After the non flying day yesterday due to weather it was anticipated that today would be busy, assuming the actual weather was as good as the forecast - which it was with bright blue skies and autumn sunshine greeting members who turned up expectant of a good flying day.
So there were plenty of people to get the hangar doors open well before 9 - with a busy flying list all the Club gliders were brought out whilst the launch point and winch were set up based on the wind being as forecast ie a gentle North Westerly.
As the day got underway with the first launch airborne just after 9:30 it became evident that the wind, whilst gentle, was not going to stay constant with a light tailwind evident from time to time and ensuring that pilots were suitably focused on eventuality options should there be a launch failure.
So there were plenty of people to get the hangar doors open well before 9 - with a busy flying list all the Club gliders were brought out whilst the launch point and winch were set up based on the wind being as forecast ie a gentle North Westerly.
As the day got underway with the first launch airborne just after 9:30 it became evident that the wind, whilst gentle, was not going to stay constant with a light tailwind evident from time to time and ensuring that pilots were suitably focused on eventuality options should there be a launch failure.
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| A tailwind from time to time (Mike Sloggett) |
The flying list made steady progress during the morning with general training and card check flights in and amongst some trial lessons and Friends & Family flights.
Just before lunch it looked as if a change of ends might be needed but with a pause for consideration re same suddenly the wind decided to fall in line with the forecast and settled down into a light North Westerly/Westerly, and there it stayed for the rest of the day.
Just before lunch it looked as if a change of ends might be needed but with a pause for consideration re same suddenly the wind decided to fall in line with the forecast and settled down into a light North Westerly/Westerly, and there it stayed for the rest of the day.
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| Clear Devon skies (Mike Sloggett) |
With a keen team of Instructors and members 'multi-tasking' on various duties flying continued through lunch which ensured that the flying list continued to progress and the afternoon continued in a similar vein to the morning - by late afternoon everyone had flown, much to the relief of the Instructors and particularly the PM Duty Launch Marshal who then managed to also fly, being suitably rewarded for their hard work during the afternoon.
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| Congrats to Josh Funnell in the Junior (Mike Sloggett) |
Josh Funnell and Andy Williams converted to the Junior during the day.
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| Congrats to Andy Williams - in the Junior (Peter Smith) |
A really good day in the autumn sunshine, made possible by lots of teamwork - a particular thank you to various people who did long stints on certain duties as we had insufficient number of signed off members who could winch or run launch control. 43 launch
(Note from Mike The Scribe - if you are a solo pilot and not yet signed off for winch driving or launch control please can you focus on being trained and signed off to do so?). - Mike Sloggett
(Note from Mike The Scribe - if you are a solo pilot and not yet signed off for winch driving or launch control please can you focus on being trained and signed off to do so?). - Mike Sloggett
