From the forecast we did expect to get at least a morning's flying, but the low cloud and rain was four hours early and set in for the day at about ten o'clock. So the tea pot was kept warm through the spinning theory, aided by experiences from Ian who did his first spinning last week. Then a look at the excellent BGA Safe Winch Launching web pages.
We entertained the Trial Lesson candidate and his friends to a chat about gliding and a tour of the hangar, and probably sold three more Trial Lessons. Some local walkers brought three friends from New Zealand for a Clubhouse lunch, hoping to see some activity. No luck there but they also got a guided walk through the hangar.
A productive Instructor's meeting occupied the whole evening.
Wednesday 15th July
It was actually soarable today!
OK, so it was a bit desperate with only feeble thermals to about 2,000' and the odd spot of drizzle but more than we expected looking at the sky this mornng.
All the available Club gliders were in use and 3 or 4 private gliders were out.
It looks like the weather will have stayed ok for the evening group.
OK, so it was a bit desperate with only feeble thermals to about 2,000' and the odd spot of drizzle but more than we expected looking at the sky this mornng.
All the available Club gliders were in use and 3 or 4 private gliders were out.
It looks like the weather will have stayed ok for the evening group.
Sunday 12th July
The day started out grey and the cloudbase was low, the first flight was dodging in and out of the low cloud restricting the amount of gliders airborne to one. Once the cloud broke and lifted we commenced flying as normal. The day progressed into a very nice local soaring day - at about 11am it started to pop and gliders were staying up for 15/20 minutes. After lunch it really started to go and the thermals broke to around 4000ft QFE, despite the rainy convergence not far to the south, throughout the afternoon. This continued until around 7pm where the same faces stayed to actually pack the stuff away!
Well done to John Sillett on getting his BI! He spent the weekend in the classroom and the K13 doing all his flight tests and now needs to have a flight with the CFI JB to make sure he is happy with everything. Many thanks to Tony Parker, the BI Coach from Aston Down. - Jimbob
Well done to John Sillett on getting his BI! He spent the weekend in the classroom and the K13 doing all his flight tests and now needs to have a flight with the CFI JB to make sure he is happy with everything. Many thanks to Tony Parker, the BI Coach from Aston Down. - Jimbob
Friday 10th July Course Review
With ages ranging from 16 to 83, the second course of the year was an example of how truly inclusive the sport of gliding can be. The weather was varied, with a prevailing north westerly wind, and the changing cloud cover patterns that usually accompany it. Gliding was possible every day, and some reasonable soaring on the first four days. Ray Rimes re-soloed and converted to the Junior, and Mark Wallis achieved a first solo! - well done both. The other members made excellent progress, and all hope to continue flying. Thanks to instructors, designated ground crew and other club members who took the time to help around the launch point. - Wendy
Thursday 9th July
Strong and gusty northerly wind, which somehow kept the west facing ridge sort of working and broken thermals low down, but once above 1500'ish they were OK. Spreadout kept cycling.
A lot of new members arrived for training, Thursday regulars wanting spin and aerotow checks now that the Pawnee is back, and solo pilots flying Club and private gliders. Quite a busy Club day alongside the course.
The Evening Group, from Cruwys Morchard and Met Office, arrived just in time for the sky to open up to give a glorious evening with 50Km+ visibility from the top of the launch, and gentle 1-2 knot lift everywhere.
A lot of new members arrived for training, Thursday regulars wanting spin and aerotow checks now that the Pawnee is back, and solo pilots flying Club and private gliders. Quite a busy Club day alongside the course.
The Evening Group, from Cruwys Morchard and Met Office, arrived just in time for the sky to open up to give a glorious evening with 50Km+ visibility from the top of the launch, and gentle 1-2 knot lift everywhere.
Wednesday 8th July
A strong 15kt north westerly kept the ridge working well all day, and brought the decent thermals through at a reasonable pace. Cloudbase reached 4500'QNH, but 20+kt winds at height and obvious wave interference progress upwind was a bit tricky. There were plenty of long soaring flights but no cross-countries.
With all this soaring today's Club flying did not really interfere too much with the course. At times the entire fleet and several private owners were airborne together. JB has returned from his holidays and was immediated put to work running John and Lisa through their BI training.
The day concluded with another Evening Group, having extended trial lessons on the ridge and remaining thermals.
With all this soaring today's Club flying did not really interfere too much with the course. At times the entire fleet and several private owners were airborne together. JB has returned from his holidays and was immediated put to work running John and Lisa through their BI training.
The day concluded with another Evening Group, having extended trial lessons on the ridge and remaining thermals.
Monday 6th July - Course Week
This year's second course week, with Robin and Stu instructing and Dave, Wendy and Don helping. Course members are a good mix of real ab-initios, existing members part way through training and just post solo.
Monday - it rained, but we flew between the showers.
Tuesday - a little better, and we flew all day.
Wednesday - much better, and we flew a lot more.
Thursday - weather not quite as good, but we flew again. Ray re-soloed.
Friday - the forecast rain stayed away to allow more flying.
Monday - it rained, but we flew between the showers.
