Wednesday 23rd August - Course week

A mixed forecast with the possibility of a shower, brightening in the afternoon, there were some showers about but they all missed us.

Thermals started (John Street)

All the club gliders were out plus the DG1001 Neo, there was a bit of low cloud about but aerotows went ahead with the DG demonstrator and managed several flights in the gaps in the cloud cover before being derigged and returned to Lasham.

Clean and valet DG1001 Neo (Mark Layton)

The second August course was in full swing with Mike and Martin doing a fine job. All the Wednesday suspects that turned up flew and most had reasonable soaring flights although the cloud base didn't get much above 2,500ft.

Busy launch point (John Street)

The only private gliders were Nigel and Jeff, Robert and Pete W were the tuggies.

We finished flying flying about 5.30pm and handed over the two-seaters to the Air Cadets evening group. 

Another great North Hill sunset (Mike Sloggett)

It was a very pleasant and productive day with more than 60 flights. - John Street.

Course summary

Day 3 for the course dawned typically summery, for Devon; overcast and decidedly chilly. Despite the rather inhospitable conditions the course members and ground helpers got everything ready with the help of the normal Wednesday crew ready for another days flying.  Mike Sloggett was the first to bravely leap into the air on the winch doing a weather flight with Mark Worlsford. The conclusion was it was flyable but with areas of low cloud; how much more summery could you get! 

 

However, as the day progressed the cloud base slowly went up and the course got flying in force. Rick Andrews took advantage of the free Junior whilst Mike, Martin Woolner and James Flory worked through the list of course members wanting dual flights. Mark continued to progress really well with Martin’s coaching, whilst Graham Hawker continued to enjoy flights in the DG, thats the 505 rather than the 1001! Callum Ayres bravely stepped forward to fly with James Flory as the new instructor on the block and enjoyed three launches later into the afternoon. Simon Collier was able to enjoy an aerotow in his ASW 15, helping him to build experience in his new glider. Sadly one of the course members had to drop out, but fortunately Mike "sales man" Sloggett was able to fill the slot within minutes. Ross Pratt wasn’t able to move quickly enough before the full powers of Mike’s sales technique landed on him and his mum. Suitably persuaded Ross was duly signed up; good job Mike!. Although not a perfect weather day everyone managed to fly and good progress was made by all.

The day then continued into the evening with trail lesson flying for Air Cadets from Exeter and Bodmin. All the cadets enjoyed good flights, with the weather rather typically getting better as the day went on and the sun began to set. Special thanks to all the ground crew who had to cope with several cable related problems on the winch. Overall a good days flying at North Hill. - James Flory

Tuesday 22nd August - Course week

The second day of the Course Week saw low cloud drifting across the airfield but with a positive weather forecast the gliders were brought out of the hangar and based on the forecast wind direction the launch point was set up in the North West corner of the airfield.

The Northwest corner of the airfield (Mike Sloggett)

With a brightening sky and suggestions of cloudbase improving both K21s, a Junior and the DG1001 demonstrator were walked down to the launch point where it became clear that the cloudbase was still too low to enable flying to start for the day so it was a return to the Clubhouse for some briefings on winch launching and launch failures.

And then with the cloudbase much improved it was time to return to the launch point and start the day's flying.

And then it was a day of continuous flying of both Course members and also Club members taking the opportunity to fly in the DG1001 demonstrator.

DG1001 Neo Demonstrator (Mike Sloggett)

The wind direction and strength allowed the South ridge to work in places albeit not very strong and providing the opportunity for pilots to test their skills at extending the time of their winch launches suitably.

With a freshening Southerly wind by late afternoon all the Course members had flown so  the Club gliders were put away for the day whilst the Club members continued to fly the DG1001 on into the evening. - Mike Sloggett

Monday 21st August - Course week

Those arriving early at the Club found mist and low cloud, but with every expectation that the sun would soon start to burn through and see clearer skies as a result - well that is what all the forecasters were saying would happen...

And that is exactly what happened - as the Course briefing was coming to an end there were glimpses of the sunshine and evidence of an increasingly improving sky above and around the airfield. Both K21s, the DG505 and a Junior were brought out of the hangar and the launch point set up in the North East corner of the airfield.

Meanwhile the DG1001 demonstrator was getting lots of interest from members and was soon rigged and also taken to the launch point.

Form an orderly queue for DG1001

Mid-morning, the first launch of the day saw a K21 not achieve full launch height due to low cloud so a coffee break was called for.

Blue skies (Mike Sloggett)

And patience was rewarded within a short while with full launch height being achieved and then it was a day of continuous flying by both the Course members and various other Club members taking the opportunity to fly in the DG1001.

DG1001 on aerotow (Mike Sloggett)

Late afternoon with all the Course members having flown and made good progress with their objectives for the week all the Club gliders were put back in to the hangar - whilst the DG1001 continued to be flown well into the evening to make good use of the glider whilst it is with the Club. - Mike Sloggett

Sunday 20th August

The weather forecast was rather pessimistic for today but a few members turned up at the Club, primarily to fulfil their duty instructor and launch marshall duties.

With rain evident on the weather radar the decision was made to get flying as soon as possible in the expectation that rain would arrive later in the day. Both K21s and a Junior were brought out of the hangar as well as the Pawnee.

And under a grey sky with threatening rain clouds some check/training flights in the K21s, some Junior flights, a Trial Lesson and a Friends and Family flight were all completed by just before midday - and then the light drizzle rain arrived as forecast.

