Wednesday 15th September
Clear blue sky following yesterday's front, meant the hangar was emptied, but the cloud filled in and the wind got up to a rather gusty west north-westerly. But it was soarable with thermals kicking off from the ridge to 2400ft under the overcast. There should have been some wave there, but there weren't any holes until late on, and we probably needed to get up a little higher to make contact. Trial lessons were put off to another day. Roly did his first BI flight. Welcome back to John P after his layoff. The kitchen refurbishment has started.
Sunday 12th September
Just to add that Steve Westlake did the Club Almost 100 yesterday as well and Mike Fairclough went down to somewhere around Dorchester way.
With regards to my comment above, TAU-YEO isn't actually 100km any more as the NHL TP was moved this year from the middle of the airfield to the hangar - it's only 99.7km, so if you want to do a 100km Diploma flight do TIE-YEO instead!
I should have known this as I wrote a tome about it at the begining of the season but I'd forgotten until I replayed the trace - OOPS!
With regards to my comment above, TAU-YEO isn't actually 100km any more as the NHL TP was moved this year from the middle of the airfield to the hangar - it's only 99.7km, so if you want to do a 100km Diploma flight do TIE-YEO instead!
I should have known this as I wrote a tome about it at the begining of the season but I'd forgotten until I replayed the trace - OOPS!
Sunday 12th September
The forecast was good for a post-cold front ridge with a north-westerly wind. Early convection drew the moisture out of the ground with a low cloudbase, by midday the thermals had firmed up and cloudbase had risen to 2400ft. At times, it proved difficult to get away from the winch, as the streets were just a little out of reach with a 15knot wind and there was some strong sink around, this produced a busy aerotow queue.
During the afternoon streets set up from coast to coast with higher cloudbases (3500ft QFE) to the south. Pete (230) completed the Club 100 Taunton - Yeovil, and others ran up and down the streets from Exmoor to Seaton enjoying long flights.
It was a good day for the club - in addition to the whole club fleet flying, there were 14 private gliders soaring, 3 trial lessons, 17 aerotows and the Skylaunch did 62 launches into a difficult cross wind, again without mishap or interruption. Many thanks to all who pitched in and contributed to making it a memorable day. Dare we hope for a few more in 2010 before winter closes in?
During the afternoon streets set up from coast to coast with higher cloudbases (3500ft QFE) to the south. Pete (230) completed the Club 100 Taunton - Yeovil, and others ran up and down the streets from Exmoor to Seaton enjoying long flights.
It was a good day for the club - in addition to the whole club fleet flying, there were 14 private gliders soaring, 3 trial lessons, 17 aerotows and the Skylaunch did 62 launches into a difficult cross wind, again without mishap or interruption. Many thanks to all who pitched in and contributed to making it a memorable day. Dare we hope for a few more in 2010 before winter closes in?
Saturday 11th September
The expected frontal rain cleared faster than forecast and it became soarable mid- morning. Cloudbase was at 2500ft and the wind was westerly 10 knots. Cheryl completed her red card checks with Mike Fitz. Rowan converted to the K6 and had 6 flights, Stu enjoyed soaring the LS3 and Pete(CFI) added a new type (LS3) to his list of 94 gliders. There were 3 trial lessons but rather quiet for club members.
Thursday 9th September
Today was forecast to be the best day of the week, and so it turned out to be - eventually. The day started with thick fog, slowly the cloudbase rose, high enough by mid morning to complete some launch failure training. Around midday the clouds opened into a soarable sky, with cloudbase up to 3000ft QFE. There were also large areas of sink around which made life difficult at times. The day came to an end with a glorious sunny evening.
Strangely none of the course members were on site today, so it turned out to be a normal Thursday Club day, there was one trial lesson.
Geoff's much loved SF27, which has not seen the outside of a trailer for several years, left the site for a new life in northern Germany. Hartmut, a glider pilot from near Bremen, arrived with his own open trailer, a very wise move, after an over-night 1000km drive, spent 24 hours around NHL and then returned home.
Roly has spent the last two days with Regional Examiner Adam to get his BI rating signed off.
