Another decent day, but slow to get soarable, DI James Flory ran the day with Simon Minson helping out and Chris Warnes and Dan Hender looking after the Trial lesson visitors and Family and friends flights.
The big news was on serviceabilities, - for the Club Eurofox, following a visit from the Rotax Engineer, and various investigations and disassemblies, a new gearbox was fitted as a precaution and G-GNHL is back up and running, Stu Procter and James Flory shared the towing today.
G-GNHL back flying (Library picture)
Also thanks to the volunteers who had sorted the fuel tank on the cable retrieve Disco during the week, and the rudder adjustment on DG505 has also been fixed.
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| SM admiring the sky (Simon Minson) |
Stu Procter and James Hood flew the Cub to the Devon Strut flyin at neighbouring Farway Common.
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| R151 at Farway Common (Stuart Procter) |
Once the sky started working properly, Pete Startup led the cross-country effort with 2 * Club 100s and Simon Minson SM and Stewart Henshall HMS sticking to 1 * Club 100. Other private owners enjoying local soaring, including Shaun Dayman having converted to DG200. - J&P
230
"Another day of late clearance and slow to get going. Was never going to get round original set task so did the 2 club 100's back to back - it's easier to put it on the ladder as one undeclared flight rather than 2 'declared' Club 100's. With SM and HMS for the Westbound lap. When the thermals got going they were very broken indeed(tumble dryer flying), difficult to core and stay in. As always of course there were a few corkers about. Not sure why it was like this, the wind was only about 12kts." - Pete Startup
SM
"Afternoon trip around one of our club 100's, after a morning of instructing ! Sky looked great, but proved difficult to read, with tight and rough cores. Another late start for the conditions to kick in." - Simon Minson
HMS
"Well this was a little unexpected.. The day was very overcast to start but always promised to improve, despite a brisk Westerly. By mid afternoon it was clear it was working, and a quick climb suggested a club 100 might be on. A good street upwind to Knowstone helped, but further West conditions were significantly worse, a lower base and tiny, shredded thermals.
There was never any hope of any speed, it was just an attritional battle to get round, and patience delivered. It took ages to get away from Knowstone, and the turn at North Tawton delivered a far closer than desired view of the village :) . A long, slow climb on the last leg followed - but at least in the right direction.
Almost inevitably it was not until I was on Final Glide that I ran into a decent 6 kt thermal !
Anyway a good run out for HMS.. Lovely views of Devon." - Stewart Henshall