Tuesday - a little better, and we flew all day.
Wednesday - much better, and we flew a lot more.
Thursday - weather not quite as good, but we flew again. Ray re-soloed.
Friday - the forecast rain stayed away to allow more flying.
Sunday 5th July
The day started with a very gentle south westerly breeze, but soon picked up to become Yellow Card all day. We started launching from the north east corner of the field with Steve Westlake and myself having the first flight of the day, this was around 0945 and it was already becoming thermic. A few trial lessons were flown round the day. It was good seeing the Pawnee busy as well, Mark Courtney and Dave Weeks wanted to challenge the Quantocks as it was a south westerly and by this time was blowing quite a bit. John Street however thought they were very optimistic and said the wind needed more south in it. However they launched and had over an hour on the hills before landing out in a field by the Wellington Monument. Joe Drury was with Pete Warren in the K13 doing spinning and aerotow training and is now solo aerotow! Well done Joe! Showers came and went as the day went on but overall a good day out! - Jimbob
Brits are 4&10, 1&3, 1,2&5 after seven days, in the three classes of the European Gliding Championships at Nitra in Slovakia. See www.pribinacup.sk/egc200
Brits are 4&10, 1&3, 1,2&5 after seven days, in the three classes of the European Gliding Championships at Nitra in Slovakia. See www.pribinacup.sk/egc200
Thursday 2nd July
Forecast for incoming thundery cold front stayed just to the west of us for the morning allowing - 4 launches - change ends - 4 launches - rain - so 8 launches better than nothing!
A good crowd of new members and trial lessons enjoyed the day. Unfortunately the evening group had to be cancelled because after the rain it fogged out!
A good crowd of new members and trial lessons enjoyed the day. Unfortunately the evening group had to be cancelled because after the rain it fogged out!
Wednesday 1st July
First, two bits of good news!
1. The tug is back in service after it's extended lay off and was kept busy all day
2. The winch settings for several gliders have been altered which will improve launches and cut down dramatically the number of weak links we were going through - I am particularly pleased with this developement!
VERY hot today and not very thermic to boot - probably due to the light Southerly drift of cooler (relative!) sea air which prevented us reaching the required trigger temperature for thermals to start.
Lisa was the only private glider to rig - went off in the Ventus but even a couple of turbo burns couldn't keep her up for long.
John Street and Mike Fitz covered the training requirements with quite a few launches being done. Top marks to these 2 guys for back-seating in the heat today.
Joe Scaife and Tim Johns finished their Bronze C spinning exercises, thanks to G-DSGC. Keith Jarvis re-soloed.
Considering the surface wind was so light, it came as a bit of a surprise when yours truly jumped into the Junior around 5pm for my weekly circuit, only to find some very weak wave on the South ridge, just enough to float up and down for over an hour at 900' to 1100' - very nice,thank you!
Colin Uncles took the strimmer along the coast to Lyme Regis sight-seeing (what a lovely day to do that), and then Joe Drury went off in it on a navex with Si Minson to the Park (for cross country endorsement) so he will know his way there when he does Silver distance, which I've got a funny feeling won't be too far off!
Pete Harmer went off in the Rotax Falke (more sight-seeing) to Teignmouth & Seaton.
The evening group from Environment Agency had ideal conditions for their flying and I'm sure they will have enjoyed it. Stuart P, Muggs and Si Min did the flying and Team Clive on ground support. Barbeque finished off the day wafting smoke through the committee meeting.
Weekend looks ok and COOLER!
1. The tug is back in service after it's extended lay off and was kept busy all day
2. The winch settings for several gliders have been altered which will improve launches and cut down dramatically the number of weak links we were going through - I am particularly pleased with this developement!
VERY hot today and not very thermic to boot - probably due to the light Southerly drift of cooler (relative!) sea air which prevented us reaching the required trigger temperature for thermals to start.
Lisa was the only private glider to rig - went off in the Ventus but even a couple of turbo burns couldn't keep her up for long.
John Street and Mike Fitz covered the training requirements with quite a few launches being done. Top marks to these 2 guys for back-seating in the heat today.
Joe Scaife and Tim Johns finished their Bronze C spinning exercises, thanks to G-DSGC. Keith Jarvis re-soloed.
Considering the surface wind was so light, it came as a bit of a surprise when yours truly jumped into the Junior around 5pm for my weekly circuit, only to find some very weak wave on the South ridge, just enough to float up and down for over an hour at 900' to 1100' - very nice,thank you!
Colin Uncles took the strimmer along the coast to Lyme Regis sight-seeing (what a lovely day to do that), and then Joe Drury went off in it on a navex with Si Minson to the Park (for cross country endorsement) so he will know his way there when he does Silver distance, which I've got a funny feeling won't be too far off!
Pete Harmer went off in the Rotax Falke (more sight-seeing) to Teignmouth & Seaton.
The evening group from Environment Agency had ideal conditions for their flying and I'm sure they will have enjoyed it. Stuart P, Muggs and Si Min did the flying and Team Clive on ground support. Barbeque finished off the day wafting smoke through the committee meeting.
Weekend looks ok and COOLER!
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