The abundance of jumpers, hats and coats were indicative of the ‘keen’ North Easterly wind at the airfield first thing with the cafe being popular for breakfast and hot drink orders from those members waiting for the wind to subside. However after a drive to the East end of the airfield Peter Field as Duty Instructor decided that flying would be possible under a Blue card - with the wind strength meaning that only the K21s would be used initially.
Once the K21s had been walked down to the South West corner of the airfield flying was soon under way mid-morning - with Peter Field and Dave Perriam in the first K21 flight establishing that the conditions, whilst Blue card, were relatively straightforward to fly in.
With both the usual flying list and ‘booked training’ well underway meanwhile the private owners, whether at the Club for the final day of the Task Week or general flying, were deciding their plans for the day.
Once the K21s had been walked down to the South West corner of the airfield flying was soon under way mid-morning - with Peter Field and Dave Perriam in the first K21 flight establishing that the conditions, whilst Blue card, were relatively straightforward to fly in.
With both the usual flying list and ‘booked training’ well underway meanwhile the private owners, whether at the Club for the final day of the Task Week or general flying, were deciding their plans for the day.
 |
| W7 back in the air after a short break (Mark Layton) |
And then with the wind reducing as forecast the card colour became Yellow, so late morning the DG505 was soon being brought down to the launch point followed shortly afterwards by the Perkoz - the first time in quite a few Sundays that all four two-seaters have been in use for Club flying.
 |
| There's always a thermal over Forest Glade (Mike Sloggett) |
Around lunchtime the increasingly soarable skies encouraged private owners to bring their gliders down for either an aerotow or winch launch.
After a short lunch break needed to give the Instructors and members who had been running the launchpoint and Club flying all morning a rest the afternoon’s flying was soon underway - and with the wind strength continuing to moderate the card colour changed to Red, allowing a Junior to also be brought down to join the thermic skies.
As ever in and amongst the good soaring there was plenty of sink meaning that whilst most gliders were able to “get away” from the winch launch some needed to try again - all the ‘fun’ of gliding...
With a long list of Club flying the last hangar flights were completed well after 6pm.
A long but good day with one of the busiest Club flying launchpoints in recent Sundays - as ever thank you to all the members who helped from start to end of day to get others to get into the air - and a particular thank you to Rob and Sally who did very long stints on the winch and LPV during the day. - Mike Sloggett
After a short lunch break needed to give the Instructors and members who had been running the launchpoint and Club flying all morning a rest the afternoon’s flying was soon underway - and with the wind strength continuing to moderate the card colour changed to Red, allowing a Junior to also be brought down to join the thermic skies.
As ever in and amongst the good soaring there was plenty of sink meaning that whilst most gliders were able to “get away” from the winch launch some needed to try again - all the ‘fun’ of gliding...
With a long list of Club flying the last hangar flights were completed well after 6pm.
A long but good day with one of the busiest Club flying launchpoints in recent Sundays - as ever thank you to all the members who helped from start to end of day to get others to get into the air - and a particular thank you to Rob and Sally who did very long stints on the winch and LPV during the day. - Mike Sloggett
Task Day
Meanwhile the Task Briefing was for an improving day for a task with options for multiple turnpoints both west and east of North Hill.
Only Ron and Dan Johns in 711, Pete Startup in 230 and Phil Morrison with guest Andy Holmes in DD3 were the only gliders to make an attempt.
Pilots comments:
"North Hill task week Day 8, Task 1................ Poor to the East of North Hill early on although it looked better, much better to the West later on. Was a bit slow today, first trip to Cornwall(just), this year." NHL-YEO-LAU-NHL 248Kms - Pete Startup
"Sea air Launceston, divert inland then tricky getting back over Dartmoor. range closed." NHL- LAU-NHL 160Kms - Ron Johns
"Thanks very much to all at North Hill and particularly Phil Morrison for flying with me and Nick Jones for allowing me to borrow his seat for the day.
Task week task with choice of TPs. Although the forecasts said better in the West, the Cu seemed to form in the East first, so we declared Yeovil then Launceston to give it time to get properly going in the West. A few deviations to cross water due to the scoring.
Quite a lot of time lost in order to finish nice and high and extend the flight. Attempted Crewkerne o/r to add an extra 70k but turned 8k short and needed the engine to get back sensibly. If I was a bit more clever/patient I think it would have been on though.
Spoke to Dunkeswell several times and Exeter which allowed us to be nearby when needed" NH2 - YEO-LAU-NHL 249Kms - Andy Holmes
With some convoluted scoring to add to the BGA ladder results for water / engines / span, for just the 1 day of Tasks.
Results were:
1st Pete Startup 1692pts
2nd Phil Morrison 1462pts
3rd Ron and Dan Johns 684pts
Thanks to Ron and Pete for running the Week - pity about the weather. - J&P
