Sun 30th June

Early morning was overcast with some drizzle around and low cloud scudding across the field.  - Disappointing after a reasonable forecast a couple of days ago.

Both K21s, the Perkoz and a Junior were readied and we set up NE-SW in hope of improvement. By the time of the first launch into a steady Westerly wind we released well below cloud base at 1300ft.  Paul Kane added 2 more flights and steadily regained skills and confidence. James Flory arrived to help instruct and set off for a series of flights with Gordon Hutchinson, culminating in Gordon re-soloing after a long break with big smiles all round.  

Cloudbase increased (Peter Smith)

The sky improved but not always reliably and getting away was far from guaranteed. 6 private gliders flew locally with Pete Startup in 230 taking the longest flight at just over 2 hours. It was nice to see Pete and Jill airborne in OL as well on a flight test for the new instrument fit.

Andy Davey needed to complete some eventualities satisfactorily in order to be cleared solo in the Perkoz and thus after being suitably challenged, he did and enjoyed his first solo in NH2.

Well done to Andy Davey for converting to Perkoz (Peter Smith)

Ian Mitchell took on the pm slot and flew with and Charlie and Andrew Broderick and both enjoyed some soaring flights before Ian flew with Chris Woodward to finish his day.

Various Club members flew the Junior with (mostly) extended flights. Treasurer Tom flew the trial lessons with Pete Warren as Tuggie.

North Hill (Jill Harmer)

With hopes for spinning in the Perkoz dashed by a flat tyre, Ruth took an aerotow in HCX, releasing at 2000ft and soaring to 3000ft for a 45minute flight, a nice way for me  to end the day as a passenger in the back seat.

Many thanks to James for stepping in at short notice and to Andy Davey and Chris Woodward who organised the ground ops and kept everything going all day, whilst also managing to fly. And to all who winched, retrieved and generally fetched and carried, as we were stretched to cover it all on occasions. Special thanks to Andrew Logan and team who set to after flying to repair a flat tyre on the Perkoz main wheel.  Everyone flew and some good soaring was had, so although not the day I was expecting a good result. - Peter Smith

Sat 29th June

The hottest day of the year saw a good turnout of members with John Pursey and James Flory the Instructors.  Martin Woolner flew the three trial flights,  and  James in the afternoon, alternating between training and flying the tug.

Karen King converts to Junior (Karen King)

The younger North Hill members Charlie and Josh assisted by Dan, brought out the K6 DRE for half a dozen enjoyable flights. 

Charlie shows Dan how to connect the controls (Rob Hender)

Mark Worsford did four solos, Karen did her first two flights in the Junior, Sandy re-soloed in the K21. 

Sally Hender on cable retrieve (Karen King)

Sally went solo on cable-retrieve and one of the new patio umbrellas got in on the act becoming airborne (thanks to Brian Knight for retrieving)!

Dan's first flight in a Slingsby Eagle (JB)

The Eagle has flown after wing recovering,  and young Dan flew with JB as if he'd been flying it for years.

Cheryl's advice (Karen King)

As everyone appeared to adhere to Cheryl's advice, despite very little thermal activity it was a successful North Hill day. - Karen King

Thurs 27th June

It looked like another blue sky North Hill start, but the wind sock told the story of a strong north easterly wind with increasing gusts.

Windsock tells the story (Jill Harmer)

A check at the western end confirmed the conditions, and led to various ground school briefings, the ground vehicles were treated to a spring clean and the mowers were out in force.

Meanwhile Spot the Gliders showed DD3 with Phil Morrison and Pete Startup completing some laps of the Pandy Run out of Nympsfield. - J&P

Wed 26th June

For the second successive week there was no flying during the day but a sense of optimism that some flying might be possible in the evening. The weather above and around the airfield was broadly the same as last Wednesday evening’s Club flying but with one key difference - this evening was a tad windier than last week.

Blue sky, but horizontal windsock (Mike Sloggett)

After suitable instructor visits to the West end of the airfield the decision was made to set up the winch in the North East corner of the airfield - whilst the large group of Club members present brought the K21s out of the hangar and parked them carefully in view of the strong wind. It was then a question of waiting in the hope that some flying might be possible - the waiting time was used to good effect with some ground school briefings being completed.

And then it was off to the West end of the airfield with both K21s, with everyone briefed fully about the importance of glider handling and parking in the evident windy conditions.

