A truly miserable start tested people’s resolve today, low cloud and drizzle was the problem. So a small group gathered outside the clubhouse and exchanged stories of epic flights whilst many, many cups of tea were consumed diluted occasionally by drizzle. I was however confident of a clearance and insisted we waited until 11:30 when the forecast predicted an improvement.
11:30 became 12:30, lunch was consumed, some disbelievers left to earn brownie points or to paint a fence or dig the garden, others were seen muttering in small groups about my sanity. I was beginning to agree with them…until a small bit of blue sky was spotted!
A K21 was taken out and James Flory readied the tug, still surrounded by orographic it was still a waiting game but improving rapidly. Ian Mitchell took off in his Falke at just after 1pm to fly people at Dunks, his enthusiasm was equal or even higher than mine (people also muttered about his sanity).
The tug had a new CO gas monitor fitted and James needed to test it, a quick circuit was flown as a test flight doubling as a met check at 1:40. The report back was that we could start flying!
Paul Summers and I took the first aerotow at exactly 2pm, (only to 1500ft because I was paying after all!) I have to admit some hours after my 11:30 prediction but the view was worth the wait. Visibility was amazing, Wales to the NW, Portland Bill to the ESE, the remaining clouds formed a fantastic skyscape, the air was perfectly still.
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| Paul with Trial lesson visitor Peter -what a sky! (James Hood) |
Paul did another flight with me and then took the very patient Trial lesson visitor Peter for his flight finding lift off the tow, a beaming smile said it all when they returned!
Next up with me was the one and only Cheryl, “I’ve not flown the aerotow for ten years” she said. That was not evident in her performance, flying brilliantly for the whole flight.
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| It could almost be summer - with Paul and Cheryl! (Mark Courtney) |
Martin Woolner enjoyed flying his Falke and James was able to exchange tug flying with a flight with his son Sam in the Falke because Stuart offered to help in the Pawnee.
Last flight of the day was me with Stirling, by now the clouds were dissipating and lift was difficult to find, by the time we landed the sky was going completely blue. Kit was put away and more tea was consumed in full sun this time with real summer warmth.
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| Last flight of the day (James Hood) |
When a day is written off in your mind and you end up flying your enjoyment seems to be amplified, that was indeed the case today.
Hope the paint dried on the fences that were painted! - Mark Courtney
