There were rumours that the local coffee shop in Church Stretton had brought in more staff to serve the expected influx of DSGC members during their booked week at Midland GC and with anticipated poor weather as a result of same.
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| Weather clears by lunchtime (Mike Sloggett) |
So with three good flying days to date and with the grey low cloud forecast to clear late morning the coffee shop owners were no doubt pleased to see a number of DSGC members arrive mid morning for refreshments. After a short visit to the local antiques shop, a tradition of each expedition to The Mynd, with the sun shining and blue skies beckoning it was evident that the forecast was correct so it was back up to the airfield for a quick lunch ahead of the launch point being set up at the South end of the field.
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| Mark driving the retrieve winch (Mike Sloggett) |
With a brisk NNW wind the afternoon provided the opportunity for DSGC members to continue building their experience of landing to the North on the downhill/uphill landing areas, whether in the DG505 or their own gliders.
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| DG505 waiting to be put to bed (Mike Sloggett) |
The wind was not quite of the right direction and strength for either the ridge to work consistently or the wave to set up in the valley - but as the afternoon continued there were odd pockets of thermals to allow extended flights by the DG505 and various private gliders with the best flight of the afternoon achieved by Simon Leeson (ASW20 ENW) who took off for a simple circuit/hangar landing and actually landed just over an hour later.
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| And another good day comes to an end (Mike Sloggett) |
As the sun set and the evening hospitality of Midland GC was enjoyed there was much discussion on how good the expedition had been to date, not necessarily for spectacular flying conditions (as yet), but four days in a row of flying and DSGC members enjoying the challenge of flying at a different gliding site in various wind conditions - and with good optimism re the remaining days of the expedition. - Mike Sloggett