James Flory and JB took a K21 off for a met flight after which two training flights were completed. But then with a freshening wind the decision was made to put everything away in to the safety of the hangars

It was really good to see so many Club members at the airfield for this evening’s flying - thanks to everyone for helping, all being well better weather next Wednesday evening. - Mike Sloggett

Sun 23rd June

After a very enjoyable but long day of flying yesterday, and the Club Social last evening, it was perhaps no surprise that there were quite a few bleary eyed members in the Clubhouse having breakfast and endeavouring to show some enthusiasm for flying.

The forecast and actual weather was not very encouraging either, but as ever it was a question of making the most of a potential weather slot ahead of rain forecast to arrive around lunchtime - so with Simon Leeson, as Duty Instructor, leading the way the winch was set up in the middle of the field at the East end, with the objective of both minimising wear and tear and also helping to reduce the ‘rope bows’ at the launch point.

With inclement weather not far away, just the K21s were walked down to the North West corner of the airfield and it became evident from the met flight completed by Simon and Mark Courtney that the sky was as interesting as it looked - with strong sink around the circuit and an approach which needed suitable diligence from handling pilots. But also with the suggestion of potential wave around the airfield - so the next couple of flights were used to explore same, albeit with limited success.

With rain coming increasingly closer a decision was made to fly HCX back to the other end but which gave Mike Sloggett to provide Sally Hender with a flight to remind her of what fun Rob and Dan have each time they fly - with Sally demonstrating an evident skill in flying the glider it was no surprise that Mike was heard encouraging Sally to become the third member of the Hender family to start learning to fly!

Late morning two visitors turned up for their Trial Lessons and having travelled from Manchester for same every effort was made to get their Trial Lessons completed - but unfortunately the rain arrived as expected and so it was time to put the gliders away, wipe down the wings and fuselages and plan for (dream of) a better day. - Mike Sloggett

Sat 22nd June

With a bright and sunny day the Club was awash with hopeful sky dreamers. The launch point was setup in the North West corner and Mike Sloggett took the first pupil aloft at 10:45 and launched straight into a cloudstreet that had formed from Honiton across the field.

Nice early cumulus (Mike Sloggett)

With cu popping downwind to the North and limited cumulus forming to the South, it was evident that the sea air was being pushed inland by the southeast/southwest wind just as RASP had predicted. This encouraged me to take the next launch in Libelle CLM into a relatively low cloud base, in the hope that I could push downwind to the North and outrun the thermal-killing sea air. It wasn't easy work but I slowly tiptoed up to Wimbleball Reservoir on Exmoor. Although finding the thermal cores proved difficult, there was 5kt averages to be found. 

Wimbleball Reservoir (Rowan Smith)

After Exmoor, I set my sights on visiting Yeovil reservoir. By now the cloudbase had risen and the thermals were much more predictable. Alas by Taunton, nature was calling so I cut my lake tour short to come home, finding a big blue hole over NHL.

North Hill Sea air (Mike Sloggett)

Meanwhile training, family and friends flights and trial lessons continued with Mike Sloggett with help from Steve Westlake and Pete Bennett. The cross/tailwind proved tricky and the ends were changed causing delays, Pete Harmer, duty tuggie was kept busy, there were several private gliders out ASW20 FUN, Libelle M and CLM, Open Cirrus CEC, ASW28 JPT, HES Pegase, DuoDiscus DD3. But as ever launch timing was the key factor with some gliders climbing away from the winch launch and others simply having extended circuits.

Phil Morrison, bolstered by Peter Smith, Rowan Smith and Mike Sloggett took the afternoon shift. Another change of ends was enacted. DD3 took an aerotow and enlisted the iron thermal to get to the good air and took a tour of Somerset. 

DD3 passing Halesland (Nick Jones)

The motor glider G-BKVG took to the air once again having had a new engine fitted. Training continued into the evening  to get everyone at least one flight and stopped just in time for the Hog roast…

Ian and Stu in the Stearman (Jill Harmer)

The Hog Roast (which is provided by the Club to thank all our Members for all their volunteering efforts) was kicked off by an impromptu flyby from Ian Mitchell and Stu Procter in a Boeing Stearman, and Brendan Procter in a Piper Cub. 

Lovely evening  for a social gathering (Rob Hender)

The warm evening was a very pleasant social gathering for members and their families, with Rob & Sally's game of 'Spot the photo' won by Oscar Leeson. Many thanks to Rob and Sally  for organising the evening, and to Steve Westlake  for the live music.- Rowan Smith, Mike Sloggett, J&P

W7 in France - Part 2

It’s now time to leave Barcelonnette and the glorious Alps.

The flights on this trip (Wyn Davies)

The weather has improved greatly and the closing score was Push bike 6, Glider 10.  

