Author: StephenO

Bit late in catching up with a couple of the very few flying days in December.  On Wednesday the 19th when we were able to take advantage of a sunny day and clocked up 25 launches when canopy misting stopped play before we ran out of daylight.

The usual up and down day for the time of year with 3 folks creeping into double digits with 10 minutes.  On the last flight of the day Steve B smashed that with a whole 13 minutes.

Unusually (for this December) there was some flying on the weekend.  Just the Saturday but flying was curtailed due to a hinch snarl up after 14 launches.

With the next Wednesday falling on Boxing Day we shifted to Thursday, which turned into the best day of the week despite the fog round and about.  Leaving Newbury in the gloom I held little hope for any flying but at Hungerford the fog disappeared.  Some great views with the pockets of fog around.

We managed to squeeze 28, short, flights out of the day with only Ken P getting to double digits with 10 minutes.

Overall, December was not exactly great but we’ve had worse but it was dire for weekend flying. Only 1 of the 5 flying days was a weekend accounting for 14 launches of the 100 launches.

Not exactly a promising day but we were able to fly.  South easterly with some fairly lively turbulence on approach in the lee of the tree.  Only 10 launches (one of which was a launch failure)  with Steve B taking longest flight honours with only 7 minutes.

Before flying there were jobs done with the MT shelter cover moved to (hopefully) keep it safe from rats.  It proved a bit challenging with more opinions of what to and how to than Brexit.  Colin also set to adjust the new matting at the launch points.  The K13 got restored to the right way up too.

Seems like we have to keep our wits about us and move “Wednesday” to more suitable days at the moment.  Tuesday was the one day that looked flyable and fortunately enough folks said they could make it.

Looking toward Didcot

Interesting forecast showing Northerly at 12:00 and Southerly at 13:00.  Fortunately there was naff all wind so we set-up with the launch point at the north end.  As the day progress the wind strength increased (slightly) and launches to 1,700′ were available in the K8.  Not much call for my services other than one annual check so I got in a solo flight and matched Rob J’s longest flight of the day – a massive 11 minutes.  Ok, not very impressive but flying days have been few and far between recently.  After a record breaking October, November was heading for a record in the opposite direction but was saved on the last day of November by another moving Wednesday.

What a splendid end to an exceptional month.  Despite the shorter day (thanks to the clock slipping back over the previous weekend) and, for most of the day,  operating on a single cable and a large tractor and trailer hauling earth (or something) from one end of the field to the other we clocked up an impressive 40 launches.  Between Ken P, Peter E and myself we kept all 3 2-seaters busy.  Thanks to the retrieve drivers being ready to collect the single cable we maintained a good launch rate.  Mainly a day for circuits but Rob Jarvis proved there was some soaring to be had with his 26 minutes.  Ken R made a determined effort to better that and clocked up 33 minutes – however, that was off two launches with one of them at 22 minutes.  Just 6 of the 40 launches got into double digit flying time.  My flight with Darren McK was particularly memorable.  He followed a red kite down a cloud street and we slowly crept up on it and overtook it very close by.  Probably the best view of a kite I’ve experienced (and I’ve flown with kites lots).  Unfortunately, my ‘phone was buried underneath my Ozee so not possible to get at it in time to take a photo.

Big thanks to Colin B for fixing the defective guillotine and Chris H for fixing another leg on the launch point wagon.  Stan O moved up market with his bargain buns – this time from Waitrose.

Over the month we clocked up a record breaking (for October) 14 flying days (previous best 11) and 371 launches (previous best 252).  However, total flying time was 57:34, only the 3rd best (best was 71:12),  Unfortunately, November is trying to compensate starting with 2 non-flying days and 3rd day is currently looking not at all promising