Sunday 10th April - Long Mynd

A weather discussion over breakfast, based on both the forecast and local knowledge, confirmed what everyone had been predicting - a strong Easterly would mean no flying at the Club for the day.
Determined to get something out of the day after further discussion between the various DSGC members present the decision was made to de-rig the DG505....

Time to derig and head off to Shobdon  (Mike Sl)

 .......and take it, together with some of the private gliders, down to Shobdon Airfield for the day.

Follow the leader (Mike Sl)

Just under an hour later and the trailers were all parked up with gliders being rigged - with Shobdon being a busy Gliding and General Aviation airfield it was important for everyone to get a detailed briefing on launching and landing protocols. Once this was completed it was time to start flying, and with just one "home" two-seater glider being used there was plenty of launch capacity available from the EuroFox. 

Great looking sky at Shobdon (Mike Sl)

ASW 20 (Mike S) was first to launch followed by the DG505 (Simon L and Tim) with DG200 (Nick H), DG100 (Gordon B)and Cirrus (Paul S) launching in turn.

It became clear that the previously evident thermals were deteriorating under an increasing 'top cover' but that if the aerotows were taken higher than 2000' then the lift was much better in consistency and strength the higher gliders were towed to.

Sky starting to deteriorate (Mike Sl)

And so a pleasant afternoon of local soaring from / at a site new to all involved was completed.
Mid-afternoon a call came in from Simon L and Tim who had nearly completed an out and return task to The Mynd and back in the DG505 - but with a strong headwind getting in the way of a return all the way back to Shobdon, they had decided that a field landing was appropriate. 

Nick keen to look after DG505 after it is derigged (Mike Sl)

And so various cars and trailers started to wend their way back to The Long Mynd stopping off to de-rig the DG505 on the way.

By early evening everyone from DSGC was back at The Mynd with trailers carefully parked ahead of the poor weather forecast for Monday. - Mike Sl

Saturday 9th April - Long Mynd

The alarm went off at 4.30 this morning at Mark C's request.  The plan was to arrive in time to get a good days flying, as the forecast looked reasonable.  After a Costa stop (obviously) and a breakfast stop at the 'posh' Gloucester services, we arrived around 10am.

The Midland Gliding Club members had begun to get the gliders out, but the weather was starting to look less certain.  It wasn't long before we were staring out of the window at heavy snow.  This continued for an hour, giving time for everyone to get signed in and settled.  Some people also caught a talk on thermal centring by MGC instructor Mark.  

Snowing at the Long Mynd in April (Simon L)

Snow was followed by a series of showers.  The DG505 was rigged in hope of some better weather.  Copious cups of tea were downed prior to the weather perking up and flying commencing.

Chris  and Mark for a site check (Simon L)

Paul K jumped in with Simon L first for a check flight, he experienced a "most savage lay-off" on the launch with the westerly crosswind.  All of the 'new boys' had their site familiarisation flights with Mark C/Simon L - Gordon B, Ray B and Chris M.  The wind slowly moved from South East to West and then back South before finally setting up straight on the ridge.  Thermals were also available giving some extended flights.  Unfortunately flying had to finish by 5pm for the MGC committee meeting, so the North Hill model flyers got out on the ridge for a couple of hours of fun with ex-member Luke R. 

A good solid start to what looks like a 'changeable' week! - Tim P

Saturday 9th April

Rain, Showers, Wind and Hail Couldn't Keep Us Down -

Early morning promised clear skies. The Met Office promised showers and gusts. Neither were fully delivered. By 9am,  8/8 cloud and rain forced an early tea and moaning session.

Equipment and gliders were promptly organised and JP with the help of Rowan set to work on the flying  list after the rain past and the sun made a welcomed appearance.

Thermals and questionable ridge lift allowed for good training. Roly in the Junior promptly called cloud base at 2200 QFE.

Martin before jumping into the Junior (Rowan)

Sophie (H5) made an appearance and seemed to do the rounds like a shisha in a hookah bar.

Phil rekindles his love for Sophie (Matt H5)

Ian started his afternoon duty just in time for a hail shower that grounded all but JP in the promiscuous H5 who decided to wait until the shower stopped before landing.

Everyone flew that wanted to fly and an unexpectedly pleasant flying day was had by all.

Rainbows ahoy (Rowan)

Friday 8th April - Course week

So on to Friday and guess what? get the kit ready and then wait for the orographic cloud to lift. The day then got better and better  with westerly wind and thermals, with all Course members catching up a bit with flights. 

April course (JB)

 Gordon managed to convince JB to let him fly by himself..... 

Gordon solo again (JB)

.....and then hogging the Junior for a couple of flights over an hour and up to 3100 ft. All together  great way to finish the course. So we put the kit away and retired to talk of achievements gained in spite of some challenging weather. And the first pair of swallows have arrived.

Many thanks to Instructors JB and Paul C and the Helpers Aston, William and Allan. - GH

Thursday 7th April - Course week

Thursday looked all to familiar with a strong north westerly wind and that very annoying orographic cloud below circuit height. Club and Course members were treated to more lectures from guest speaker Pete H on instrumentation and aerotowing. After an early lunch the predicted rain had not appeared, but the very gusty wind started to show signs of moderating somewhat. It turned into a great ridge and thermal afternoon with long soaring flights for all and the ridge was the busiest it has been for weeks, with 2 K21s, K13, DG505, Junior, along with 230, M5 and H5 joining in. 

