Thursday 9th May

Overcast with low cloud to start after yesterday's rain, but by mid-morning it started to break and first launch was at 12:00. 

Improving sky -grid ready to go (Mark Layton)

The sky still looked a little ominous at times with some showery rain although the ridge was working a bit. 

Shower clouds (Mark Layton)

But as the afternoon progressed with lots of training and check flights, the sky steadily improved.

Sky got better and better (Peter Smith)

By late afternoon it was positively booming with some nice streets (well only to the motorway),   those who ventured across the line found a lot of sink in some presumably wave interference.

Supercat and Skylaunch winches (Mike Horwood)

And the Supacat winch was given an annual airing. Thanks also to Ian Hunt and Aston Key for the grass-cutting to get the stripes on the airfield for Open Day.

Nice day - 43 launches altogether with  8 flights over an hour, and 4 private gliders local soaring, Last landing was at 18:30  but it was still soarable. Thanks all - J&P

Sunday 5th May

After yesterday's spectacular skies, and great soaring in the south west it was hoped for more of the same with lighter winds. A busy morning with lots of private gliders eager to launch.

Large grid at North Hill (James Hood)

 Martin Bennett passed his solo checks, and flew the K21 after a short layoff. Emma Kendall got back in the air after some months out of action with a skiing injury, and lots of members enjoyed catching some tricky thermals.

Congratulations to Martin Woolner on completing his NPPL SLMG with Ian Mitchell in the Rotax Falke.

Martin Woolner completes NPPL (Jill Harmer)

Dan Hender finished the day with an hour long soaring flight and plenty of aerobatics with Ian Mitchell.  55 Launches in total with 15 private gliders out soaring. - Emma Kendall

Junior LRD at Tesco's (Mike Sloggett)

At Tesco's in Cullompton, Junior LRD was on display in the car park, publicising our Open Day  event next Saturday 11th May. There was a lot of interest from the Sunday shoppers. Thanks to all the helpers who gave up there flying day. - J&P

As viewed by most of the cross-country pilots (Phil Morrison)

Cross-Country

After a spectacular Saturday, despite the 20kt wind, the Cross-country pilots were psyched up for an even more epic Sunday. However by 9:30am the early cumulus clouds were showing rapid vertical development with the tops spreading out like a ‘wet blanket’ to shut out the sun and spoil the fun! By 11:00am the sky over North Hill was completely over-developed while to the west of Cullompton the sun was still getting through and cumulus were still forming. So Phil Morrison and James Hood (DD3) and JB, with the benefit of turbos, set off to the west followed shortly by Pete Startup 230, Ron and Dan  Johns 711 and Simon Minson and Stu Procter in JZK.

Ron & Dan over Dartmoor in 711 (Ron Johns)

For me (JB) it was a straight glide to Cadbury before finding a climb then a tip-toe to Crediton West (Yeoford) and on to Okehampton East before heading for Bodmin. Well that was the plan, but it all went to rats! Cornwall's a different country and seems to have it’s own weather too! Two separate convergences lowered the cloudbase by 1000ft, and Bodmin (still 50km away) looked too much like hard work, so I turned Launceston and back tracked to the better conditions before heading north to Eaglescott. Meanwhile 230, 711 and JZK had by various routes headed for Launceston. Barnstaple looked like it was well into the sea air, so I went to South Molton then east to Bampton, where a super convergence had formed to provide a nice romp on to Taunton. 

Quantocks, Hinckley Point, and Bridgewater Bay (JB)

Meanwhile the rest of the gang turned Launceston and returned to NHL exploring lots of Devon’s nooks and crannies en route!

Dragons breath dangly clouds marking the sea breeze convergence south of chard (JB)

The visibility was stunning and from Taunton, it was clear by the dangly ‘dragon’s breath' clouds along the south coast that the Sea Breeze convergence was starting to work, so I headed south via Chard for a top up climb before going to play along the sea breeze convergence as far as Beaminster. I suspect it would have taken me to Dorchester but time was getting on so I turned around and followed it back to Chard then home for a nice cup of Tea! - JB

Saturday 4th May

Today was a promise of great tasks and the messages on the Whats App group during the week really inspired everyone. 

What a great sky (James Hood)

Looking down on North Hill (Lisa Humphries)

Otherwise the club was still busy all day in very challenging conditions, strong winds and lots of broken thermals this morning. Rowan opened the club and was DI until lunchtime when Peter Smith stepped in for the afternoon stint.

Great visibility (Peter Smith)

 There were many extended circuits with lots of sink and tricky to get away from the winch but towards the end of the day the lift in the blue holes was fantastic (6 up!). 

