A pessimistic forecast seemed to be confirmed by an uninspiring sky this morning. Consequently there were very few members at North Hill, in stark contrast to yesterday's glut. The day began with a hunt for a "volunteer" instructor. Steve W was the slowest to duck and we soon bundled him into the back of a K21 behind John B. When John St arrived, nobody had a chance to warn him about the instructor hunt, so he was easy to catch and bundle into the back of the other K21 behind Joe. John pulled off a cunning escape by letting Joe fly solo after the check flight, but was soon recaptured to sit in the front of Roly's favourite glider with Roly itching to get his hands on the controls in the back.
Simon M, having not had a chance to fly his ASW20 for ages, rigged out of sheer desperation and was very surprised to turn into a thermal straight off the launch. Soon he was calling to other members to come a play with him in the sea breeze front that had set up towards the south coast. By early afternoon, there seemed to be lift all around the airfield, with plenty of thermals and the west ridge working too. Pilots were complaining that they "couldn't come down"! Meanwhile William and Heather enjoyed a flight out to admire the north Devon coast in VG. Once Guy had taken over the afternoon's instructing, Steve and John escaped for solos in the Junior and K21 respectively.
With the short flying list completed early, everything was packed away by 5pm. Day's statistics: 26 flights (20 winch, 6 aerotow) for a total of over 14 hours. Five over an hour, and Simon's desperation launch became the day's longest flight at 2hr40.
In the evening Henry (assisted by Gordon, Liam and Ruth) rigged his Cirrus in the middle of Met Office HQ, in preparation for publicising the Open Weekend and Group Evenings. - Ruth
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| Gordon, Liam and Ruth assisted Henry in smuggling a glider into Exeter HQ |
