With the club room full (ish) by 9 am there was a splicing lesson from Gordon Hutchinson, with a couple of naturals in the group and a couple of not-so naturals. Gordon’s persistence paid off, and 6 reasonably well spliced ropes, for the time-being, ‘decorate’ the club room.
Craft lessons in splicing (Andy Batchelor)
On to the gliding- heavy showers and dense cloud was the start (and as it turned out the theme) of the day therefore, instead a still eager bunch of students sat down to an excellent lecture by John Sillett on Spins and Spiral Dives with our takeaway ‘don’t stall!’. However, should we end up in a Spin or Spiral Dive then the theory of ‘how to recover’ has been covered in preparation of a practical experience (with instructor on board!)
John preparing for a spinning lecture (Andy Batchelor)
As there was a momentary brightening of the sky, around 11 am., gliders and kit were efficiently put into position enabling two K21s, a Junior and the Perkoz to have a collective 36 minutes of aviating.
As more of the wet stuff decided again to put in an appearance, an early mid-day lunch was called followed by 20 or so Bronze Exam questions ably hosted by James Flory.
Another break in the weather was sufficient to allow two K21 low simulated launch failures before yes, you guessed it, the skies opened. A quick dash back to the clubroom to watch two videos of ‘what not to do’ narrated by Pureglide New Zealand www.youtube.com/c/PureGlide
With regards to the club flying, Glenn Turpin was the duty instructor with a handful of members in attendance to have the pre-mid-day one Perkoz and one Junior launch.
All gliders dried and in the hangar by 5 pm, with Thursday looking more promising…..- Karen King
