Well, that was a pleasant surprise!
A course week flying every day with weather either better or more extreme than forecast, with blue card squally conditions midweek, allowed course members to achieve most of their personal targets set for the week.
From the start on Monday, members Mike Meatyard and Andrew Broderick flew solos in the Junior, interspersed over the week with launch failures galore and other training with John Sillett in KEK. Both achieved extended soaring flights: over an hour - actually 69 minutes - in the Junior for Mike Meatyard on Friday after Andrew flew 55 minutes in KEK with CFI Stuart Procter. Mike also ticked off his red rating card by the end of the week.
June Course members (Karen King)
Mike Rigby, new member Paul Jobin - experiencing winch launches for the first time - and Tim Powell started with a full set of training flights on the Monday with more on Tuesday afternoon after a late start due to the AM weather. Tim Powell with Guy made the late longest flight of the day with 29 mins, which was just as well as Tim unfortunately had to miss the rest of the course from Wednesday onwards having tested +ve. Similarly-gusty Wednesday continued in the same vein, with Mike Rigby having 82 mins soaring with Guy, greatly exceeding his previous longest-flight at North Hill. Paul also enjoyed a good look around the local area for 57 minutes with John Sillett.
On Thursday Paul had to take a day away to work but the remaining 4 course members flew a full set each of mixed training flights with Guy and John. Friday saw Mike Meatyard and Andrew Broderick spinning in Perkoz NH2 with John Sillett, with at least one returning looking a little pale! The writer's week culminated with launch failures to follow a week-long series of out-of-position and similar tests with Guy, all part of getting back into gliding after nearly 2 years away. Paul Jobin and Mike Rigby will be back for more on courses later in the summer - so watch out for how they progress - and we hope to see Tim Powell back at the Club again soon.
Thanks from all of the course members to instructors John Sillett and Guy Adams, plus some flights with CFI Stuart Procter, and to course helpers Andrew Logan, Karen King, Dave Perriam, George Sanderson and Stirling Melhiush. - Tim Petty
