A sunny, blue sky fresh start, but before very long there was total spreadout - quite high, with occasional soarable cumulus beneath. The wind was not particularly strong, nor in the best direction but the ridge did seem to keep going, well sort of, all day.
Quite a few members got crosswind circuit practice with a turbulent approach - all good character building stuff.
A number of tourists visited to brighten up their holidays with a Trial Lesson, and the Pinhoe Scouts had an Evening Group session just as the spreadout broke to give a glorious evening and a sky full of lenticulars.
Wednesday 11th August
With a good forecast for today we started with a huge flying list and rather a lot of spreadout. In addition to the normal club members, there were 2 booked trial lessons and a large number of walk-in visitors to fly plus two pilots from Aston Down, we managed to get through the list with Mike, Ernie, Pete W, JS, Lisa and Martin lending a hand.
In the afternoon, the streets sorted themselves out, and Matt (477) Pete (230), Andrew (K6), Peter (DG1), JB (KJW) Pete & Jill (OL) and Martin & Stu with their new LS3 - all had long flights, Matt was showing off his artwork on the nose of his Cirrus, JB & Pete & Jill went to the seaside north of Barnstaple.
Both Juniors were airborne all day, Tim had a 3hr flight in one of them, the day ended with another evening group from Devon Youth Service.
In the afternoon, the streets sorted themselves out, and Matt (477) Pete (230), Andrew (K6), Peter (DG1), JB (KJW) Pete & Jill (OL) and Martin & Stu with their new LS3 - all had long flights, Matt was showing off his artwork on the nose of his Cirrus, JB & Pete & Jill went to the seaside north of Barnstaple.
Both Juniors were airborne all day, Tim had a 3hr flight in one of them, the day ended with another evening group from Devon Youth Service.
Sunday 8th August
A good forecast promised much, but a huge patch of high cloud covering most of the peninsula left the cross country pilots feeling very frustrated while he rest of the country had a good day. It was a busy day for the few instructors on the field with Club training, booked trial lessons and holiday makers visiting to see what happens at a gliding club.
There was a little soaring under the darker bits of the cloud cover and John St completed his 5 year refresher training with Pete.
There was a little soaring under the darker bits of the cloud cover and John St completed his 5 year refresher training with Pete.
Friday 6th August
Final Course day
A wet & foggy start - Chris gave a talk on circuit planning, JSt spent most of the morning changing the cables on the Skylaunch with help from Eddy, Tim, Richard and Ian.
After lunch the sun came out and we all had a good afternoon flying the West ridge, we finished flying at 6.30pm tired but happy after a very successful course.
Thanks to Chris & John for instructing and the ground helpers as above.
A wet & foggy start - Chris gave a talk on circuit planning, JSt spent most of the morning changing the cables on the Skylaunch with help from Eddy, Tim, Richard and Ian.
After lunch the sun came out and we all had a good afternoon flying the West ridge, we finished flying at 6.30pm tired but happy after a very successful course.
Thanks to Chris & John for instructing and the ground helpers as above.
Thursday 5th August
Quite a cloudy start but plenty high enough for flying to begin and the course members getting in plenty of circuits. It was a busy day with the course, a lot of Club flying, Trial lessons and holiday visitors to entertain.
The cloud broke around mid-day and it became easily soarable to 4000ft until late afternoon, although it did get a bit rough low down at times.
The winch launching rope is getting a bit tired and a lot of time was lost splicing the breaks.
In the evening, course members and helpers indulged ourselves at the Keepers Cottage, thanks to Nick R for supplying the wine, Jim B was awarded a prize for daring to wear the shirt he was wearing on Eggheads.
An Evening Group from the Devon Youth Service had a good flying evening of Trial lessons in much gentler conditions, but still providing lift to extend the flights considerably.
The cloud broke around mid-day and it became easily soarable to 4000ft until late afternoon, although it did get a bit rough low down at times.
The winch launching rope is getting a bit tired and a lot of time was lost splicing the breaks.
In the evening, course members and helpers indulged ourselves at the Keepers Cottage, thanks to Nick R for supplying the wine, Jim B was awarded a prize for daring to wear the shirt he was wearing on Eggheads.
An Evening Group from the Devon Youth Service had a good flying evening of Trial lessons in much gentler conditions, but still providing lift to extend the flights considerably.
