It is said that ‘gliding is like a box of chocolates’, one never quite knows what the day is going to bring flying wise. And that was the case today - the last few days saw all sorts of weather forecast for today with a wide range of potential suggestions around whether any/some gliding would take place.
The latest forecast at the start of the day suggested that some flying would be possible during the morning, with rain likely to arrive any time from lunchtime onwards.
The latest forecast at the start of the day suggested that some flying would be possible during the morning, with rain likely to arrive any time from lunchtime onwards.
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| North Hill launch point (Mike Sloggett) |
So with Ron Johns and Tom Sides as the morning Duty team suitably organising the members present both K21s, a Junior and the DG505 were soon being brought out of the hangar. With the wind direction indicating that the West ridge might work and with some evident optimism about ‘wave out in the valley’, and with the field having drained well overnight, the winch was set up in the North West corner of the airfield.
And then with the clouds starting to drift away, suggesting that full height launches could be achieved, it was on with the flying list with the first launch underway well before 10 am - and with only a couple of members on the training list well outnumbered by the instructors present there was no shortage of volunteers for the back seat today.
As the morning continued various gliders and pilots made good use of the lift available on and around the ridge and the day provided continuing opportunities for training, maintaining currency or just to be able to enjoy flying with some lovely views from the good visibility.
And then with the clouds starting to drift away, suggesting that full height launches could be achieved, it was on with the flying list with the first launch underway well before 10 am - and with only a couple of members on the training list well outnumbered by the instructors present there was no shortage of volunteers for the back seat today.
As the morning continued various gliders and pilots made good use of the lift available on and around the ridge and the day provided continuing opportunities for training, maintaining currency or just to be able to enjoy flying with some lovely views from the good visibility.
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| Eric Alston in Junior (Andy Williams) |
With the anticipated weather front evident to the West and with other members arriving, the decision was made to continue flying through lunchtime with the afternoon Duty team of Mike Sloggett and David Cowley continuing to keep things ‘ticking over’.
The training list was such that by early afternoon there was time for some of the morning fliers to have further launches, those members being rewarded for their optimism and being at the Club first thing. During the day Falke BVG had some local flights and an aerotow Trial Lesson was completed in the DG505 following the return of the Pawnee to service.
The training list was such that by early afternoon there was time for some of the morning fliers to have further launches, those members being rewarded for their optimism and being at the Club first thing. During the day Falke BVG had some local flights and an aerotow Trial Lesson was completed in the DG505 following the return of the Pawnee to service.
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| JB and JP following in some famous footsteps (Mike Sloggett) |
The afternoon saw us welcome a new addition to the private owner fleet at North Hill, in the form of the Slingsby T42 Eagle 2 (Ed: the one that famously won the 1956 2-seater class World Championships with Nick Goodhart and Frank Foster and enjoyed royalty - Prince Philip - in the front seat) and which, after being rigged and relevant weighing and measuring taking place, was soon airborne and seen to be making the most of the ridge lift available.
By mid-afternoon the skies had darkened and full height launches were no longer possible, so with rain clearly imminent it was time to put the gliders and ground equipment away.
As someone said ‘we made the most of the day’ - thank you to everyone for helping others to get into the air today, proving that glider pilots are always optimists as to whether the weather will allow us to fly... - Mike Sloggett
By mid-afternoon the skies had darkened and full height launches were no longer possible, so with rain clearly imminent it was time to put the gliders and ground equipment away.
As someone said ‘we made the most of the day’ - thank you to everyone for helping others to get into the air today, proving that glider pilots are always optimists as to whether the weather will allow us to fly... - Mike Sloggett