It was great to see Ross Pratt again and he managed a flight after his Duty LM  this afternoon with John Sillett, also Sandy Harrup went home happy after a couple of ‘sinky ‘circuits but then she was rewarded with a long soaring flight at the end of the day. Simon Leeson was kept busy in the tug and still trying to entice members to take more, Stu Procter had several flights with members this afternoon. Mike Fairclough took his PIK for a local play in the skies.

Sandy Harrup and Lisa (Lisa Humphries)

The Pundits task was 307kms Launceston - Gillingham,  Ron Johns mentoring Andy Davey in 711, Simon Minson mentoring Paul Summers in JZK, Pete Startup in 230, JB in JB, Wyn Davies in W7 (landed ar Dunkeswell), and fastest (task in reverse) Phil Morrison and Nick Jones in DD3. Eric Alston completed 257kms Blandford - Okehampton. 

"Always tricky to set(and fly) East West tasks in a brisk Northerly breeze. Much street crossing, a couple of difficult patches where wave and sea air seemed to be messing with it, and some great climbs with the cloudbase reaching 6,500' towards the end of the day. Going West first was a gamble - it may have been better to go the other way round? Fun flight with DD3, JZK, JB and W7." Pete Startup

Simon and Paul in JZK on the way back (Simon Minson)

As I left the club the cross-country chaps were all happily reciting their nice day out, more tomorrow I believe as well! - Lisa Humphries

Thurs 2nd May

The early morning sunshine clouded over leaving patches of orographic cloud  at the west end of the airfield. Some more general low cloud  passed through with a weak trough. So there was a lot of grass-cutting and general fettling at the private trailers during the morning.

K21s waiting their turn  to try to stay on the ridge (Jill Harmer)

After an early lunch, winch launching began in an increasing north westerly breeze. The ridge however proved a bit more fickle but was OK to park on whilst waiting for the next thermal to come through.

Mike checking if the rhododendrons are out yet on the 'walk' (Mike Sloggett)

Chris Warnes in the Junior and Andrew Logan in ASW15 enjoyed the longer flights of nearly an hour.

Grey skies over North Hill (Mike Sloggett)

Thanks also to 'the team of members' who rectified the Pawnee brake this week, Mark Courtney completed the taxying and test flight. 26 flights in total in a rather cold May Day. - Thanks All - J&P

Fri 26th April - Cerdanya

With no flying in Devon on Wednesday and Thursday due to the weather, it's good to hear from Ian Mitchell in Spain enjoying the sunshine.......

Deflections checked, Annual completed (Ian Mitchell)

It’s not often you are asked to carry out an annual inspection and ARC renewal  in a different country so when asked if I was interested I couldn’t refuse.

Ian Mitchell selfie

So here I am at La Cerdanya, a Spanish club in the Pyrenees.

Just off tow hoping to make it to the mountains (Ian Mitchell)

View from 10,000ft (Ian Mitchell)

Wednesday & Thursday were spent doing the inspection and today was an opportunity to test fly the LS4. - Ian Mitchell

 

Monday 22nd April

A relaxed day at the club today with just a few members fettling gliders and working on caravans etc.

The Chairman supervises  the new GreenKeeper! (Sally Hender)

Thanks are due though to Chairman Nick assisted by Team Hender who tackled much mowing in the morning and Nick for much strimming later in the day to tidy up the club grounds.

Also to Roy Boddy for stepping up to cut the longer grass areas on the field with the big mower on Saturday after flying. Many thanks, much appreciated. - Peter Smith

Sun 21st April

After Saturday's blue circuits apart from a bit of soaring in the afternoon, RASP showed more hope for Sunday in the West Country......

The very sunny blue sky above the airfield together with a forecast of reasonable soaring potential ensured a good number of Club members, both for pre-solo training and also private owners anticipating a day of soaring. The forecast was for more Easterly winds than was evident first thing so with a light and variable wind the launchpoint was set up in the North East corner of the airfield.

Josh, Charlie and 'wannabe K6 pilot Dan' (Sally Hender)

Both K21s, a Junior and the DG505  were brought out of the hangar,  and Josh and Charlie rigged K6 DRE and soon it was on with the day’s flying with Bennett and Hender families contributing fully to keeping the launch point running smoothly.

The Cross country task for the Pundits was set by Phil Morrison  NHL- Molton - Launceston - Wimbleball - NHL 206Km to take most advantage of where RASP was showing strong conditions and maybe even some clouds!

Wimbleball Lake (Simon Minson)

Mid-morning it was evident that just off the winch launch towards the South West there was a ‘hot spot’ of thermals being regularly produced and one by one gliders established themselves into the rising air providing the height to look for even better thermals.

