Wednesday 30th July

Just a taster from John Si who is currently flying Pilatus B4 CVV at Long Mynd.

CVV Topping out at 5000ft in wave

Much enthusiasm today with two half-price launches before 10.00am, there was a long flying list, Chris C was first off to bat with a quick circuit in the Junior.

JSt. spent most of the morning giving cable failures (some would say as usual!) Peter Sm & Roly flew the three Trial lessons and we soon made inroads into the long flying list. Pete H flew with Michael a 19year old from Bordeaux who plans to fly with us for the next few weeks.

After lunch it became very soarable with good thermals feeding of the ridge in the brisk N/W wind, there were many long flights in the afternoon.

Liam Soaring like a Kestrel

Heather and William flew the K6, Nigel and Geoff flew the Pegasus, Matt and Pete St flew their gliders and Liam tried his hand again in the Kestrel.

The end of a nice day's flying

Nick H goes into hospital on Thursday for his operation and I am sure the whole club wishes him a speedy recovery, details of the hospital visiting times ward etc. will be posted as soon as it is known, he will be in intensive care for several days. - JSt

Sunday 27th July

Another slow start, but the gliders and the sky got going together, after a slow cold front clearance. But the air felt much nicer than the recent humid heat.

Through the afternoon, it was pleasantly soarable to 3000ft, and Robert in Astir DKU had the longest flight of over 3 hours.

Simon M and Stu took VG over the water to Sandown on the Isle of Wight. We had an unusual visitor,  Ed from Lasham who flew his Stearman from Yeovilton.

Stearman

ICL at Upavon
Well we know that Henry landed in a field 81km of 125km - other results awaited......

Cirrus near Swindon

Saturday 26th July

A slightly slow start, with few members present (some were at ICL Upavon, but there was also Yeovilton Air day and Mid Devon show on today). It wasn't soarable until nearly 14:00 and even then it was difficult to get away from the winch. We packed up early when a large storm developed close to the airfield and the wind became rather gusty  launching downwind. There was another social event in the evening celebrating Cheryl's birthday. 

ICL at Upavon - James flying ASW20 Intermediate completed Wantage-Tetbury 141Km in a very respectable time. Other results rather sketchy?

Thursday 24th July

A bright start, but the north easterly wind was a lot stronger than forecast, and the whole circuit area was covered in heavy sink, so after the first two interesting circuits, a blue flag was declared until the conditions improved. But there wasn't much more than short circuits during the morning.

After lunch, the wind had dropped as originally forecast, and the blue card became red, and a few private gliders also enjoyed some short circuits with a few managing to squeeze out nearly 30 mins.  Liam took the opportunity of getting his blue card checks complete in DG505 and flew Gordon's Kestrel 19 for the first time. Peter B consolidated his aerotow clearance from Yeovilton.

Late afternoon, a line of thundery showers developed to the south of the airfield and rumbled westward along the A30 until we packed up.

Wednesday 23rd July

Another very hot start with hats and plenty to drink - the order of the day.

In the morning the lift was hard to find but many private gliders decided to rig, after lunch those who did rig were rewarded with good soaring and a cloudbase of over 4,000 ft.

Thanks to Robert who switched effortlessly between the tractor and the tug, there were three trial lesson flights - thanks to Pete Sm & Eric.

Well done to Tim he managed to get his silver height.

At 5.00pm the wind suddenly swiched from easterly to southwestrly so we changed ends to prepare for Henry's Met Office evening. - JSt

Sunset during the trial lesson

Sunday 20th July

 The day started with a photo shoot for the new BGA website, (ed: thanks to Peter Sm, Matt, Neil)

just a taster of the aerial photos

 Then flying was soon underway from the south east launch point with James and Martin in a K21 demonstrating how important it is to be able to deal with an eventuality from an eventuality - with a decision to 'go over the top' from a practice cable break, as it became clear that there was not enough field left to land ahead, but ending up with a safe landing into the rifle range.

