Upon awaking the sky looked rather grim and the wind sock was as limp as a poor handshake so the gang decided to decamp back to NHL. Nick who had been eager for another adventure despite the back seat of BBB succumbed to this initial pessimism and set off for a now "back on" meeting at work. However, in the gents weary from the night before JP and H5 Matt decided to overturn the decision, besides 2 of the gliders were already rigged and moist from the night before. Rule number 3 came into play, if only to dry the Eagle out before de-rigging, it would be foolish not to launch.
All it needed was one person to voice some optimism and the go home option was instantly spurned by the rest, for, "Hell Yeah! Lets fly!" BBB and JB were sponged off, M5 was rigged and the 3 gliders queued up to be eventually joined by a lone local while a single tug was pulled out to launch us all.
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| Guy in his camera ship |
The Eagle launched first. Rashly letting the lad have the captain’s seat, the P1 found himself fighting to stay on the ridge from the rear of the Eagle which, as most know, is not noted for its view of the outside world! A very steady but sedate loss of height did mean that the Eagle had to forgo Guy Westgates attention from his camera equipped Grob since the required 55kts was 15kts faster than the speed necessary to maintain height on the ridge.
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| JP trying to look out |
The constant stream of “is it clear” demands from the back as the Eagle turned eventually were met with “well it’s clear because no one else is this low” and with less than 500’ showing a decision was made to head for the much admired fallow field out in the valley.
To celebrate the safe landing Guy Westgate was quick to perform an overhead display for the pair utilising the smoke system on his firework equipped Grob, if only the Eagle had the same rocket propulsion it may have provided the extra energy to get back to the club?
To celebrate the safe landing Guy Westgate was quick to perform an overhead display for the pair utilising the smoke system on his firework equipped Grob, if only the Eagle had the same rocket propulsion it may have provided the extra energy to get back to the club?
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| Smoke on over the downed Eagle |
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| Formation ridge running (Guy Westgate) |
After about an hours flying JB and M5 who had been the willing subjects of Guy's camera work watched BBB come to rest safely in its field and soon followed suit albeit back at the club. A swift de-rig of the single seaters and then it was off to the field in order to retrieve the mighty Eagle before the long drive home!
Despite the likelihood of being labeled as crazy by the locals, it is definitely worth chasing the weather!
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| 4/5ths of Team NHL |