Meanwhile private gliders started to steadily appear and after launching whether by aerotow or winch “disappear” off into the hazy blue sky - with the inversion and related limited visibility  providing the challenge of spotting other gliders whether from the ground and particularly in the air.

The morning saw several Trial Lessons completed with Philip and Samuel Rees and Gavin Roberts..

Around lunchtime the wind gradually moved to a more evident Easterly flow so the decision was made to change ends with a “fingers crossed” move of the launch point to the North West corner of the airfield - after a long walk with the Club gliders early afternoon various Club and private gliders were soon being launched into the air, readily finding lift sources all around the airfield and continuing to “disappear” off somewhere around the Devon countryside.

Well marked inversion (Mike Sloggett)

Most of the private gliders just enjoyed the local soaring to ~6000ft amsl, but the Pundits completed Phil's task with Simon Minson in SM, Pete Startup in 230 and fastest DD3 with Phil Morrison and Nick Jones  at 72kph.

With ongoing teamwork the Club flying list was completed with just time for ‘second turns’ for some members before hangar flights were decided.

A long hot day under a very sunny and warm sky but a really good day all round - with everyone at the Club today making the most of the conditions and with teamwork to help get others into the air very evident. 36 winch launches and 8 aerotows- Thanks all - Mike Sloggett

Friday 19th April

Well it certainly was a Good Friday , a nice day out and very warm. The visibility was disappointing but everyone made the most of the day and all who turned up flew. James Flory, Wooly and I assisted with the required instruction duties and it was lovely to see Dick Stevens and Roy Boddy back for the Easter weekend. Alan Turner and Hans Jenssen took the Junior for a few laps around the local area and as usual Daniels family were keeping the club operations going with Father and Son also getting in the air. Daniels friend had his first gliding experience, and was being utilised well by Daniel collecting gliders in the Gator. Martin Woolner continued his training in the Motor glider and James Hood had one Aerotow job with the Perky and Rick Andrews who went aloft for some spinning with Chris Wool. 

Roy Boddy with Lisa (Lisa Humphries)

"So glad I went gliding yesterday. 5 minute circuits all morning but all afternoon it was blooming fabulous and who'd have thought I'd miss my silver height by just a couple of hundred feet in a clear blue sky! Thanks all who turned up and made it possible." - a very happy Hans

Visibility could have been better (Lisa Humphries)

Flights were mainly extended circuits but there was some lift in the afternoon if you could find it, Roy and I managed to get to 2200ft before being called down at 5pm as the helpers on the ground had to go home. Thanks to Graham and Cheryl for opening up at lunchtime and nice to see the Minsons who brought Jules mum to the club for lunch. - Lisa Humphries

Thurs 18th April

It was a slow start due to some misty low cloud and rotor, but there was some useful housekeeping while we were waiting. The fallen branches along Wheelbarrow Lane were collected up, the Hangar side door was painted, the charging connector for the LPV was replaced, and the Perkoz was rigged after it's Annual this week (thanks George Sanderson and Andrew Logan).

Hazy high clouds (Jill Harmer)

Then it was off to the southwest corner with the gliders. and mainly short circuits. After a change of sides with a southerly wind, it suddenly got soarable up to 3000ft and the visibility improved.

Collecting the fallen branches along Whellbarrow Lane (Mike Sloggett)

Jack Raybould had 9 flights on  his 1:1 with John Sillett, and Claire Turner and Max Granger enjoyed their Trial lessons, Max's Dad Ken decided to try out gliding at North Hill as well.
George Vojtisek in Junior and George Sanderson with Pete Harmer in DG505  had the noticeably longer flights of 48mins and 43mins respectively.

John Borland enjoyed 90 minutes of field landing practice with Ian (Ian Mitchell)

Congratulations to John Borland who completed his Cross-Country Endorsement with Ian Mitchell in the Rotax Falke.

Only 22 flights due to the late start, but a pleasantly warm day once the wind dropped. Thanks all - J&P

Wed 17th April

Another flyable Wednesday with a long list of pre-solo members, John Sillett was back from his duties at Merryfield and Glenn Turpin has returned to his Greek island to catch up with his sailing.
It was a slow start with the misty conditions making instruction difficult and the solo pilots hanging on until the visibility improved.

Pete Warren briefing Sue Dyson (John Street)

 Dave Clements and Tim Petty rigged the Pilatus B4 and Geoff Lawrence gave the Pegasus an airing.

Walking up to the southwest corner (John Street)

It became soarable after lunch and several gliders had reasonable soaring flights with poor vis and low cloud base. - John Street.