The day started with a photo shoot for the new BGA website, (ed: thanks to Peter Sm, Matt, Neil)
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.
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| just a taster of the aerial photos |
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| 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.
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| 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!
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...
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!
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| 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...
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| Audi being towed out of the mud by a local |
