The preceding week’s flurry of enthusiasm online for Monday flying fired up by prospective good Met. resulted in a large number of members showing up early for bank holiday flying. By 9:00am, not only was there a long flying list but all the equipment was already out with the hanger emptying and many privateers starting to rig. The expected clear and sunny day also turned out as promised but with, as yet, few signs of the copious lift that some had foreseen.
However, the first launches went ahead well before 10:00am, and by then more than 20 aircraft were either on queuing for winch or tug launch or appearing from their trailers and rigging.
From later in the morning, a constant stream of tug launches sent many private gliders off to destinations around Devon, Somerset and Dorset, with many not returning until flying tailed off around 5:00pm. Meanwhile, both K21s & and Juniors plus the DG505, K6s and R37 spent most of the afternoon busy with card checks, solo checks and general flying. Attempts to soar had mixed results: some found nothing and returned after 5 minutes circuits having only briefly found the usual downwind lift over the Forest Glade campsite while others were fortunate enough to find 4kts or more up nearby and were quickly up to cloudbase around 3000 feet.
Congratulations to George Vojtisek, who successfully completed his navigation exercise with Mark Courtney gaining his cross-country endorsement.
Unfortunately a few people on the list, including some early-birds, didn’t get to fly because the necessary mix of instructors wasn’t available on this ad-hoc flying day. However, a generally-successful and busy day with the sky filled with gliders for hours. - Tim Petty
Cross-country flying (from BGA ladder)
The task was set as 310Kms NHL- Blandford - Culmstock - Iwerne Minster - NHL and Pete Startup 230, Matt Wright M5 and Phil Morrison all completed the task with Matt breezing round at 85 kph. Ron & Dan in ASH25 711 did a slight variation for more kms by turning Crediton and Dorchester - and then going on to Bampton - 360kms total.
JB started a bit later and couldn't complete the task due to the sea air but still did 280kms turning Crewkerne and Crediton.
Pete & Jill in OL launched even later and decided to ignore the task and follow the energy, which took them to Eggesford, Crewkerne and Tiverton with a good sea breeze leg for 193Kms.- J&P
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| Fog in the Honiton valley is not normally a good sign |
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| Low cloud forming on the south ridge |
Congratulations to George Vojtisek, who successfully completed his navigation exercise with Mark Courtney gaining his cross-country endorsement.
Unfortunately a few people on the list, including some early-birds, didn’t get to fly because the necessary mix of instructors wasn’t available on this ad-hoc flying day. However, a generally-successful and busy day with the sky filled with gliders for hours. - Tim Petty
Cross-country flying (from BGA ladder)
The task was set as 310Kms NHL- Blandford - Culmstock - Iwerne Minster - NHL and Pete Startup 230, Matt Wright M5 and Phil Morrison all completed the task with Matt breezing round at 85 kph. Ron & Dan in ASH25 711 did a slight variation for more kms by turning Crediton and Dorchester - and then going on to Bampton - 360kms total.
JB started a bit later and couldn't complete the task due to the sea air but still did 280kms turning Crewkerne and Crediton.
Pete & Jill in OL launched even later and decided to ignore the task and follow the energy, which took them to Eggesford, Crewkerne and Tiverton with a good sea breeze leg for 193Kms.- J&P
