With another good day of gliding being predicted and with a second group of members ‘booked in’ for dual flying the hangar doors were opened before 9am and both K21s and a Junior brought out for daily inspections. A light wind and a forecast of Westerly components saw the launch point being set up in the North East corner of the airfield and the steady activity of private owners preparing their gliders for the day suggested that the launch point was going to be busy.
As the day’s Instructing team, Guy Adams and Mike Sloggett briefed the Club members as to the day ahead and then took the opportunity of some flights to familiarise themselves with the back seat of a K21 whilst wearing masks and to check cockpit communication - and then it was on with the day. Tim Powell and Andrew Broderick flew with Guy, and Adam Niemcyzk and Mark Worsfold with Mike.
With the launch point well-organised by Trevor Russell as DLM, the morning saw Club and private gliders being launched on the winch line whilst there was a steady queue of private gliders on the aerotow line - Pete Stapleton had flown up from Newquay in his Cessna and shared the day’s aerotows with Pete Warren.
As the day’s Instructing team, Guy Adams and Mike Sloggett briefed the Club members as to the day ahead and then took the opportunity of some flights to familiarise themselves with the back seat of a K21 whilst wearing masks and to check cockpit communication - and then it was on with the day. Tim Powell and Andrew Broderick flew with Guy, and Adam Niemcyzk and Mark Worsfold with Mike.
With the launch point well-organised by Trevor Russell as DLM, the morning saw Club and private gliders being launched on the winch line whilst there was a steady queue of private gliders on the aerotow line - Pete Stapleton had flown up from Newquay in his Cessna and shared the day’s aerotows with Pete Warren.
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| Waiting for aerotow (Simon Minson) |
With a steadily improving sky most private gliders “disappeared” for the day whilst the Club flying list made good progress - as ever operating from the North East corner with the limited landing area on the North side of the airfield meant some delays during the day whilst gliders were retrieved, but as ever good teamwork on the ground by Club members minimised the delays.
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| North Hill - leveled areas showing dark green (Mike Sloggett) |
The Junior was in regular use with David Cowley achieving his Silver Height and whilst Guy and Mike had their lunch the K21s were used by other members, making the most of the weather and available gliders to continue flying through the lunchtime.
Pete Startup had set a task of 307Kms Stockbridge - Membury with 230, Phil and Nick DD3 and Simon Minson SM and JB all completing. Eric Alston completed 150kms Yeovil - Knowstone. Meanwhile Jill and Pete in OL decided to explore the many convergences that covered Devon and surroundings - both coasts and some up the middle for a very enjoyable womble with no turnpoints collected!
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| Convergences (Jill Harmer) |
Geoff Lawrence (Pegase) enjoyed his longest flight at 3hrs 35 - maybe the Sunday evening Condor races have helped a little?
And there was another Silver distance for a Mendip pilot arriving at North Hill. John Connor landed in his Discus during the afternoon. After some phone calls and discussion as to whether to get his retrieve crew to drive to North Hill, he took up the offer of a relight aerotow behind the Pawnee and just under an hour later had landed back at Mendip GC.
During the afternoon with the sea air moving in from the South, private owners started to return to the airfield to land and at one stage it was like (the old) Heathrow airport with gliders arriving into circuit regularly!
By late afternoon, with the Club flying list completed it was time to put everything away - thank you to all the members who helped get others into the air today. - Mike Sloggett
And there was another Silver distance for a Mendip pilot arriving at North Hill. John Connor landed in his Discus during the afternoon. After some phone calls and discussion as to whether to get his retrieve crew to drive to North Hill, he took up the offer of a relight aerotow behind the Pawnee and just under an hour later had landed back at Mendip GC.
During the afternoon with the sea air moving in from the South, private owners started to return to the airfield to land and at one stage it was like (the old) Heathrow airport with gliders arriving into circuit regularly!
By late afternoon, with the Club flying list completed it was time to put everything away - thank you to all the members who helped get others into the air today. - Mike Sloggett
