Sunday 14th August
Everything was out early for a bright start, but it turned out to be a rather overcast until lunchtime. Pete Discus 230, Matt ASW20 M5, Simon M ASW20 SM completed the club 100 NHL-TIE-YEO-NHL. The afternoon just seemed to get better even with northwesterly 15knot wind and when the thermals stopped, the ridge kept going into the evening. All the club fleet and Mike S ASW20 ENW, Jeff Mosquito 380, Robin ASW27 JPT, Eric followed by Pete & Jill DuoDiscus OL enjoyed an afternoon of local soaring.
Saturday 13th August
Low cloud and drizzle delayed the start until lunchtime,but Wyn took the opportunity to pass his Bronze exam. In the afternoon it was mainly circuits, Rhodri managed 28 minutes. Mark and Dave W flew a nav cross-country in Rotax Falke to Henstridge followed by Simon L and Jimbob to Dunster and back.
Thursday 11th August
Low cloud and drizzle prevented flying until after lunch, but it did give us some time to put new ropes on the winch - thanks to Les and all the helpers.
In the afternoon, the westerly wind kept the ridge working but most opted for winch failure practice. Towards the end of the afternoon, lowering cloudbase and drizzle returned. The evening group from the Met Office had cancelled early (with inside information).
In the afternoon, the westerly wind kept the ridge working but most opted for winch failure practice. Towards the end of the afternoon, lowering cloudbase and drizzle returned. The evening group from the Met Office had cancelled early (with inside information).
Wednesday 10th August
All the club gliders were out by 9pm and about 20 members ready to fly. We soon got the field set up, although the sky looked good, and with a fresh westerly we had great hopes of the ridge working and thermals popping but we were greeted with strong sink for most of the morning.
By lunch the wave that was causing the sink gave way to some strong thermals to 3,000ft and you could step into the wave/rotor and have some good climbs.
Dave C added 3 more Junior flights to his total and had his white card re-signed, Heather also renewed her white card and had a solo flight before the conditions got too rough, Ernie was kept busy all day with new members helped out by Lisa.
Joe D, Pete & Jill, Eric, Martin, Jeff and Robin all flew their own gliders and there were many long flights through the afternoon in wave, rotor and thermal.
At about 6pm the club handed over the airfield to the the evening trial lesson group led by Mike S and Lisa, as Roly had a pain in the neck and wisely decided not to fly. - JS
By lunch the wave that was causing the sink gave way to some strong thermals to 3,000ft and you could step into the wave/rotor and have some good climbs.
Dave C added 3 more Junior flights to his total and had his white card re-signed, Heather also renewed her white card and had a solo flight before the conditions got too rough, Ernie was kept busy all day with new members helped out by Lisa.
Joe D, Pete & Jill, Eric, Martin, Jeff and Robin all flew their own gliders and there were many long flights through the afternoon in wave, rotor and thermal.
At about 6pm the club handed over the airfield to the the evening trial lesson group led by Mike S and Lisa, as Roly had a pain in the neck and wisely decided not to fly. - JS
Friday 5th August - Course week
Probably the best day of the week for both flying conditions and achievements. The low cloud didn't delay the start too much, with a gentle westerly wind which went round to north through the day but was so light it was 'no bovver'.
It was soarable from quite early on and Nigel took off to attempt his 2 hour soaring flight, unfortunately a patch of spreadout killed the thermals after an hour. Meanwhile Geoff was sent solo and consolidated this achievement with a further 6-7 during the day. It became soarable again and Bill, Ray B and Ray D had good long flights and had to airbrake down for lunch. In the afternoon, the sky was quite flat, Nigel took the opportunity to get signed off solo aerotow and yellow card. Paul who is working to resolo after 30 years had many circuits. At the end of the afternoon Dave C (one of the course helpers) converted to Junior with a soaring flight.
Congratulations to all, and thanks to Les, Ian and Dave for the seamless ground operation, and Eric & Pete and other Club Instructors for providing the encouragement during the week.
In the evening, a party from the Environment Agency had a variety of winch and aerotows and finished off with a barbeque.
It was soarable from quite early on and Nigel took off to attempt his 2 hour soaring flight, unfortunately a patch of spreadout killed the thermals after an hour. Meanwhile Geoff was sent solo and consolidated this achievement with a further 6-7 during the day. It became soarable again and Bill, Ray B and Ray D had good long flights and had to airbrake down for lunch. In the afternoon, the sky was quite flat, Nigel took the opportunity to get signed off solo aerotow and yellow card. Paul who is working to resolo after 30 years had many circuits. At the end of the afternoon Dave C (one of the course helpers) converted to Junior with a soaring flight.
Congratulations to all, and thanks to Les, Ian and Dave for the seamless ground operation, and Eric & Pete and other Club Instructors for providing the encouragement during the week.
In the evening, a party from the Environment Agency had a variety of winch and aerotows and finished off with a barbeque.
