The members at North Hill today had their optimism and patience suitably rewarded. After an email late yesterday from Mike suggesting that flying might be possible (but with a number of whether / weather caveats) it was always going to be a day when the rain from the last week or so might leave the airfield unusable and whether the forecast rain today would arrive and when, and finally whether the wind strength and direction would thwart any plans to get into the air. An early look at the airfield indicated that, surprisingly, the airfield was useable for aerotowing provided suitable care was taken with take off and landing runs, and with wheel brake usage to be very cautious.
The field was usable for aerotows (Mark Layton)
Mark Courtney was soon heading down to get the EuroFox ready for continued focus around it’s integration into the Club fleet, meanwhile both K21s were brought out of the hangar. No sooner was everything ready to go the first of the showers arrived which delayed the first flight, but mid-morning the Pawnee was soon getting the first of several aerotows underway.
New toy getting wet ! (Mark Layton)
With Ian Mitchell then arriving the EuroFox was able to be brought into use - Chris Wool and Peter Smith firstly taking a K21 on tow behind Ian and Mark to establish ‘what good and not so good looks like’ so that the relevant learnings can be shared with DSGC Instructors. And in and amongst breaks for showers the flying continued with the EuroFox taking Chris and Peter for another opportunity to explore the do and do nots when flying behind our new tug.
Eurofox ready (Mike Sloggett)
During the afternoon Mark Layton became the first solo pilot to be signed off for EuroFox aerotows and everyone present, who wanted to, got into the air - with misting canopies and more flying completed today than anyone had anticipated it was decided to put everything away.
A good day's flying (Mike Sloggett)
The wind strength and probable thermal/wave rotor made for interesting climb outs to the West and in turn circuits and landings in what were evidently (very) Blue Card conditions - not quite the weather for trying out the EuroFox in some ways but on other hand today may just have been the right conditions! - Mike Sloggett
