A text from Rowan on Friday morning said that Saturday's forecast made
it obligatory for us to go to Parham and fly the Southdown ridges! This
started a chain of events that had both happy and not so happy outcomes!
Having
decided to go I thought it would good to spread the happiness a bit so I
persuaded (pretty easily) Chris H and Peter Sm to take the 505 and found
an Instructor at Parham to fly with Chris and show him the ropes so that
he could then fly with Peter. Happiness was assured - what could
possibly go wrong? A last look at the RASP wind map for south east
England was purple - 30kts plus, so it was promising to be a wee bit
lively. Then a call from Rowan saying he'd just damaged the wheel of his
trailer so couldn't go - not a good start! The remaining trio were on
the road early and got there by 9.30 in time for the briefing which was
crowded. It was the first 'good ridge day' for some time and there were
about 30 gliders on the grid, including some K6's!
Chris and
Paul (our Parham instructor) launched at about 11 am and flew from
Parham west to Butser Hill then east to Lewis and back to Parham - 142km
- and the whole flight including the launch was only about an hour and a
half. Much of the time they were down at ridge-top height screaming
along at Va (max rough air speed)! Just before I launched someone said
the wind was 50kts at 3000 ft! I thought 'the k6's had better not get
too high or they'll end up in the English Channel!'
 |
| Approaching Butser Hill following Rob Thompson in Discus 722 |
I tagged along with Rob Thompson from Nympsfield for two beats until
our way was blocked by a nasty looking wall of rain at Lewis that
threatened to wash us down if we didn't run away sharpish! From then on
conditions worsened as the wind backed more NW and rain showers
increased.
When I landed I discovered that Peter hadn't flown. Chris and Paul had
landed as planned for Chris to take Peter but shortly after they landed
the tug pilots stopped aerotowing because conditions were too rough. So
after all that rushing around and driving 140 miles at some ungodly
hours in the morning poor old Peter never got to taste the delights of
the Southdowns. So what with Rowan and Peter the happiness score was only
50% - but there's always another day!
PS. I was amused by one
bit of radio chatter; Someone commented that he was having to watch out
for the birds when flying low down; to which someone else commented
that he didn't think the birds seem to be that much bothered. Within a
couple of seconds someone else replied 'thats what happens when you get
old! - JB
