It was a bitingly cold north-easterly wind with no sun to help the temperature and some lowish cloud. The Thursday thermallers were treated to a briefing on Speed to fly and polar curves and the first of the new briefings on safe winch launching. This was followed by a little tidy up outside to start filling the skip in the absence of Uncle Mark. After lunch, the hangar was unpacked in the howling wind and snow flurries to derig the Junior and the DG505 for the Portmoak Pilgrims. Meanwhile, Liam, Ollie and Max were joined by Will and continued with the sponsored trailer wash in the freezing temperatures. Well done to all the team for persevering with the task in such onerous conditions.
Wednesday 3rd April
There was a strong cold north easterly wind continuing to bring good unstable air, but today there was plenty of sunshine to get the thermals going. Most people had soaring flights, and Matt and Adrian flew the DG505 round the Club 100 NHL - Yeovil - Tiverton East - NHL on a training cross-country flight.
Liam, Max, Ollie, and Sam were in full swing on the sponsored trailer wash for the Ian Beckett fund.
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| ASH25 trailer was quite dirty! |
It was nice to see John St at the Club to see all the
Wednesday crew again, "I have been overwelmed by everybody's kindness and support,
emails, letters, visits and cards."
Sunday 31st March
RASP was looking even better for today, and it was soarable both earlier and later than yesterday, but the wind picked up from the south east by lunchtime so no-one ventured very far.
There were several local soaring flights in strong thermals, and Pete and Lisa flew Duo Discus OL down to the cliffs but there was too much east in the wind, so they checked out the engine on the way back.
.JPG) |
| The cliffs at Beer |
Liam started the sponsored trailer washing event for the benefit of the Ian Beckett Fund to boost the funds in support of our junior members.
Saturday 30th March
Last night the RASP forecast was giving those lovely orange colours.... from 1000 to 1500 and the Lasham forecast was also suggesting good conditions in Devon and there was a little banter about setting tasks.
But Saturday morning dawned a little disappointing with a lot of cloud stuck under an inversion at about 4000ft which had fed in from the North Sea overnight. The air was cold, dry and unstable although the cloud was a little reluctant to break, but soaring conditions started around 1100. The K21s, DG505, Junior and 6 private owners all got away to create an empty launch point for the first time this year.
Pete St Discus 230 completed the Club 100 NHL - TIE - YEO - NHL for the longest flight 2:36 - (he was going to go round again but the good soaring turned off spot on time.) Peter Sm in 1UP Lak19 and Adrian P FXD Jantar enjoyed their first soaring flights in their new gliders. Eric and Dylan both flew for over 2 hours in their respective LS7s. Pete H and Dylan explored the countryside in the Rotax Falke.
A great day after the recent bad weather, although it was still very cold. - Same again tomorrow hopefully?
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| Refurbished President's Trophy |
Good Friday 29th March
The club was quiet this morning despite sunshine and tempting looking cloud streets. Nevertheless, by late morning, a small but determined (and 50% Davies) group of members made their way to the north west corner with a K21. The hike up the field made the strong wind and turbulence more obvious, and a blue flag was duly raised. Mike F took up his position in the back seat and soon members were reminded what booming thermals feel like. They were less pleased to be reminded about evil sink!
After lunch Andrew M took over the back seat. Unfortunately the natural thermals had died down, but he did get 500 feet off the man made one which had been set off near the sheep pen. Flying finished early and all retired to the clubhouse for tea and Nick H's chocolate cake. - Ruth
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| 9 members had all this to themselves |
Thursday 28th March
It was still bitterly cold but there was quite a bit of sun which helped a little, and at lunchtime there was even a bit of soaring. But unfortunately the afternoon was heavily disrupted by temporary class D airspace with 10 mile radius of Exeter Airport for the Duke of York's visit.
Matt rigged ASW20 M5 and made the most of the soarable slot landing right on time, proving a good workout for his new panel.Ron and Ed, Pete and Ian in K21s and Eric and Joe in the Juniors also enjoyed the soarable interlude.
There was a small competition between 'Marks' for arty photos:
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| You don't often see a white shadow - tug at 0830 by Mark C |
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| The Boss waiting to go - reflection by Mark L |
Wednesday 27th March
Playing in the snow at Nympsfield
Last Sunday's forecast predicted that the bitter ENE winds were set to
continue throughout the week, making the prospect of any decent gliding
about as bleak as the weather itself! But the east faces of the
Malvern Hills, Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons do work very well if
you can get to them and I was fortunate enough to fly them with Trevor
Stuart from Nympsfield in the back seat of the Nimbus 3DT in February.