With an element of optimism an early lunch break was taken but as the afternoon unfolded it became evident that it was time to put the gliders and ground equipment away before even heavier rain arrived as forecast it would. Still some flights completed which is good for Spring, oh wait a minute it is supposed to be Summer.. - Mike Sloggett

Saturday 19th August

Another busy day at the club, weather wasn't fantastic but hey, its August what do you expect! James Flory having received his BGA paperwork launched into full instructor mode today and John Sillett covered the afternoon shift for Phil Morrison who was having fun in Pocklington, Matt Williamson flew all of the trial lessons today in the K13, yes that's right the K13!!!! 

North Hill Airfield (Lisa Humphries)

I got back into the back seat with proper instructing today and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Pete Startup rigged his Discus and  flew longer than anyone else 2 hours -as expected, Ron and James took the ASH25 for a spin, VG was aired and the Cub flew in with Mike and Barbie in the evening.

Tricky for soaring sky (Lisa Humphries)

Everyone flew - even William Stainer who despite turning up very early this morning managed to put his name at the bottom of the list as he thought it was the gentlemanly thing to do, he will learn! All in all a nice day at the Club!- Lisa Humphries

Nice field (Simon Minson)

and the DG505 was at The Park on the ICL, watched on Spot the Gliders  with Simon Minson and Pete Bennett, 166kms and landed just 8kms short. Well done Team.

Friday 18th August

It was another special Trial lesson voucher day, to catch up on the backlog of cancelled flights, and the weather forecast was trying hard to be difficult. Early in the week it was going to be gales, then the expected wind had eased, but thunderstorms were forecast!

Cumulonimbus anvil to the north (Jill Harmer)

Although the wind did blow, and we did see one flash and a couple of rumbles, the showers were whizzing through so that there were some good clear blue skies in between. 

Trial lesson Visitors enjoy their flight (Mark Courtney)

All 10 pre-booked flights were flown with the visitors enjoying the cloudscapes. Thanks to all the Instructors and Helpers. -J&P

Thursday 17th August

After rain overnight, there was some mist and drizzle initially so we used the time to discuss the Exeter Airspace proposal. Then the sun started shining and we went flying. 

Nice sky (Jill Harmer)

 It was marginally soarable, thermic initially, and feeling a little wavey, then later in the afternoon as the wind backed and increased, the south ridge started working.  

Pete Harmer flies a Trial flight visitor (Mark Courtney)

George Sanderson and Andrew Logan changed the hooks in Junior LRD,  Andy Davey completed some check flights and flew his first solos at North Hill.  -J&P

Wednesday 16th August

We had a poor start today with low cloud, strong crosswind, and total cloud cover forecast, but we got the kit out more in hope than expectation.

Once the  cloud base had gone up a bit we started to fly, Roly made a start with Trial lessons but had to cancel  due to the conditions, at the same time the south ridge started to work and for the rest of the day the  most of the flights were 30min plus. 

Strong southerly crosswind (John Street)

Nigel was the only one who flew his own glider managing over an hour  on one flight. Nick Harrison completed his yellow card checks, all in all a much better day than we were expecting.  - John Street

Sunday 13th August

With Club flying started as the morning progressed there were predictions of Silver heights being completed later in the day and cross country flights being planned - no surprise that North Hill cafe was busy throughout the morning as pilots anticipated little time for lunch later in the day.

However as is often the case with gliding, predictions are reliant on the weather playing fair to the forecast and unfortunately as the day unfolded it became clear that the high level cloud, which was around for much of the day, was preventing the sun from getting through to really heat up the ground. There were odd thermals evident but often out of reach from a winch launch with various private owners deciding to take an aerotow to endeavour to secure a better opportunity of getting away for a longer flight.

Mid-morning (Mike Sloggett)

The light and generally crosswind throughout the day meant that winch launches were not that high in turn providing limited time for pilots to search for any available lift in and around the airfield. And with the thermals "just too far away" it was no surprise that in and around the airfield there were plenty of 'sink holes' ready to catch out unsuspecting pilots with 'turn in' early decisions being needed in various circuits throughout the day.

Early afternoon (Mike Sloggett)

Trial lessons were completed by Roly Clarke and Pete Bennett in the DG505 and visiting pilots from Kestrel Gliding Club enjoyed flying in various DSGC club gliders.

Late Afternoon (Mike Sloggett)

Pete Startup (Discus 230) and Ron Johns/Daniel Johns (ASH25 711) completed cross-country flights on an Exmoor convergence. - '40kms without turning. Squeaky bum glide home through totally lifeless air though'.

With the gliders and ground kit put away just before 6pm whilst it turned out to be a day of unfulfilled promise nevertheless everyone who wanted to fly had flown, so a good day all round. - Mike Sloggett

Saturday 12th August

The day started quietly, with club members almost outnumbered by our guests from Kestrel Gliding Club, who were bright-eyed and keen to soar the Devon skies even after a night under canvas.  Flying started at around 10:00 with Karen King and Martin Woolner in the K21, whilst Peter Field showed Noah (Kestrel GC) what North Hill looked like from a K13.  Unfortunately, after only a few flights a halt was called to allow a rain band to pass through.
The Clubhouse began to fill – numbers swelled by a family from Cornwall who had braved the traffic on the A30, and were looking forward to their four booked trial flights including one “mile-high”. Disappointingly, low cloud continued to drag over the airfield, but at last the sky brightened in the north-west, and flying began again at around 1200.
Ellie grasped the opportunity of having her feet temporarily on the ground to get signed off for the winch.  Peter Bennett enjoyed flying Matt Williamson’s ASW-20.
When I left the club at around 1400 (Duty Grand-dad) the sky was looking good; two aero-tows had just whisked two Cornishmen into the sky, and there were smiles all round on the faces of our visitors.
The flight-log shows 48 flights for the day, despite the delayed start.  Longest flight went to Jeff Taberham in the Mosquito, who flew for 2 hrs 20 min after a 2000ft aero-tow. - Aston Key