Following the scrub on Sunday, Monday brought optimism that despite the blue, a task could be set and flown. With a nod to a certain sporting event, the challenge was to play aerial tennis with the net a line through Aston Down and a string of turn points stretching out to Kings Lynn in one direction and Weymouth in the other. The usual Enterprise twists with points for TPs, visiting the sea and different counties and complicated rules about going from one side of the net to the other made it tricky to plan from the ground.
Team Eagle’s usual state of heightened readiness meant that pilot selection was made at the last minute and only the briefest of discussions was made about possible tactics - the real decider to be what conditions were like aloft.
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| JB at the Helm, JP on tactics (Comp Ent Blog David Breeze) |
Ron Johns and Sir Chris in the ASH25 seemed set on a big wing trip to the Wash, Nick Harrison in JDD and Pete Bennett in DG1 looked to be of the “follow the gaggle” mindset which with the blue was not a bad idea...well until the gaggle leaves you that is... Both Pete and Nick were early fielders, abandoned by the masses and left to roll the dice of chance with blue thermals. DD3 with Phil Morrison and Alan R, made a bold decision to not follow the flock and to go it alone to the south for their first excursion.
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| Ron and Sir Chris (Comp Ent Blog David Breeze) |
The Eagle sampled the local air and then made slow progress along an into-wind leg to the NE. JB at the helm, JP on maps/tactics and a badly positioned cushion. (All the best and longest flights require you to be uncomfortable). Having clocked two TP's and gone 20k upwind the tactical officer and helmsman agreed that further progress upwind in the Eagle was wasting the day. A speedy return with good climbs over the Aston Down 'net' and a visit to the first TP south at Tetbury, tempted an attempt at a return into wind. Whilst the net was crossed the subsequent run south again was nearly our undoing with the previous booming thermals avoiding the Eagle. JB took a brave dive off to a likely thermal trigger and minutes of sweating and swearing got the old girl going upwards. Bad air was being encountered on a regular basis and the helmsman was forced to question the tactical officer if a change of diet could be made before future flights...
Through the wonders of mobile phones, news came in that DD3 had actually landed out near Westbury, Phil working a potential climb too low to contemplate firing the engine. Subsequently we learnt that he had started the engine deployment process at a safe height but rashly put it away when he thought a thermal had found him!
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| Aerial shot of DD3 in the bag (JP) |
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| Bonus points for the sea (JB &JP) |
Circling out over the sea for extra points and photos it became only a job to see how much the Retrieve could be shortened...or so we surmised. Rough rotor like thermals at Dorchester meant that leaving the security of a huge cut grass field near the south of the town for the miles of corn to the north was a challenge but eventually enough height was gained to get to better ground and, as luck would have it, favourable air. The very real prospect of getting to Gillingham was on and with the Oudie giving L/D numbers in the high 20s as opposed to teens the last climb was milked to give a safe overfly of the TP.
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| Weymouth (JP) |
With Field selection made at Mere, probably for the first time in many a year the Eagle flew around the target field and did a complete circuit! The best 4x4 by far was only half a mile away and with more luck, two strong passers-by learnt that asking “how does that come apart” of Eagle owners was a big mistake! Many thanks to Josh and Kevin who made themselves late for supper but helped manhandle Eagle bits through to a second field with easier access.
Home by 22:00 and with no food, hunger was soon forgotten when it seemed the Eagle score was making us Day Winners. Beer and crisps to celebrate! Tales were heard from Pete and Nick about their retrieves and the ASH was spied tied down so Ron and Chris had obviously returned. - JB & JP