K21 winch launch

The day continued with non-stop flying of both members and visitors  in club gliders and a variety of private gliders, all using the thermals in evident abundance, albeit with lots of unhelpful sink in between - so as ever it was a question of 'striking lucky' from a winch launch or having to land and try again.

nice looking sky

Unsurprisingly, the private gliders and club gliders that took aerotows all got away first time around .

Matt in ASW24 M5 and Rowan in Libelle (CLM) completed the Club 100,  "Not the fastest flight around the 100 by any means. Wasn't planning on the 100 and parked up while the others launched. Hard day with lots of low saves. I haven't picked so many field nor had so many low saves in a flight."
Dylan is back for the summer and elbowed his dad out of LS7 (W7) and showed everyone that he had not forgotten how to soar. Peter B went off for a while in K6CR (HEB). Adrian went soaring in Jantar (FDX) and nearly got back, having to land out near Tiverton when the lift ran out.
By the time the hangar doors were being shut at around 6 a good day had been had by all. More than half the 49 launches led to flights over an hour or more, with 8 getting away for more than 2 hours. A nice day - but not an epic one. - Mike Sl & Jonathan

ICL at Mendip
With Tim Peters crew for all 3 gliders, Matthew in SF27 Novice, Henry in Cirrus Intermediate and Andrew in Cirrus Pundit, and conditions terrible - the launching began with Henry going for a downwind dash for glory, followed by an epic retrieve and afternoon of tea!

Nice above the clouds

Muggles was next to launch and land back, demonstrating a marginal final glide! Matthew had a final glide from release to the first turn point and back to the airfield - Matthew
Henry competing for the greatest retrieve epicness trophy...

Audi being towed out of the mud by a local

Saturday 19th July

No flying today, due to the thundery showers, but in the evening we celebrated the life of an aviator....

A lovely evening was spent by many members at the club in remembrance of Ernie. Luckily the weather was kind and everyone enjoyed the hog roast, ice creams and refreshments provided by Ernie's son and daughter-in-law, Dominic and Alison. 
 

Ernie

There was a collection and the family will be liaising with the Committee as to purchasing something for the Club in his memory. 

Thanks to Mark C for lending the family his caravan for the evening, it was much appreciated.

Friday 18th July

For the climax of Teign School's end of term aviation activity week, a group of 14 students visited the Club. With the weather humid and southerly wind the airfield sat in a mass of orographic cloud during the morning, but we were quietly confident that it was going to clear.

In the morning there were briefings on the weather situation, how gliders fly, winching operations, cross-country achievements with tours of the gliders and Pawnee, followed by the inevitable game of football on our 100 acre football pitch. The brightening sky triggered an early lunch, and a quick call for a 4th instructor and another helper to enable a faster turnround in the limited hours.

Aviation enthusiasts from Teign School

After lunch, with the cloudbase rising off the ground,  we sat in the gliders ready for the clearance. All the students and teachers had interesting flights with extended circuits on the south ridge and in thermals. Beaming smiles were in evidence all round.

There was an almost instant switch off just as the last flight landed when some orographic cloud returned over the airfield. After packing the hangar the sky once again cleared into a beautiful evening. (ed: don't you just love being on a hill in Devon!)

This is the third year that we have hosted a visit from Teign school for their aviation enthusiasts and there was talk amongst the staff of incorporating the educational benefits of gliding theory (consisting of physics, geography and engineering)  into their curricular studies.

Thursday 17th July

A bit of a slow start with some low cloud clearing, and an easterly breeze meaning a walk to the other end of the field. But flying started just after 10:00am when cloudbase had risen above launch height. It turned out to be quite soarable under the overcast. Just before lunch, the cloud started to break allowing the sun through and thermals up to 2000ft. Late afternoon, the sea air came in and the circuits became quite short. Longest flight - just less than 1 hour, was Pete St in HEB who made a dash for the edge of the sea air.

Wednesday 16th July

Wednesday started grey and damp but the gliders were all out early in anticipation of better weather to come, but by midday the cloud base was still about 300ft, so an early lunch was called for.

