compliance and freight have necessitated this price adjustment. Through experimentation with a newly created type of material, Jan. 18, 2021 AOC increases prices to €100 per ton for its entire UPR portfolio and €150 per ton for its entire epoxy vinyl ester portfolio • “Another promising avenue”... fantastic. Deja Vu all over scientists in Russia have landed on a battery design with a number sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective for all new deliveries after Feb. 1, 2021 or as soon as contracts allow. again. of promising performance benefits, in particular an ability to offer Jan. 7, 2021 Wacker Polymers is raising prices for vinyl acetate dispersions of the Vinnapas and Vinnol brands, polyvinyl alcohol solutions triple the capacity of today’s solutions. The breakthrough comes • I suppose it’s good news but the thing that ultimately turns (brand name Polyviol) and Vinnapas solid resins in Europe, the Middle East and in Africa. Effective Feb. 1, 2021, prices for from replacing the material used for one of the battery’s electrodes dispersions will be raised by up to €80 per metric ton, prices for polyvinyl alcohol solutions and solid resins up to €100 per out to be missing from all these battery breakthrough with hollowed out nanospheres that enable the device to not only announcements is the batteries. metric ton, or as customer contracts allow. This measure has been necessitated by the increase in raw material market costs. hold more charge, but remain stable over an impressive period of Jan. 7, 2021 As a consequence of further escalation of UPRs raw materials and logistic costs, Polynt Composites has announced a price time. • With all these dozens of lithium battery break throughs, increase of €100 per ton on its full range of UPR and gelcoats, and €180 per ton on its full range of vinyl ester. Effective Jan. soon I will just have to change the hearing aid battery that 15, 2021, or as agreement allows in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective immediately. Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones to powers my flying electric car. Hopefully, they will come in laptops to electric vehicles, and all do so by using graphite as the a twelve pack. “Star Trek” was right, dilithium crystals will anode – the device’s negative electrode. The anode is a key point of power the future. Where’s that article about warp drive? HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE I.G.C. BUREAU focus for scientists looking to improve battery performance. The new Bureau held its first - on the 16th of March 2021. (Not to be confused with the report of the annual general meeting, March 4). • This publication should contact every one they’ve featured For researchers at Russia’s National University of Science and in a battery breakthrough article and organise a meeting so ORGANISATION OF BUREAU WORK . The Bureau will have monthly online meetings and will publish highlights shortly after each meeting. Technology (MISIS), that meant exploring replacements for graphite they can hash out a best solution and get it into production. anodes that might offer greater efficiency. Through a technique Notes from the meeting will be published. A face-to-face Bureau meeting will take place in the autumn. called ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, where ions of special metals • I agree with the pessimism regarding yet another are turned into a fog through ultrasound and the water is then development but no new product. They need advice from 2021 PLENARY MEETING. The online meeting was satisfactory and there were more delegates present than in previous years. We missed the social evaporated at high temperatures, the team was able to create industry experts to assess scalability or if it is too expensive aspects though. The decisions will be distributed to delegates in a couple of days. microscopic spheres with a hollowed out, porous structure that for commercialisation. I’ve studied the huge gap between seemed to fit the bill. the lab and the market (academia and manufacturing). I FUTURE IGC PLENARY MEETINGS. The format of future IGC Plenary meetings is up for consideration. We need to find time for more open and wonder if any of the automakers would fund the commercial strategic discussions during the two days. The Year-2 proposal process can still be improved e.g. by the use of online conferencing. The Bureau will These were integrated into lithium batteries as the anode and put product. 3x would be a pretty big deal. discuss the future format at coming meetings. to the test, where the team observed a number of performance benefits. The novel material not only afforded the battery several • Thanks Nick, pretty good synopsis strong on “improvements CONFIRMATION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS AND EXPERTS. The complete list of Committee and Working group members will be updated and times the capacity of conventional lithium ion batteries, but the by a factor of x”, and otherwise non-specific. published on the website in the coming weeks. The IGC president will reach out to potential new members. hollowed out nature of the anode was well retained over 1,000 charging cycles. This worked to buffer the volume changes that • The relevant information of how much testing must occur 2021 CHAMPIONSHIPS. It is still uncertain if the 2021 Championships will take place. All organisers are working hard to fulfil the additional take place during charging, helping the battery remain stable over prior to scaling up into production is not addressed. There requirements given by authorities in terms of COVID-19 testing equipment, space for quarantined participants etc. The Bureau will stay in close an impressively long life-span. are numerous issues with scale when manufacturing contact with the organisers and will ask them to communicate with participants as early as possible. processes are so controlled in the lab, but at scale, results “Porous nanostructured microspheres (with the composition are sometimes quite different. MANAGEMENT OF IGC TRACKERS. The new IGC trackers are now ready for use. The Bureau will write procedures that will explain users and Cu0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4), that we have extracted, used as anode material organisers how to handle this. The process will also include requirements for transport and winter storage. provide three times higher capacity than the batteries existing on • Keep on informing us of the innovative research - there is no market,” says study author Evgeny Kolesnikov. “Besides, it allows such thing as irrelevant improvements or breakthroughs in EXTERNAL AID TO COMPETITORS. The Bureau will organise two workshops on this subject. One on how to interpret the updated rules in Sporting for an increase in the number of charge-discharge cycles by five Science, only in popular consumption of science. Code Annex A, Para 5.3 for stakeholders of all 2021 competitions. The other workshop is for Stewards on how to use IT tools analysing incidents. times compared to other promising alternatives to graphite. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 13th April, 2021

36 Gliding International April 2021 37 Wheels/Brakes International Aviation Landing Gear News For Glider Pilots

International News report specifically for Gliding Pilots