Thursday 4th August - course week
Last night it rained, and continued well into the morning, it then took another few hours until the cloud was high enough to start flying. Meanwhile we talked through some circuit planning briefing and viewed some of Matt's videos. Early afternoon the westerly wind was blowing just enough to get the ridge to extend circuit times a bit, plus a few over 30 minutes.
All the Club fleet were in use by the course and Thursday club members, Joe flew Cirrus JD7 after completing the annual.
Congratulations to Rhodri for completing his second Bronze half hour in the Junior.
Langport Round Table visited for an evening of Trial Lessons.
All the Club fleet were in use by the course and Thursday club members, Joe flew Cirrus JD7 after completing the annual.
Congratulations to Rhodri for completing his second Bronze half hour in the Junior.
Langport Round Table visited for an evening of Trial Lessons.
Wednesday 3rd August - course week
A much better day, bright start, light south westerly wind and a buoyant feel to the air from the word go, but it took quite a time for the thermals to establish. Early afternoon then looked as if the sea air had encroached from the south, but it was still soarable. There had been evidence of wave all day, and this did extremely strange things to the soarability of the air.
Wednesday Club members were scarce, nobody wanted the two seaters and very few to fly the Junior. Private Ka6, DG100 and ASW27 came out to play. Thanks to the work of Pete and Carl, and many others as ballast, the K21 wheel brake has been fixed, and another thank you to Tim, Joe and Keith for driving to Gloustershire to pick up the Junior, the fleet is now back to full strength.
With no trainees, but plenty of instructors, the course had plenty of flying with four two seaters to play with, most had good soaring flights.
The evening group, a party of 20 ladies from a walking club, had a very enjoyable session with excellent visibility and extended circuits in the still soarable sky - they have promised to come back for another go.
Wednesday Club members were scarce, nobody wanted the two seaters and very few to fly the Junior. Private Ka6, DG100 and ASW27 came out to play. Thanks to the work of Pete and Carl, and many others as ballast, the K21 wheel brake has been fixed, and another thank you to Tim, Joe and Keith for driving to Gloustershire to pick up the Junior, the fleet is now back to full strength.
With no trainees, but plenty of instructors, the course had plenty of flying with four two seaters to play with, most had good soaring flights.
The evening group, a party of 20 ladies from a walking club, had a very enjoyable session with excellent visibility and extended circuits in the still soarable sky - they have promised to come back for another go.
Tuesday 2nd August - course week.
A better day today, although not spectacular. A bit of rain overnight left us in moist air giving low cloud over the field, but the sun came out and lifted the cloud to a usable height, and became sort of soarable in the light south westerly wind. Bill and Eric in the K21 and Ray D and Pete in the K13 climbed quite quickly to 2000' but then found little more. A training launch failure putting the rope in the trees prompted a change of launch point into the now north westerly, we should have really changed ends as within half an hour the wind was round to near easterly. We put up with the tailwind for a while, before packing up having flown everyone.
We welcomed Steve from Aston Down, who had the best flight of the day (in the Junior) whilst the course had lunch.
We welcomed Steve from Aston Down, who had the best flight of the day (in the Junior) whilst the course had lunch.
The Davies family do La Motte du Caire
10th to 17th July 2011
Made to feel very welcome by Christian and Momo, we put up the tents settled down for the first night.
Monday dawned bright and clear with a gentle westerly wind. We met the team and had the briefing under the tree by the club house. Forms filled out, and Rhodri was the first to launch in the K21. He returned after 2 hrs with Christian and spoke of amazing climbs and mountain views. Dylan followed with the same, and then by 4.30 it was my turn. Over 2 hours later we returned to the site. Having tasted my first experience of thermals of +5 meters per second (or 10 up in old money). The local mountain is the Blanchere, covered in evergreen trees with a small quarry which seemed to kick off some thermals. The routine was a launch to the south, fly fast to La Blanchere and then climb it like a ridge, until you pop off the top. Then nose down and head off to Le Malaup, which looks grey and forbidding. Christian started the climb within the “walls” of this mountain, and then handed to me. The lift seemed to only work close to the mountain, and flying for the first time next to this 1,561 m mountain was awesome. Again, after a few runs, we popped off the top into stronger lift and climbed before heading out to La Jouere 1,886m – a place we came to love, with its 3 horses on the ridge, leaning into the wind. This ridge is long and gentle, but that afternoon it worked so that you joined low at the North end, and flew along the ridge to the south and east, climbing steadily , pass the horses, do a couple of thermal turns before setting out for a 10k dash at 150kmh . There were gliders every where, all racing along at high spend, with the FLARM lit up green most of the time. Occasionally bleeping frantically and showing red, as a glider sped underneath us with a separation of a few wing spans. Headed NE to Dormilouse 2,505m and then cross Le Lac de Serre Poncon to pic de Morgon at 2,327.
