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Still here

Yet again not much blog activity which reflects the limited flying.  Then just as there’s a glimmer of improving weather, and longer days, we are faced with the huge uncertainty of Corvid-19.

Since the last blog entry there has been the BGA conference where our small, humble, club waked off with a prestigious trophy for the most cross-country endorsements (as a proportion of the number of instructors).  Liz represented the club at the award presentation.

The club AGM was help at The Plough in Shalbourne.  A motion to change the number of elected positions and appointed positions was passed.  Also, Colin B’s huge contribution to the continued improvement of the club’s infrastructure was recognised by awarding him life membership.

Club & private ‘chutes all repacked – all we need is the opportunity to wear them

As to flying – the opportunities to fly have been few and far between thanks to the continued run of rubbish weather.  Since the last reported flying day (12th Feb) we have only managed to fly on 19th February (10 flights), 1st March (9 flights), 17th (17 flights) and the 11th (10 launches)

Look who has just landed at the launch point – poser!

Arriving on Wednesday 11th  it was very uncertain whether we would fly.  Forecast 17knots wind gusting 30+ but at least there was a bit of south in it.  Decidedly soft underfoot.  The winch was out and cables laid out so I felt obliged to give it a go. 1,700′ launch and after using a couple of hundred feet to find a thermal it was back to launch height and beyond to cloudbase at 2,000′.  Off to the side of the cloud flying straight into wind and gained another 400′.  Ah this was supposed to be a weather check so need to get back down – spin to the right, spin to the left and side-slip with full airbrakes.  Lively on approach and landing back at the launch point.  It looked as if the thermals would still be there but they proved elusive but Rowland managed to scrap 15 minutes in broken lift but was pipped by Aliaksei who managed 18 minutes.  Everyone had to put up with myself as ballast given the conditions.

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Wednesdays 5th & 12th February

There are distinct advantages in not being burdened by “work” – one gets to fly on a Wednesday and even soar.

On the 5th Bill C and Paul P took the 3rd and 4th launch but didn’t return immediately clocking up 25 and 21 minutes respectively.  A little later Tony P pipped that with 30 minutes but it was Ken R in the Vega that was soaring god of the day with 34 minutes.  James H wheeled out the winch that had the transmission problems.  Having tested it launching tyres it was time to try something a bit more challenging.  First off was yours truly in the K8, 1,600′ launch but I found a way to loose height quickly to get back down in order to see how it faired with a Puchacz.  Ken R was already settled into the Puchacz so I jumped in to provide a bit more ballast.  Launch was fine and the winch declared fit for service.  A huge, huge thanks to James H (and assistants) for getting us to nirvana (i.e. 2 operational winches).  28 launches clocked over the day.

Strangely, Saturday was flyable (but reportedly somewhat sporting) with Bob S forgetting to return to earth for 39 minutes.  There were a few other extended flights but none even got to half of Bob’s time.  26 launches.  Normal weekend flyability resumed on Sunday with a storm.

Who needs a tree surgeon when there’s a storm available

Thanks to Bill C handily having his chain saw in his car the fallen branches got chopped into draggable bits and the early birds at the club cleared the track.  Another “sporting” day with 2-up flying being the order of the day – until towards the end of flying after a rain shower passed it got a lot calmer.  A modest 16 launches with only one extended flight (Martin S with 12 minutes).  A few SUGC members were able to take advantage of few (or no) lectures to come and fly.

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Wednesday 29th January

Blog entries have been few and far between this winter but then so has the flying.  The first weekend of February, as I write this, has been yet another scrub, this time main due to an excess of wind.  Fortunately, we did get to fly on Wednesday.  Still soggy underfoot but with a bit of care…

Snowdrops by the clubhouse

Bob B heard a disconcerting rattle in one of Denzel’s wings.  Further investigation revealed – hazel nuts.  It appears that a dormouse had been using the wing as a pantry.  Bob then went on to set the target on the 3rd launch by clocking up 15 minutes in Denzel which no one else was able to beat or match.  The cross wind kept things interesting – but not too interesting.  With 24 launches a worthwhile day.

Not what you would normally expect to find in a wing

In addition to the flying the two Kens, Andy B and Bob S set too on the club electrics.  Thanks chaps.  Thanks also to Tony P for the biscuits and home made cake.

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and the flying continues

After a 3 week run of non-flyable days it was a great relief that we were able to get our bums back off the ground on 4th January (see previous post from Bob B).  Not only that but the first, first solo of 2020. Just to be certain he could do it again, Aliaksei return the following day.  So, not just one day of flying but a whole weekend.  Quite a difference in the amount of flying though with 30 launches on the Saturday and 12 on Sunday.  Mind, none of the flights across the weekend manage to get into double digits.

Different story with the mid-week flying (which sneakily moved from Wednesday to Friday) when 5 of the 24 launches got into double digits.  In one of those Rob J defied gravity for an astonishing 32 minutes (the other 4 did not exceed 12 minutes).  James H was in attendance to check out launching from the second drum on the refurbished winch.  Huge, huge thanks to James for all his work, and expertise, on the winches.  Also, thanks to the RAFGSA for loaning us their spare winch over this difficult time.

The second weekend of the year was the annual work-weekend.  Some concern had previously been expressed about scheduling it for a weekend when we could, potentially, be flying.  In the event the weather was not suitable for flying but OK for cracking on with the myriad of jobs.  I was there on the Sunday and it looked as if it had been a hive of activity on the Saturday.  The work continued on the Sunday.  After the Saturday night downpour lots of standing water on the roads on the way to the club and the airfield decidedly soggy, which restricted some of the jobs that could be tackled.

As I sit writing this post, there’s a lull between the very wet and windy Monday afternoon and evening and yet more wet and windy for the rest of today and through the night.  Prospects for the weekend look more promising (if the forecasts are to be believed) with maybe some ridge action on Saturday.

Fingers crossed that 2020 brings us lottsa soaring weather.