At last a change in the weather, a day of sunshine and gliding
After a number of Club days where the weather has been frustrating members either by not being flyable at all or by providing 'interesting' conditions such as poor visibility and low cloud, for once the weather cooperated. (Although The Met Office forecast was going for total sun, and RASP was reluctant to give us good soaring.)
With a steady stream of Club members scarcely able to believe their eyes as to an actual opportunity of flying there were soon a number of Club and private gliders being taken down to the launch point which had been set up in the South West corner of the field.
With the first launch under way just after 10:00am, the Club flying list started to be worked through whilst the private owners waited to see what the day might offer. Around lunchtime the private owners started to launch either on the winch or by aerotow and all got away using the gradually improving thermals to good effect.
After a number of Club days where the weather has been frustrating members either by not being flyable at all or by providing 'interesting' conditions such as poor visibility and low cloud, for once the weather cooperated. (Although The Met Office forecast was going for total sun, and RASP was reluctant to give us good soaring.)
With a steady stream of Club members scarcely able to believe their eyes as to an actual opportunity of flying there were soon a number of Club and private gliders being taken down to the launch point which had been set up in the South West corner of the field.
With the first launch under way just after 10:00am, the Club flying list started to be worked through whilst the private owners waited to see what the day might offer. Around lunchtime the private owners started to launch either on the winch or by aerotow and all got away using the gradually improving thermals to good effect.
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| Still waiting for the clouds to form over the airfield |
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| Ian reunited with Rotax Falke |
Pete & Jill in OL (unusually) led the launch foray as the first clouds were forming over the airfield, followed swiftly by Martin in KMV, Pete in 230, whilst Matt in M5 took a winch launch, and Peter Sm flew 1UP for the first time since May following his successful Instructor Course. Once the clouds woke up, the streets developed, OL and KMV established that there wasn't any usable wave, and eveyone flew some local tasks up and down the streets, cloudbase rose to 3500ft in places. Thanks to Matthew W for building the North Hill Flarm receiver, and to Peter Sm for mounting the aerial to the Clubhouse.
Meanwhile Club gliders were in continuing use throughout the afternoon with members taking the opportunity to test their flying skills landing in the "lively at times" North Easterly wind
And then seemingly as soon as it had started, - the day was over - with Club gliders flown back to the East end of the field .
Meanwhile Club gliders were in continuing use throughout the afternoon with members taking the opportunity to test their flying skills landing in the "lively at times" North Easterly wind
And then seemingly as soon as it had started, - the day was over - with Club gliders flown back to the East end of the field .
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| The end of the best day for over a month |
By
the time the hangar doors were closed a total of 68 flights had been
completed - 57 winch (40 dual 17 solo), 11 aerotow (7 dual 4 solo) with a total of just over 25 flying hours. - Mike Sl
