In gliding one always has to be optimistic that the actual weather at the airfield is going to be better than the forecast. Despite the forecast wind strength and resultant predicted wind chill the Clubhouse, and in turn flying list, was rather full by 9:00am. After discussion about the current and forecast wind strength for the day, and no doubt encouraged by the reports of wave flying yesterday, the general consensus was that if it was flyable then we would do so. Ron Johns as Duty Instructor decided to go down to the East end of the airfield to assess the anticipated flying conditions and returned to the Clubhouse with a decision that we would set up the launch run for the South West to North East corner of the field and see what the actual flying conditions were.
The winch was set up in the North East corner of the field whilst the K21 and DG505 were taken out and daily inspections started, with the Juniors and K13 left in the hangar. Ron Johns and Nick Redfern completed a ‘met flight’ and after safely landing the decision was made to not complete any further flying for a while - after discussion it was decided that the gliders would be safer being parked nearer the hangar so both two seaters were towed back down to the other end of the field.
The winch was set up in the North East corner of the field whilst the K21 and DG505 were taken out and daily inspections started, with the Juniors and K13 left in the hangar. Ron Johns and Nick Redfern completed a ‘met flight’ and after safely landing the decision was made to not complete any further flying for a while - after discussion it was decided that the gliders would be safer being parked nearer the hangar so both two seaters were towed back down to the other end of the field.
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| Just a bit too windy (Mike Sloggett) |
And then it became a question of seeing how many cups of coffee and tea could be drunk and how much hot food could be consumed whilst patiently waiting for a potential reduction in the wind speed, particularly the gusts which were the main worry.
James Flory completed some ground briefings with various members whilst others kept checking the anemometer (and trees) to see if there was any sign of the wind strength reducing. By shortly after midday it was evident that the wind was not going to reduce so a decision was made that the gliders and ground equipment would be put away on the basis that it is ‘better to be on the ground wishing we had flown than being in the air asking why we had!’
Meanwhile Kris Pratt, Ross Pratt and Simon Leeson continued the work on the simulator.
James Flory completed some ground briefings with various members whilst others kept checking the anemometer (and trees) to see if there was any sign of the wind strength reducing. By shortly after midday it was evident that the wind was not going to reduce so a decision was made that the gliders and ground equipment would be put away on the basis that it is ‘better to be on the ground wishing we had flown than being in the air asking why we had!’
Meanwhile Kris Pratt, Ross Pratt and Simon Leeson continued the work on the simulator.
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| Kris and Ross Pratt continuing the revamp of the simulator (Simon Leeson) |
Thank you to all for the teamwork today, better days ahead, hopefully... Mike Sloggett
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| And in snowy Poland ....a DSGC trip to the museum |
