A day for careful handling of the gliders on the ground (and picketing) and 70 knot approaches, however, that did mean launches of over 2,200′ in the K13s and 2,000′ in the Vega. The K8 (unsurprisingly) stayed in the hangar. Too much thermic activity for the ridge to work consistently but it could still be used – just had to watch out for the patches of 8 down. Bob B took the second launch of the day in the Vega and set the target at 45 minutes – nobody beat it. Longest flights were in the Vega, the 3 other launches in it clocked up more than an hour and a half between them.
The Puchacz completed it’s ARC was rigged and test flown by Bob B who took Andy B along for ballast. Good to see the inspector having faith in his work 🙂
Just over 5 hours of flying from 15 launches. Donut service was resumed
Saturday 2nd February
The prediction for Saturday was for a ridge day and though it worked to some extent it was nowhere as good as in October. However, the day was to get exceptional when the thermals took hold, not what is expected at the start of February in the UK. Even the K13 took a trip out to Hungerford and reached 3500′, getting back took 2 mins and 600′.
Given recent rain it was impressive to see how much the field had dried out. The flying statistics were equally impressive:
41 launches
nearly 22hours total flying time in just over 7 hours
7 flights over a hour, longest 1hr 58min
21 members flew, including two new ones
and Pablo had his first solo flight off a winch launch and in the UK.
To round off the day, even though I was duty instructor, I was able to get in my first flight in the LS3 since buying into it, with enough thermals left to get half an our in it.
Good fun had by all.
Wednesday 30th
At least it wasn’t raining and the field became less boggy as the day progressed. Unfortunately, there was a strong, blustery, cross-wind so no flying. Main activity of the day was clearing the branches overhanging the hangar and the club house. With the size and height of these it needed the services of a qualified tree surgeon and that was provided by www.lparkertrees.co.uk who did an excellent job.
The rest of us carted the “trimmings” and tried to trigger a thermal.
Sat 2 Feb – was it really February?
02/02/13
Was this really a Feburary day. Streeting from the north and two runs towards Hungerford in the clubs K13.
I think the photos says it all.
G