By the time I arrived at 8:15 all the ground kit was already out and DI'd by fellow course helpers Gordon Hutchinson and Dave Perriam, and Chairman Nick was on site co-ordinating the spraying of the next area of the field earmarked for levelling. For the course, it was a bit of a slow start with the usual introductions, briefings and some time waiting to see what the wind was going to do, and in the end instructors John Sillett and Peter Field decided launches from the west seemed the way to go in the wafting southerly breeze. The winch was set up as far away from the northern border as the sprayed area of the field would allow, which needed 24 hours to dry before being driven on. With the cable run ending in the north west corner by the launch point it was just possible to miss the corner of the sprayed area.
A big sprayer (Hans Jenssen)
Launches began just after 11am with the Perkoz and a K21 taking care of the pre-solo pilots while Stewart Henshall flew Junior FZF and managed three shortish soaring flights in the blue while the 2-seaters both failed to get away.
A quiet moment with all the gliders soaring (Hand Jenssen)
It was better after lunch when most course members were able to experience some soaring with several flights approaching half an hour, while again Stewart showed everyone how it's done with a flight of 2h 27m still without a single wisp of cloud in the sky. A good (if rather hot!) day to start the September course for Stewart , Jorg Beasley, Dominic Mercer, Ben Unwin, Jim Carrick and Adam Baille. Thanks also to Dan Hender for pitching in with cable retrieve and ground duties. - Hans Jenssen
