After Saturday's blue circuits apart from a bit of soaring in the afternoon, RASP showed more hope for Sunday in the West Country......
The very sunny blue sky above the airfield together with a forecast of reasonable soaring potential ensured a good number of Club members, both for pre-solo training and also private owners anticipating a day of soaring. The forecast was for more Easterly winds than was evident first thing so with a light and variable wind the launchpoint was set up in the North East corner of the airfield.
Both K21s, a Junior and the DG505 were brought out of the hangar, and Josh and Charlie rigged K6 DRE and soon it was on with the day’s flying with Bennett and Hender families contributing fully to keeping the launch point running smoothly.
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| Josh, Charlie and 'wannabe K6 pilot Dan' (Sally Hender) |
The Cross country task for the Pundits was set by Phil Morrison NHL- Molton - Launceston - Wimbleball - NHL 206Km to take most advantage of where RASP was showing strong conditions and maybe even some clouds!
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| Wimbleball Lake (Simon Minson) |
Mid-morning it was evident that just off the winch launch towards the South West there was a ‘hot spot’ of thermals being regularly produced and one by one gliders established themselves into the rising air providing the height to look for even better thermals.
Meanwhile private gliders started to steadily appear and after launching whether by aerotow or winch “disappear” off into the hazy blue sky - with the inversion and related limited visibility providing the challenge of spotting other gliders whether from the ground and particularly in the air.
The morning saw several Trial Lessons completed with Philip and Samuel Rees and Gavin Roberts..
Around lunchtime the wind gradually moved to a more evident Easterly flow so the decision was made to change ends with a “fingers crossed” move of the launch point to the North West corner of the airfield - after a long walk with the Club gliders early afternoon various Club and private gliders were soon being launched into the air, readily finding lift sources all around the airfield and continuing to “disappear” off somewhere around the Devon countryside.
Meanwhile private gliders started to steadily appear and after launching whether by aerotow or winch “disappear” off into the hazy blue sky - with the inversion and related limited visibility providing the challenge of spotting other gliders whether from the ground and particularly in the air.
The morning saw several Trial Lessons completed with Philip and Samuel Rees and Gavin Roberts..
Around lunchtime the wind gradually moved to a more evident Easterly flow so the decision was made to change ends with a “fingers crossed” move of the launch point to the North West corner of the airfield - after a long walk with the Club gliders early afternoon various Club and private gliders were soon being launched into the air, readily finding lift sources all around the airfield and continuing to “disappear” off somewhere around the Devon countryside.
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| Well marked inversion (Mike Sloggett) |
Most of the private gliders just enjoyed the local soaring to ~6000ft amsl, but the Pundits completed Phil's task with Simon Minson in SM, Pete Startup in 230 and fastest DD3 with Phil Morrison and Nick Jones at 72kph.
With ongoing teamwork the Club flying list was completed with just time for ‘second turns’ for some members before hangar flights were decided.
A long hot day under a very sunny and warm sky but a really good day all round - with everyone at the Club today making the most of the conditions and with teamwork to help get others into the air very evident. 36 winch launches and 8 aerotows- Thanks all - Mike Sloggett
With ongoing teamwork the Club flying list was completed with just time for ‘second turns’ for some members before hangar flights were decided.
A long hot day under a very sunny and warm sky but a really good day all round - with everyone at the Club today making the most of the conditions and with teamwork to help get others into the air very evident. 36 winch launches and 8 aerotows- Thanks all - Mike Sloggett
