Today's forecast was for some "epic" conditions, so it came as no surprise that there were two cars waiting at the locked gate just after 8:10, I arrived with the roof down, sun shining but 3 deg! However the early flurry didn't last long with only a handful of members turning up.
With some of NH "soaring section" AKA Matt's motley mob away at N. Wales it was always going to be quiet, in the nicest possible way :) Paul Summers unpacked the hanger and organised the troops, the usual jobs got done, DI's, canopy cleaning, batteries fitted etc all in typical January conditions, frozen fingers and toes all round.
Meanwhile inside the clubhouse it was much warmer, tea and bacon sandwiches were the order of the day,. We set up in the SW corner with a brisk ENE wind, yellow card conditions, at least to start with.
I flew with new member Fran, previously an Aboyne pilot and cleared her for her first solo at NH, she looked pleased judging by her smile!
With some of NH "soaring section" AKA Matt's motley mob away at N. Wales it was always going to be quiet, in the nicest possible way :) Paul Summers unpacked the hanger and organised the troops, the usual jobs got done, DI's, canopy cleaning, batteries fitted etc all in typical January conditions, frozen fingers and toes all round.
Meanwhile inside the clubhouse it was much warmer, tea and bacon sandwiches were the order of the day,. We set up in the SW corner with a brisk ENE wind, yellow card conditions, at least to start with.
I flew with new member Fran, previously an Aboyne pilot and cleared her for her first solo at NH, she looked pleased judging by her smile!
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| Fran solos at North Hill (Mark Courtney) |
Steve Westlake took the other K21 and started to work his way down the list. From the first launch there were strong thermals, broken but strong! Cloud streets formed almost immediately pointing both East and West to Cornwall (Ron).
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| Street to Cornwall (Mark Courtney) |
A trial lesson was booked for 11:00 so I changed my hat and flew the Tug whilst Paul Summers took Alan Harris for a fantastic flight, I took no chances and dropped Paul under a 8 knot thermal, we didn't want him to miss out ;)
Ellie Carter flew next and experienced what it is like to get mean with the aggressive thermals, she found them, centred and climbed to cloud base (3200ft) and without cursing! How is it even possible not to swear at least once?? Beyond me.
Meanwhile Roly Clarke gave Ellie's mum Lorna Carter her first flight in a glider, lucky girl ----
An early lunch was called for as numbers were few, Ian Mitchell leaned against the Launch Point Vehicle, coiled like a spring, ready to do J.B's PM duty but was persuaded reluctantly to give a tow to James Flory and Jeff Taberham (380 Mosquito) as we sauntered off to the clubhouse.
In the clubhouse there was a mixture of raucous laughter, gasps, and snoring as Roly Clarke relived his sea breeze front flight with anyone unsuspecting, (Fran was one of them, sorry should have warned you). And there my story ends as I had to leave early for Plymouth, what fantastic conditions and what great teamwork. You just got to love North Hill! - Mark Courtney
Ellie Carter flew next and experienced what it is like to get mean with the aggressive thermals, she found them, centred and climbed to cloud base (3200ft) and without cursing! How is it even possible not to swear at least once?? Beyond me.
Meanwhile Roly Clarke gave Ellie's mum Lorna Carter her first flight in a glider, lucky girl ----
An early lunch was called for as numbers were few, Ian Mitchell leaned against the Launch Point Vehicle, coiled like a spring, ready to do J.B's PM duty but was persuaded reluctantly to give a tow to James Flory and Jeff Taberham (380 Mosquito) as we sauntered off to the clubhouse.
In the clubhouse there was a mixture of raucous laughter, gasps, and snoring as Roly Clarke relived his sea breeze front flight with anyone unsuspecting, (Fran was one of them, sorry should have warned you). And there my story ends as I had to leave early for Plymouth, what fantastic conditions and what great teamwork. You just got to love North Hill! - Mark Courtney
Flying resumed after lunch with Ian Mitchell and Steve Westlake instructing, thanks to them for working their way through the flying list. Conditions were initially similar to earlier with good streets in evidence albeit not easy to reach, if you were able to get away the rewards were there. Later it became more difficult to stay aloft.
Jeff Taberham in 380 recorded longest flight of the day and told of being able to fly to and from Tiverton in straight lines. The only other private glider to fly was Mike Fairclough in DFK showing that it was not necessary to take a tow to stay up despite pleas from Simon Leeson to do so, Simon having been persuaded to be tuggie for the afternoon.
By the end of the day we were getting short of members on the ground but were just able to keep going until 6.00pm. Thanks to Allan Mounce for his prolonged stint on the winch and to Richard Davies for successfully (and colourfully!) performing his first session as DLM. A good day. - David Clements
Jeff Taberham in 380 recorded longest flight of the day and told of being able to fly to and from Tiverton in straight lines. The only other private glider to fly was Mike Fairclough in DFK showing that it was not necessary to take a tow to stay up despite pleas from Simon Leeson to do so, Simon having been persuaded to be tuggie for the afternoon.
By the end of the day we were getting short of members on the ground but were just able to keep going until 6.00pm. Thanks to Allan Mounce for his prolonged stint on the winch and to Richard Davies for successfully (and colourfully!) performing his first session as DLM. A good day. - David Clements
