Category: Flying Reports

Don’t know what happened but the wind wasn’t coming from the north. Maybe that’s why it was a modest turnout. However, plenty enough folks to operate and de-rig HCF for its 100 hour check. It also meant there was more chocolate cake (a particularly fine offering from Tony) and M&S chocolate roll (‘fraid I don’t know who to thank for that)

A decidedly wintery look and feel to the day and with that due west wind modest launch heights short circuits were the order of the day. However, the views were excellent.

After the rubbish December we were hoping for something better but January last year was the worst ever month in over 10 years (probably ever). This January, however, proved exceptional – well, that is if you fly mid-week. Only the 3rd highest number of launches but the most flying time, just 3 minutes shy of 36 hours.

Midweekers may be in danger of becoming a little blasé about clear blue skies and ridge winds, but Wednesday, despite the blue skies, didn’t quite live up to the previous two weeks. However, seagulls in the adjacent field provided some entertainment, following the plough before settling in a sunny hollow, then lifting as one into an unstable whisp, pushing forward to the ridge before returning to the ploughed furrows and then repeating the process.

Unfortunately all of this was happening below 200 feet, so not much use to us.

Weekend doesn’t promise much does it? Looks like good soaring might be had in the Bristol Channel though.

Sunnier and less windy than expected: what a nice day it’s been! We’ve had a busy day with a final push on the BI training ahead of their course next weekend (good luck guys!), lots of keen SUGC pilots and in general, a fair bit of aviation being committed. Congrats to Matt Beckett for being signed off checks 🙂 After flying, the XC Coaching programme continued with our intrepid Team ICL learning how to analyse their flight traces and identify improvement areas. Here’s the moon rising over the field as we landed from the last flight.