'Patience and optimism rewarded'
The poor forecast for Thursday
morning unsurprisingly deterred many Club members from coming to the
Club today - and having had three good flying days during the week it
was decided that the course members could have an extra hour in bed.
During
the morning, Jill gave a weather briefing on airmasses and fronts, rather apt as despite
positive thoughts by various members looking out the Clubhouse windows,
the low cloud and rain showed little sign of moving through as forecast. Peter Sm worked on the entrance gate with the Digger, Aston and William worked on both Disco alternator drive belts, and Mark was getting rather muddy behind his caravan.
With
an early lunch planned, and completed, the weather showed no sign of
clearing as was expected - with much reviewing of various weather
predictions on the Club PC and mobile phones adding to the existing
optimism but not necessarily reflected by actual weather over the
field...
By mid afternoon there was enough brightness appearing
at the Western end of the field for Mike S and Peter Sm to drive down and
see if the weather was starting to turn for the better.
Ten
minutes later and the course instructors returned to give everyone in
the Clubhouse their decision - if everyone was happy to get the kit out
then there was a chance that flying could take place .
Before one
could say 'Open the hangar doors please', both K21s a K13 and a Junior
were out of the hangar and daily inspections being completed whilst the
launch point was set up in the North East corner of the field.
 |
| A 'messy' cloudscape but North Hill was in a flyable micro-climate (Mike Sl) |
Mark
C, whilst disappointed that aerotows were not being considered, helped
out with some instructing and after suitable check flights re-soloed
Paul G in a K21, Paul going on to complete 3 solos during the afternoon.
 |
| Paul resolos at North Hill (Mike Sl) |
Mike F was briefed to reacquaint himself with the Junior and completed 3 flights in same by the time flying finished for the day.
 |
| Mike F back in the Junior (Mike Sl) |
The
lack of thermals or other lift during the afternoon allowed course
members to continue their progress with circuits and eventualities as
well as, in some cases, start to get to know the K13.
An afternoon of great teamwork by a handful of club and course members to get everyone in to the air.-
 |
| Peter Sm and new member Graeme (Mark C) |
And in the hangar - the Simulator fuselage is starting to take shape.....
 |
| Pete was busy with the rip-saw (Jill) |
Mike Sl
