A bright start with the sky looking half-promising, although the few wisps of cumulus in the distance didn't look to high. The Clubhouse greeted the first arrivals with the smells of the Orient from the previous night's supper party for the SF27 workers and guests.
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| Chinese delight (Matthew Williamson) |
The field was set up for the predicted south of west wind with the usual suspects doing sterling work getting the kit out. Duty instructor John Pursey, having had a final check of the kitchen for evidence from his Chinese exploits, polished off one of Cheryl's cooked breakfasts conscious it could be a long day with pm instructor Ian Mitchell double-booked with Mendip GC.
A complicated list of NOTAMs with Red Arrow displays and model rockets going into orbit plus an increasingly soggy looking sky didn't deter Pete Startup, Tom Sides and Andrew Logan from rigging their gliders as the first launches were made.
A succession of quick check rides released Lukas and Martin Bennett into the wild solo and Dave Albasiny blagged another 4 months of Red card. The sky was cycling with cloud quickly filling in then partially clearing, never very high but giving reasonable climbs on occasion.
New member Simon Roach was able to get some proper stick time with flights that clicked with periods of generally good air over the whole of the Broadhembury valley. Stuart Procter and James Flory continued the instructor training slog with the DG505 and the privateers launched for extended local soaring.
Mark Wallis as DLM was replaced by Chris Coville who kept the churn at the launch point despite the modest number of ground troops... Having already consumed a 3000 kcals breakfast JP was happy to press on through lunch because the sky was already showing signs of the forecast rain. Ruth was able to have just about the last launch and enjoyed circling up the front of a curtain of dampness that was working its way in from the west. With the canopy just getting wet, the K21 landed and scurried over to the hanger. Chris C kept a K21 over at the launch point and despite the rain, kept morale high with songs and frequent floggings (I like to think...JP) but eventually play was abandoned and the hanger packed. Obviously when all was done and tea made the sun came out... Hey ho... - JP
