Thursday's thermallings - 27th March 2008

:) That's what it all about. The cold front cleared thru' last night and a transient ridge was enough to control the instability. The wind started as a fresh northerly and backed to the west as the ridge passed thru'. The incoming warm front just started to cover the sun as we closed the hangar doors at about 1730.

First launch at 0945 straight into 4 knots to 1800 QFE cloudbase, which rapidly rose to 2500 QFE within an hour, and reaching 3400 QFE by mid afternoon. Last landing at 1710 having left gentle thermals to 2000 QFE off the ridge. Seven and a half hours of thermal soarability, but with a few 'difficult to get away' periods mid morning

Task for the day (150 km Dorchester - Tiverton) was completed by 611, 477 and AM. Matt hung around locally after finishing to achieve his 5 hours and completing his Silver. Dave overshot Tiverton, went on to South Molton and some soaring over Exmoor. Pete Startup is posting the first time for the Devon and Somerset Dash at 75kph.

Most training flights were over an hour. Peter added to his morning's winch instruction with a two and a half hour advanced soaring instruction after lunch. Sorry to some pilots who failed to catch their thermals. :(

A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum