As glider pilots, watching and reviewing the weather forecasts, until one finds a positive one which suggests flying is possible, is a habit hard to break.
The forecast for today suggested that the second day of the Course week might follow a similar pattern to yesterday - all being well some flying in the morning and ground school briefings after lunch. With this in mind all present were suitably focused on making the most of the potential good flying weather during the morning - to the extent that the winch was being set up and gliders brought out of the hangar for daily inspections, all under gloomy skies. We welcomed Kevin Smith who has joined the Course from today.
Optimism was rewarded by brighter skies becoming more and more evident as the morning progressed and soon Team Family Hender were efficiently launching the K21s into the sky - albeit with cloudbase not very high so needing winch launches to be managed suitably by pilots to avoid gliders going into cloud.
By lunchtime several Course members were making steady progress with their flying and then with ominous clouds all around the airfield, gliders were carefully parked and lunch taken.
After lunch a quick look at the weather forecast suggested that afternoon conditions were not likely to be as poor as originally forecast so it was on with the afternoon’s flying. With thermals easily contactable from the winch launch, whilst cloudbase was only around 1500ft QFE, the K21s were able to provide some Course members with soaring flights as well as valuable time in the air on various exercises and skill practice.
Soarable clouds with showers around (Mike Sloggett)
During the afternoon Dave Perriam, who had come up to help with the ground side of things, timed a flight in a Junior well, achieving his best flight at North Hill, since returning to gliding, of 31 minutes.
Congratulations Stewart Henshall (Mike Sloggett)
And the highlight of the day was Stewart Henshall, who nearly 20 years since his last solo glider flight completed 2 solo flights in K21 KEK, Well Done Stewart.
With the forecast for Wednesday not looking very good at all, Course members and helpers made the most of today’s weather - thanks all. - Mike Sloggett
