Well for once the weather forecast was accurate - the blue skies and sunshine making it an easy decision to start getting gliders out of the hangar.
What was not so easy to decide was where to put the winch and the launch point with the forecast suggesting a South Easterly direction but with the actual wind light and variable, mainly from the South West. After much looking at various forecasts and use of handkerchiefs it was decided to set up the winch and launch point for the South West and North East corners respectively.
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| Was this really a Sunday? (Mike Sloggett) |
Unsurprisingly with the Club expedition to The Mynd the number of members present was not as many as a usual Sunday but with everyone focused on helping each other to get into the air all the ground tasks were readily undertaken.
With a reasonable wind to start the day the flying list was moved around a little so that
Will Stainer and Tim Petty could complete daily check flights and more K21 solos ahead of a potential conversion to the Junior should weather conditions allow same.
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| Great visibility today (Mike Sloggett) |
Check flights and further solos in a K21 completed Will and Tim were then tasked to read the flight manual for the Junior and get used to sitting in the glider with a parachute.
Steady progress was made with the flying list - Charlie Stuckey having some fun in the increasingly interesting wind conditions which had increased in strength as the morning unfolded, Karen King enjoying the opportunity of circuit planning with a cross wind and Andreas Kraemer being put through his paces.
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| Guy Adams was kept busy in the Pawnee (Mike Sloggett) |
All three booked Trial Lessons were completed in the morning with Gary and Terry Jones finally getting their flights after 5 previous weather cancellations. We also welcomed some brand new Royal Naval Officers from Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, led by New Zealand glider pilot Patrick Richardson. As it was a quiet day for our members, we were able to complete 3 more Trial lessons to introduce his colleagues to gliding.
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| Pete Harmer flys the visitors from Dartmouth (Jill Harmer) |
By early afternoon with an increasingly positive sky the suggestion of a potentially good afternoon of soaring saw JB (Ventus T JB) and Pete Startup (Discus 230) rig their gliders and then launch. JB set off immediately for the cliffs, and Pete was encouraged and tempted to join in the fun. The cliffs were working to 2400ft with some thermal assist, and after a few beats it went a little soft, so they tiptoed back along a southerly street.
Meanwhile with the Card colour having moved steadily up through the colours it was decided that Will and Tim would wait for a better day to convert to the Junior
During the afternoon with the wind having increased even further and from time to time becoming more Easterly it was decided to see if the wind direction at the other end of the field was such that a change of ends might be in order
So three instructors went to the other end of the meadow to hold a handkerchief and the resultant unanimous decision was to stay put.
There was time for more training flights during the afternoon to allow everyone to have the fun of both trying to make use of the broken lift pockets around the airfield and also in approaching and landing in what were by now Blue card conditions - then with everyone having played their part to help each other get into the air it was no surprise that a decision was made to put the toys away just before 5pm.
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| Sparkling Devon countryside (Mike Sloggett) |
Thank you to everyone who helped everyone else today, particularly Tom Sides who winched all morning, and did not fly at all during the day.
Not a spectacular day - but at least it wasn't foggy! - Mike Sloggett
