After a disappointing few days of low cloud towards the end of the preceding week, the promise of better things from high pressure building over the Azores and pushing across the UK on Saturday was enough to a draw a good number of club members up to North Hill for an early start. With military style efficiency, Team DSGC quickly established operations at the Eastern end of the field. Under the direction of DLM Pete Startup and Duty Instructor James Flory, the first winch launch got off the ground at 09:29 with Andy Batchelor solo in a K21, followed 5 minutes later by James with trainee Adam Niemczyk. A busy morning ensued, with both K21’s, both Juniors and the Perkoz being used for a healthy mixture of checks, training and solo flying. Club members also took advantage of aerotows throughout the day, with CFI Stuart taking the majority of the tug duties, assisted by James F. By late morning, private gliders also began to arrive at the launch point, with pilots tempted by the developing thermal activity. With flight durations increasing commensurate with the availability of lift, the launch point became very much quieter by mid-afternoon.
With the soaring OK, but not brilliant, Pete Startup and Simon Minson were the only privateers to venture far, with Pete completing Tiverton-Beaminster with the benefit of some sea-breeze convergence and Simon Tiverton - Crewkerne. Local soarers got a few more minutes with Jeff Taberham in 380 2:26 taking the prize.
Pilots of motor gliders VG and SC also took advantage of the excellent flying conditions throughout the day.
Congratulations to Andy - convert to Junior (Josh Batchelor)
As things began to get quieter, and with the training flying list well under way with Steve Westlake stepping in to lend a welcome hand with instructional duties, it was suggested to Andy Batchelor that, having achieved the necessary solo requirements in the K21, all that stood between him and the conversion to the Junior was the successful completion of the spinning and stalling revision package originally commenced in December before Covid got in the way. With the weather being perfect and the Perkoz, tug, tug pilot and instructor all being available, Andy quickly ran out of excuses and under James F’s tutorage, found himself at 3000’ enjoying the delights of spinning once more. With the spinning package completed, Andy’s day finished up with the requisite briefings and 2 solo flights in Junior LRD. Single seat conversion complete!
By 16:45, numbers were beginning to dwindle, so gliders – club and private alike – were slowly returned to storage. The last flights of the day landed at 17:20 and by 17:45, everything was packed away after a very successful and thoroughly enjoyable day of gliding. With grateful thanks to all those club members not specifically mentioned, but who worked hard throughout the day to support the gliding effort. - Andy Batchelor
