Thursday 22nd September
The cloudy damp start soon gave way to blue skies and warm sunshine with a gentle westerly breeze, even though there were bands of spread-out during the day. Some members enjoyed decent soaring flights whilst others struggled to get away.
Wednesday 21st September
A reasonable forecast saw a large number of members on site early, we were ready to fly at 10.00am and soon all four two seaters plus the Junior were in the air.
Right from the first flight the ridge and thermals were working in the brisk westerly, later cloud streets added to the fun with a cloud base at over 3,000ft.
With a large influx of new members all four two seaters were in the air all day, thanks to Roly and John for helping out, without their help would not have got through the list, John arrived to fly the B4 and was kind enough to help after he had flown.
Tim and Jonathan were making good use of their new toy and Pete S had a long flight in the Discus, we had to encourage Keith in the last glider airborne to return after over an hour by letting the sheep out.
Karl is still fiddling about with the Falke and even had the new engine working, it was suggested to him that it would fly better if the wings were on. - JS.
Thursday 15th September
We were promised a bright, dry, warm day with a light south easterly wind. So we set up for a south westerly and got away with it.
It was sort of soarable from the word go, but did not really get going until lunch time when some of the private owners came out. That rare bird of prey, the Kestrel, was seen in the air over North Hill again. Jonathan had a play in his 'new' ASW19 again and Joe, who has just joined the syndicate, had a couple of winch launches - the second getting significantly higher than the first, memo to brain - must remember to lock the airbrakes next time!
Early soloists, Geoff, Tom and Malcolm consolidated their achievement with more flights alone, Rhodri completed his 50th solo - not bad in five months, he now leaves us to go to Uni in north Wales.
It was sort of soarable from the word go, but did not really get going until lunch time when some of the private owners came out. That rare bird of prey, the Kestrel, was seen in the air over North Hill again. Jonathan had a play in his 'new' ASW19 again and Joe, who has just joined the syndicate, had a couple of winch launches - the second getting significantly higher than the first, memo to brain - must remember to lock the airbrakes next time!
Early soloists, Geoff, Tom and Malcolm consolidated their achievement with more flights alone, Rhodri completed his 50th solo - not bad in five months, he now leaves us to go to Uni in north Wales.
Wednesday 14th September
A promising forcast of a sunny day with a moderate N/W wind brought everyone out early, only to be greeted by low cloud and rain.But, having a little faith, we set the field up and as soon as the weather started to clear we were ready to fly.
Justin, a silver C pilot from Rufforth joined the club and started with some site checks & launch failures. As the day progressed the weather also improved and by mid afternoon the conditions were booming, most pilots had long soaring flights with the cloud streets extending to North Devon with a cloud base of over 3,000ft (just).
John Si, Pete & Jill, Matt and Roger & Sheila in their visiting DG 1000, all had long flights in their own gliders over 50 flights were logged not bad for a late start. - JS.
The streets looked too inviting to ignore. Matt, in ASW20 M5, followed 'Ron's Rule' - always go down wind first, then at least you have gone. Pete & Jill, in Duo OL, opted for the more conventional go up wind first, then you can always get home. Both got a bit over 55km away before turning back, M5 to Beaminster and OL to Barnstaple.
In the evening, the first of four visits to Exeter ATC took place inspired by the CAA Airspace and Safety initiative "Visit ATC". Everyone found it very informative.
The streets looked too inviting to ignore. Matt, in ASW20 M5, followed 'Ron's Rule' - always go down wind first, then at least you have gone. Pete & Jill, in Duo OL, opted for the more conventional go up wind first, then you can always get home. Both got a bit over 55km away before turning back, M5 to Beaminster and OL to Barnstaple.
In the evening, the first of four visits to Exeter ATC took place inspired by the CAA Airspace and Safety initiative "Visit ATC". Everyone found it very informative.
Friday 9th September - Course week
Today, unfortunately, was not flyable so the morning was spent giving lectures on
spinning and a fantastic introduction to operating the launch computer was
demonstrated by Jonathan. - LH
Thanks to Lisa and Peter F for instructing and Cheryl, Jonathan and Les for helping on the ground.
Thanks to Lisa and Peter F for instructing and Cheryl, Jonathan and Les for helping on the ground.
Thursday 8th September - Course week
The forecast was dire, three warm fronts in quick succession to give low cloud and drizzle all day. However the morning produced low cloud, but no drizzle, time for the course to practise launch failures. Meanwhile CFI tried to sort out the lighting in the clubroom.
At lunchtime it brightened up, to enable full circuits and a little soaring under the 1500' cloudbase, visibility was spectacular. Course members 'Texas Tom' and Malcolm soloed and Mark re-soloed after a few lean months. Roger, visiting from Rattlesden with his DG1000, was winch converted and took Tom for a flight, who was impressed by the upgrade from K21.
Jonathan flew his new toy for the first time, and likened the move from Junior to ASW19 to jumping from a Fiesta to a Mercedes.
Tom before his first solo winch launch
Malcolm after his first solo in a glider
At lunchtime it brightened up, to enable full circuits and a little soaring under the 1500' cloudbase, visibility was spectacular. Course members 'Texas Tom' and Malcolm soloed and Mark re-soloed after a few lean months. Roger, visiting from Rattlesden with his DG1000, was winch converted and took Tom for a flight, who was impressed by the upgrade from K21.
Jonathan flew his new toy for the first time, and likened the move from Junior to ASW19 to jumping from a Fiesta to a Mercedes.
Jonathan about to sample his new plaything
Wednesday 7th September - Course week
The forecast for Wednesday was good with what seemed
the best weather prospect of the week, a strong westerly wind made some interesting
long flights possible the only problem was the frequent showers with up to four
gliders have to make a quick exit from the ridge.
The Wednesday club and Pete & Lisa's course intergrated well and everybody flew before
rain stopped play at about 5.30pm.
JB, Matt & Rowan abandoned an expedition to
Nympsfield at Taunton returning to N/H, JB & Matt rigged and soared our
ridge for a while before returning because of a rain shower, JB made an
interesting landing across the field caught out by some strong sink. -
JS.
Monday 5th September - Course week
Despite the strong westerly winds giving us almost blue card conditions all of
the course members enjoyed about 5 launches each. Mark was tested on cable
breaks and Colin and Graham experienced their first flights along the ridge.
Peter flew with Malcolm, Heather and Tom preparing them for their solos to
follow later in the week -LH
Sunday 4th September
Sunday started bright and with a very early start the
gliders were ready to launch just after 9.00am, after the first launch scattered, low
cloud halted flying for a short while, after that the weather greatly improved
during the morning providing booming thermals to over 4,000ft. The thermals lasted well into the afternoon but
rain started about 5.00pm to halt flying, everybody flew and the tug was put to
good use many long flights were recorded. - JSt
For those that set off along the cloud streets into the brisk south westerly wind, found flying quite challenging with a fair amount of turbulence behind Dartmoor and uncentreable thermals, but no locatable wave.
Congratulations to Dylan for getting all the paperwork signed up for Bronze following his week course at Lee on Solent.
ICL - official result has been published by Long Mynd Blog - Double scrub and the trophy retained by Hus Bos. But very well done to all the North Hill competitors and crew for getting us to the final and attempting to compete with fairly heavy mobs. Thanks to Andrew for the nail-biting team selections and organisation.
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