65 km Silver Distance for South Easterly winds
Ridgewell to Upwood, Nene Valley GC.
Navigational Information:
Leg From To Distance Track Mag
1 Ridgewell UPW Upwood GC 65 km 315 deg
2 Upwood Ridgewell GC 65 km1 35 deg
Comments
For this task you will pass close to Cambridge Airport, which has an ILS approach from the North East and South West. Please call Cambridge on 123.6 MHz to advise them of your position and height. We understand that the Head Air traffic controller is a glider pilot, so they understand gliding and would much prefer a call to being left in the dark with an unidentified object on their radar. Having said that, if you are losing height and struggling, the most important thing is to fly the glider and land safely. Communication is a lower priority. If you are already talking to Cambridge, you may be able to land safely there.
Update 2023: We have heard suggestions that Cambridge Airfield maybe re-developed for housing in the next few years, Therefore the ATZ and ILS may be discontinued in the next few years. Please check.
Ideal for South Easterly winds. Also fine for southerlies. For Easterly winds you must head North towards Stradishall to avoid Stansted airspace and correct for drift.
You can land at Upwood, but if the soaring conditions and visibility are still good, you can fly back to Ridgewell, but please call Cambridge.
Warnings: Beware of 1% rule if aero tow launching. launch height must be no more than 1600 feet.
Detailed Turnpoint information.
The details below are from 13 Jan 2015 Beware, this information has changed since 2001.
Upwood Hangar
UPW
C##
Centre of club hangar SW end of grass runway
0.5 NMl N of Upwood Village
10
SSE
Peterborough
526.04 283.22
52 25.947N 000 08.851W
75
UPW
On-route Navigational features and Gliding Clubs:
Cambridge and Newmarket provide good features when you get past Haverhill. The Great Ouse - straight parallel waterways heading North East is very distinctive. This is east of Upwood. The A1 and a parallel railway line form a boundary to the west. If struggling west of Cambridge, you may be in gliding range of Gransden Lodge GC. With 3 grass runways it is difficult to see.
GRANSDEN NW GR1 811 D##
Silo/Hangar Cambridge Club finish point from W & N
10 W Cambridge 153
528.48 255.72
52 11.087N 000 07.328W GR1