In the evening, we welcomed the first evening group of the season,  a youth group of UK Navigators, who were camping at Axminster and were given a surprise Trial lesson evening. 

UK Navigators (Jill)

Their excitement was 'almost' overwhelming, but it was great to see their beaming happy faces.

And the Course members, Instructors, Helpers and Hangers-on enjoyed a Course dinner at The Catherine Wheel in Hemyock,  with the standard Gliding Tall tales.

Wednesday 6th April - Course week

Wednesday followed this spring's norm with low cloud and wind, - back to that alternative gliding occupation (patient  waiting and ground lectures and drinking tea).

After lunch there was some hope of flying with the ridge working, but  the squalls persisted and rough conditions and we called it a day after two flights.

There was a photo opportunity for the mutual appreciation society for two wise men both recently passing significant milestones -

Pete H (10,000 launches) and John St (20,000 launches)

Tuesday 5th April - Course week

Tuesday started off slowly with more ground work but with an early lunch, it transformed into a great day even if it did begin with the standard strong wind, low cloud and simulated launch failure practice. The longest Course flight was over an hour and a half. Robert had turned up in the sunshine and offered to do some aerotows for Dave C, Adrian, Matt and Pete who had rigged their gliders. 

Matt  M5 had "declared 300km,  and got to 2 of the 4 turn points but couldn't get to the eastern ones because the sea air converged near Crewkerne with a very low base and it was raining there too. So went north west over Exmoor as far as I dared and then back to the south east in a similar fashion to the declaration but via a more scenic route playing in the northern sea breeze and ended up with an OLC distance of 289 km. So just needed better task setting really."

Pete 230 " Launched late and went for a bimble - only posted to show the turning of one of the rather more scary local turnpoints, Dunkery Beacon on top of Exmoor at 1700'+. Fortunately the sea breeze convergence was running just to the South but even though I was 2000'agl the expanse of Exmoor made it feel a lot closer! And I've just noticed that it's the first time it's ever been used - poetic justice I suppose as I seem to remember that it was me that put it there a few years back!"

Monday 4th April - Course week

After an early lunch the weather had improved sufficiently to FLY achieving 13 brief launches.

Sunday 3rd April

Despite a forecast lacking tangible optimism about whether any flying would happen today there was a small group of members at the Club from first thing evidently keen to fly if there was any opportunity to do so.

After much reviewing of weather apps and Met Office internet information it was decided that little would be gained by taking gliders and kit out on to the field ahead of an anticipated rain front arriving mid morning.

And so the morning was put to some use with a briefing on Thermal Soaring in anticipation of better days ahead whilst various members were seen fettling trailers and gliders ahead of imminent expeditions to The Mynd and Portmoak.

As the morning progressed so did the optimism of those present that there might be some flying after lunch - the anticipated rain showers had not appeared, the sun was trying to break through and the cloudbase was evidently increasing. So a call for late breakfasts (or early lunches) was made just in case...

A group discussion just before 2pm, with the keenness of those members present remaining in force, ended up with a decision to get gliders out to make the most of the afternoon - both K21s and a Junior were taken out of the hangar whilst the lack of winch drivers (with instructors yet to work out how to be in two places at the same time) meant reduced price aerotows were the only option for launching the gliders.

Aerotows under grey skies (Mike Sl)

The wind, albeit Southerly and on occasions more from the East than the West, was very light in strength so the launch point was set up for gliders to be launched from the South East corner of the field.

And a pleasant if unspectacular afternoon of gliding ensued with all those wishing to do so getting at least one flight and 'having fun' learning how to stay in position behind the Pawnee on an aerotow.

Unspectacular afternoon (Mike Sl)

The wind direction also provided the opportunity for some members to experience 'landing in a different direction' approaching from the West end of the field.

Adrian took the Junior for an airing in and amongst the K21 flights. During the afternoon Guy completed some local flying in the Falke (VG).

As the skies darkened towards the end of he afternoon then some light rain also appeared and the decision was made to put the gliders away for the day.

Today was another good example of a well known instructor's comment "If you are not there you will definitely not fly...." - Mike Sl

Saturday 2nd April

Early arrivers were excited by the bright skies but it soon filled in as the receding front headed west. The southerly wind was picking up all the time, and a visit to the Cliffs was briefed.

Winch launch training started as usual about 10:00 under a lowering cloudbase but as soon as the sky started clearing nicely, the 'Beach Boys' lined up for their long aerotows. 

Matt M5 ASW24 took the first tow, setting off under a 1200ft cloudbase reaching clear air at the A30 and letting down onto the cliffs. Next up was Matt H5 SF27, followed by James ENW ASW20. Thanks to Exeter Air Traffic for their patience and cooperation.

H5 from M5 Beer Head (Matt W)

A bit later Stu and Simon M followed them down in DG505, only to find the others heading back before the wind backed too far to the east. Matt in the lower performance SF27 struggled to get back and landed in a field south of Honiton (as Farway Common had been pronounced too wet).

Back on the Cliffs ENW (James H)

We're expecting some awesome composite footage......It's here! (not available on mobiles)

Training continued all day with the south ridge working to 1000ft. - J&P

Nick was back in DG505 preparing for trip to Long Mynd (Lisa)