In gliding there are a number of variable ingredients necessary to achieve a good day’s flying including serviceable gliders, good weather and enough instructors and members with sufficient enthusiasm to fly. Today we had them all but just not quite as needed to make for a perfect day of gliding - however enough ingredients to get some flights in to maintain/regain currency. (Thanks to Ian for the speedy turnround of HCX Annual and for the team who rigged it yesterday).
That we got any gliding in at all was down to the perseverance of those present with a great deal of patience as ever needed, and plenty of warm clothing in the chilly conditions. The forecast suggested flying might be possible as the day unfolded but with the dew point and forecast humidity levels indicating that low cloudbase might be one of the key factors to get in the way of our optimistic plans for the day.
Orographic cloud appearing (Mike Sloggett)
And just as we were thinking about getting the gliders out low cloud, specifically orographic, appeared eerily from the South, as someone commented ‘a bit like The Fog film’ - fortunately nothing scary appeared out of the gloom but the cloud did delay the start of flying. And then almost as soon as it had arrived the orographic cloud disappeared allowing the first flights of the day to get into the air.
Wispy orographic (Mike Sloggett)
The day then saw us slowly get through the flying list in and amongst further bands of orographic cloud resulting in further delay in the winch launches - not that anyone minded the opportunity to return to the Clubhouse for warm food and drinks.
The last flight of the day saw Mark Courtney encourage Ashley Thomas to fly from the back seat of a K21.
Mark Courtney with Ashley in the back seat (Mike Sloggett)
A good day of teamwork to get everyone into the air at least once, with currency maintained or regained suitably. And in the DSGC Simulator, we now have more realistic spinning and other traffic to watch out for (ghosts) - thanks to the team of Stewart, Connor and Kevin. - Mike Sloggett
