A smaller number of members
than usually present on a Saturday turned up for a very pleasant days
flying. Actually the term 'flying' may be a bit of an exaggeration.
Maybe launching and landing might be more accurate.
By
10am the remnants of orographic cloud over the south of the airfield
were quickly clearing to leave quite a lot of higher level cloud and a
slight chill in the air. During a spare 5 minutes awaiting the winch to
be set up, Peter Sm (who volunteered to stand in for JP at short notice) decided to put on his shorts to tempt the sun out.
This seemed to have some limited effect, bringing increasing patches of
warmer air. Peter and Roly began instructing duties. A few new members
enjoyed some of their early glider flights - Charlie who is making fast progress at the age of 13yrs, Reuben and Dad
David among them. Jess had a check flight to give her the chance to fly
the Junior again.
 |
| Junior member Charlie (Peter Sm) |
Roly
flew some repeat customers of his - a couple - both flying today
despite only planning the one flight. Perhaps he should be nominated
for the DSGC customer service award? Simon L helped out both flying the
tug and a trial lesson to enable members to keep flying. Roy B was
busy winching all morning, basking in the repeated praise from pilots
reporting 'perfect launches'. Roy insisted it was the calm conditions
not his skill and technique. Very modest.
A NOTAM for the Red Arrows to transit as specks in the distant sky provided a short lunch break, but no spectacle.
Lisa
turned up with her new glider and set about rigging and setting it up
for her first flight. After a large crowd of purring members had
finished dribbling on it, it was squeegied off and took an aerotow.
Things must have been going well as the 2000ft tow initially requested
was heard on the radio being increased incrementally until 4500ft was
reached.
 |
| Lisa and her new toy (Malcolm) |
Ian
M turned up to take over for the afternoon instructing shift, and soon
begun to fly members on their second round of flights such was the lack
of students. Peter Sm was being awaited at home but instead was
ensuring Jess was well prepared for her flight in the Junior. After one
short flight, Jess earned the 'flight of the day' award on her second
attempt by soaring for 22 minutes off a winch launch. The rest of the
day returned to 5-10 minute flights as it had started, with the
exception of Dick finding a bit of lift off of 'the point' towards the
end of the day. The high level cloud never cleared enough to give
reliable lift. A patch of clearer sky to the north, out of reach to us,
hung around in the afternoon with some peachy looking cumulus
underneath it, just teasing.
Peter
Sm was eventually spotted returning the DG505 to the hangar after a
flight with Nick H at 5pm. The planned 'I'll be home at lunchtime' just
didn't work out!
A fun, relaxed, if unspectacular, days flying launching and landing. - Tim P and Peter Sm