So an offer to do a lead and follow with Trevor in his Nimbus 3DT on Wednesday with Dave Jesty and me in tow was great opportunity to put what I learnt then into practice and it also gave Matt the chance of experiencing his first real 'turbo' facilitated flight. Turbos were definitely the order of the day to avoid a long retrieve if we got caught out by a large snow shower.
Matt and I left Taunton for Nympsfield at some ungodly hour hour on Wednesday morning and had the Ventus rigged and ready by 8.30. The plan was to glide across the Severn valley from Nympsfield to the Malvern hills then fly a short North-South task to Great Whitney before catching a thermal and jumping the 50k down wind to the Black Mountains.
Unfortunately Dave Jesty had a problem with his turbo so turned back off the tow.
So an offer to do a lead and follow with Trevor in his Nimbus 3DT on Wednesday with Dave Jesty and me in tow was great opportunity to put what I learnt then into practice and it also gave Matt the chance of experiencing his first real 'turbo' facilitated flight. Turbos were definitely the order of the day to avoid a long retrieve if we got caught out by a large snow shower.
Matt and I left Taunton for Nympsfield at some ungodly hour hour on Wednesday morning and had the Ventus rigged and ready by 8.30. The plan was to glide across the Severn valley from Nympsfield to the Malvern hills then fly a short North-South task to Great Whitney before catching a thermal and jumping the 50k down wind to the Black Mountains.
Unfortunately Dave Jesty had a problem with his turbo so turned back off the tow.
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| The visibility was pretty grim... |
The visibility was pretty grim on the glide out to the Malverns with snow
showers and it felt rather unnerving to leave the tug at 3000ft QFE NYM and
head off 30k into wind to a destination that you couldn't even see!
Flying through snow showers is not like flying through rain - it doesn't
affect the performance, just the visibility which can get downright nasty!
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| Improved visibility |
But once through them it was plain sailing and the view of the Malverns was beautiful.
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| Beautiful views |
The hills were working really well and we were able to blast along below
the top and then pick up thermal and climb up to cloud base! It was
really bizarre to be thermaling one minute and flying through a snow
shower the next!
Unfortunately the frequent snow showers prevented us from going over to the Black Mountains where the sky was looking very black indeed so we headed north to Kidderminster before returning to the Malverns and from there back to Nympsfield.
As
we got out of the gliders it was snowing heavily and we all stood there
in the snow just laughing - What a day - soaring in the snow! It really
was a very unusual day out - fantastic fun and all down to the help and
kindness of Trevor Stuart! What a star - Thanks Trevor! JB
Unfortunately the frequent snow showers prevented us from going over to the Black Mountains where the sky was looking very black indeed so we headed north to Kidderminster before returning to the Malverns and from there back to Nympsfield.
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| The long wing of the Nimbus with JB thermaling in wonderland |
Back at North Hill
The field was dry but it was bitterly cold still, and mainly circuits / checks (and I'm missing my Wednesday report from J St, - hope to see you soon).
After the Instructor meeting there was a light covering of snow over the field.
Sat & Sun 23 / 24th March
It was very cold, the trees were getting rimed in the freezing fog.
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| Rime captured by James |
Thursday 21st March
The rain continued most of the day as forecast and the field quickly became awash again, but indoors there was plenty going on:
Mike H was looking at the radio problem in KEK,
Pete C was packing some parachutes, he will be doing the club 'chutes on Monday or Tuesday next week and will let us know when he can do the private owners chutes.
Pete and Jill and Ian were working on the Duo annual inspection.
JB and Malcolm V were working on the Eagle.
Mark Lo has installed the wiring on the LPV to make the new solar panel work.
News from John St - he is now at home recovering, he has had one stent fitted and another to be done. Thanks everyone for their kind wishes and says he will see you soon.
Mike H was looking at the radio problem in KEK,
Pete C was packing some parachutes, he will be doing the club 'chutes on Monday or Tuesday next week and will let us know when he can do the private owners chutes.
Pete and Jill and Ian were working on the Duo annual inspection.
JB and Malcolm V were working on the Eagle.
Mark Lo has installed the wiring on the LPV to make the new solar panel work.
News from John St - he is now at home recovering, he has had one stent fitted and another to be done. Thanks everyone for their kind wishes and says he will see you soon.
Wednesday 20th March
A lucky break in the weather allowed the Pawnee to be flown back from Bodmin on Monday, following its annual inspection.
Today's forecast looked hopeful for flying, (well at least better than later in the week) but it was very gloomy to start with, and with an easterly wind, the gliders set off for the top of the field. It wasn't long before they were marched back again, and following a break for lunch, the sky opened up enough to do 17 launches.
The winch maintenance team took the opportunity of servicing the Supacat.
We all wish John St well , while recovering from yesterday's heart attack, more news to follow.
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