Warm sector Sou'westerly in March - it was easy to see why people might stay away from the club. The drive up from Ugborough through fog had seemed initially dispiriting but the usual improvements after each successive lump of high ground meant that on passing Exeter it looked very flyable if not exactly exciting with total veil of highish cloud. The Blackdown Hills however, were doing their thing with an orographic layer much lower and as I whipped the handful of faces in the clubhouse into action with duty man George Vojtisek's help, it seemed to be more from blind optimism than real hope. A call to Exeter Tower was greeted with some humour, probably their first action of the day, and the Sky Diving centre declared the skies ours for the weekend. Simon Leeson got the Pawnee out to give it an airing post maintenance
and his brief disappearance into cloud confirmed that it was going to be
interesting.
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| Variable cloud base (Stu Procter) |
With "the risk of going into cloud" a very part of the eventualities check list, Charlie Broderick proceeded to do some of the blank bits of his card with me. Considered early releases and some exciting low hill soaring allowed an out of position landing demo and some card filling. Stuart Procter had reappeared at the club and Alan Turner elected to take him along as he went cloud dodging. A stubborn chunk of cloud at 800' near the far end of the field was a lottery, some times gossamer allowing full height launches sometimes too thick and forcing an early release.
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| Good Sou wester (John Pursey) |
As the day progressed the lower layer left us and with Broderick senior a respectable 1800' launch was achieved. Soaring wise the SW wind failed to really excite, hinting at wave later and obliging for limited hill soaring for the determined. Country member Stewart Henshall, swapping Airbus for K21 started the trend with a half hour flight but Andy Broderick got his well deserved reward for a morning of winch driving with 42 minutes somewhere between 700' and 600' over the SW corner. Three trial lessons were fitted in, thank you to Lisa and Stu for helping out.
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| The ridge was working (Lisa Humphries) |
The field was in good order despite the recent rain, just a few very soft patches to which men and machine were naturally drawn. One of these, (who will remain nameless to save his blushes) swapped The Best 4 by 4 by far, for the Gator and in visiting the chap clearing the ditches with a mini digger, managed to get stuck! Mutterings about the "wrong tyres" and only "two wheel drive" were heard as the digger was needed to retrieve. Comedy gold for which sadly there are no pictures...
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| Grass is growing strongly in places (John Pursey) |
All in all the day wasn't that bad 18 flights and some good training achieved. Thank you to the usual stalwarts especialy Alan who is always there on Saturdays to get things going. Also special thanks to Ashley Thomas who nobly helped to get things going but had to leave before he could fly. - John Pursey
