Another good March day! the thermals started before 10am and lasted until 5.00pm the fresh north north-westerly cross-wind made for some interesting flying, particularly on the aerotow climbout over the ridge. Our three newish members Wynn, Rod and Dylan all had their first taste of thermal soaring.
Cloud base was 4500ft above site with strong thermals, JSt and Rowan found weak wave over Wellington Monument. Rowan's mother had a Mother's day trial lesson and was quickly whisked to 3000ft, many gliders had flights of more than 2hours, John P managed 5 hours in H5.
All the club gliders plus six p/o gliders had 56 launches, Matt started his B/I training in the K13 with Simon M, at the end of the day the K13 was derigged ready for its annual inspection. - JSt
Saturday 13th March
What a lovely soarable March day - and North Hill was open! and all the gliders were serviceable.
The wind started off west of North but by lunchtime we had to change ends for the easterly component, and by mid-afternoon it changed back again. It was lovely to see all the private gliders out after the winter gloom. The north westerly streets gave plenty of very small thermals to 2500ft until late-on when the street towards Honiton firmed up into a continuous line of lift. Martin went to Minehead in the Ventus, Joe went to Taunton in the K13, the rest of us stayed local. 31 members enjoyed 51 winch launches and aerotows. There were 9 flights of 2-4 hours and 5 flights over 1 hour.
In the evening we celebrated Graham's birthday with a Chilli party.
The wind started off west of North but by lunchtime we had to change ends for the easterly component, and by mid-afternoon it changed back again. It was lovely to see all the private gliders out after the winter gloom. The north westerly streets gave plenty of very small thermals to 2500ft until late-on when the street towards Honiton firmed up into a continuous line of lift. Martin went to Minehead in the Ventus, Joe went to Taunton in the K13, the rest of us stayed local. 31 members enjoyed 51 winch launches and aerotows. There were 9 flights of 2-4 hours and 5 flights over 1 hour.
In the evening we celebrated Graham's birthday with a Chilli party.
Thursday 11th March
A slow start as we did not have the correct oil to top up the new winch, but once that was sorted we were launching into a 10kt easterly wind that was significantly warmer than of late, but still cold. There were some scruffy looking cumulus around, with lift underneath, soarable to cloudbase about 2500' agl. Around lunch time the clouds cleared, and the lift became allusive and then dissappeared completely with the incoming veil of high cloud ahead of tonight's front. A reasonably pleasant day out, everyone flew, its getting better.
Wednesday 10th March
The run of very cold NE wind continues, there was a bit of thermal activity around midday with a few extended flights, the Skylaunch training continues.
Ernest had a 4000ft tow with Mike F as part of his half cat training.
We are looking forward to warmer weather this weekend.
Ernest had a 4000ft tow with Mike F as part of his half cat training.
We are looking forward to warmer weather this weekend.
Sunday 7th March
A completely cloudless sky provided some warmth in the sun, provided that you could hide from the relentless icy easterly wind. This wind did nothing for the soaring at North Hill, but on the other side of Dartmoor, the locals were reaching 10,000' straight off the winch launch, including our own Steve who was helping out with their instructing. He had two training flights to 10,000' and back, and whilst attempting a third the entry to the wave collapsed. Faced with a marginal return to the site he took the safe option and landed out in a local field.
see Brentor blog http://www.dartmoorgliding.blogspot.com
Meanwhile it was a busy day at North Hill, with probably a third of our membership on the field sometime during the day. Experience with the borrowed Skylaunch winch continued, Martin (from Brentor)had his Instructor rating renewed by Simon M. and Muggles had his annual BI checks. Max enjoyed a birthday treat of aerobatics. One visitor braved the cold for a trial lesson. 59 winch launches and 5 aerotows in total.
see Brentor blog http://www.dartmoorgliding.blogspot.com
Meanwhile it was a busy day at North Hill, with probably a third of our membership on the field sometime during the day. Experience with the borrowed Skylaunch winch continued, Martin (from Brentor)had his Instructor rating renewed by Simon M. and Muggles had his annual BI checks. Max enjoyed a birthday treat of aerobatics. One visitor braved the cold for a trial lesson. 59 winch launches and 5 aerotows in total.
Thursday 4th March
Similar Met map as yesterday, except the wind backed a little to the north east and as it did so the air dried out and by mid afternoon the sky was cloudless. Quite warm in the sun, but a very cold wind.
But what's this? bump, bump, funny noise from instrument panel, altimeter is going the wrong way. Yes, it's a thermal, and on a later landing we disturb a pair of skylarks out of the grass - perhaps, just perhaps, this awful winter is over.
But what's this? bump, bump, funny noise from instrument panel, altimeter is going the wrong way. Yes, it's a thermal, and on a later landing we disturb a pair of skylarks out of the grass - perhaps, just perhaps, this awful winter is over.
Wednesday 3rd March
The cold weather continues with a strong S/E wind and complete high cloud cover, after a battle to extract members from the comforts of the clubhouse we started flying with some execeptionly good launches on the Skylaunch (highest was Clive with 1850ft! not bad with the shortest cable run).
We welcomed back Richard B. who has re-joined the club, Joe test flew the tug and all now seems well after a change of plugs. - JSt
We welcomed back Richard B. who has re-joined the club, Joe test flew the tug and all now seems well after a change of plugs. - JSt
Spring has sprung?
After four months of snow, rain and strong winds it does appear that the weather is changing, presenting us with a wry observation on the first week of the soaring season.
Good streeting thermals have been reported on both the Mynd and Nympsfield blogs and cross-countries, one over 300kms, have been posted on the National Ladder. The good days were last Friday and Monday, Tuesday and next Friday also look possibly good. Between these days we have Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday - the days that North Hill is normally open for flying!
Are we beginning to see a trend here already - let's hope it's only a blip in the weather pattern!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good streeting thermals have been reported on both the Mynd and Nympsfield blogs and cross-countries, one over 300kms, have been posted on the National Ladder. The good days were last Friday and Monday, Tuesday and next Friday also look possibly good. Between these days we have Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday - the days that North Hill is normally open for flying!
Are we beginning to see a trend here already - let's hope it's only a blip in the weather pattern!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday 28th February
For those who believed the weather forecast - shame on you, for those who went home early - even more shame.
Wyn and Dylan were late arrivals who managed to squeeze into the queue.
The morning was taken up with Bronze lectures, the few (8) who remained were treated to a fantastic afternoon ridge running in the west north westerly.
James and Henry flew the Juniors with a total time between them of nearly 2 hours, airbraking down when the cold finally bit.
Flying continued until the last landing around 18:10.
Mark had an hour with Les winch training, with Dave W being cleared. -Henry, Mark, James
Wyn and Dylan were late arrivals who managed to squeeze into the queue.
The morning was taken up with Bronze lectures, the few (8) who remained were treated to a fantastic afternoon ridge running in the west north westerly.
James and Henry flew the Juniors with a total time between them of nearly 2 hours, airbraking down when the cold finally bit.
Flying continued until the last landing around 18:10.
Mark had an hour with Les winch training, with Dave W being cleared. -Henry, Mark, James
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