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Sunday 28th in Norfolk

Holiday time and an opportunity to slope off and visit the local gliding club.  This time it was the Norfolk GC at the massive WW2 airfield at Tibbenham.  What luxury, the classic A set of hard core runways, several hangars and a substantial club house complete with mains supplies, briefing room, bar and bacon butties (other refreshments were available).
The practice is not to use the cross runway (the horizontal line of the A) because its condition is not too great (looked fine to the casual observer).  This meant we had a 90 degree cross wind and with the launch point at the runway intersection, the result was launches of only around 1,000.  Lots of runway behind the launch point meant it was very easy to land behind the launch point (in fact effort had to be made to get back to the launch point).  Launching was from the grass alongside the runway and landing on the hard runway.  Some folks landed into wind on the grass alongside the cross runway.  Interestingly (to me at least) only radio was used for launching.  The launch point vehicle had lights but apparently rarely used.

Launch point
A fairly quiet day so it wasn’t long before I was able to go for a site check with Andy the DI in their K21.  Prior to my flight only short circuits were being flown.  I found some weak lift and scratched away gaining a whole 50′ at one point but only managed 14 minutes.  The Vega that took the next launch and joined us and was less wimpy than I was about the drift and took the longest flight of the day (by a very large margin) of just over 1 hour.  Slightly higher launch of 1,100′ in the club’s Astir but only a couple of turns in zero within reach.  Then it was time to blag a ride in the privately owned T21.
 
Launch point seen from a T21 – end of the day with 2 gliders being towed to the hangar

At the end of the day almost all those who had been flying lent a hand to derig the K21 ready to be sent off for its ARC.

Many thanks to the members of Norfolk GC who made me most welcome and offered me the chance to sample the delights of facilities at Tibenham – next time hopefully there will be more in the way of thermal activity.  It’s not very often one gets the chance to move from a K21 to a T21.

The T21 is called “The Barge” by it’s owners so just in case it lands on one of the broads
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Saturday 27th September

A modest turnout but another very enjoyable days flying at Shalbourne, by close of play we had flown a reasonable 31 flights.

It was one of those days were some where treated to extended flights whereas others could only do circuits, all in the timing.

Not that these conditions worried Tim or me as we were having great fun (well I was!) doing his 5 year instructor checks. On one flight we did manage to contact good lift which took us to 3,400ft which enabled us to spin and spiral dive to our hearts content which meant that Tim was duly signed off again.

But we weren’t the only ones to stay up, Steve Gaze got top honours with 1:15 in the K8 and despite a valiant effort Paul P managed a creditable 1:09 (also in the K8). Alan P was next with 1:07 flying  his Oly.

Charles McCallin took me back up to 3,400ft in JPC and with all that height we got plenty of exercises signed off in his progress card during our 48 mins aloft.

Congratulations go to Graham Tanner for completing his XC endorsement at Bicester recently, he only turned up so that I could sign his forms but he took little persuading in taking a flight in Puchacz!

Thanks to Nigel B for helping with the trial lessons and to Richard D for also lending a hand.

Oh and after its 100 hours check the Puchacz was tested and returned to service after the customary looping and VNE stuff by yours truly.

Phil

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Wednesday 24th

Colin B had sent out an email telling folks not to be put off by the rain in the morning as soaring would follow – and soaring there was (well, unless you were the HAX boys taking a K13 for a series of circuits).  Paul B set the days time to beat on the 4th launch of the day with 1:08 in the K8.  That was topped by Jonty H with 1:10 (again in the K8).  Jonty was looking to get the spot landing entry on his post solo card signed off by landing in line with the launch point.  The assembled gentlemen enjoying the sunshine in the lee of the caravan debated as to whether his landing back at the empty launch point qualified as a spot landing as he must have been all of half a meter short – these boys can be hard to impress.

Looking for gliders at an empty launch point

Bill C took the honours for longest flight in the Vega with 54 minutes.  Longest K13 flight was Rowland with 44 minutes, gaining a bronze leg on his 5th (or there abouts) solo flight.  King of the castle was claimed by Paul Mc who topped out at 3,400′ in the Vega.
Footnote: I suppose it’s not really fair to pick out the HAX boys as you had to be a bit lucky with the timing of your launch.  Only 8 of the 23 launches managed more than 20 minutes.  I also have to appologise to Jonty H as I stripped him of his longest flight honours.  I only took the K8 as it seemed rude to leave it sitting when there was spare cable sitting next to it.  Mind, it took 900′ of the 2,000′ launch to find my first (weak) climb.

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Sunday 21st

What a difference a change of air overnight makes.  Saturday those who turned played the “is that a pylon I can see” game through the murk.  Sunday, great vis and decent wind from the north with just a touch of east boding well for the ridge.  Unfortunately (?) the ridge lift got mucked up by the thermals.  Lots of members appeared needing the attention of an instructor – without Richard D’s help I would never have got through the list.  Lots of trial lessons too, which kept Peter E busy.  The entire club fleet had a good airing.
Stewart R from The Park turned up with his Ventus being drawn by the favourable forecast.  After 3 hours he returned with tales of a couple of low scrapes on his way back from Oxford.  Phil M and Carol P disappeared in their Janus for a couple of hours but I didn’t hear where they got to.  Bill C had a decent flight in his K6 but the private Puchacz seemed to have the knack of launching into the sink between the thermals.
Almost 19 hours flown off 45 launches and 29 people flew.  A busy and excellent day.  Thanks to all who helped out (special thanks to Chris K who did most of the winching despite felling ropey and did training of new winch drivers).