Not what you would call a great soaring day but certainly flyable and very well attended. I know I make a lot of noise about the lack of enthusiasm some times but on Sunday there couldn’t easily have had more enthusiasm from more members. The parking area on the field looked like the M25 on a bad day and the flying list was as long as I have seen it for a long time. There were several pre-booked TLs and more turned up on spec. No one left without a flight, Nigel did a sterling job and I managed to fit in one extra for someone who was getting ready to leave due to a longish wait. Stephen O helped with the flying list and check flights and everyone flew although there wasn’t much soaring (unless you count Colin in the LS3 at 3 hours plus). Final tally was 50 launches and the Plough was well and truly open by the time we had packed up. Stephen had a little look at the stats and apparently we manage 50+ launches on one day each year, however, if this level of enthusiasm can be maintained we could manage it again this year. Thanks to all who stayed and worked so hard to keep the field running smoothly and well done Selvam for getting cleared for solo winching.
Special blog header
for one day only to commemorate all Colin’s and others hard work on manufacturing the pitched trailer cover and ensuring we have a serviceable 2 seater trailer now and for the future.
Wednesday 3rd
A slow start, even for a Wednesday, yielded some extended flights for those patient enough to wait for the morning mist to clear. Alternate patches of sunshine and overcast limited soaring time and out of three gliders that were rigged two managed and hour or so. The exception was EEF which steadfastly deigned not to soar in such poor conditions, sulking around the circuit instead. Nonetheless we managed to fill two log sheets and do some useful stuff, most useful of which was Rowland going solo, well done! (Especially for providing a good excuse for an evening tipple.)
Many thanks to Peter E and Stephen for helping out with TLs and other stuff. It would have been difficult to manage otherwise.
And by the way:
“The ASW 15 had just entered the full climb of a winch launch when its pilot saw the helicopter approaching. The Board highly commended him for his lookout; presence of mind and subsequent actions.”
Thus recorded the UK Airprox Board on the prompt action taken by Steve Barber in avoiding a collision with an overflying helicopter.
Saturday 30th
Another day with a very modest turnout. The stiff 90 degree cross-wind and the forecast of a better day on Sunday probably explained why only 7 folks flew on Saturday but 20 flew on Sunday. Number of launches (and number of folks flying) was the same as Wednesday but this time cloud base was 3,700′. The cross wind meant modest launch height and therefore there wasn’t much time to find a reasonable climb (i.e. climb rate>drift rate). Rowland very kindly took most of the short flights and the rest of us had some reasonable soaring. I claimed longest flight time with 56 minutes – which included a little help from the western ridge, the first time I have ever found anything there.