On Monday morning Chris, the local pro instructor, had us scrabbling for the gliders when we saw that he had set up the field with the winch on the western edge of the field. However the early exploration of Bishop found nothing but sink. Later in the day, after the wind had veered to the east, the warm sunny conditions sparked some blue thermals which were enjoyed by most of the expeditionary force. Peter Gaywood and JB managed to climb to the dizzy heights of 2500' in the DG505.
Tales from North of the Haggis Curtain. 9th April
Portmoak Expedition April 2010
The rest of the group arrived on saturday afternoon
and after a bit of minor panic when many realised that they had left copies of their medical certificates behind, Simon Leeson kindly came to the rescue and emailed copies for those that needed saving.
Sunday dawned with a bright sky and an easterly wind, which meant that gliders were rigged after a leisurely breakfast before committing aviation in the form of circuit bashing. Clive and Nick flew the Oly for the first time and the grins were indeed cheesy.
And just to rub it in.
Sunday 11th April
The north easterly wind was a little stronger today, and it was certainly cooler - no short sleeves out today! Strong blue thermals at times surrounded by vast areas of strong sink, but if you were lucky and caught one off the top of the launch, it was soarable throughout the day. Wave was in evidence all around but could not be contacted. Henry completed his Cross country endorsement flying with Simon to The Park. Welcome to a new member Jeff and his Mosquito from Eaglescott. A quieter day with 37 launches, 16 members and 5 private gliders flown.
Any news from up North?
Any news from up North?
Saturday 10th April
A gentle north easterly and anticyclonic haze greeted the masses who had seen the previous two days good conditions. Not to be, only sparse soaring through the morning but a good session for check flights and circuit training. At around lunchtime a wind shift to south easterly heralded the incoming sea breeze which provided a couple of hours of soaring for those who could stay with its relentless march northwards, the visibility within the frontal air was awful. The air behind it was completely dead. Training continued until quite late. 73 flights, 31 members, 8 private gliders flew.
Thursday 8th April
Well that's what a spring day used to be like!
Yesterday's cold front cleared away and following a coldish night leaving fog in the Exe Valley, there was a bright start and eventually thermals reached 4000ft above site in the light NNE wind. The bright morning brought an early start to proceedings with the hangar being emptied early and 10 private gliders being rigged. Flying started about 11:00am, with serious soaring almost immediately. Tasks were set throughout Devon and Dorset, however the sea air blew in across Somerset effectively cutting us off from the rest of the world.
JB (KJW) flew along the sea-breeze front to Dorchester and back with completely blue sky either side. Joe A (JZG) had a scenic tour of Exmoor.
Welcome to new members Dave, and Dave from trial lessons and Chris from Air Cadets at Chivenor. Is it a Thursday record with 26 members flying?
The Buzzards were out in force enjoying the day and the first pair of Swallows are back (a week early).
Yesterday's cold front cleared away and following a coldish night leaving fog in the Exe Valley, there was a bright start and eventually thermals reached 4000ft above site in the light NNE wind. The bright morning brought an early start to proceedings with the hangar being emptied early and 10 private gliders being rigged. Flying started about 11:00am, with serious soaring almost immediately. Tasks were set throughout Devon and Dorset, however the sea air blew in across Somerset effectively cutting us off from the rest of the world.
JB (KJW) flew along the sea-breeze front to Dorchester and back with completely blue sky either side. Joe A (JZG) had a scenic tour of Exmoor.
Welcome to new members Dave, and Dave from trial lessons and Chris from Air Cadets at Chivenor. Is it a Thursday record with 26 members flying?
The Buzzards were out in force enjoying the day and the first pair of Swallows are back (a week early).
Wednesday 7th April
After a cloudy start the day started well with the first two flights in the K21s staying up in thermals, during the morning the NNW wind picked up and made it harder to contact the lift due to the severe turbulence from the curlover.
After lunch gliders started reaching the lift again and some good thermic flights followed with cloud base reaching 3000ft.
