Good early morning turn out with the whole fleet out on parade by the time the duty instructor arrived shortly after 9am. Solid rain in the South Hams and there hadn’t seemed much urgency but at North Hill, the grey overcast was much higher with chunks of light. James Flory had already got the launch point trundling west and after a quick instructor conflab it seemed the right move. Very light southeasterly wind as the gliders towed down with a hint of wispy low clouds coming up from the south. By the time launching got underway the wind seemed settled on being southerly but still light.
Golf buggy towing Perkoz library pic (Andy Mayson)
James started on some grown up flying with people wanting checks and I set to with new Junior member - Connor Williams. Even more grown up flying was to be done by Mike Sloggett looking to do Full Cat exercises with Mark Courtney in the Perkoz.
The wispy clouds were starting to street and offered some welcome bubbles, but with a base of 1200ft it was never going to be epic. Connor had his longest flight to date at 31 mins and was the handling pilot from the off through to landing (bar a little brake assistance) - well done Connor!
The early conflab on the wind was repeated as the southerly tended to a south southwesterly and an end switch was inevitable.
Whilst James Flory continued as pm man, t’other James, (Smart), continued his smooth handling of the Trial lesson voucher visitors using the DG505, which was able to find spaces to get a full aerotow.
Your scribe had to leave early afternoon but had an extended flight with another new Junior member Kat who showed great promise as the K21 did endless turns chasing buzzards to gain handfuls of feet.
Whilst not epic it was flyable, soarable and a jolly fine day to be out and about and not what I expected driving in the rain past South Brent! - John Pursey