After lunch the weather was slowly improving but some members started to drift away, so a weather check flight was called for, the flight indicated a cloud base of 1,200ft with only a small amount of wispy cloud below the main base which didn't pose a problem to safe launches.

As the afternoon progressed the weather improved and it became soarable, many flights took advantage of the improving conditions.

We had a visitor from the hanggliding / microlight fraternity, Peter Sm obliged and flew the trial lesson, there were no private gliders flying today. 

Andreas joins in the soaring

Andreas seems to have given up thermal avoidance,  once again having one of the longest flights. - JSt

Sunday 13th July - Flying day

By 9:00 this morning I was beginning to think that a "non flying day" had been declared, there were so few members at the club.

After helping to get the kit out, Lizzie and Josh had lectures to prepare them for their day's flying by Mark C and Simon L in the lecture room, Pete F (duty instructor) had to look very hard for pupils to instruct!

Conditions were already looking promising, when Ron J and Chris W turned up and prepared the ASH we had a feeling that the day would give us something!

Right from the start it was possible to use the ridge, early thermals started popping and streets of lift appeared near the club.

Single seaters ENW (Simon L) SM (Simon M) ASW29 (Eric A) John S (B4) Andrew L (K6) Paul S (Cirrus) all had long flights - some in excess of three hours.

Ron and Chris disappeared in search of wave, some promising slots formed, unfortunately they  quickly filled in; the whole sky was by now very fluid, some thermals were very tight and powerful low down, others formed big and wide from ridge height and boomed all the way to 3500 ft!

Promising sky

The conditions started to get a little feisty with the wind now northerly at times, the pupils who turned up today were treated to some fantastic flying Although the sky was difficult to decipher  they all made great strides towards "reading" the sky.

With the lack of students, instructors were able to fly together, it was great to see Pete W and John S enjoy a long soaring flight in the trusty K13.Henry did his usual trick of staying up whilst the hanger was packed, landing just before the sheep were let out!

 

Liam in the winch

A great day was enjoyed by the few members who turned up, I can only assume that people were at home watching England vs Germany in the World Cup final, or they were watching Murray in the final at Wimbledon, there can't have been any other reason to miss such a good day surely  ?? - MC   (ed: need to catch up after your holiday Mark!)

Saturday 12th July

A really quiet day at the club, Steve  was on duty in the morning - good job as he hasn't flown for ages!!! ( ed: just all last week). John P also helped out and I took over in the afternoon which was short lived as rain stopped play at 3pm. We had some trial lessons which Pete Sm took care of and Ruth took her first aerotow in her new Libelle. Ray B also did his first solo aerotow since the 1970's.  Andreas having recently gone solo filled his boots after a check flight with a further 4 solos. - Lisa

Friday 11th July - Course week

There was a light NNW wind, and soaring started quite early for a few lucky people. Bran, another junior pilot, had a few cable breaks and was sent solo by Martin W and then went for a second flight and managed to soar for 40 mins much to the envy of everyone on the ground followed by a perfect landing, well done Bran!

Martin congratulates Bran on his first solo

After lunch the wind picked up a bit and went more to the east but we decided not to change ends. This meant that we were struggling to get 800ft on the launch leading to some very short circuits which were good practice for the other course members. There was some soaring to be had though Pete St in 230, Wyn in W7 and Dave U in EER managed to soar locally(ish) for a few hours and Adrian in FDX did a o/r to Henstridge for 125k.

July course

Well done to all the course members Wendy, Graham, Dave, Andrew, Bran,and Harry who all made good progress during the course week, thanks to the Helpers Richard and Liam and those that filled in the gaps Dave, Jonathan, Jill and Ian and thank you to the Instructors Martin and Steve who all together made for a very pleasant week with some fantastic weather to make it even better! - Liam

Thursday 10th July - Course week

Sunny bright warm morning, but a strengthening northerly breeze made takeoffs and landings a bit exciting. So whilst it was soarable from the first launch, the single seat list was restricted by a blue card. But useful refresher training on strong crosswind operations was enjoyed by both Course and Club members, with good north north westerly streeting to cloudbase at 3000ft. 

