There was a reasonably sizable, and optimistic gathering in the clubhouse today despite some initial low cloud, and who were most likely all motivated by the prospect of the half sunny skies and thermals forecast for later in the day. Unfortunately for whatever reason - temperature not quite high enough, wind a bit slack and not quite from the right (or left) direction, Relative Humidity a percentage or two high - the cloudbase struggled throughout the morning to get above 500ft above North Hill.
Not that all was lost. - In preparation for Competition Enterprise next week Team Johns de-rigged and trailered 711. (A decision they could well regret come Thursday if the current RASP forecast is to be believed!) And LRD's rudder deflection asymmetry was attended to and corrected. Looks like it had possibly been set-up for a pilot with a right leg half inch longer than their left leg :)
Come the afternoon the cloud base had managed to lift to 1,500ft allowing for a few aerotows. Team JDD, also in preparation for Competition Enterprise, managed a couple of launches to successfully tease out the last of their control panel upgrade gremlins.
Not that all was lost. - In preparation for Competition Enterprise next week Team Johns de-rigged and trailered 711. (A decision they could well regret come Thursday if the current RASP forecast is to be believed!) And LRD's rudder deflection asymmetry was attended to and corrected. Looks like it had possibly been set-up for a pilot with a right leg half inch longer than their left leg :)
Come the afternoon the cloud base had managed to lift to 1,500ft allowing for a few aerotows. Team JDD, also in preparation for Competition Enterprise, managed a couple of launches to successfully tease out the last of their control panel upgrade gremlins.
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| Blue Eagle flies again after the M5 incident (Ron Johns) |
And most notably the blue Eagle gracefully took to the skies again ably flown by JB with P2s Chris Woodward and Ian Mitchell (not both at the same time!) now resurrected, as it were, from the ashes of it's M5 'incident' a couple of years ago. Just shy of about a half hour of flying followed by the best part of 20 manhours and a lot of huffing and puffing to de-rig it and put it in its trailer :) Beers were on the Chairman as reward for all those that hung around to help. Proof if ever there was that you can still have a productive and enjoyable day at North Hill - even if there isn't much flying to be had. - Shaun Dayman
(ed: Competition Enterprise starts on Saturday 5 July at Aston Down - and you can follow all our members taking part on Glide and Seek )
