Similar forecast to Wednesday with strong north-westerly wind, cycling very quickly and cloudbase eventually reaching 3000ft QFE. 12 names on the 2-seater list proved a little daunting for the lone instructor first thing, but more instructors turned up during the morning and everyone flew. This must have been the busiest Thursdays for a long time, despite losing some time to a monster winch snarl-up! There was a Trial Lesson, who decided to join on quarterly membership on the spot. Congratulations to Nigel on soloing in the K21.
The Devon Youth Service turned up for an evening of Trial Lessons.
Wednesday 28th July
The forcast for Wednesday was for a sunny day, with a brisk N/W wind - and so it turned out, all the club gliders were in use all day.
The thermals started early at 10am and lasted into the evening, with the cloud base rising steadily and ending up at 3,000ft above site. Three Trial lessons and about 10 members wanting two seater flights kept 7 Instructors busy all day.
Roly and Clive were back-seat training with Mike and JB, John St passed 4,000hrs gliding (17,562 launches).
There were eight private gliders all having long flights, but no-one went far as the flying wind was a little strong 15-20 knots and the sky kept cycling so quickly (about 15mins) that the streets weren't totally reliable. Pete & Jill spent all afternoon in OL trying to read the sky with the expectation of some wave or a sea-breeze convergence.
The Swift Team comprising Swift S-1, Pawnee and a Silence Twister dropped in on their way to Culdrose air display. The Twister departed with smoke and two barrel rolls.
Pete (230) and Matt (477) also had a fun day at Sid's Task week - see National ladder.
The thermals started early at 10am and lasted into the evening, with the cloud base rising steadily and ending up at 3,000ft above site. Three Trial lessons and about 10 members wanting two seater flights kept 7 Instructors busy all day.
Roly and Clive were back-seat training with Mike and JB, John St passed 4,000hrs gliding (17,562 launches).
There were eight private gliders all having long flights, but no-one went far as the flying wind was a little strong 15-20 knots and the sky kept cycling so quickly (about 15mins) that the streets weren't totally reliable. Pete & Jill spent all afternoon in OL trying to read the sky with the expectation of some wave or a sea-breeze convergence.
The Swift Team comprising Swift S-1, Pawnee and a Silence Twister dropped in on their way to Culdrose air display. The Twister departed with smoke and two barrel rolls.
Pete (230) and Matt (477) also had a fun day at Sid's Task week - see National ladder.
Sunday 25th July
A few trial lessons were flown, two new members, with some coming back from last weekend to take advantage of their quartely membership.
Thermals were pretty much non-existent, it seemed as though we were playing with down from the wave all day. The ridge didn't work at times even with 10 kts face on!- it must have been out of phase.
Paul attempted his Silver distance to The Park, twice, however the thermals were avoiding NH and getting away wasn't going to happen. - HF
Thermals were pretty much non-existent, it seemed as though we were playing with down from the wave all day. The ridge didn't work at times even with 10 kts face on!- it must have been out of phase.
Paul attempted his Silver distance to The Park, twice, however the thermals were avoiding NH and getting away wasn't going to happen. - HF
Friday 23rd July
Third, and final, course day. Waiting for the low cloud to clear lasted most of the morning, but we did get about half a dozen launches in before lunch - the first two being soarable, then it was back to circuits and launch failures, real and simulated.
By mid afternoon the gentle north-easterly breeze had dropped to nothing, restricting launch height considerably but as we were only practising circuits this was not a problem.
The week concluded with several very tired people, but all felt that they had advanced their flying over the three days. Thanks to Dick and Les for keeping the launches coming, to Nick for his ever efficient running of the launch point, and to John, Paul and Pete for keeping the back seats warm.
By mid afternoon the gentle north-easterly breeze had dropped to nothing, restricting launch height considerably but as we were only practising circuits this was not a problem.
The week concluded with several very tired people, but all felt that they had advanced their flying over the three days. Thanks to Dick and Les for keeping the launches coming, to Nick for his ever efficient running of the launch point, and to John, Paul and Pete for keeping the back seats warm.
