Friday was the final day of the first summer gliding course for 2023. A front moving in sometime over the afternoon had been forecast but there was still significant uncertainty when its band of rain would arrive. What was certain is that in the morning it was dry, there was a cloudbase of reasonable height with even a few patches of blue off towards the Exe valley. The wind was still brisk and to the east but there was no indication of the wicked rotor and vicious sink that bedevilled attempts to get and stay airborne the day before.
 |
| April Course, Instructors and Helpers (Sean Goddard) |
Not knowing how long flying would be possible the course members, instructors and helpers leapt into action, and put the kettle on. But soon after, two K21’s were trundling off behind buggies down to the west end of the airfield while the winch and launch point were getting set up.
The first glider took off at 10:30am. At one minute before 4pm, glider HCX, flight number 19 that day touched down. This was a simulated launch failure with a hanger return. On the way up water started to fleck the canopy. After the bung was pulled large droplets were hitting it. Rolling to a stop near the hanger doors, the heavens began to open. As Mark and James were out and taking off parachutes, Steve and Sean arrived in KEK. There then commenced what may have been the fastest every packing of the North Hill hanger. It’s miraculous what a bit of meteorological motivation can do. There was similarly spirited striking of launch point and winch operations.
A nice day of a tricky week of weather (Mark Courtney)
By 5pm everyone was back in the dry and warm clubhouse reflecting on 1hr 46 mins of flying on a day that at one point had looked like a total washout. No soaring flights, but everyone was very grateful for being able to take to the skies, and also to be a part of such an excellent course. Louise being a very recent joiner was able to build her flying experience. Friday also produce her first simulated launch failure, so on that flight she was whooping on the way down as well as up. Sean and James were able to consolidate pre-solo progress with some concentrated flying - something that’s proved very difficult given the past winter’s weather. Mike and Sandy very ably responded to the challenging conditions, with Sandy having her yellow card signed off. Tony was able to apply his significant power experience to his relatively new adventures in gliding.
As gliders were being launched on Friday, a large cloud was forming over Exeter. By the afternoon a massive anvil shaped cumulus was rearing up and gradually obliterating the view westwards. At 1500 feet above ground, bands of rain could be seen sweeping in from the east. At one point it seemed uncanny that North Hill remained dry. It was a reminder that we take flight at the weather’s indulgence.
Our sport (passion? obsession?) is entirely dependent on air masses from which we can sip a tiny fraction of energy. The day after our course finished was international Earth Day, an annual event first held on 22nd April 1970 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Just as we are taught to never assume the cable will hold during a winch launch, we take a safe and stable climate for granted at our peril.
A big thank you to our Course Instructors Mark Courtney and Steve Westlake and the Couse Helpers Dave Perriam, Ashley Thomas and Paul Summers. - James Dyke