TM THE FAA HAS APPROVED THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON “ONE-SHOT” COVID-19 VACCINE for pilots and others who “perform safety sensitive duties.” Previously, the agency had approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines Shock Wheel and, as with those, the J&J alternative carries a brief waiting period before resuming duties. According to the FAA, “To maintain the highest level of safety in the National Airspace System, the FAA will require the affected recipients of this single-dose vaccine to wait 48 hours before conducting safety sensitive aviation duties, such as flying or Rough airstrips ... controlling air traffic. The waiting period, which accounts for potential side effects, applies to those holding an Hard landings ... Airman Medical Certificate issued under 14 CFR Part 67 or a Medical Clearance issued under FAA Order 3930.3C.” For commercial pilots and controllers, the one-dose vaccine carries the added incentive of not needing a second shot and an additional 48-hour waiting period. What’s more, pharmaceutical company Merck have announced that it will be teaming with rival Johnson & Johnson to produce the new vaccine. In a briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki Raise the bar of safety said, “The U.S. government will facilitate this partnership in several key ways, including invoking the Defence Production Act to equip two Merck facilities to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the vaccine and asking the Department of Defence to provide daily logistical support to strengthen Johnson And increase the life of you tow-plane & Johnson’s efforts. The FAA’s continued, rapid response to COVID vaccination availability will ensure that business aviation pilots have as much flexibility as possible for receiving one of the three vaccine variants. We commend the FAA for its continued partnership with our sector, not just on vaccines, but on a host of considerations our industry has confronted in this highly challenging pandemic moment. According to CDC data, more than 51 million people (at March 10, 2021) have received at least one vaccination, amounting to just less than 16 percent of the population; around 26 million have been fully vaccinated, Wheel / Brake Kit for : amounting to just under 9 percent of the population. Some 102 million doses have been delivered and more than 78 million doses administered. THE FUTURE OF GLIDING - HEARD IT ALL BEFORE - A MESSAGE FROM BRAZIL: We have the same gliding problems as every other country. I learnt to LS4 - ASW20 fly gliders in the 60s in a gliding club that was set up in 1937. (It had a lot of German influence - from where most of our fleet was produced). My training glider was a Brazilian made biplane, similar to the Schleicher Ka 4 and I flew a Grunau IIa and a Wolf Göppingen I. Our tow planes were a Stinson Sentinel Discus/Ventus 2A -Duo Discus - Arcus and a Tiger Moth. Fleet maintenance was done by club members, under supervision, but engines at professional workshops. Today the club owns today two Blaniks L-23 and four Quero-Queros mono-plane made in Brazil. The tug is an Aeroboero made in Argentina. The Blaniks present some servicing problems. HPH 304S - Lak 17A / Minilak Some Brazilian clubs are flying with locally made biplanes ( wood, tube and fabric). Unfortunately these sailplanes have a very poor performance. Some clubs have imported second hand reinforced plastic sailplanes but only a few are able to fly them due to bureaucracy problems. Our main problem isn’t solely Jonker - Pegase the lack of new blood. Our fleet has aged and must soon be replaced. For us, buying H201 Libelle - Swift a new modern reinforced plastic biplane is beyond us. A German two seater would be above €200,000 landed in Brazil. Our government is unlikely to reduce import duties and taxes. Any new glider would only increase flying rates to frighten away new students. Upgrade your safety - Save weight Additionally, here in Brazil even minor repairs of carbon/fibreglass damage will be a problem, due to the lack of specialised labour and suitably equipped workshops. So what • Tubeless wheel is the solution? A very difficult question to be answered. I have read somewhere that the astonishing development of the sailplanes (higher velocities, higher wing loads, higher • Powerful brakes aspect ratios with less and less induced drag and higher glide ratios) lead to the need of • Anti-skid costly materials, higher and higher manufacturing costs, resulting in higher sale prices. Is it the advancing sailplane performance increases (and accompanying costs) that is • Easy maintenance killing the sport? I have been told that in fact some clubs have sold their expensive glass fibre trainers and gone back to much earlier models. They are buying old non glass fibre sailplanes and refurbishing them. Of course they do not have such a performance BERINGER AERO Headquarters : like the latest, but most are able to withstand the dramas of instructing new pupils. They [email protected] are easily repairable, with bearable costs. It is better to have a less performing sailplane than stay grounded. Question? Would a flight simulator attract new blood? I think yes. NZ Dealers on : www.beringer-aero.com A first class simulator (like the BGA one) would undoubtedly attract future pilots. I will This picture has been taken in 1929 at my “home airfield” Oerlinghausen, Germany . I have the strong feeling that it will be appreciate if I could have some comments that will make me more confident on the Agreements : hard to find such enthusiasm today. future of gliding. Quality and Performance since 1985 EASA Part21G / APDOA J. R. González

38 Gliding International April 2021 39 RESCHEDULING OF THE BRITISH 2021 STANDARD/15M AND OPEN CLASS NATIONALS - Following the release of the UK Government DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AG, EUROPE’S BIGGEST AIRLINE, ARE PLANNING THE ELIMINATION OF 20,000 MORE JOBS before the end of September, Roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions, the organising club for the combined events has reluctantly concluded that hosting over the according to the Swiss newspaper ‘NZZ am Sonntag’. A spokesman for Lufthansa, who employed more than 138,000 people as of December 31, have original scheduled dates is not realistically feasible. The event would also have been at great risk of mandatory late cancellation and it has denied the report. The carrier has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a sharp drop in international travel. Lufthansa’s goal is been rescheduled from June 26 to July 4, 2021. The new dates will likely cause some inconvenience, and some competitors may not be able also to trim its fleet by 100 planes to bring down expenses. It also secured as much as 9 billion euros ($10.7 billion) in state aid. Of the 22,000 excess to compete given the new dates. If you have paid your deposit but need to withdraw from the competition email control@lashamcomps. positions, half are in Germany and the other half abroad, where it has already slashed more than 8,000 jobs. It also signed an agreement with its cabin co.uk so that arrangements can be made to return your funds. There is a site limit in place of just 65 entrants across the three classes, so crew union that will safeguard jobs of 3,000 flight attendants in exchange for cuts to wages and benefits, and struck a stopgap deal with pilots to avoid late entrants will be invited to pay deposits after March 15 in order of application once the number of spare places becomes known. firings in the cockpit for now. Talks with Ver.di union, which represents ground staff, have collapsed. That has made it less likely that the company will be able to make do without forced redundancies. “The way this crisis is developing is alarming, and so is how Lufthansa’s management is treating its LITHIUM DEMAND IS SET TO INCREASE AROUND TENFOLD THIS DECADE, driven by the electric vehicle (EV) boom and supported further employees at this time,” according to Daniel Flohr, UFO cabin crew union chief. “Luckily, cabin crews at Lufthansa’s main line are protected from layoffs, by drones, electric powered aircraft and motor-gliders. Apart from sporting interests in this prediction it also means quality lithium junior but whoever does not have such protection unfortunately has major worries.” miners have a good chance of becoming a stock market Darkhorse overnight. The trick here is to sort out which lithium juniors are most likely to succeed versus those that