On some recent Club days there has been no flying due to low cloudbase. As members assembled at the airfield under blue skies today it looked as if the cloudbase would not be a problem for the day’s flying. - However the wind had other ideas both in terms of the forecast and actual direction.
With a number of training flights needed and several Trial Lessons booked all four two-seaters and a Junior were brought out of the hangar whilst Simon Leeson as Duty Instructor assessed as to the likely best set up for the day. A drive to the West end by Simon to see if there was any benefit to launching from that end of the airfield resulted in an assessment that there would be none so the launch point was set up in the North East corner of the airfield.
But by the time the gliders had been towed across to the launch point the wind was being a tad devilish and had become more of a tailwind - so now it was a question of either waiting to see if the wind direction would improve or make a decision to change ends before the first launch of the day had even taken place. So we waited…
And then a weather check flight was completed which allowed a full height launch to be achieved, and with Simon using the direction to land towards the East end of the airfield and demonstrating how gliders do not always have to land in the same direction as take off.
With careful continuing consideration of the wind direction before launching Simon and Mike Sloggett started to work their way through the flying list - with quite a few inexperienced members involved, ground and flying briefings took time and with limited winch drivers available we were appreciative of Dan Hender winching and driving the cable retrieve all morning.
A quick lunch break for Simon and Mike was needed, but the arrival of Pete Warren and Chris Wool ensured flying continued through the lunchtime period which allowed members to make the most of the weather and available gliders. During the afternoon the flying list was completed with particular thanks due to Liam Vile and Tom Sides winching and retrieving all afternoon.
The day’s Trial Lessons were looked after by Robert Lee and James Smart. - Mike Sloggett