The private owners didn't venture very far due to the unreliability of the thermals.

Congratulations to Aston who got high and stayed high for his 5 hours in the Junior, completing his Silver badge.

Aston completed 5 hours in Junior

 The wind went round to the north west in the afternoon, allowing the evening group from Teignbridge Canoe Club to enjoy gentle soaring flights late into the evening.

A big thank you to Adrian for getting the Kubuto back on line and for yet again rodding the blocked drains.

Wednesday 9th July - Course week

Along with the Course we had the entire fleet out today, with the now usual layout - two lines of gliders, the outer line for Course, inner line for club members and private gliders - both lines integrated well.

It was soarable quite early but the changeable weather and strong and increasing northerly crosswind made launches quite exciting with some launches only managing 1000ft,  that made it quite difficult to get away at times.

We staggered the lunch breaks and kept flying all day without any holdups, John Si flew his B4 and Eric ASG29 and Robin WF ASW27 plus our visitor Dave U (Pilchard) in his mini Nimbus from Culdrose.

By lunchtime, it was easier to get away and most flights in the afternoon were good long soaring flights, we finished flying at approx 5.00pm. - JSt

Course notes

The Course members had a lot of fun in the challenging conditions with very strong sink along the south ridge. Those that did manage to scratch away in the broken thermals were rewarded with some decent soaring. A key part of the day was a lot of practice field landings by landing across the field in the strong crosswind. However Martin W with Bran S in K13 R37 decided that this wasn't an adequate demonstration and that landing in a field at the bottom of the  ridge would be much better. 
 

Martin supervises derigging

So most of the course experienced their first ever field retrieve. 

Field landing

 The Course members, Instructors, Helpers and hangers-on enjoyed the traditional course meal on an untraditional day at the Keepers Cottage.

Tuesday 8th July - Course week

The day started out much the same as yesterday with Cumulus popping at around 10ish, none really useable, but extended flights were had by Steve and Graham in the 505. Towards lunchtime, every one was having around half-hour flights and Robin in ASW27 JPT soared for around 4 hours flying locally and dodging showers, whilst Dave U, an instructor from Culdrose in his mini Nimbus struggled to get away. 

Lunch was lengthened by heavy rain, so lectures on air law were given. Afterwards, we were greeted by the sound of heavy thunder in the distance - so decided to quit while we were ahead. - Liam

Monday 7th July - Course week

The day started off with a nice blue sky with thermals popping all over the place, with a quick introductory briefing we started flying with no luck of any soaring until about 12:00 where both Harry B in the Junior and Graham H with Steve W enjoyed around an hour before it began to rain... The decision was made to do some lectures on spinning and stalling whilst we waited for the ever increasing rainfall to back off, so we could put the kit away in the dry.  - Liam

Sunday 6th July

With a pretty good forecast (albeit with showers), it was somewhat of a surprise to find only a small group of members at the Club - however enough members were present to allow the launch point to be set up in the South East corner of the field.
With just the K21s and a Junior needed for the relatively short flying list, flying got under way with various training and check flights being completed as the morning progressed. The only private glider to be rigged and flown was ASW 20 (ENW).
After several soaring flights during the morning, the incoming rain lines were enough to encourage all gliders to land and be parked ahead of what was thought to be some quite nasty weather - as it happened there was simply some light rain.

Potential rain break

So some more flying and soaring flights until a similar situation of incoming rain lines just around lunchtime, so again gliders were landed and parked ahead of a lunch break.
A light rain shower later and then it was an afternoon of continuous 'fun in the sun' with good thermals in abundance.

Empty launch point

Ron and Dan took the ASH25 (711) off to Okehampton and back with a little low save at the turnpoint.
At the end of the day Andreas was the last to land having completed his longest soaring flight of just over an hour...

A good day where the enthusiasm and teamwork of the members present provided suitable reward for all.

News from Yeovilton

Congratulations to Peter B today. First solo aerotow and conversion to Puchacz at Yeovilton.

