Day three started with the same cautious optimism as the previous two days, we were again greeted by low cloud and very little wind but talk of possible Easterly wave kept us interested.
The hill was clear but the valley was shrouded in cloud which kept pouring up across the airfield making for some good photo opportunities if nothing else.
The hill was clear but the valley was shrouded in cloud which kept pouring up across the airfield making for some good photo opportunities if nothing else.
.JPG)
By just after 1 pm the club K13 launched towards the hill but the tuggie soon elected to launch to the NW as he did not want a repeat of a very interesting departure!
Second to go was Simon L in FER and towed to 2000ft to contact wave, next up was me in ENW, the only way I can describe the tow would be - imagine getting on a frisky black stallion that had never been ridden and just as you lower your self gently onto its bear back someone kindly shoots it in the rear with a red hot dart!
After my release the turbulence continued with periods of 15 kt climbs followed by violent kicks of rotor. Over the radio came the call that no pilot with less than silver and 250 hrs were to fly solo!
Eventually Ian M came up to join the fun and as conditions calmed down the tuggie resumed normal operations which allowed Paul S to get into the wave .
Second to go was Simon L in FER and towed to 2000ft to contact wave, next up was me in ENW, the only way I can describe the tow would be - imagine getting on a frisky black stallion that had never been ridden and just as you lower your self gently onto its bear back someone kindly shoots it in the rear with a red hot dart!
After my release the turbulence continued with periods of 15 kt climbs followed by violent kicks of rotor. Over the radio came the call that no pilot with less than silver and 250 hrs were to fly solo!
Eventually Ian M came up to join the fun and as conditions calmed down the tuggie resumed normal operations which allowed Paul S to get into the wave .
.JPG)
The top of the wave was about 7600ft MSL , IM and myself sat at this height and despite quite long range searching we could not get higher. The weather front that had been forecast for Sun evening could be seen in the distance marching towards us, we timed our descents between us so as not to have a conflict on the ground. One by one we landed into now a quite strong easterly breeze which gave considerable sink on the approach!
This last day was the icing on the cake for us all after three days of hugely varied flying, roll on next time ! - Mark
