Monday 30th August
Blue with a light north-north-easterly, it didn't really get going until lunchtime, when a blue street set up along the western edge of the Blackdowns. It was there all afternoon providing consistent rescue points from explorations further afield. There was a hint of some blue wave at one point but almost as soon as Simon (SM) had announced it over the radio it disappeared. There was quite a lot of milling with some 'busy for North Hill' gaggles. There were 3 trial flights and some good training exercises for some getting close to solo.
Sunday 29th August
A cold front pushed south during the day with a good sprinkling of showers, the last being around 4pm. Strong northerly winds for most of the day made for interesting launches and approaches with several training flights during the day. Unfortunately the conditions were too tricky for the 4 trial lessons that had been booked in.
After the cold front cleared, the skies turned blue and the remaining handful of members enjoyed flights on the ridge with hints of wave.
Roly cleared his blue card checks with Simon M, despite the escaping sheep doing their best to stop him. Pete signed up Rowan's cross-country endorsement after checks with Ian yesterday. Rowan joins Paul and Jimbob waiting for the right day to do their 50kms flight.
After the cold front cleared, the skies turned blue and the remaining handful of members enjoyed flights on the ridge with hints of wave.
Roly cleared his blue card checks with Simon M, despite the escaping sheep doing their best to stop him. Pete signed up Rowan's cross-country endorsement after checks with Ian yesterday. Rowan joins Paul and Jimbob waiting for the right day to do their 50kms flight.
Saturday 28th August
James H and Paul S attempted their 50 km. Both succumbed to the strong winds and low cloud bases and landed back at NH. Plenty of long flights but with yellow card conditions all day, few solo flights were made in the Junior.
Started looking good around lunchtime but high cover killed the stronger lift for a few hours, later in the afternoon cumulus started popping again for a few longer early evening flights.
Pete(230) completed NHL-TIV-SHB with a difficult struggle back into wind.
Visit from three powered aircraft, two of which were G-RVDG (VANS RV-9) and G-BXLN (FOURNIER RF4D).
There were 5 trial lessons, a visit from Justin & Gillian and a German competition pilot. - HF
Started looking good around lunchtime but high cover killed the stronger lift for a few hours, later in the afternoon cumulus started popping again for a few longer early evening flights.
Pete(230) completed NHL-TIV-SHB with a difficult struggle back into wind.
Visit from three powered aircraft, two of which were G-RVDG (VANS RV-9) and G-BXLN (FOURNIER RF4D).
There were 5 trial lessons, a visit from Justin & Gillian and a German competition pilot. - HF
Sunday 22nd August
With a cold front in the channel sliding eastwards during the day, there was dark cloud over Exeter and along the coast. Some rain stopped play around 2pm but cleared to allow an afternoon of circuits and aerotows. Orographic cloud was present on the coast all day and some pleasant wave like patterns all around, no hint of soarable wave though. Lower Cloud started coming in around 6pm and by 7pm the trees were starting to dissapear.
29 Club members flew today, with six trial lessons and seven friends and family flights the launch point was quite busy. Longest winched flight was Richard Harris in the Junior with 41 minutes around 1pm. Cheryl re-converted to the Junior. Peter Stoker soloed in the K21.
Simon M and James H in the DG had to fly an unconventional circuit to avoid low cloud. - HRF
The best flight of the day was for Lisa when she flew this really special little lad and he loved it, Alexander age 9!
29 Club members flew today, with six trial lessons and seven friends and family flights the launch point was quite busy. Longest winched flight was Richard Harris in the Junior with 41 minutes around 1pm. Cheryl re-converted to the Junior. Peter Stoker soloed in the K21.
Simon M and James H in the DG had to fly an unconventional circuit to avoid low cloud. - HRF
The best flight of the day was for Lisa when she flew this really special little lad and he loved it, Alexander age 9!
Friday 20th August
Course week - Final day
As forecast, cloudbase below the top of the hill precluded any flying to consolidate yesterday's exercises. The day was spent in theory and discussions, with an evening trip to the Keeper's Cottage.
3½ days of good weather provided 100 launches and 20 hours flying time for Dave, Nigel, Trevor, Heather, Alex and Geoff who with Instructors JB & Pete would like to thank Les, Dick S, Mike R and Nick, Cheryl, Roly for helping to run the ground operations.
John B visited Fred in hospital in Coventry following the 5-hour operation to fix his ankle. Fred is recovering well although a further operation is likely. We all wish him well.
As forecast, cloudbase below the top of the hill precluded any flying to consolidate yesterday's exercises. The day was spent in theory and discussions, with an evening trip to the Keeper's Cottage.
3½ days of good weather provided 100 launches and 20 hours flying time for Dave, Nigel, Trevor, Heather, Alex and Geoff who with Instructors JB & Pete would like to thank Les, Dick S, Mike R and Nick, Cheryl, Roly for helping to run the ground operations.
John B visited Fred in hospital in Coventry following the 5-hour operation to fix his ankle. Fred is recovering well although a further operation is likely. We all wish him well.