are not. Our back-room boys are telling us that Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (TSXV: CRE | OTCQX: WAS THREE - NOW TWO PARACHUTE RECOVERY SYSTEM - The testing of a new whole-aircraft parachute CRECF) (‘Critical Elements’) have “one of the purest lithium deposits globally” and it is on its way to marketing product with buyers queing recovery system has begun. At a deserted drop test range outside Henderson, Nevada, (late February 2021), up. Critical Elements owns the advanced exploration stage Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project, located in James Bay, Northern Quebec, Canada. Aviation Safety Resources, Inc. successfully completed the first developmental test of its whole-aircraft parachute recovery system. It was the first in a series of tests to qualify their two parachute system canopy will NEW EFFECTIVE DATES FOR DRONE RULES COVERING REMOTE IDENTIFICATION withstand the load sustain on a two passenger aiecraft. The trial waas even better than expected. Testing is to of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) will go into effect on April 21, 2021. The continue and the next series will advance to ultimate load testing where they will drop 1.15 times the maximum rule requires drones in flight to broadcast identification and location information along designed ultimate all-up-weight. The Colorado-based company will use the progress on their certification with requiring similar location data from the aircraft’s control station or takeoff point. program to further develop a yet-unannounced larger recovery programm for an all electric aircraft. To adhere While the Remote ID rule goes into effect on April 21, operators have 30 months from to ASTM requirements to limit load testing, ASR filled barrels with water to represent planned aircraft weight. January 15, 2021 to comply with the new regulations. The rule applies to Part 107 The development test equipment was then dropped from a helicopter at 6,600 feet and allowed to accelerated operations and includes provisions for flights over people, over moving vehicles and at to the maximum speed at which the system will be deployed. night. In addition, it requires remote pilots to pass an “updated” initial knowledge test or complete an online training course prior to operating under the new regulations. The NEW ZEALAND TAKES A LEAD - In other news, this week, New Zealand CAA have announced that they’re knowledge test and training course will be available on April 6, 2021. abandoning their recreational pilot license and giving PPLs to all its current recipients, and implementing a medical standard for private pilots based on the qualification for a driver’s license. Australians (finding it difficult THE UK CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (CAA) HAS RELEASED VERSION 3 OF THE SKYWAY CODE. Designed to provide pilots with quick and to accept) could do both of those things at the stroke of a pen without even needing an Act of Parliament easy access to key information relevant to their flying. Version 3 brings the publication up to date with changes to reflect the UK’s departure by approving Part 61 Manual of Standards amendments, which would render the entirety of the 20+ year from the European Union, as well as the latest regulatory requirements and best practice from the CAA. Their General Aviation Unit said development of Part 149 pointless because all the RAAus pilots could start switching to CASA licenses and “Today, we publish SkyWay Code V3. We know this is one of the most popular items we have ever produced; used by thousands of pilots VH-experimental rego (with an accompanying weight increase and controlled airspace access!) and get happy. who appreciate how approachable it is, explaining technical subjects in a simple and understandable way. We are committed to investing in and supporting the continuation of this document and ahead of the proposed return to flying, the updated version is now available to NEW POLYMER PREVENTS CRACKS APPEARING IN LONG-LASTING LITHIUM BATTERIES. Rechargeable support you as you prepare for your return to the skies. I would encourage all pilots to read the SkyWay Code and use it as part of your batteries could be made to last a lot longer than they currently do, thanks to a new binder material uncovered planning and preparation at this time of change. “ Kirsty Murphy, Blades Aerobatic Display Pilot and former Red Arrows pilot said: “As an by scientists in Japan. By swapping conventional materials for experimental ones, scientists have made exciting aerobatic display pilot I really value the accessibility and helpful reminders of the SkyWay Code; it is a one-stop shop for everything you advances in the performance of lithium batteries. The team’s new design has proved capable of holding its need to consider before you brief and head out to your aircraft to go flying. I encourage all pilots to take the time to read through this free charge much more effectively, a breakthrough that could translate to batteries that power electric vehicles online document.” For more information and to download the updated free online version, visit caa.co.uk/skywaycode - Latest Updates and smartphones for far longer without degrading. If you’ve ever had a smartphone for a couple of years then you’re familiar with the process of battery (Version 3 (March 2021) includes: • Reflects the UK’s departure from the EU and guidance on the associated changes. • Updates to all degradation. There are many moving parts inside a battery that contribute to this decline in performance, but the work carried out at Japan’s Advanced aeronautical information, including radio frequencies and frequency monitoring codes • Radiotelephony exchanges updated to reflect Institute of Science and Technology centres on one in particular, known as the binder. But the novel bone-inspired material grows stronger with vibration. latest CAP 413 guidance • Enhanced guidance for the use of moving map devices and avoiding airspace infringements • Introduction to This material plays the important role of preserving the battery’s graphite anode, one of its two electrodes, holding together its particles and keeping Electronic Conspicuity updated to reflect recent developments • Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) added • Description it in contact with the current collector. Today’s binders for lithium batteries are made from poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), but the researchers have of ‘Just Culture’ for GA added. been pursuing alternatives and have uncovered what they believe to be a far superior solution. The team’s novel binder is made from a copolymer called bis-imino-acenaphthenequinone-paraphenylene (BP), which was put to the test as part of experimental half-cell batteries, protecting the anode and VOLKSWAGEN AIMS TO USE ITS SIZE TO HEAD OFF TESLA. The German carmaker conjoining with the current collector. In doing so, the team observed a number of substantial performance gains, spearheaded by the ability to retain its outlined ambitious goals to build battery factories as it ties its fate to electric cars. capacity over many charging cycles. They plan to have 18,000 charging stations in Europe by 2025. Volkswagen is going “Whereas a half-cell using PVDF as a binder exhibited only 65% of its original capacity after about 500 charge-discharge cycles, the half-cell using the BP all out on electric cars and a network of charging stations and slashing the cost of copolymer as a binder showed a capacity retention of 95 percent after over 1,700 such cycles,” says Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi, who led the research. emission-free travel. Volkswagen will cut the cost of batteries by up to 50% by the end According to the team, this is the result of better mechanical stability and adherence to the anode and current collector. The BP material is also more of this decade, while slashing