It was a slow start with fog overnight lifting into orographic cloud on the hill, so the kit was readied but flying didn't start until just after 11:00, but it did give time for the Junior FZF to be rigged after it's Annual - (thanks to all for the fast turnround).
With the low cloud on Wednesday and it being Half-term week, there were a lot of members on the flying lists, and so all the club fleet was in operation, and four instructors going all day - Thanks to guest Instructor John Sillett for filling in for the holidaymakers.
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| Busy launchpoint with all the Club fleet in action (Dave Clements) |
There were large areas of zero sink in the light southwesterly wind and nearly all the flights were extended circuits of 12 - 13 minutes. The odd passing cumulus also gave some short-lived soaring. Pete Startup 230 was convinced it was worth rigging and on his third launch, he managed to disappear to the north for just over an hour.
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| Some interesting clouds (Dave Clements) |
There were the usual winter check flights and launch failure practice
for some members. Pete Harmer managed to latch on to one of thermals to
get high enough to refresh Reuben's spin training before sending him off
on his first solo in K13. Congratulations to Reuben.
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| Reuben Buss goes solo (Jill Harmer) |
The wind picked up a little in the afternoon and some flights were extended on the ridge, but above the normal ridge height lift!
So with a total of 53 launches, a first solo, a soaring flight and 30 members flying it was a really pleasant, sunny, warm winter's day flying at North Hill. - J&P