Ernie continued his half cat training with Pete H and Pete W was getting the DG 505 and the Junior ready for the trip this weekend to Portmoak. - J St
After lunch gliders started reaching the lift again and some good thermic flights followed with cloud base reaching 3000ft.
Ernie continued his half cat training with Pete H and Pete W was getting the DG 505 and the Junior ready for the trip this weekend to Portmoak. - J St
Easter Sunday 4th April
Frontal clearance overnight with a developing ridge behind gave a fine start, the wind was stronger than expected giving a particularly cold feel on the field. The ridge was kicking off thermals with tantalising wave bars at times. The task of the day was Tiverton - Yeovil Res (with some exploration to find wave before they set off. Pete (230), Simon (SM) and John P (H5) completed the task, Joe D (703) made a valiant attempt leaving after the others but landed near TP2. Meanwhile local conditions got better and better with gusty strong climbs to 3300ft QFE lasting until after 6:00pm. Jimbob (KHA) and John B (M5)also had long flights staying local. Most training flights were ~1 hour in the afternoon, and there was 1 trial lesson. 28 members flew and there were 8 private gliders and 5 club gliders.
Saturday 3rd April
The day started with heavy rain, in the club house the Splice girls were in action! Cheryl and H turned their hand to splicing the winch rope as did lots of other members thanks to their teachers! Then guess what? - out came the sun again - the members who turned up enjoyed aerotows until about 5.30pm, Cheryl did aerobatics with Mark, Martin did his own in the Junior. Richard's caravan is at last dead! Thanks to all those who turned out again.- MC
Good Friday 2nd April
The day started wet and blustery as expected, and Bronze lectures on airspace, altimetry and navigation were enjoyed by Cheryl, Paul S and Jimbob. At 2:00pm the sun came out and although the field was very wet, aerotowing by Ian was possible, Mark, Mike, John and Steve instructed. The Davies family doubled the number of pupils, and Robin St returned for his first flight this year. Extended flights were had by all in thermals to 3000ft, a bit of ridge lift and some weak wave. Paul did some Bronze C checks with Mark in DG505.
Richard continued to re-design his caravan and Lisa was giving guided tours of her new ASW 20.
PS Have you checked out the new DSGC Google group yet? - subscribe via the DSGC website members page.
Richard continued to re-design his caravan and Lisa was giving guided tours of her new ASW 20.
PS Have you checked out the new DSGC Google group yet? - subscribe via the DSGC website members page.
Thursday 1st April
No Fools here!
A lovely sunny start and the first possible flying day for the Instructors' preparation training this week and it was a soarable Thursday! Soaring in thermals from the first launch and then later the cloud became more overcast the wind increased and backed southerly and it became quite gusty. John and Ernie had 2 aerotows each for their spin/stall training with JB, and the Thursday regulars were joined by Max, Will, Dylan and Rhodri - junior members on Easter hols. Conditions got fairly rough with +/- 10 knots at times to 3300ft above site but the South ridge started working late on. Robin in JPT enjoyed 2 hours flying.
As a measure of just how bad this winter weather has been, this Thursday was only the ninth flying Thursday in the six months since 1st October. However don't give up hope - Robert's stats in the Clubhouse show that in any given year since 2002 there has always been one good month in the summer.
A lovely sunny start and the first possible flying day for the Instructors' preparation training this week and it was a soarable Thursday! Soaring in thermals from the first launch and then later the cloud became more overcast the wind increased and backed southerly and it became quite gusty. John and Ernie had 2 aerotows each for their spin/stall training with JB, and the Thursday regulars were joined by Max, Will, Dylan and Rhodri - junior members on Easter hols. Conditions got fairly rough with +/- 10 knots at times to 3300ft above site but the South ridge started working late on. Robin in JPT enjoyed 2 hours flying.
As a measure of just how bad this winter weather has been, this Thursday was only the ninth flying Thursday in the six months since 1st October. However don't give up hope - Robert's stats in the Clubhouse show that in any given year since 2002 there has always been one good month in the summer.
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