charging time to 12 minutes. That would make electric conductive and thinner than the PVDF used today, and doesn’t react as easily with the electrolyte, contributing to the longer life-span. Microscopic cars cheaper than gasoline vehicles and just as convenient. Their charging stations images of the binder revealed only tiny cracks after its 1,700 cycles, compared to imagery of the PVDF binder, which exhibited large cracks after only 500 on the continent will operate in conjunction with energy companies including BP. The cycles. The team imagines it one day serving a variety of applications including longer-lasting smartphones, electric vehicles and artificial organs. “The British oil producer said it would offer charging at its filling stations. Volkswagen is realization of durable batteries will help in the development of more reliable products for long-term use,” says Matsumi. “This will encourage consumers the biggest carmaker in Europe and second biggest in the world after Toyota. Their to purchase more expensive battery-based assets like electric vehicles, which will be used for many years.” Source: Japan Advanced Institute of Science latest presentations (by a parade of Volkswagen executives) was that the company and Technology is deploying its industry and government connections, its financial resources, and its eight decades of manufacturing expertise to keep Tesla from eating its lunch. “Our transformation will be bigger than anything the industry COULD WE EVER EQUAL THIS ? Commemorative Air Force Announces $500,000 Matching Grant from Ray Foundation to Fund Completion of Henry has seen in the past century,” according to Herbert Diess, the chief executive of Volkswagen, during his two-hour presentation. The event B. Tippie National Aviation Education Centre (March 10, 2021) (Dallas) - The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) today announced a generous $500,000 coincided with the rollout in the United States of the ID.4, an electric S.U.V. that is part of the first generation of Volkswagens designed matching grant from the Ray Foundation to aid in funding the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (Education Center) at the CAF’s from the ground up to run on batteries and seen as serious challengers to Tesla’s dominance in electric cars. The first ID.4s, with a starting headquarters in Dallas. The Ray Foundation will match all funds raised dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000, received through December 31, 2021. The CAF price of $40,000 before government rebates, began arriving at American dealers mid-March. Tesla shares have plunged in recent weeks has raised $13 million against a campaign goal of $14 million. The gift comes as construction of the Education Center nears completion this spring. The as it dawns on some investors that the California company may not have a monopoly on electric cars. Volkswagen shares have recovered Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center will provide hands-on learning activities for all ages. The 47,000 square foot facility includes a Science, their prepandemic value and then some. But investors still value Tesla at six times as much as Volkswagen, and the German company faces Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Innovation Hangar where visitors and education program participants will be inspired by aviation and history enormous challenges. Volkswagen’s new electric models, while promising, have yet to prove themselves in the market. They were initially while learning life skills. The Education Center will begin programs – including the Aerospace Summer Camp for middle school students – this summer plagued by software problems, although the company says those have been solved. After a delayed launch, Volkswagen sold 56,000 of and will hold a public grand opening celebration in Fall 2021. The Ray Foundation was founded by James C. Ray, a decorated World War II pilot, with its ID.3 model, an electric hatchback not offered in the United States, in the last few months of 2020. Volkswagen is coping with the his wife Joan, to support aviation education initiatives. The James C. Ray Education Wing at the Education Center, named in honor of Mr. Ray, provides devastating effect that the pandemic had on sales. Deliveries to customers fell 15% in 2020, to 9.3 million vehicles and sold 18 times as 10,000 square feet of dedicated workshop and classroom space outfitted with engineering, science and mechanical resources and equipment. CAF’s many cars as Tesla last year — pushing down manufacturing costs in a way that smaller carmakers cannot. education staff are developing hands-on programming for Dallas-area students, as well as for deployment in communities across the country through the organisation’s 85 local units, bringing living history lessons to students nationwide.

40 Gliding International April 2021 41 THE FASTEST POSSIBLE ALL-ELECTRIC aircraft being developed by SAILPLANE PILOT LICENCE CONVERSION - British Glider Pilots with Part-21 sailplane licenses Rolls-Royce (called the Spirit of Innovation) is expected to have its (formerly described as EASA sailplanes) which included powered sailplanes (including TMGs) first flight during this coming European summer. The first taxi tests need to hold a Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) by December 8, 2021. Meanwhile, BGA and national of what is designed to become the world’s fastest electric plane rules continue to apply to pilots of Part-21 and non-Part 21 sailplanes. are an important early demonstration of its cutting edge propulsion 1. BGA and national rules continue to apply to all sailplane pilots until December 8, 21. systems, which the developers hope can offer a blueprint for not just 2. Sailplane pilots who choose to use SPL privileges are required to comply with the SPL planes but air taxis and other futuristic forms of urban mobility. Rolls- recency and other Sailplane Flight Crew Licensing (SFCL) requirements. Royce in announcing their plans to top the previous speed record 3. All gliding instructing at BGA clubs continues under BGA requirements until December 2021 for an electric plane – 210 mph (338 km/h) set by Siemens in 2017 – therefore all gliding instructors even if they hold an FI(S) certificate must hold a valid BGA have announced they have a number of partners (including the UK instructor rating. government), as part of the Accelerating the Electrification of Flight program, powered by a battery pack of 6,000 cells, claimed to be the most 4. For conversion from a BGA gliding certificate to an SPL (including all privileges e.g. energy-dense ever integrated into an aircraft. The 500-hp (400-kW) all-electric powertrain is designed to one day propel the electric Spirit instructing), one of the following is required; of Innovation aircraft to speeds in excess of 300 mph (482 km/h). It has demonstrated a successful integration of this advanced propulsion a. CAA Pilot Medical Declaration (note 1), or b. LAPL medical certificate, or c. Class 2 medical system by using it to roll down the runway for the first time. The way Rolls-Royce sees it, at least some of the technologies it is developing for certificate the Spirit of Innovation will also apply to the world of air taxis, a burgeoning area of transportation research and development and one where the company is making moves of its own. • The CAA has been challenged by the BGA to enable SPL holders to declare to the same 2000kg declaration excluding criteria as NPPL holders rather than the currently applicable and disproportionate 5700 kg declaration excluding LOOKING BACK AND BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE - 365 days ago, Americans were criteria. Any pilot who wishes to convert but cannot declare to the CAA’s 5700kg exclusions should wait until the situation is resolved, or obtain confronted with a series of headlines that seemed to be lifted from a sci-fi novel: the