Looking at Rasp this morning gave the impression of a very good day ahead, could this mean four consecutive days of flying?! Dan had been put in the seat of the DG500 (Elan) a club glider from Aston Down with Alex O’Keefe. The two seat competitors were lucky enough to have nine gliders / instructors available for the ten pupils still on site. Unfortunately although similar to Dan's favourite club glider, the DG505, it does not have the performance, and nothing like the three gliders he’d had the privilege to fly so far this week.
DG500 today with Alex O'Keefe (Sally Hender)
However, the grid was set and the briefing held at 10am with a task set heading north this time, with a turnpoint over Diddly Squat Farm Shop, and the hope of lift over Jeremy Clarkson (known for his hot air). The 54 gliders started launching at 12:00, with the start called at 1:05pm, Dan started the task at 13:24 and landed back at 17:02.
252km
Dan….. "a good cross country flight, it was hard work compared to yesterday, but a great experience."
Junior Nationals 2022
We then headed to the prize giving and party BBQ, with great food and games thrown in, congratulations to Finn Sleigh 2022 Junior Champion.
AeroSparx (Sally Hender)
A fantastic week, thank you to everyone involved in the setting up and running of the whole event, from the directors, to the instructors to the volunteers running the airfield/bar and catering. What an introduction to competition flying. - Sally Hender
