The weather gods have progressed from smiling to grinning
like Cheshire cats. To start the day, a
reasonable westerly meant the ridge was providing enough lift for 20+ minute flights. This enabled some 'ridge checks'
to be carried out. First up, Mark C
with David C for a quick review of ridge rules and the 'new' (to us) circuit. the flight ended with Mark demonstrating a beat up. Next up
Matthew W flew with Mark. Again, further beat-ups were demonstrated.
By late morning the ridge conditions had improved markedly. Almost anyone that went near it could stay up as long as required. Mark C took Tim P out for his first real ridge session to embed the rules and new circuit pattern. A considerable number of beat-ups were demonstrated by Mark. The club instructor Dave Crowson demonstrated how to really work the ridge - he was spotted at 50 ft above the tree tops in the valley (-550 ft), slowly creeping up the face. During later canteen chat he seemed rather surprised that we all found it so amazing.
A quick stop for lunch, and Dave W went off in the 505 with Mark for nearly 2 hours. They ventured 20+ km across the valley and paid a visit to Welshpool. After returning, the flight ended up on the ridge with Mark demonstrating further beat-ups, and a few (nearly) touch-and-gos off the face of the ridge after Dave Crowson suggested it over lunch.
Henry F was spurred on by Mark C (fed up with ridge running) / Dave W on a 20 km out and return to the promised land near Montgomery / Welshpool area. (A ridge which had been mentioned at the bar the night before. Neither found the ridge and made a hasty retreat home. Henry continued on his 5h30 flight.
In the meantime Matthew W, Adrian P, Paul S, Andrew L,
Henry, David C all had stunning ridge and thermal flights - most extending to 3
hours.
Chris Coville took the K23 out for his first and second flight in this type and enjoyed two, 1-hour long flights (at about the time that Mark
C was performing ridge beat-ups with Dave W - see above).
Mark C then flew Vincent (an Italian student helping out at
the club). After Mark demonstrated many,
many beat-ups, Vincent announced that he'd just experienced the "best
flight of his life".
20 people enjoyed an excellent curry in the evening, lovingly cooked by Helen, followed by the now obligatory model flying session on the main ridge.
20 people enjoyed an excellent curry in the evening, lovingly cooked by Helen, followed by the now obligatory model flying session on the main ridge.
In other non-'Mark beating up the ridge' news, Adrian P was heard at the launch point moaning that he'd rather be model
flying, however there was a vicious rumour spreading that he may have
even smiled at one point today. It hasn't been substantiated yet… but we're living in hope.