a LAPL medical. NBA was suspended, Tom Hanks announced he had Covid-19, and the WHO declared • As the UK is now a third-country, SPL holders flying sailplanes outside the UK including in the EU need to hold a class 2 medical certificate to the novel coronavirus a global pandemic. It’s been a long year. Here are some of the establish ICAO compliance. most important numbers across business, the economy, and public health to put things • There is no time like the present. If you can meet the conversion criteria, it makes sense to avoid the rush ahead of 8th December. in perspective. Health: Nearly 118 million people globally fell ill with the coronavirus, and • Sailplane pilots who choose to convert are directly supported through the conversion process by the BGA. The licence conversion requirements 2.6 million people have died. In the US, almost 528,000 people have died due to Covid; a are based on the UK Conversion Report modified to reflect SFCL changes. year ago today, the US death toll was 38. Vaccines: More than 321 million vaccine doses • To ensure that all pilots will eventually have the correct sailplane licence, ratings and certificates, the BGA has agreed with the CAA that the have been administered in 118 countries. 1 in 4 adults in the US have now received their BGA will handle the application and checking process and make recommendations for licence issue to the CAA under a Qualified Entity approval. first vaccine dose, per the White House. Stimulus: Including the latest stimulus bill, DC By March 21, over 1300 licences have been issued through this process. The process is described below. will have spent more than $5 trillion on emergency aid for Americans over the past year. • You should note that an SPL issued by the CAA after January 1, 21 will be a UK SPL (rather than issued as an EU SPL, as is the case prior to For reference, Obama’s stimulus package following the Great Recession was $840 billion. January 1, 21). A CAA-issued EU SPL and a UK SPL have the same privileges in the UK and the EU. Jobs: Despite adding 379,000 jobs last month, the US economy is down 9.5 million jobs from pre-pandemic levels in February 2020. Some companies hired like crazy, though—Amazon was bringing on an average of 1,400 new LET’S START WITH THE NUMBERS. (AS AT MARCH 22, 2021) International: More than 345 million doses have been administered across 121 workers a day last year. Stocks: The S&P 500 has climbed more than 50% in a year, and the Nasdaq, which is focused on tech companies, countries, a 27% jump from the previous week whilst the USA hit a milestone of 100 million vaccine doses administered yesterday, and 13.5% of all has jumped more than 75%. Stocks that were primed for at-home life soared (Etsy +368%), while those that weren’t...still soared (Norwegian US adults are fully vaccinated (meaning two doses of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, or one of J&J). The seven-day average of doses administered Cruise Line +206%). Businesses: Loads of new businesses emerged from the pandemic wreckage—487,577 to be exact, says Yelp. That number per day is 2.23 million, a 9% bump over the week before. Now to unused doses. A cross-border kerfuffle is brewing over millions of unused doses of is only down 14% year-over-year. And Biden, at press time, was about to struggle into delivering his first prime-time address to the U.S.A. to AstraZeneca’s vaccine. Those doses, which are currently sitting in cold storage in the US, aren’t being used because the US has yet to authorize the mark the occasion. vaccine. More than 70 countries have authorized this vaccine, so they’ve been asking the US to please kindly hand over the doses that are sitting around. Meanwhile, more age limits are coming down. An increasing number of states are expanding eligibility. Texas is opening up doses to anyone LIVING IN THE U.S.A. HAS ADVANTAGES - the U.S. Senate has passed (with a 50–49 vote) an enormous bill aimed at providing relief to 50 or older starting next week, and Georgia, Minnesota, and Ohio will also begin loosening age requirements. Americans suffering financially from the coronavirus pandemic. (Amounts to $1.9 trillion). Every Republican gave it the thumbs down. What’s inside the bill? $1,400 stimulus cheques: Individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples making up to $150,000 qualify for the entire amount. It phases out at ALARMINGLY DANGEROUS - NBAA, AOPA PRESS AUTHORITIES ON GPS JAMMING - AOPA and NBAA are $80k for individuals and $160k for couples. But unemployment benefits from September will be $300/week. Child tax credit: The bill expands claiming that the FAA and the U.S. Air Force need to figure out how to minimise the effects on civilian aviation the child tax credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000. Other highlights: $160 billion for vaccine and Covid testing programs, $360 billion for while they test the hardness of military GPS. There are almost always NOTAMs warning of potential GPS state, local, and territorial governments, and $170 billion for school reopening efforts. Much of the aid in the bill is directed toward low- and outages as the military intentionally jams signals for training and research. The groups say they understand middle-income families rather than businesses; “one of the most generous expansions of aid to the poor in recent history.” Economists at the need for the testing, but it’s disruptive and potentially dangerous for others using the signals. “…the NAS Columbia University’s Centre on Poverty and Social Policy calculate this bill will reduce the number of Americans living in poverty by about has become increasingly reliant on GPS as the primary source of navigation and aircraft system functionality a third. What the Republican politicians are saying: “This isn’t a pandemic rescue package. It’s a parade of left-wing pet projects that they while reducing the ground based navigational backup infrastructure,” the joint letter reads. It also notes the are ramming through during a pandemic”. Bottom line: Workers and families will have received $2.2 trillion from all of the coronavirus stimulus tests are on the increase and the government agencies have said they will continue to expand. In 2017, the measures, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. FAA asked the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) for suggestions on how to minimize the impact of the testing on the rest of the system. RTCA submitted a dozen ideas in early 2018 but the FAA ‘FLY LIKE A GIRL’ - A MORALE PATCH THAT HONORS FEMALE AVIATORS - Air Force Capt. and USAF have been silent on what they think of them. “Therefore, NBAA and AOPA are seeking a detailed Melaine Valentin, an instructor pilot from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, leveraged her lifelong briefing and update on the status of that industry report, including the work done over the past several years to help provide operational relief,” passion for visual art when asked to design a morale patch for Air Education and Training the letter says. Command’s 2019 Women’s Fly-In. Since the event, the patch’s popularity has grown so much that the company she worked with to get it manufactured now sells it on its website. The CATHAY RETIRES 34 AIRCRAFT PREMATURELY AFTER POSTING $2.8BN ANNUAL LOSS patch, which depicts a female aviator in a helmet and mask along with the slogan “Fly Like a - Part of the Cathay Pacific fleet grounded at Hong Kong Airport. Hong Kong’s Cathay Girl,” was a great complement to the event’s focus on uniting USAF aviators from a variety of Pacific is retiring nearly half of its fleet which now sits in long-term storage in Australia Air Force Specialty Codes to network with one another, assist the service with fitting gear to and Spain. In its 2020 full-year financial results, Cathay group chairman, Patrick Healy, female proportions, and serving as aviation ambassadors to the next