Eight am and the ground vehicles were out and being checked and the flying lists filled in. Eventually, the clubhouse filled up with the Wednesday regulars and even some from Thursdays and other days, pre-empting the possible forecast thunderstorms.
Three instructors, Peter Smith, Glen Turpin and Steve Westlake presented the 9:30 briefing with a not-terribly-encouraging weather forecast, then urged on their customers and soon the 4 club two-seaters and 2 Juniors were lined up in a very impressive group at the West end, joined by the Club Eurofox and a Falke.
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| Club grid ready (Ashley Thomas) |
It was hot and got hotter: no shade meant water and sun protection was essential, and to be honest, it was a bit debilitating. At least the cable retrieve truck had aircon !
Winch launches were basically up, around and down with the exception of Nick Johnson, 55 mins. and Sandy Harrap at 65 minutes and 3750 ft., and of course the aerotows who were able to pick and choose their setting -off points.and achieved better times.
Only a couple of private gliders joined in. I think they were waiting for better omens, and Simon Jordy took a couple of trial flight visitors.
Winch launches were basically up, around and down with the exception of Nick Johnson, 55 mins. and Sandy Harrap at 65 minutes and 3750 ft., and of course the aerotows who were able to pick and choose their setting -off points.and achieved better times.
Only a couple of private gliders joined in. I think they were waiting for better omens, and Simon Jordy took a couple of trial flight visitors.
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| Trial lesson visitor Chris Phillips (Lisa Humphries) |
We managed, in an unpromising day, 35 winch launches and 15 aerotows.
A family, visiting after a cafe treat, were given a tour of the Perkoz, and Bertie, “I am 6, not 5”, thought it would be cool to go at 100 miles an hour. “So that’s how you get in,” and considered that eight years to wait to fly solo was not too long to wait.
Everything was packed up by 1800 hrs and the last few members drifted off home after a bit of a wind-down chat. Jonathan Eskine (first-time blogger)
