The rostered duty team of John Sillett - DI, Tim Johns - DLM and Pete Harmer - Tuggie and a few others were sitting in the Clubhouse in the foggy drizzle, a few small jobs were done and Ashley Thomas enjoyed a personal lecture on basic Air Law and local airspace rules.
Unfortunately, the weather never looked like improving sufficiently to fly, but a big thank you to Ian Mitchell for fitting the new magneto to the Pawnee.
Expeditions
At the expedition sites it was changeover day with some Portmoakers heading off to Denbigh and some newcomers arriving at both Portmoak and Denbigh.
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| Stu and Simon in K21 at Portmoak (Simon Minson) |
After a long road trip, CFI Stu and RE Simon enjoyed a late afternoon trip on the Bishop.
Denbigh
Denbigh Business Development were for once underselling at the briefing, a lower wind speed now forecast than previously thought. Despite that a Libelle took an early tow and was in wave straight away. Whilst he was soon at 10,000ft, the rest of the pack were slow in getting away and the lower wave gave out. The Duo with Nick and JP and JB in the Ventus criss-crossed the “right area” but found no more than reduced sink so - Back to the ridge... The wind softened and light rain made dodging the paraplungers all the more challenging. One by one the launched gliders landed, DD3 the last, only because the iron thermal allowed a final tease in the reduced sink beyond Denbigh.
Team DSGC was swelled by Tom Sides and Nick Harrison's arrival. The JP paella pan was put to use in the evening, new pal Tom Edwards (epic K8 pilot) and Team DSGC chasing down the last of the Otter.
The out of hours Otter help line have been contacted by Stirling Melhuish who has remotely taken a keen interest in the expedition beer stocks! A less optimistic forecast wind for Sunday but Portmoak travellers expected to arrive. The week ahead has a feel of the previous week, good from mid week on..
Nick Jones has serious van envy after seeing the “camper” that has arrived. Team Eagle’s new HQ? - John Pursey
Denbigh
Denbigh Business Development were for once underselling at the briefing, a lower wind speed now forecast than previously thought. Despite that a Libelle took an early tow and was in wave straight away. Whilst he was soon at 10,000ft, the rest of the pack were slow in getting away and the lower wave gave out. The Duo with Nick and JP and JB in the Ventus criss-crossed the “right area” but found no more than reduced sink so - Back to the ridge... The wind softened and light rain made dodging the paraplungers all the more challenging. One by one the launched gliders landed, DD3 the last, only because the iron thermal allowed a final tease in the reduced sink beyond Denbigh.
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| JP paella party (John Pursey) |
Team DSGC was swelled by Tom Sides and Nick Harrison's arrival. The JP paella pan was put to use in the evening, new pal Tom Edwards (epic K8 pilot) and Team DSGC chasing down the last of the Otter.
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| Tom Edwards K8 from Lasham joins the party (John Pursey) |
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| Van envy (John Pursey) |