generation of would-be stated that the airline how has 92 of its aircraft – around 46 per cent of its fleet – in women aviators. “Everyone’s always heard … the phrase, you ‘throw like a girl’ or like that long-term storage facilities in Alice Springs, Australia, and Ciudad Real, Spain. The figure kind of off-the-cuff response, and I thought it would be cool to kind of take that back,” she is up from the airline’s September 2020 announcement in that it had moved 40% of its recalled of the patch’s origin story during a March 11 interview with Air Force Magazine. “And fleet into long-term overseas storage for the “foreseeable future”, in order for Cathay “to yeah, I fly like a girl—I’m awesome…. so kind of just a fun patch that kind of conveyed … ‘I survive and thrive” in the near term. The prematurely retired aircraft are all “unlikely to am a female aviator, and I love it,’ and kind of being proud of that whole idea.” The Huntington re-enter meaningful economic service again”, which likely suggests the planes could be Beach, Calif., native first reached out to the company Bomber Patches in order to get the patches made for the event, but the company subsequently started selling the patch on its Airbus A330s or Boeing 777s, which are among the oldest aircraft in their fleet. The group’s website. As of press time, the patch was sold out. According to Valentin, representation is the full-year loss amounts to a record $2.8 billion. Deliveries of new Airbus A350-900 and -1000 aircraft have been pushed back by up to two years. biggest hurdle women aviators face, so “having this tangible representation” of their ability Similarly, deliveries for A321neos — some of which were originally meant for now-shuttered regional wing Cathay Dragon — have been delayed to get behind the controls of an aircraft can also give women who never thought about a flying career as a possibility permission to envision from 2020-2023 to 2020-2025. Cathay confirms that “advanced negotiations” are still ongoing with Boeing for the deferral of the 777-9 widebody, such a future. “This is an example,” she said. “This is a dream that you can have.” of which it has 21 on order. Passenger revenues continue to sit at just 2-3 %of pre-pandemic levels.

42 Gliding International April 2021 43 SHELL AVIATION TO GO - Titan Aviation Fuels, which has served UK-EU TRANSITION ELECTRONIC CONSPICUITY DEVICES (Description: CAP 1391 specifies Electronic as the official branded distributor of Shell Aviation fuels for general Conspicuity) EC devices that have the ability to signal their presence to other airspace users, thereby turning aviation in the U.S. for the past 18 years, is rebranding its 550-member the “see-and-avoid” concept into “see-BE SEEN-and-avoid”. It provides a technical specification for their Shell FBO network under its own independent, full-service Titan Fuel production, as well as detailing the procedure for self-declaration that allows the device to be covered brand. Thus, the Shell Aviation fuel brand will end in the U.S. after under a single UK national equipment approval. GA aircraft owners who have no requirement to equip their more than a century. The main [strategic] change is to move from a aircraft with a transponder may voluntarily use an EC device. To meet the criteria for low cost and low branded model to an unbranded one. The company will remain focused power, EC devices use limited capability, low complexity, off-the-shelf components that do not meet classical on its growth throughout the U.S. They will continue to reliably service aviation equipment requirements. Although this is reasonable for a device carried voluntarily as an aid to the aviation industry with quality aviation gasoline and jet fuel and “see-and-avoid”, it also means that their transmitted data cannot be relied upon and, consequently, their look forward to expanding their customer base within the U.S. aviation design requires that any functional failures will result in a ‘No Safety Effect’. However, GNSS receivers are market. Shell noted the change will not affect its aviation brand outside the U.S, and that it would continue to supply Titan and other GA now available that meet the intent of FAA TSO-C199 Class B for Traffic Awareness Beacon Systems (TABS), distributors in the U.S. which are qualified to a recognised aviation standard and provide enhanced performance for relatively low cost. These robust receiver designs are capable of providing potential performance enhancements for EC devices, allowing them to report THIRTEEN BRITISH WOMEN’S FLYING SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED BY BWPA - The British Women Pilots’ improved functional capability within allowable limits. The CAA has reviewed the TSO-C199 Class B specification and test requirements, Association (BWPA) has launched its 2021 aviation scholarships provided by the BWPA, CATS Aviation, Bristol and amended CAP to formally recognise GNSS receivers qualified to this TSO as position sources that may be incorporated as part of EC Ground school, Easy PPL, 624squadron.com and Helicentre. The BWPA offers scholarships every year to support devices or for connection to EC device transmitters. women in the U.K. in achieving their flying dreams, underlying its key aim to promote their training and employment within the sector. BWPA Chairwoman Sharon Nicholson said, “Only 5-6% of professional pilots in the U.K. and RECEPTION PROPBLEMS ? TAIL MOUNTED ANTENNAS - CERTUS TERMINAL - FLAT PANEL worldwide are women, and the percentages in general aviation are similar. Much of this is due to lack of information ANTENNA - As a Value-Added Manufacturer (VAM) and service provider (SP) for Iridium and opportunity. The scholarships will be awarded to the most impressive and inspiring applicants with the hope Certus, SD is designing and manufacturing new terminals for compatibility with the new that these scholarships will support them in achieving their ambitions and continuing to inspire others. More than network offering, while also providing the service direct to the aviation community. SD’s 100 women from across the U.K. applied for the scholarships in 2020. These awards will help scholarship winners Certus hardware solution is optimized to address unique requirements. Comprised of just two in various ways, including gaining their first qualifications, starting their training to become commercial pilots, or Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), the SDR Gateway 2.0 and the Certus High Gain Antenna (HGA), assisting them in finding a first job with an airline. The BWPA Scholarships 2021 • Three BWPA Flying Start Scholarships of £1500 each are for the small form factor equipment is easy to install providing reliable connectivity at reasonable new, inexperienced pilots to gain their first qualifications. • Two BWPA Flying High Scholarships of £1000 each for licensed pilots who wish prices. The SD Certus Antenna is fuselage mounted High Gain Antenna (HGA) that meets the to gain further qualifications. • One BWPA CATS Aviation Training Scholarship for the full value of an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) (A) stringent performance requirements specified by Iridium for the “Class H2 system” in order to ground school course. • Two BWPA Bristol Groundschool ATPL Scholarships, each for half the value of an ATPL (A or H) course. • Two BWPA support the highest Certus data rates offered both today and in the future. Learn more about EasyPPL Ground School Scholarships, each for the full value of a ground school course. • One BWPA 624squadron.com Scholarship of £1250 for the SD Certus Terminal, contact the SD team today. Call or contact an SD representative a female aviation enthusiast for her own special mission and flying adventure • One BWPA Helicentre Aviation Scholarship of £10,000 towards today. Ph. +1.321.777.3000 an integrated CPL(H).