Today, the second day of the Course Week, was very much a day of two halves.
A morning looking at as many weather forecasts as possible failed to find anything positive around the morning’s weather being likely to change from the grey skies and low cloud to anything different.
A morning looking at as many weather forecasts as possible failed to find anything positive around the morning’s weather being likely to change from the grey skies and low cloud to anything different.
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| Grey skies initially (Mike Sloggett) |
So it was on with ground school for Reuben Renton and Mike Meatyard with Peter Smith, whilst Tim Butler and Ruth Smith used the simulator with Mike Sloggett for some spinning refresher and recovery practice.
As well as the flying there is always something to do around North Hill so during the morning Peter Smith did some mowing of the “new” areas of the airfield whilst early afternoon Dave Perriam and Reuben replaced some of the ‘reference marker slabs’ which had been removed ahead of rotovating.
As well as the flying there is always something to do around North Hill so during the morning Peter Smith did some mowing of the “new” areas of the airfield whilst early afternoon Dave Perriam and Reuben replaced some of the ‘reference marker slabs’ which had been removed ahead of rotovating.
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| Putting the Reference Markers back (Mike Sloggett) |
With an early lunch having been arranged ‘just in case’ this turned out to be a good plan - early afternoon whilst there was evidently still low cloud there was enough brightness around the airfield to suggest that some flying might be possible for the rest of the day.
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| Grey skies started clearing....... (Mike Sloggett) |
And so it turned out to be the case - Peter and Ruth Comer completed a weather check flight which reflected that a full height launch was not quite yet possible. Not that the cloudbase affected Tim and Mike, as Instructor Mike decided it was time for both to find themselves in other parts of the airfield, through dealing with eventualities of various sorts.
Steadily and slowly the grey skies disappeared with now the bright shiny thing in the sky proving to be very bright and shiny particularly when turning final at the East end of the airfield.
The afternoon saw Chris and Dave ‘amicably discussing’ as to who would fly the Junior and when, whilst Reuben was able to enjoy some good height flights with Peter.
Steadily and slowly the grey skies disappeared with now the bright shiny thing in the sky proving to be very bright and shiny particularly when turning final at the East end of the airfield.
The afternoon saw Chris and Dave ‘amicably discussing’ as to who would fly the Junior and when, whilst Reuben was able to enjoy some good height flights with Peter.
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| .....to blue (Mike Sloggett) |
With Ruth also adding some more solo flights to end the day, with the last K21 landing at around 18:45, today was another day when the patience always needed by glider pilots was suitably rewarded.
A particular thank you to William Pope, Andrew Logan and Graham Barden who continued to help the Course members and Instructors well into the evening to ensure that as much as possible was achieved from today. - Mike Sloggett
A particular thank you to William Pope, Andrew Logan and Graham Barden who continued to help the Course members and Instructors well into the evening to ensure that as much as possible was achieved from today. - Mike Sloggett
