News

Recently the club received a visit from a glider pilot from Europe who wanted to fly.  The club had never catered for international pilots who just wanted one or two flights.  

The club has expanded reciprocal membership category to include members of all gliding clubs (worldwide), existing limitations will apply i.e.

• Current members of other gliding clubs can launch their own aircraft, and fly club two-seat aircraft, with a club instructor at member’s rates, without  paying membership dues, for up to 3 visits, totaling 14 days per financial year.
  
• Reciprocal members must hold current GFA membership eg. 9 day GFA membership is available on the day for a marginal price.
  
• To fly as “pilot in command” of any club aircraft and/or receive instruction, a pilot must be either a Short Term or Full Flying Member of the club.

Please note reciprocal membership is only available online, and con only be completed online.

Installation of retractable undercarriage in VMF was been completed, and test flown on Sunday 29th May by Tom Van Blaricum and Allen Petersen, "everything went very smoothly, the improvement in glide performance and the reduction in noise level is very marked so it was a worthwhile exercise" reported Tom.  If it was not for Tom and Allens work over the last 3 years it would not have happened, please thank them next time you see them.

Counting has begun for the Melbourne Gliding clubs 2016 Awards night, make sure you get in early for tickets. Early bird pricing ends in a week.

The Melbourne Gliding club has consolidated its family membership options to a single category called family member @ $135 / annum. If you have a member of the family who is under 21 they can use the U21 membership option which is half the price of family membership.  If you have any questions please email us at membership@vmfg.org.au

Membership stickers have been mailed to those who have already renewed for 2016-2017 year.

The Melbourne Gliding club has introduced a new payment gateway for use with the membership system, membership renewals can now use a simple secure credit card payment system, which replaces PayPal.

Please contact accounts@v,mfg.org.au if you have any queries.

A draft master plan for the airfield will be released on 19.5.16 for comment, Consultants will present the draft master plan to representatives from the gliding clubs, airfield users and surrounding land owners Thursday evening at the Bacchus Marsh library.

Information will be available as it comes to hand.

Many thanks to Tom Van Blaricum and Allen Peterson who are retro fitting VH-NDG with a retractable undercarriage, the same as VMF and VWR, ensuring our fleet of DG are exactly the same.  They plan to have the glider ready to go back on line on Saturday the 28th of May.  Depending on the delivery of a magnet for the gear warning alarm.  Please thank  Allen and Tom when you see them, as preparations for the work have been underway for a long time.

A solar light has been installed above the DG parking bay in the south hangar, so it is easier to gliders away late in the day.  If the light is useful we intend to install one above each of the club gliders.  If you use it please let Steve know how well it worked.

The committee has endorsed the purchase of 2 hand held VHF radios for use while towing gliders on the airfield.