Fabulous views of clear blue water with the mountains all around. Christian showed me some of his favorite “thermal generators”. This is where the wind funnels into a rocky crevice, and we dive into it, then being blown upwards at incredible speeds. He had my doing turns tighter than I felt comfortable with and so very,very steep !! nearly 3 hours later we retunred to La Motte, exhausted and hungry, but already looking forward to the next flight.
We all learnt a great deal, but most of all, it is a most beautiful place to fly and it is great fuuuuuuuuuuuun, and the feeling of 10 up, or Dylan’s little wave flight to 3,800m or 12,500’ will be remembered for a long time. . As for my flying, well, it is a little less imprecise than before I left. But I practiced fast entry into thermals from 150kmh, so from all the great training at NH, at least some of it stuck. The yaw string is still a bit of a problem though! - Wyn
Next year –
Christian has promised (tempted) us all long trips to Mont Blanc and Dylan has already signed himself up as the winch man for the holidays. We plan to join him for at least 2 weeks in July and perhaps another week in August!
Maybe a gang from NH would like to go? Can not recommend it enough!!
Wyn & Marie-Noelle, Rhodri and Dylan
Made to feel very welcome by Christian and Momo, we put up the tents settled down for the first night.
Monday dawned bright and clear with a gentle westerly wind. We met the team and had the briefing under the tree by the club house. Forms filled out, and Rhodri was the first to launch in the K21. He returned after 2 hrs with Christian and spoke of amazing climbs and mountain views. Dylan followed with the same, and then by 4.30 it was my turn. Over 2 hours later we returned to the site. Having tasted my first experience of thermals of +5 meters per second (or 10 up in old money). The local mountain is the Blanchere, covered in evergreen trees with a small quarry which seemed to kick off some thermals. The routine was a launch to the south, fly fast to La Blanchere and then climb it like a ridge, until you pop off the top. Then nose down and head off to Le Malaup, which looks grey and forbidding. Christian started the climb within the “walls” of this mountain, and then handed to me. The lift seemed to only work close to the mountain, and flying for the first time next to this 1,561 m mountain was awesome. Again, after a few runs, we popped off the top into stronger lift and climbed before heading out to La Jouere 1,886m – a place we came to love, with its 3 horses on the ridge, leaning into the wind. This ridge is long and gentle, but that afternoon it worked so that you joined low at the North end, and flew along the ridge to the south and east, climbing steadily , pass the horses, do a couple of thermal turns before setting out for a 10k dash at 150kmh . There were gliders every where, all racing along at high spend, with the FLARM lit up green most of the time. Occasionally bleeping frantically and showing red, as a glider sped underneath us with a separation of a few wing spans. Headed NE to Dormilouse 2,505m and then cross Le Lac de Serre Poncon to pic de Morgon at 2,327.
Fabulous views of clear blue water with the mountains all around. Christian showed me some of his favorite “thermal generators”. This is where the wind funnels into a rocky crevice, and we dive into it, then being blown upwards at incredible speeds. He had my doing turns tighter than I felt comfortable with and so very,very steep !! nearly 3 hours later we retunred to La Motte, exhausted and hungry, but already looking forward to the next flight.
Mtgne de la Blanche – Wyn not quite sure about the next peak, as it is a bit close to the cloud
Tuesday was much the same. Wednesday we had a storm, with local flooding, and spent the day watching videos, and occasionally looking at the North Hill web cam, to see our home club enjoying some nice summer weather!.
Dylan in wave – near Seyne
By the end of the week, we had all flown in the 21, and to ease the training load, Momo and Jean Claude took Dylan up in the Twin Astir and then the Janus.We all learnt a great deal, but most of all, it is a most beautiful place to fly and it is great fuuuuuuuuuuuun, and the feeling of 10 up, or Dylan’s little wave flight to 3,800m or 12,500’ will be remembered for a long time. . As for my flying, well, it is a little less imprecise than before I left. But I practiced fast entry into thermals from 150kmh, so from all the great training at NH, at least some of it stuck. The yaw string is still a bit of a problem though! - Wyn
Next year –
Christian has promised (tempted) us all long trips to Mont Blanc and Dylan has already signed himself up as the winch man for the holidays. We plan to join him for at least 2 weeks in July and perhaps another week in August!
Maybe a gang from NH would like to go? Can not recommend it enough!!
Wyn & Marie-Noelle, Rhodri and Dylan
Monday1st August - course week
Well I think that we made the most of the day. Low cloud through the morning allowed the 'meet and greet' and admin to be fairly leasurely. Three members of the course were new to the safe winch launching initiative, so Eric provided a presentation emphasising the correct times to pull and push. This put us in good stead as the cloud base rose to 1200' and we went out to theory into practise. Each course member got in three launches before the cloud came down again.
Unfortunately Lisa's evening group was postponed again.
Unfortunately Lisa's evening group was postponed again.
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