Thursday 22nd July
Throughout the morning we sat in the Clubhouse watching the rain, eventually the field was awash and covered in 10mm of flowing water. However it did start to brighten the field drained and at 3.00pm we were flying. It was soarable to cloudbase at 2000'QFE, the skyscapes were amazing, white clouds, black clouds, bright blue sky, sunlit fields, columns of torrential rain. Then at about 5.00pm a cloud over Taunton started to grow, making its way into wind towards the airfield. It started engulfing all other clouds around it, and turning black and very ominous looking. At 6.00pm, with two launches to go, it seemed to accelerate towards the field, we made a call to pack up, coincident with the first clap of thunder. Ten minutes later we had the field cleared and everything away, five minutes after that the field was awash again - good call everyone, and we rescued three hours good flying from a very wet day.
Wednesday 21st July
An early very sunny start to Wednesday saw a large flying list, we unloaded the hangar in record time only to be rewarded by a sudden downpour followed by a low cloud base. Flying started at about 11am only to be greeted by another deluge, followed by a quick retreat to the clubhouse for an early lunch.
At 1.00pm everybody was back from lunch to a very thermic afternoon's flying, three Trial Lessons were flown by Ernie. Training flights had to be limited to two each because of the long list, the Juniors were both in the air all afternoon with several flights of over 1hr.
It was nice to see Peter S back after his illness and JB returned from his wanderings,we handed over the two seaters to Chris H for the Trial Lesson evening.
- JS
At 1.00pm everybody was back from lunch to a very thermic afternoon's flying, three Trial Lessons were flown by Ernie. Training flights had to be limited to two each because of the long list, the Juniors were both in the air all afternoon with several flights of over 1hr.
It was nice to see Peter S back after his illness and JB returned from his wanderings,we handed over the two seaters to Chris H for the Trial Lesson evening.
- JS
Tuesday 20th July
The rain and low cloud put paid to any flying today, but the course members were treated to classroom work on various topics including:
Circuit planning
Launch failures
Stalling
Air Law
Controls
How a wing works
Instruments
to cover most of the theory elements on the training card.
Circuit planning
Launch failures
Stalling
Air Law
Controls
How a wing works
Instruments
to cover most of the theory elements on the training card.
Monday 19th July
First day of the Franco-Welsh course. Early rising campers were greeted with rain and low cloud on the field, but by 0900 it had cleared, the sun was out and it was starting to get hot. A gentle southerly picked up through the day, and high cloud from an incoming front started to intrude from mid afternoon. There were lenticulars all over the sky, but nothing was going up over the site, so it was circuits all day. Much advancement was made through the day with everyone achieving better flying by the end.
We left the field to the Evening Group of 22 Scouts from Taunton just as the first spots of rain splattered the dust on the wings of the K21s, but unfortunately the evening flying was eventually postponed.
We left the field to the Evening Group of 22 Scouts from Taunton just as the first spots of rain splattered the dust on the wings of the K21s, but unfortunately the evening flying was eventually postponed.
Sunday 18th July
Stuart and Lisa flew approx 12 of Lisa's friends on Sunday night using the DG505 and a K21. One particular friend who is terrified of flying stated 3 years ago that he would have a go when Lisa was an instructor and able to take him up. He never expected that to happen so the thought of having to fly so as not to 'welch on a deal' was terrifying for him but I am pleased to say he now wants another flight asap! The visibility was fantastic and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening which we rounded off with a BBQ. -LH
Saturday 17th July
After the heavy showers and gusty winds on Wednesday and Thursday, the weather took a while to get sorted until the ridge pushed in properly, a moderate westerly with rapid cycling meant quite a busy launch point for most of the day. By the afternoon, the blackest clouds worked best, and it worked well locally but not many ventured far. Pete(230) did O/R to Eaglescott with some scary moments and a 'balistic climb'(see National ladder comments). At one point 7 gliders landed in the space of 2 minutes (unusual for North Hill when the ridge is working). There were 5 trial lessons and welcome to Jim and James who have joined us on quarterly membership.
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