Beaming smile from Peter

Saturday 5th July

The dodgy forecast must have put most members off from turning up today, and there was a slow start with Robin working his way through the short flying list. Morning DLM Andrew even found enough time  between organising the team to rig his Ka6 GDE.

The day turned out better than expected and Pete St was surprised to find himself rigging Discus 230, having been put off by the dodgy forecast from bringing any gadgets and had to resort to using an m.a.p during his flight round Mudford Gate and Ilminster, the bit from Honiton to Ilminster and back in a sea breeze front. 

The forecast showers never materialised  and most members present enjoyed some afternoon soaring, though no great heights or distances were achieved.

Lisa converted to LS3 KMV and soared for an hour while Stu looked on, wondering whether he was going to get a turn. 

Lisa in KMV

Ruth was surprised to convert to her beautiful, newly acquired Libelle L18, having been put off by the dodgy forecast from bringing her own parachute (fortunately there were plenty of club spares), and after much briefing(or was it badgering?) by the assembled throng, flew 3 nicely handled flights. Much grinning was in evidence so I think she likes it!

Ruth in Libelle

Congratulations to Paul C, who flew his first solo in Falke VG.
Moral of the day: forget the forecast, come and fly and bring your kit! - Ruth(with Pete S editing)

News from last day of Comp Enterprise

The task Ever Decreasing Circles was set, this consisted of rings of 20km, 40km, 60km etc radius based on NYM,  you could fly to the further circle and back to NYM and then if you wished go to a smaller circle and do the same thing.

 I chose to fly to the 40km circle with the idea to fly the 20km if there was still time we also had a small window of only 2 and a half hours where distance would be scored to ensure everyone got home in time for the party.

I had a relight (ed: lesson from day 1) but after the second launch managed a lovely climb to 4000ft with the sky looking amazing to the east. 

 I naturally went to the north for 3 reasons: 1) There was a strong westerly wind and I didn't fancy pushing into wind so kept across it where possible, 2) there was a convergence line set up in that direction and most importantly 3) I had wanted to go to Wales all week. 

The convergence line wasn't working great if at all but it allowed me to fly without turning for a good 20km, plus the views of the Malverns was excellent (ok, not quite Wales). After turning the 40km line, I just couldn't find a climb and ended up gliding slowly towards some west facing hills some 10/15km away. At this point the convergence had gone completely and I never quite made it to the hills. After scratching around a bit,  I choose my field and was trying to work out if I would miss the party or not, just as I came to the conclusion of no, I stumbled into 7 up. It was very rough but after several turns attempting to center in it, I managed to climb up to 4000ft.  I could just make out the NYM ridge and the PDA said I was 600ft above glide and the sky ahead of me was completely blue, so I pressed on and then the 600ft turned into 400ft. Then the crushing moment that this was calculating a glide to the turnpoint 5km out from the airfield, but I carried on pushing, arriving at the ridge just above it. There was a bowl in the ridge that I thought had to be working, with the rest of the ridge being across the wind it was my last hope. I managed to get just a small kick from it of about 150/200ft, but it was enough to allow me to land on the airfield. 

So I got back from an Enterprise task - which is a first for me,  but I also got 5th place for the day on handicap.  - Liam

Friday 4th July - Comp Enterprise

The day that I won!

The forecast was gloomy with some very heavy showers about but I remained optimistic today was the day. The tension was building up, my heart began to race but I pulled out of the bag, another strike! The day was a scrub; me, Lizzy, Muggles, Phillipa and Anthony (pilots from bicester) went bowling, and I came first! - Liam

Thursday 3rd July

Unusual for a Thursday, without the recent long walks to the other end of the field, we managed to get going just after 09:30. It was very pleasant with light west south westerly wind, but a few clouds drifted across the field at 1000ft, but cloudbase soon lifted, and eventually topped out at just short of 4000ft in a convergence line along the motorway. 

Mark L in Junior led the way into the wave with Chris W and Nigel in DG505 following. Mike F in Pik 20 having landed out at Watchford Farm got a relight from Barbie in the Cub, and then got into the lovely evening wave returning to North Hill.

