THE CLUB OPERATIONS PANEL
Instructors:
| Noel Vagg | CFI: Level 3 Instructor |
| Christopher Thorpe | DCFI: Level 3 Instructor |
| Peter Champness | Tugmaster |
| Robert Hocking | Air Experience Instructor |
| Tim Adam | Level 1 Instructor |
Noel Vagg – Level 3 Instructor
Noel joined the club in April 1975, and has held most committee roles within the Beaufort Gliding Club. He started instructing in 1978 and has flown several thousand hours instructing students in the club-owned Zephyrus, Twin Astir and Janus.
Noel’s strong interest in cross-country flying started by flying with club instructors in the Zephyrus and then flying a Cirrus for many years. Since then he has flown dual with many club members at various sites entering competitions at national, state and regional levels placing first in several of these.
Most of his flying has been in two-seaters and has ranged from teaching pre-solo students to helping perfect post-solo pilots’ cross country techniques and managing courses to train instructors.
- Flights to date: 4100
- Hours to date: 3600
- Longest distance flown: 775 km at 127 kph
- Fastest average speed: 147 kph for 315 km.
ChrisTOPHER Thorpe – Level 3 Instructor
Chris started gliding in 1978 at Bacchus Marsh and has accumulated more than 3300 hours in 42 types of sailplanes.
He has extensive experience in gliding operations, having been the Chief Flying Instructor of the Beaufort Gliding Club from 1995 to 2015, and was a member of Gliding Australia’s Operations Panel between 2006 and 2023.
He held the position of Gliding Australia’s National Head of Flying Operations between 2013 and 2023, in which role he was the person responsible to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for Gliding Australia’s safety, compliance and standards functions. He has risk management, safety management and gliding accident investigation expertise, and has been engaged by Lawyers as an Expert Witness in gliding related matters. He has also assisted the ATSB, New Zealand TAIC and various State Police forces and Coroners in the investigation of gliding accidents.
Chris is a regular competitor in state and regional competitions, having placed first in several of these. He also holds airworthiness authorities allowing him to conduct annual maintenance inspections and Life Extension Surveys.
Before working for Gliding Australia, he was employed by a major bank in which he held a senior risk management position dealing with legal and professional bodies.
Robert Hocking – Air Experience Instructor
Robert started flying with the Beaufort Gliding Club in 1970. He flew all through the 70’s but stopped when “family” duties took over.
He trained in Zephyrus with mainly winch launches. In late 1972, he started as an instructor at the same level as the current level one instructor, attending many Christmas camps and gaining his Silver and Gold badges plus one Diamond badge.
He came back to gliding after his retirement in early 2014 and is now an Air Experience Instructor.
He has a total of over 1500 fights for about 800 hours and has flown about 20 different glider types.
Peter Champness – Tug Master
In his role as Tug Master Peter oversees the operating of the club built Hornet tug, the tug pilots and the aircraft’s maintenance.
Peter began gliding in 1985 at the Gliding Club of Victoria (GCV) in Benalla and joined the Beaufort Gliding Club in 2007. Peter has 1000 hours gliding experience and has achieved the Gold Badge with one diamond.
Peter has glider airworthiness authorities for annual inspections (all types) and is authorised to complete repairs on the older wooden types of which he owns several.
TIM ADAM – LEVEL 1 INSTRUCTOR
Tim was introduced to gliding by his glider pilot father, Colin. He went solo in 1988 at age 15 and obtained his Silver badge in 1991 and Gold distance in 1999, flying from Tocumwal NSW.
He joined Beaufort Gliding Club in 2004 and flew infrequently while his children were young. He resumed flying in 2017 and is now a Level 1 instructor.
He has 300 hours in 20 glider types and has soared over 5000 km cross-country.