Roly, being congratulating by Pete after the successful completion of his CFI acceptance checks.
Strangely none of the course members were on site today, so it turned out to be a normal Thursday Club day, there was one trial lesson.
Geoff's much loved SF27, which has not seen the outside of a trailer for several years, left the site for a new life in northern Germany. Hartmut, a glider pilot from near Bremen, arrived with his own open trailer, a very wise move, after an over-night 1000km drive, spent 24 hours around NHL and then returned home.
Roly has spent the last two days with Regional Examiner Adam to get his BI rating signed off.
Roly, being congratulating by Pete after the successful completion of his CFI acceptance checks.
Special from Saturday 4th September
Click here for a YouTube video giving some idea of the wave flights of last Saturday.
Or cut and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzRreIVSIk
Or cut and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzRreIVSIk
Sunday 5th September
K21(KEK)was at Bridwell Country Fair accompanied by Andrew, Ian, Lisa, Roly & Heather, Graham & Cheryl.
Meanwhile the K21 trailer was put to double-use as HCX with Simon M and JimBob on board landed out at the rifle range following an approach into the curlover of the strong easterly wind. Both K21s returned safely to the club.
Meanwhile the K21 trailer was put to double-use as HCX with Simon M and JimBob on board landed out at the rifle range following an approach into the curlover of the strong easterly wind. Both K21s returned safely to the club.
Saturday 4th September
A K21 was derigged by Cheryl, Heather and Lisa who also thoroughly cleaned it ready to take to the Bridwell Country fair. The blokes lent a hand by watching and pointing out the bits they missed.
Late start due to low cloud and haze, launching from the West end of the field with a strong 15 kt cross wind. Weak front went through producing some rain at lunchtime.
The wind veered to SSW during the passage of the front and then backed to ESE during the afternoon. The front cleared quickly, some had already decided to leave and missed out on what became a fantastic wave and ridge evening. - wave to 2200ft in area of the south ridge / out to Broadhembury.
Two booked trial lessons, one flew, the other will revisit.
Henry, Rowan and JB, Roly and Cheryl, Ian and Heather, Lisa and Stuart all had extended flights. 1h 30m for JB and Rowan and an epic 3h 10m for Henry who both landed after the sun had set. The wind died suddenly leaving an eerie silence.
Glider pilots are an optimistic bunch of people ... today it paid off.
Late start due to low cloud and haze, launching from the West end of the field with a strong 15 kt cross wind. Weak front went through producing some rain at lunchtime.
The wind veered to SSW during the passage of the front and then backed to ESE during the afternoon. The front cleared quickly, some had already decided to leave and missed out on what became a fantastic wave and ridge evening. - wave to 2200ft in area of the south ridge / out to Broadhembury.
Two booked trial lessons, one flew, the other will revisit.
Henry, Rowan and JB, Roly and Cheryl, Ian and Heather, Lisa and Stuart all had extended flights. 1h 30m for JB and Rowan and an epic 3h 10m for Henry who both landed after the sun had set. The wind died suddenly leaving an eerie silence.
Glider pilots are an optimistic bunch of people ... today it paid off.
Thursday 2nd September
Fresh easterly, blue with a strong inversion at 1400ft initially, and later 2000ft but totally unsoarable. There were 9 on the 2-seater list and and 2 for the Junior today with 4 trial lessons booked - busy for a Thursday, Fortunately Peter, Paul and Lisa arrived to help out John & Pete. Ian H and Mark L enjoyed 4000ft tows for spin training with John, whilst everyone else got plenty of circuit practice.
Wednesday 1st September
You should have seen the satellite picture yesterday -cumulus streets all round the anticyclone locally south easterly.
Animated Satellite Image (GIF, 9 MB)
Today the wind was more easterly, cumulus formed in streets, and the sea air started to infringe from the north coast just after lunchtime. To the south a sort of sea breeze front set up but didn't seem particularly convincing or reliable. Local soaring was easy within 12 miles but beyond that it was either blue or behind the sea air. There were 3 trial lessons. Mike (DFK) landed out towards Exeter in the sea air.
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