Congratulations to Chris M on his first solo, Chris started gliding in August 2012 when he was given a retirement present of a 5 day course.

John congratulates Chris

News from Competition Enterprise

There's an unsubstantiated rumour that Liam didn't land in a field today.........
Yes the rumours were true I didn't land out...  The task was set (the name of which I can't remember) which included two cones of 30 degrees in opposite directions based on Melksham running along the NE SW line. The idea was to do an out and return in both of the cones. Just before launching Justin Wills said to me that this task was set with me in mind (I should have mentioned the 15 knot SW wind) so I had planned to just go down wind to Norwich. First launch however kept being put back, the Arcus and the ASH26 self launchers went out sniffing and we were soon introduced to the sound of the motors restarting... the optimism for anyone to launch was very small until I looked at the sky and thought 'I've stayed up in worse'. So I pushed to the front of grid with lots of looks of surprise and took a launch. On the ground at this time were a lot of pilots rushing to launch not wanting to be shown up by a 18 year old in his paper bag which amused me slightly as the whole grid launched only to come landing straight back and giving up for the day. I managed to remain airborne for a bit longer in this tiny little bowl that was kicking off something but didn't manage to go anywhere. - Liam

Wednesday 2nd July

A beautiful start to the day and much enthusiasm to get the kit out, a slight blip with one of the Juniors which had a tail wheel puncture but that was soon dealt with.

The wind was a light Southerly which soon veered to a fresh Southwesterly and the sky looked quite promising with thermals popping up all over the sky, but after a couple of decent soaring flights the sea breeze put paid to the fun after that.

Pete St in 230 and Tim in 877 had the longest flights of the day just under 1 hour, Matt flew the only Trial lesson flight and Pete Sm flew his Lak for the first time this year.

We finished flying at about 5.00pm after what was a pleasant but dissapointing day. - JSt

 News from Competition Enterprise

Lack of internet at Nympsfield has suppressed the news, but Liam picked another field this time at Bromyard, with a little 'carrying out' through nettles required for the crew. 

Field number 4 at Bromyard

Catherine wheel the task consisted of a quadrilateral based on NYM going to the NE, this alone was 190km and at each turn point you could do an out and return from that point. I decided just to go around the task and if conditions and time allowed do a out and return at the last turnpoint. To start with conditions were great (for some) climbs were fantastically strong and reliable so the distance to the first turn point went very quickly for me, Muggles landed out after only one  climb. Around the turn point Bromyard near Worcester the top cover came in killing everything and I ended up gliding to the turn point and landing out whilst conditions to the SE where 'the best conditions I have seen in the UK' according to some guy on the radio. - Liam

Tuesday 1st July - Comp Enterprise

String of pearls. Briefing was pulled forward by half an hour as Dave Masson predicted the best day of the year, I hope he was wrong. The task consisted of various turn points to the east and to the west into Wales, points were awarded for each turn point reached and a bonus for going to both east and west. 

I had planned to attempt a 500km going up to the north east then to the Brecon Beacons and back to NYM, however after launching it became apparent that it wasn't going to happen, after a slow 50km to the first turn point I hoped things would improve and shortened my task to 350km, however as the top cover came in, things got worse, I made it another 50km to a TP near Silverstone and decided to head back. 

I then got very low and had an awesome save near the TP and climbed up to 6000' thinking it would be easy to get home. I only needed another 4000' to be on glide but I never saw another climb. Just as I pushed the glide out as far as possible I was low over a little village, just as I got there the sun began to shine on this hill and I thought that it was going to kick off and I would be fine. I tried to hold on for as long as I could, but ended up landing, and by the time I talked to a wandering walker this massive Cumulus popped right where I was... 150km in total taking a little under 5 hours.(I would have been faster walking it). 
 

Comp Ent - Field number three - somewhere in Oxfordshire?

Muggles landed about 20km back from where I did after turning the same TPs, getting a aerotow retrieve from Bicester. - Liam