The first day of the May Course saw blue skies and sunny weather above and around the airfield albeit that the slightly chilly Easterly wind ensured that jumpers and coats were kept close to hand at the start of the day.
Peter Smith and Mike Sloggett, as Course Instructors, welcomed a variety of existing Club members and visitors to North Hill and with the weather looking rather nice outside the Course briefing was quickly completed to allow gliders to be brought out of the hangar soon after 9am. Meanwhile the Course helpers were quietly and efficiently setting up the winch run and launch point.
And with daily inspections completed on both K21s and a Junior it was then a question of a long walk to the North West corner of the airfield.
Peter Smith and Mike Sloggett, as Course Instructors, welcomed a variety of existing Club members and visitors to North Hill and with the weather looking rather nice outside the Course briefing was quickly completed to allow gliders to be brought out of the hangar soon after 9am. Meanwhile the Course helpers were quietly and efficiently setting up the winch run and launch point.
And with daily inspections completed on both K21s and a Junior it was then a question of a long walk to the North West corner of the airfield.
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| Launchpoint at the west end (Mike Sloggett) |
Launching was soon under way and from the first launch there were signs of some thermal activity here and there which allowed extended circuits - as the morning progressed the thermals improved with climbs to over 2000’ QFE being completed, allowing Course members plenty of opportunity to demonstrate their thermalling skills.
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| Thermals improved ...(Mike Sloggett) |
As ever it was a question of timing and whether the winch launch would be high enough to allow suitable thermal hunting time.
Lunchtime came, and went, and flying continued from early afternoon through to just before 6pm with the sea air steadily turning off the thermals as the afternoon unfolded.
Lunchtime came, and went, and flying continued from early afternoon through to just before 6pm with the sea air steadily turning off the thermals as the afternoon unfolded.
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| North Hill (Mike Sloggett) |
David Cowley did not quite make double figures with his day but had a good attempt completing 9 Junior flights of varying duration.
Spare cables were used by John Borland who had several flights in DG300 (FAJ) and Eric Alston in ASG29 (G29) - took a launch and disappeared for a couple of hours.
A really good first day of the Course week, with suitable optimism of more flying over the coming days. - Mike Sloggett
Spare cables were used by John Borland who had several flights in DG300 (FAJ) and Eric Alston in ASG29 (G29) - took a launch and disappeared for a couple of hours.
A really good first day of the Course week, with suitable optimism of more flying over the coming days. - Mike Sloggett