• One BWPA Helicentre Aviation Scholarship of £975 towards a two-day introductory helicopter training course. GAS - ELECTRIC PROVEN POWER SOURCE - (A MAYBE FOR MOTOR GLIDERS) THE PERLAN PROJECT - VERY SAD - We have had an email from Susana Conde, Einar Enevoldson’s wife. Einar (AN ENDURANCE WORLD RECORD) - While their winged counterparts are is the founder and inspiration behind The Perlan Project. She says “Einar’s health has been declining for the designed to stay aloft for weeks at a time, multirotor drones are more renowned past several years, as many may know. It pains me to let you know that his condition is such that his life with for their manoeuverability. California-based drone manufacturer Skyfront was us can be measured by short months. Although there are several causes for his health’s downward trend, the established in 2014 to push the flight duration boundaries of multirotor drones main reason is a ureteral cancer that has metastasized. There is no treatment for this illness given his age and is now claiming an endurance world record for its Perimeter 8, which stayed and general health. An intervention would put him at enormous risk. Einar, in consultation with his doctor, airborne for 13 hours, 3 minutes and 57 seconds, covering 205 miles (330 km) has decided not to take that course. Given the amount of personal care he needs at this time, the number of in the process. Their Perimeter 8 is powered by Skyfront’s proprietary fuel- visits he gets from Hospice, and the number of calls that I get, necessarily, from family, we have decided to injected hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain, which the company says replaces post Einar’s condition, as it changes. (https://www.caringbridge.org/public/einarenevoldson). Even though the battery to extend flight times by a factor of 20. While the standard off- he doesn’t “need cheering up,” he would enjoy hearing from you. You can leave well wishes for Einar in the the-shelf Perimeter 8 has a payload-free maximum endurance of over five hours “Comments” box below the “Journal.” I will read your messages to him. If you have a picture of Einar you and range of 110 miles (177 km), the record breaker was fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank to more than double flight time. “In an unheard would like to share, you may upload it in the “Well Wishes” section. of industry feat, our drone stayed aloft for the entire day,” says Skyfront CEO Troy Mestler. “Outfitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, the Perimeter 8 captured the sun traversing the sky, rising and setting over California’s Coastal Ranges. This flight signals a paradigm shift in PILOTS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $420K TO STAY IN SERVICE -The U.S. Air Force is offering aviation for public safety and commercial applications.” The standard Perimeter 8 drone has a video and control range of 62 miles (100 km). bonuses of up to $420,000 to pilots who commit to staying in uniform for up to 12 years. The service The Skyfront flight beats the Guinness World Record held by South Korea’s Metavista Inc, whose hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered quadcopter wants to keep pilots in its cockpits longer as it continues to grapple with an ongoing pilot shortage and the flew for 12 hours, 7 minutes and 5 seconds in April 2019. That effort absolutely smashed the previous Guinness World Record of 2 hours, 6 COVID-19 pandemic. Who is eligible? • Bomber, fighter, mobility, special operations, and combat search minutes and 7 seconds, a record that Skyfront also claimed to beat in 2017 with a flight of 4 hours and 34 minutes by its Tailwind drone. and rescue fixed wing pilots: Annual payments of $25,000 for contract lengths of 5 to 7 years, or $35,000 However, no Guinness officials were on hand to document that feat, and there’s no word any were present to verify this latest record so for contracts of 8 to 12 years. These pilots could also opt for up-front payments of $100,000 for 5-7 year there may be no certificate for the Skyfront office wall coming from Guinness for this one either. contracts, and $200,000 for 8-12 years. • Combat search and rescue rotary wing pilots: Annual payments of $15,000 for 5-7 year contracts, or $25,000 for 8-12 year contracts. • Remotely piloted aircraft pilots: MID-MARCH - FLIGHTS OF NOTE: • March 16; Ugo Pavesi flew one from Calicinate in Italy in an ASG 29/15m. and Klaus Ohlmann from Serres Annual payments of $25,000 for 5-7 year contracts, or $35,000 for 8-12 year contracts. RPA pilots could in France in the Antares 20. • March 15; Gil Souviron 1100 km in the Stemme S12 from Perpignan. • March 14; Davide Giovanelli (Swiss ) flew also choose an up-front payment of $100,000 for 8-12 year contracts. • Combat systems officers: Annual one from Locarno and Alessandro Busca from Alzate in a Ventus 2CX/18m. • March 16; Alessandro Busca flew an ASK 21, a distance of 598 payments of $15,000 for 5-7 year contracts, or $25,000 for 8-12 years. Air battle managers: Annual km. from Aosta, on a well formed wave day. payments of $15,000 for 5-7 year contracts, or $25,000 for 8-12 year contracts. • Bomber, fighter, CSAR, mobility, RPA, and special operations pilots whose contracts have expired or who previously signed an FAI HAS RATIFIED THE FOLLOWING CLASS D (GLIDER) AFRICAN RECORDS: 15m Class Gliders, Cat: General, Type: Free triangle distance, aviation bonus contract that expired before this fiscal year are eligible for annual payments of $15,000 Location: Douglas (South Africa), Performance: 1 073,34 km, Pilot: Maxim H.S. Leenders (Netherlands), Glider: JS 3 / Jonker, Date: 22.01.2019, for 5-7 year contracts, or $25,000 for 8-12 year contracts, according to a USAF statement provided to Air Force Magazine. For those whose Current record: 1 062,5 km (20.12.2011 - Susanne Schödel, Germany) and 15m Class Gliders, Cat: General, Type: Speed 100 km ∆, Location: who are non-contracted or whose contract expired, there is a five-year minimum and 24 years of aviation service maximum, according to the Air Douglas (South Africa) Performance: 194,37 km/h, Pilot: Maxim H.S. Leenders (Netherlands), Glider: JS 3 / Jonker, Date: 07.01.2019, Previous Force. Previous bonus offers had allowed for three-year minimums. record: 191,7 km/h (23.01.2015 - Jan Ritsma, Netherlands)

UPDATE ON AIRLINE SUBSIDIES - Major U.S. airlines have now received more than $50 billion in grants in multiple rounds of taxpayer-fund AUSTRALIA’S MULTICLASS AND CLUB CLASS NATIONALS COMPETITIONS will be held at Kingaroy Soaring Club from October 4 to October 11, bailouts during the pandemic. As travel begins to rebound and the stock market cruises to record highs the question is - Was the rescue 2021, immediately after the QLD State Comps which runs there from September 26 to October 2. October 3 will be an extra practice day for worth it? The good news: The bailouts probably saved as many as 75,000 jobs and kept the airlines from declaring bankruptcy. The bad news: anyone who wants a launch. See kingaroysoaring.com.au for registration details. The Club and Sports Class Nationals will be held at Tocumwal Taxpayers probably overpaid, with the original grant of $25 billion implying that each job cost the equivalent of more than $300,000. (That from December 12 - 18. 2021. Expressions of interest are invited from any clubs interested in hosting the 2-seater Nationals for next season. price grew with subsequent bailouts.) The biggest beneficiaries were airline shareholders. That includes the carriers’ executives, who have been Narromine was fortunate to be able to host the event this year despite COVID, and is willing to host it again next season, but in fairness to paid in stock for years. Propped up by taxpayers, airline stocks are up nearly 200% from their pandemic trough, and have largely recovered their others, offers to host from any other club will be considered. Expressions of interest to [email protected] by 30 April 30, 2021. losses.

