The forecast was just about spot on today, low cloud base, light SE wind and a tad cold! Would we fly? Unsurprisingly few members turned up first thing. However the clubhouse was warm and cosy, and soon we were fed and watered.
The simulator complete with its new tweaks is gaining popularity, latest fan was our duty instructor Peter Field. With guidance from Stewart Henshall, Peter flew aerotow rope breaks and tried to simulate wing drop on launching. Using the replay function it was fascinating to analyse the options available from outside the aircraft as well as inside. We are steadily encouraging our Instructors and B.I’s to use the simulator, I would encourage all members to have a try.
Tom Sides welcomed our trial lesson visitors today and showed them our fleet, he then took them into the simulator to have a go, we explained that conditions were not ideal for the real thing today, however they left happy and are looking forward to returning when the weather improves.
In the MT hanger lots of tinkering could be witnessed on the mower and tractors by Pete Smith and Dave Perriam, mower blades now sharp and ready for the spring!
After lunch Peter decided that with a few hardy members wanting to fly, we would take a K21 to the “warm end “ of the field (NW corner, it was freezing!)
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| A cold scene (Mark Courtney) |
All flights were restricted by the cloudbase, but there was some south ridge lift, the fourth flight turned into a quick hangar landing.
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| Waiting to launch into a grey sky (Tom Sides) |
Paul Summers was joined by his daughter Caroline today who is extremely keen on leaning to fly, her two previous visits were dogged by bad weather. She loved her aerotow, and despite the flight being short is even more enthusiastic about our sport.
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| Another small team today (Mark Courtney) |
With everyone flown we decided to call it a day, everyone returned to the clubhouse to enjoy the banter and story telling, it really was a lovely atmosphere today, probably because we know better weather is around the corner! Soon be spring!
Thanks everyone for a very chilled, social Sunday! - Mark Courtney & Tom Sides (ed mashup)
