The forecast was for a good soarable day, but there was a build up of quite heavy looking cumulus by 09:00, but enthusiasm was still there with a long two-seater flying list and many private owners rigging. At first the wind was further north and stronger than expected but it was still quite soarable. Unfortunately, the gusty crosswind and curlover restricted the ambitions of the early solo pilots.
Progress through the two-seater list progressed slowly, and thanks to Paul C for flying the trial lessons followed by more training flights, by lunchtime the wind backed and reduced a little, and the sky started looking much better. The private owners launched en-masse and set off on various tasks. Mark C was kept very busy in the Pawnee.
During the afternoon conditions got better and better with cloudbases up to 4000ft and 6 knot climbs and it remained soarable late into the evening, when the group for ATC cadets took over.
The BGA ladder shows a lot of visitors to Devon, with Peter Sm's Flarm receiver now operational at Hewish near Crewkerne giving much better coverage on Spot the gliders.
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| Snapshot of the TV after some of the action (Mark C) |
Our own pilots enjoyed the conditions although undersetting tasks, Pete St 230 Discus completed a 200kms with a follow on 100kms. Eric in G29 did 154kms.........
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| G29 with Wimbleball Lake (Eric) |
........Tom in DG1 flew 85km Nigel in FAJ toured the M5 turnpoints, Liam went to the seaside in K6 HEB.........
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| HEB at the seaside (Liam) |
........and even the Eagle with JB and Malcolm V got to Taunton and back. Robert seemed to enjoy himself in DKU Astir. Wooly and John B explored Exmoor in K21, Jeff T in 380 Mosquito was last to land on this good day - J&P