Thursday 19th August
Course week - Day 4
Cloudy moist airflow in south westerly wind gave cloud bases varying between 700- 1300ft under the orographic cloud, so no real chance of reaching the top of the launch. - Launch failure training continued all morning. After lunch the wind backed southerly and strengthened considerably so the south ridge became soarable but with variable orographic we restricted ourselves to one glider at a time. Occasionally a dry bit of air came through allowing a full launch to try out the teasing glimpse of the wave over Broadhembury. The turbulence in the circuit was quite challenging and, with the rain, eventually stopped play.
Cloudy moist airflow in south westerly wind gave cloud bases varying between 700- 1300ft under the orographic cloud, so no real chance of reaching the top of the launch. - Launch failure training continued all morning. After lunch the wind backed southerly and strengthened considerably so the south ridge became soarable but with variable orographic we restricted ourselves to one glider at a time. Occasionally a dry bit of air came through allowing a full launch to try out the teasing glimpse of the wave over Broadhembury. The turbulence in the circuit was quite challenging and, with the rain, eventually stopped play.
Wednesday 18th August
Course week - day three. Yesterday's front moved away leaving us in a very unstable westerly flow, it started bright with a stiff north westerly breeze, but soon clouded over totally. The ridge was working and there were some thermals, heavy showers were all around but thankfully missing the airfield.
Flying started early (first launch at 0900) because of Pete & JB's course. All the Club gliders were out, there was a delay with the DG because of a slight problem with the tailwheel, soon to be fixed by Godfrey & JS. Both motor gliders flying.
The only heavy shower to hit the airfield came at 1230 and everyone went for an early lunch. This shower changed the airmass with really good thermals to 2,500'QFE and streets in the strong westerly wind, the ridge was working well and good ridge lift on the west ridge. Several trial lessons were flown, the Wednesday Club flying and the course worked well together, and probably the best bit of the day gave a very good evening group session with incredible visibility, thermal and ridge lift.
Congratulations to Alex who soloed this morning, he had already first soloed in March but then left the scene to concentrate on his A-levels, and joined this week's course to get back to the important things in life.
Flying started early (first launch at 0900) because of Pete & JB's course. All the Club gliders were out, there was a delay with the DG because of a slight problem with the tailwheel, soon to be fixed by Godfrey & JS. Both motor gliders flying.
The only heavy shower to hit the airfield came at 1230 and everyone went for an early lunch. This shower changed the airmass with really good thermals to 2,500'QFE and streets in the strong westerly wind, the ridge was working well and good ridge lift on the west ridge. Several trial lessons were flown, the Wednesday Club flying and the course worked well together, and probably the best bit of the day gave a very good evening group session with incredible visibility, thermal and ridge lift.
Congratulations to Alex who soloed this morning, he had already first soloed in March but then left the scene to concentrate on his A-levels, and joined this week's course to get back to the important things in life.
Tuesday 17th August
Course week, day two. Low cloud and drizzle greeted the course members early this morning, it cleared a little but not enough to be flyable. The morning was spent in the classroom with launch and launch failure theory. At lunchtime there was a substantial rain shower which heraldered the end of the front, and a good clearance started.
Flying started and launch failure theory was put into practice for all, plus a bit of ridge soaring. Cloudbase decended below launch height to stop play at the end of a good afternoon's training.
Flying started and launch failure theory was put into practice for all, plus a bit of ridge soaring. Cloudbase decended below launch height to stop play at the end of a good afternoon's training.
Monday 16th August - Course Week
This was the weather that we should have had yesterday. Quite a strong northerly, backing NW during the afternoon, cold and bright blue sky. The first couple of launches showed that the air was becoming bouyant, then the cumulus started to appear and away it went. The first thermals were 3-4kts to 2300'QFE, by mid afternoon they were 6kts to 4000'QFE. Increasing top covered weakened the lift towards the end of the day, but extended circuits were still around until evening.
All the course members had good practice at cross-wind circuits and landings, hour long flights were plentiful. With not too good a forecast for the rest of the week, the course flew well into the evening.
All the course members had good practice at cross-wind circuits and landings, hour long flights were plentiful. With not too good a forecast for the rest of the week, the course flew well into the evening.
Sunday 15th August
Very low orographic cloud hanging on until 1200. Although the wind was strong it was never gusty. Windy and NNE for most of the day only backing off during the last few flights. Plenty of sink around but some strong climbs to 2,200 ft. The west ridge didn't appear to be as sinky as expected with this wind direction.
For some reason it was a very quiet Sunday with only 10 members on the field, but very enjoyable once we got flying.
One trial lesson enjoyed a quiet flight with Pete H. Rowan has now been signed off for yellow card. Longest flights were Henry in the Junior, 37 minutes, and Pete with Mike W. in a K21, 24 minutes.
Muggles was doing some very strange things in the water tank!
For some reason it was a very quiet Sunday with only 10 members on the field, but very enjoyable once we got flying.
One trial lesson enjoyed a quiet flight with Pete H. Rowan has now been signed off for yellow card. Longest flights were Henry in the Junior, 37 minutes, and Pete with Mike W. in a K21, 24 minutes.
Muggles was doing some very strange things in the water tank!
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