No surprise that with a positive forecast the flying list was quite long soon after 8:30am.
However someone, somewhere had not organised the weather to fit the forecast with low grey cloud delaying the hangar doors being opened.
However steadily and surely the cloud base started to lift and with several members "looking forward" to practicing launch failures the decision was made to start getting the gliders out whilst the launch point and winch were set up for the North East/South West run respectively.
A met flight by Ron Johns with John Street allowed the two of them to reminisce over the last time they had flown together (someone said over 20 years!) and with a declared cloud base of around 800ft the day's flying was soon under way with those members who wanted to having the 'fun' of various different height eventualities.
As the day unfolded then so did increasing amounts of blue sky start to appear and around lunchtime the previous high cloud had started to rapidly disappear being replaced by much more interesting cumulus.
Gliders started to stay up longer and longer albeit as ever the first climb away from the winch was crucial in terms of determining whether each flight would be more than a simple circuit.
Well done to Jess Summers who had some fun in the K6CR HEB with 2hrs 23mins, showing everyone the way around making the most of the conditions, whilst Lizzie Westcott did the same firstly in K13 R37 and just to prove that it was not a fluke then took the Junior to 3000ft in only her second flight on the type.
However someone, somewhere had not organised the weather to fit the forecast with low grey cloud delaying the hangar doors being opened.
However steadily and surely the cloud base started to lift and with several members "looking forward" to practicing launch failures the decision was made to start getting the gliders out whilst the launch point and winch were set up for the North East/South West run respectively.
A met flight by Ron Johns with John Street allowed the two of them to reminisce over the last time they had flown together (someone said over 20 years!) and with a declared cloud base of around 800ft the day's flying was soon under way with those members who wanted to having the 'fun' of various different height eventualities.
As the day unfolded then so did increasing amounts of blue sky start to appear and around lunchtime the previous high cloud had started to rapidly disappear being replaced by much more interesting cumulus.
Gliders started to stay up longer and longer albeit as ever the first climb away from the winch was crucial in terms of determining whether each flight would be more than a simple circuit.
Well done to Jess Summers who had some fun in the K6CR HEB with 2hrs 23mins, showing everyone the way around making the most of the conditions, whilst Lizzie Westcott did the same firstly in K13 R37 and just to prove that it was not a fluke then took the Junior to 3000ft in only her second flight on the type.
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| It turned out to be a nice day (Mike Sloggett) |
During the day Paul Summers completed 3 trial lessons whilst James Flory also completed some BI flights with some returning 3-month members.
James Hood and Guy Adams flew Rotax Falke G-CDSC to Mendip and back in formation with Simon Minson and Stu Procter in G-BKVG.
James Hood and Guy Adams flew Rotax Falke G-CDSC to Mendip and back in formation with Simon Minson and Stu Procter in G-BKVG.
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| Falke formation (Stu Procter) |
By late afternoon there was time to go around the flying list for another flight each for those that wanted same and then with everyone flagging in the heat the decision was made to put all the toys away at just after 6:00pm.
As someone said 'What a great day, could summer actually be here?' - Mike Sloggett
As someone said 'What a great day, could summer actually be here?' - Mike Sloggett
