With a good weather forecast it was no surprise that the flying list was rather full well before 9 with quite a few members keen to either complete training flights or to get card checks completed. With trial lessons also booked it was an easy decision to get all of the two-seaters and both Juniors out of the hangar - the not so easy decision was to where to position the winch and Launch Control to allow the best cable retrieve and launch runs on what was a damp but flyable airfield.
Whilst daily inspections were completed on the Club gliders, various options were considered and a suitable winch run setup (with a continuing focus on minimising damage to the airfield the winch was later moved twice during the day’s flying).
North Hill at the end of the rainbow (James Hood)
With the gliders moved across to the North East corner of the airfield where Launch Control had been set up it was then a question of working out the best way of getting through the flying lists
Andy Davey used the lack of demand for the Pawnee to good effect taking a 5000ft aerotow with a K21 and completed various aerobatic manoeuvres, the blue skies providing a great backdrop for the watching members on the ground. The only question then was whether Andy would be landing before or after the tug!
As the morning progressed various instructors worked their way through the training and check flight list and solo pilots kept the Juniors in continuing use. After a suitable briefing Kevin Fairburn converted to the Junior with several flights completed by the end of the day, Well Done Kevin.
Well done Kevin, converting to the Junior (Mike Sloggett)
Robert Lee looked after our Trial Lessons with both junior visitors showing interest in returning to North Hill soon. With enough members and instructors, as well as winch drivers, flying could continue through lunch and although the blue skies were gradually replaced by the incoming grey skies of the next weather front, by late afternoon everyone who wanted to fly had done so.
As ever a day when an early start and good teamwork made the most of the flying opportunity presented by the weather today. - Mike Sloggett