44 Gliding International April 2021 45 THINGS WITH WINGS BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE - WE FILL IN THE GAPS

MAKE SAILPLANES IN THE U.S.A.? The U.S. Senate has approved $3 billion in payroll support for aircraft manufacturers as part of $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief for America. “Whatever they give us will be used to make sure the supply chain is secure as we come into the vaccination period,” said Pete Bunce, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. A BLOW OUT - LIKE REAL BIG Geneva - The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) new analysis shows that the airline industry is expected to remain cash negative throughout 2021. Airlines are now not expected to be cash positive until 2022. Estimates for cash burn in 2021 have ballooned into the $75 billion - $95 billion range from an earlier anticipated $48 billion. AMERICAN EXPRESS INVESTS IN AVIATION: One of the world’s best-known brands has joined Denver-based startup Boom Supersonic. The aventure capital arm of American Express, is investing in Boom Supersonic’s plane called the Overture. Earning Amex miles on Overture’s first flights? It’s a whole new way to look at the American dream. THE ELECTRIFLY-IN SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 11-12, 2021 is now an integral part of aviation magazines’ event calendars. A visit to Grenchen Airport will be worthwhile again this year. Their website has now been translated into French. Thus, we will keep you up to date in three languages about the special September weekend all through the rest of the year, up until the event. FAI SAILPLANE GRAND PRIX - SERIES #11. Bidding documents are now available for the 11th SGP series National events which are scheduled to take place between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022. Bids are also welcome for the 11th FAI/SGP World final to be held in 2023. The bid form and notes are available at Sailplane Grand Prix (sgp.aero). SUN ‘N FUN WILL BE THIS YEAR’S FIRST MAJOR AVIATION GATHERING since the onset of the pandemic. It is set down for April 13 through 18. Designed to be the most accessible aviation news event program this year, the event sees SUN ‘n FUN and the Aero-News Network working in collaboration to produce the aviation industry’s leading-edge event. AS PART OF ITS ADVANCED AIR TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY (AATT) PROJECT, NASA is working on a new leading-edge wing design that will decrease aircraft noise taking off and landing. Acknowledging that the airframe (especially the wings) can produce a lot of noise, they are meeting with some success. Improving the mind-boggling problem is acknowledged as being very complex. SINGAPORE AIRLINES PIONEERS AN IATA TRAVEL PASS DEPLOYMENT - They will become the world’s first airline to deploy the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass for digital health verification. (Starts March 15). The pilot plan marks the second phase of SIA’s digital health verification process trials, based on the IATA Travel Pass framework. WINGS AND WHEELS MOVED into their new location during February. Construction started a year ago and it’s finally done! Sean Franke tells us “they have the only commercial and retail location in North America for soaring supplies. Now at 3525 W Bavaria St Eagle, ID 83616. All inventory on the ground floor. Upstairs they have their yaw string, video, photo and T-shirt production. THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL AEROBATICS DAY TO BE HELD ON JUNE 26, 2021. According to IAC, the newly established event is to highlight aerobatics pilots and ground support crews. From hereon, National Aerobatics Day is scheduled annually on the 4th Saturday in June. There are over 40 U.K. chapters plus two international chapters. All aviation aerobatic pilots welcome. WHAT’S BREWING - Of interest ! Boeing last month received more orders for its planes than cancellations for the first time since November 2019.• Piers Morgan resigned from the show Good Morning Britain following comments he made about Meghan Markle’s mental health. • Online game platform Roblox is going public via a direct listing. It was valued at $29.5 billion in January. AERO SOUTH AFRICA DELAYED - NOW 2022. Their three-day event will take place at Wonderboom national airport. Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, Messe Frankfurt South Africa has taken the decision to postpone the AERO South Africa exhibition and conference to July 2022. AIRPORT ROTATING BEACONS - A visual NAVAID operated at many airports. At civil airports, alternating white and green flashes indicate the location of the airport. At military airports, the beacons flash alternately white and green, but are differentiated from civil beacons by dualpeaked (two quick) white flashes between the green flashes. THE FINAL DRONE REGULATIONS REQUIRING REMOTE IDENTIFICATION of drones and allowing some flights over people, at night under certain conditions. It becomes effective April 21, 2021. Identification required of the flight and takeoff point. Crucial information to our national security and law enforcement partners, and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. FAA EXPERIENCES 50% DROP IN DRONE NEW REGISTRATIONS & RENEWALS - Registered personel numbers fell from 1,746,248 to 868,421 between 12/2020 and 03/2021. The Academy of Model Aeronautics advise the 50% decline in new registrations/renewals via faadronezone.faa.gov. (492,492 recreational fliers/375,929 commercially registered drones). Administration impact blamed.

CORRECTION - • Our previous issue provided a detailed report on the liaison between Germany and Japan from 1930 through to 1945. The report labelled the author as Australian, Arthur Liddington. This was an error for which we apologise.. The original report was written by Juergen Melzer, PHD , Professor Japanese Studies, College of Liberal Arts , Yamanashi Gakuin University , JAPAN.

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