Over the Lac de Serre-Poncon (Wyn Davies)

The flights for the past week or so have been in fairly good conditions, and I have been able to tip-toe to Dent De Parrachee not quite making it to Val Thorens. 

Field checking – used to verify after flight, exactly which one to use if needed

Crossing the new valley between Modan and Sollieres was done at height with several gliders marking the lift on my arrival. Return trip was back towards the Glacier Blanc to which I am drawn like a magnet, with its now very familiar characteristics. 

Cloud scrape for the next leap (Wyn Davies)

A great trip, well worth the travel effort. Looking forward to gliding and Tea at North Hill! -Wyn Davies

Thurs 20th June

A day of soaring and showers which weren't quite as isolated as we had hoped. There was a series of walls of rain passing through Devon in the light north westerly wind. The first one lined up with an early lunch, and all the soaring gliders decided to land back in the rain.

Jack had time for some sightseeing on his 1:1 (Jack Raybould)

It was good to see Pete Bennett back from his studies at  Cardiff  University, and also Heather Clarke who has been away for a while. 

Sunlit launch (Mark Layton)

Well done to Rick Andrews for completing his conversion to the Perkoz.

Well done Rick solo in Perkoz (Mike Sloggett)

Due to the rain breaks,  the longest flights of the day were all just under 1 hour, but 40 winch launches in total with 8 aerotows, thanks to Mike and Barbie Fairclough for tugging.

A very pleasant day for non-flaming June, thanks to everyone for contributing. - J&P

Wed 19th Jun

With the weather suggesting that evening flying might be possible, we had a good number of Club members arrive at the airfield for the latest Wednesday flying evening. As there had been no Club flying today due to poor weather it was necessary to get gliders out of the hangar and for the winch and launch point to be set up for launches to the North West - with the windsock suggesting that the ridge might well be working well.

Lovely evening for flying (Mike Sloggett)

With a long flying list both K21s, the Perkoz and both Juniors were soon being brought up to the launch point and then it was on with the flying.

Perkoz landing (Mike Sloggett)

The evening brought some spectacular views of the Devon countryside against a stunning sky and it was evident that the ridge was working well in places with Hans Jenssen demonstrating same through a 24 minute flight.

Great visibility (Mike Sloggett)

The evening provided the opportunity for everyone present to get into the air and achieve their individual goals from their flights, a nice evening all round - thank you everyone who helped this evening in one way or another. - Mike Sloggett

Sun 16th June

Apparently we are in the month of June, although the general weather including wind strength and temperature today suggested it was more like February. The ‘not very optimistic’ forecast had, unsurprisingly, deterred a number of the Sunday regulars from turning up. But by mid-morning, enough members had arrived to be able to start to get the gliders and ground equipment out. But with grey clouds and regular rain showers, as well as the likelihood of more rain arriving from the West, the only decision which could be made was whether to have tea or coffee?

Decision making? (Mike Sloggett)

And then with some optimism about a positive break in the weather, together with enthusiasm being generated by those members present, the hangar doors were opened and gliders brought out - but almost as soon as the gliders were out in the open air then more rain arrived, followed by more rain.

It was then a question of whether to put the gliders away or wait for an improvement in the weather? - meanwhile Mark Courtney and Ian Mitchell had started to complete Mark’s 5 year refresher with some classroom discussions.

Brightening skies (Mike Sloggett)

With brightening skies and a suggestion from the weather radar that some flying might be possible both K21s were taken across to the North East corner of the airfield and soon gliders were being launched skywards - the only question now was whether full height launches could be achieved?

North hill Airfield (Mike Sloggett)

For Mark and Ian who had now moved from theory discussion to practical activities such question was irrelevant as simulated launch failures were clearly the order of the day.

Early afternoon the rain reappeared with a vengeance and with a freshening wind the decision to put everything away was under serious consideration. But after much looking at the weather radar there was an element of confidence that more flying might be possible during the afternoon and that is how the afternoon turned out - albeit the ‘interesting’ conditions on the approach and during landing made for some focused flying and handling of the gliders.

During the afternoon we welcomed Ben and Argentine Person, brother and sister solo pilots from Mendip GC at Halesland, who are visiting various gliding clubs to add to their gliding experience - and there was just enough time to get them both into the air.

Cloudbase (Mike Sloggett)

Then with everyone who wanted to, having flown by late afternoon, it was evidently a suitable time to put everything away. As someone said at the end of the day “Well we made as much as we could out of that day!”

Thanks as always to everyone for the teamwork to help get others into the air. - Mike Sloggett