Wednesday 4th August
Foggy this morning with a light southerly wind, looked like it was clearing so we got everything ready and had an early lunch after some lectures on thermalling and flying the sea-breeze front(practical yesterday). All course members had good soaring flights in very rough conditions, with instructor input for take-off and landings in the strong, gusty north-westerly. Pete (230) and Matt (477) were looking for the wave.
An evening of trial lessons hoping for slightly less rough conditions.- JSt
An evening of trial lessons hoping for slightly less rough conditions.- JSt
Tuesday 3rd August
A mixed day today, good circuit practice, stopped early for lunch today due to a light shower,in the afternoon a sea breeze front set in and all course members sampled long soaring flights in it,we also had ridge and thermal lift. - JSt
Monday 2nd August
Course Week - first day.
The fantastic forcast turned out to be just that.
We had a full course, Nic,Jim (who was on Eggheads on BBC 2 today), Ray, and Robin who are club members and Bill who is a new Quarterly member and Jeff who is on his first visit to NHL. Eddie, Ian and Tim are the helping on the ground.
Mike and Barbie are here, as are Richard and Nick H, Dick S and Jean turned up later.
A Grob 109 visited from Lasham.
Exeter airport ATC made an irate call to NHL that a glider was flying over the centre line of their runway, it was not one of ours so we could do nothing.
All course members had good soaring flights, we did 39 flights with over 10hrs soaring to a cloud base which rose to 4,000ft. - JS.
The fantastic forcast turned out to be just that.
We had a full course, Nic,Jim (who was on Eggheads on BBC 2 today), Ray, and Robin who are club members and Bill who is a new Quarterly member and Jeff who is on his first visit to NHL. Eddie, Ian and Tim are the helping on the ground.
Mike and Barbie are here, as are Richard and Nick H, Dick S and Jean turned up later.
A Grob 109 visited from Lasham.
Exeter airport ATC made an irate call to NHL that a glider was flying over the centre line of their runway, it was not one of ours so we could do nothing.
All course members had good soaring flights, we did 39 flights with over 10hrs soaring to a cloud base which rose to 4,000ft. - JS.
Sunday 1st August
The bonfire was still going. The aftermath of Cheryl and Steph's party was tidied and flying started mid morning.
Mike has been working hard to fix the gearbox in our LPV. While it's offline the Disco has been standing in as a makeshift LPV. Mike and Barbie had the longest flight at 46 minutes in KEK. Generally overcast for most of the day with longer flights having found the odd thermal to get away from the ridge. Heather progresses well with her landings and Harry continued with his red card checks late into the evening.
The leftover food from last night was consumed in the evening with several of the regulars.
Mike has been working hard to fix the gearbox in our LPV. While it's offline the Disco has been standing in as a makeshift LPV. Mike and Barbie had the longest flight at 46 minutes in KEK. Generally overcast for most of the day with longer flights having found the odd thermal to get away from the ridge. Heather progresses well with her landings and Harry continued with his red card checks late into the evening.
The leftover food from last night was consumed in the evening with several of the regulars.
Saturday 31st July
Pretty flat all day, ridge working low down. The odd thermal kicking off to
1700 ft but with 7/8 cover you'd be lucky getting away from the ridge.
Supacat winch giving reliable launches. Arthur reconverted to Junior after 18 months out of it. Congratulations to Rowan on passing the Bronze papers and completing field landing checks with Ian in the Falke.
Thanks to all the members who helped the Chairman sort out the Skylaunch ironwork.
The day rounded off with Cheryl and Steph's Birthday BBQ and a flying visit from Mike & Barbie in the Cub en-route from Eggesford to Watchford Farm after an Auster fly-in.
1700 ft but with 7/8 cover you'd be lucky getting away from the ridge.
Supacat winch giving reliable launches. Arthur reconverted to Junior after 18 months out of it. Congratulations to Rowan on passing the Bronze papers and completing field landing checks with Ian in the Falke.
Thanks to all the members who helped the Chairman sort out the Skylaunch ironwork.
The day rounded off with Cheryl and Steph's Birthday BBQ and a flying visit from Mike & Barbie in the Cub en-route from Eggesford to Watchford Farm after an Auster fly-in.
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