Thursday dawned sunny with a chilly start, and cumulus started forming early, the wind was a light easterly and the hangar was completely empty before 09:00 and the first launch was a soaring flight. It took a while for the cloudbase to rise above 2000ft giving the Aim Higher course members time for some more groundschool.
 |
| Rowan Smith and Ray Dodd in K21 going cross-country (Mark Courtney) |
The Thursday regulars continued flying the K13s and Juniors until the grid were ready to launch
 |
| Preparing for the grid launch (Peter Smith) |
and then "Lasham style" the two tugs set about clearing the 13 gliders on the aerotow line in just over an hour. - thanks to Robert Lee, Pete Harmer and Ian Mitchell.
 |
| The sky looked better than it was (Mark Courtney) |
Congratulations to John Borland for converting to the K13, to George Vojtisek for turning his first turnpoint at Hembury Hill, and to Rob Rand for his first hour soaring flight.
 |
| John Borland converted to K13 (Jill Harmer) |
The wannabe cross-country pilots found the going tough with most having grovels at either Tiverton or Taunton. Somehow Pete Startup - (Captain Slow) fresh from a speed awareness course! crept round the task 217km Tiverton, Taunton, The Park, Tiverton deserves a 'How I dunnit' tomorrow.
 |
| CCY being overtaken by ASH25 (Peter Smith) |
Well done also to Pete Bennett for turning Taunton and Honiton in the K6, having just passed his driving test on the first attempt and been let loose with Mum (Fiona's) car.
A busy day for North Hill which ran very smoothly -thanks to all the helpers - with 43 winch launches, 13 aerotows and just short of 50 hours soaring time. Thanks also to Graham and Cheryl for the excellent curry evening - J&P
