Today was the start of a rescheduled April course and the first of the year at North Hill.
We have a full quota of course members, it is a great mix this week with people wanting bronze testing, returning members, pre-solo and DSGC experienced solo pilots requiring re-currency flights.
After a introduction in the Clubhouse we set up the field at the west end, it was bitterly cold and quite windy. Within a short time Pete Startup was seen rigging, a good day then!
Perfect sky (Mark Courtney)
All the course members had soaring flights, James Lambert from Mendip Gliding club had an extensive spin sortie with Mark just before lunch (good job it wasn’t after). Lizzie Westcott had a trip nearly to Axminster and showed that she had forgotten little in the the last 3 years since her last flight.
Andy Pickerell a course member from last year consolidated his experience and skills learnt from last year and demonstrated that he also had forgotten little!
Sandy Harrup and Chris Woodward had soaring flights exploring the local area both showing their experience and skills as solo pilots to Steve Westlake.
“New” member James Dyke continues to impress, his skills beyond a pilot with so few launches, landing the Perkoz perfectly every time.
The conditions today were probably the best I’ve experienced on a course, particularly an April course, Pete Startup 230 and Wyn Davies W7 will no doubt write of their cross-country flights.
Pete Startup NH2 - Dorchester - Molton - North Tawton - Chard - NH2 284Kms
"A few kms, just not the ones we'd planned! Nice conditions in the afternoon with a bit of convergence around Lyme Bay. With W7 - sorry I took us the wrong way, too early and nearly put both of us into a field Wyn!"
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| Devon countryside in the Spring sunshine (Mark Courtney) |
Many gliders could be seen to the south, obviously from gliding sites far away, all were going “like the clappers” trying to get home before the forecast over-development appeared. And appear it did, for an hour and a half the sky was dead, later in the day just before packing up things picked up again enabling Andy to have his longest flight.
Many thanks to our team of helpers Dave Perriam, Gordon Hutchinson and Mike Meatyard.
Tomorrow’s forecast looks even better, fingers crossed they have got that right! - Mark Courtney
