"Fifty shades of grey? "
Arriving at the club in my warm Audi taxi the airfield looked inviting, deep blue sky with hints of wave!
The club house had several members drinking tea by the time the depleted Plymouth gang members arrived. You see some had ventured to Parham gliding club, some were at football games, others were sat in the sun in Portugal, which left just two from the south.
When we ventured outside our car the wind cut through us like a knife, the wind chill was reading -7c on the clubhouse weather station.
Soon our hearts were warmed by the expression on the members faces when we told them that we needed to march the fleet to that warmest of corners the airfield, known to locals as Ice Station Zebra ( look it up youngsters).
The club house had several members drinking tea by the time the depleted Plymouth gang members arrived. You see some had ventured to Parham gliding club, some were at football games, others were sat in the sun in Portugal, which left just two from the south.
When we ventured outside our car the wind cut through us like a knife, the wind chill was reading -7c on the clubhouse weather station.
Soon our hearts were warmed by the expression on the members faces when we told them that we needed to march the fleet to that warmest of corners the airfield, known to locals as Ice Station Zebra ( look it up youngsters).
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| Guess who (Mark C) |
Rowan
and Stu were on duty and quickly worked their way through the huge
flying list, well the two people needing training that is.
There were wave clouds everywhere, but getting to them was proving to be a leap of faith that pilots seemed reluctant to take, maybe it was the thought of de rigging in a cold damp field that put them off!
The sky to the East looked ominous as the predicted front started to creep towards us, soon we were covered by a sheet of cloud that had many shades, but alas all of them grey.
With the sun now blotted out the temperature appeared to dip so an early lunch was called for, it was some time before any of us could hold a conversation let alone a knife and fork we were that cold.
Never the less at the rallying call of "Let's Fly" the members leapt up --- and ordered more hot tea.
Soon though a few mad/keen/foolish/insane/desperate members took the long drive to Iceland.
There were wave clouds everywhere, but getting to them was proving to be a leap of faith that pilots seemed reluctant to take, maybe it was the thought of de rigging in a cold damp field that put them off!
The sky to the East looked ominous as the predicted front started to creep towards us, soon we were covered by a sheet of cloud that had many shades, but alas all of them grey.
With the sun now blotted out the temperature appeared to dip so an early lunch was called for, it was some time before any of us could hold a conversation let alone a knife and fork we were that cold.
Never the less at the rallying call of "Let's Fly" the members leapt up --- and ordered more hot tea.
Soon though a few mad/keen/foolish/insane/desperate members took the long drive to Iceland.
.JPG) |
| Peter B in the back seat with Martin (Jess) |
Peter B started his back seat career with Martin W, Dave W and Mark had two desperate attempts at finding more than 4 down.
.JPG) |
| Roly and Jess (selfie) |
Poor
Roly nearly froze in the shelter of the launch point vehicle before
winch driving for the rest of the day, he did complain that he burn his
hand on the heater in the winch as he had left his purple winch driving
gloves at home.
Nick H enjoyed the last flight of the day with Mark C at about half past three.
Not the most epic day at NH but surprisingly everyone seemed to be smiling, unless the grimace was frozen on their faces. - Mark C
Nick H enjoyed the last flight of the day with Mark C at about half past three.
Not the most epic day at NH but surprisingly everyone seemed to be smiling, unless the grimace was frozen on their faces. - Mark C
At 15:00 on Friday after young rascal H5 Matt put out a wanted ad for
some pilots with a good sense of humour and willing to drop all plans
for the weekend to go flying - JB, M5 Matt and 230 Pete obliged. The last
glider arrived on location at midnight, the two old men slept in one
van and the two Matt's in the other. A freezing night was spent huddled
up together in the driveway of South Downs Gliding Club!
The wind was strong NNE and the ridge was working to its full extent. The local hotshot dumped his water over 230 as they got stuck at Devil's Dyke, but as the day progressed the whole run was do-able with the glassboys doing a 337km ridge task.
After a check ride with the duty
instructor H5 Matthew took to the ridge in the SF27, the larger gaps
looked rather intimidating and he couldn't quite get to the recommended
height to jump them in wood! But had great fun scraping up from the
smaller gaps and racing along the local ridges.
Everyone landed safely at the end of the day grinning from ear to ear, over 18hrs flying from just 5 flights. Last minute plans are always the best. - H5 Matt
The wind was strong NNE and the ridge was working to its full extent. The local hotshot dumped his water over 230 as they got stuck at Devil's Dyke, but as the day progressed the whole run was do-able with the glassboys doing a 337km ridge task.
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| Feel the need for Speed |
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| H5 downwind from Parham |
Everyone landed safely at the end of the day grinning from ear to ear, over 18hrs flying from just 5 flights. Last minute plans are always the best. - H5 Matt
