A throng of members - several of them new - and a long long flying list
greeted the duty instructor, Mark C. Conditions were not great for
soaring - the vast majority of more than 70 launches were short to
shortish, but the wind was benign and one flight set a new record for
DSGC - our youngest solo pilot, our first 14 year old since the minimum
age was lowered: Peter B.
 |
| Mark congratulates Peter on his first solo |
Other pre-solo pilots continued to
make progress, and there was plenty of circuit practice for everyone. By
lunchtime the gaps in the clouds allowed enough sunlight on the ground
to extend flight times - in all 6 people managed flights in excess of an
hour, with both Phil G in his B4 and Matt W in M5 going for just over 2, and Eric A in his
brand-new, but not at all
squeaky, G29, being airborne for almost 2.5 hours.
 |
| Sea air south of Chard much lower than the almost 5000' base inland |
Although the
cloud cover returned quickly after lunch there were odd areas of lift,
or minimal sink, and some people managed to stay up - including Heather C
looking more and more at home in her K6, DQS.
 |
| Roly briefs and Jimbob dozes off holding down the tail |
The flying list
was gradually whittled away by Mark C, James H, Rowan S, and later Simon
L, who was dragged back by text SOS from a family day in Sidmouth, and
everybody flew before we put the kit away at 6pm.- Jonathan
