Category: Flying Reports

Where was everyone?  For weekenders this was the first flying day for 4 weeks (for mid-weekers 2.5 weeks).  The forecast had been pretty much consistent that Saturday was the only opportunity to fly and yet just a select few turned out.  This time last year flight times were being measured in hours but this year just getting off the ground is an achievement.   Martin H thought he had an unassailable flight time of 13 minutes, having gained 300′ at one point, but Chris K pipped that with14 minutes.

Bit of a late start as monthly guillotine checks were done and HCF rigged but we still managed 29 launches.  The advantage of relatively few folks there – a chance to get seconds of Tony P’s excellent home made brownies.

A rather splendid day (in the midst of a run of non-flying days) with Bob B setting the expectations on the second launch with 30 minutes.  Couple of launches later Paul B topped this with 52 minutes.  The tempting long clouds disappear and Paul thought he had longest flight honours in the bag.  He didn’t account for Martin S’s determination with his well timed 1 hour.  There were several other flights of around 30 minutes but as the day progressed we reverted to circuits.  Still, a most enjoyable day with climbs to 3,000′ and great views of remnants of the weekend’s snow.  35 launches in total.

In addition to the flying Charles Mc and Martin S made a good start in setting to using a mini digger to clear a base for then new winch shelter.

After that day the heavens opened and when it wasn’t raining the field has been too boggy to operate.  Spring? – Pah!  It will come as no surprise that March 2018 recorded the lowest number of launches, days flown and time flown in the last 10 years.

No that’s not the duty instructor and strictly speaking this photo was taken on 17th March – the second outbreak of snow.  here are the stalwarts (plus Stan O wielding the camera) who travelled in hope but abandoned the airfield before the snow arrived.

Another busy Wednesday with 32 launches.  On the 3rd launch Rob J stayed airborne for 51 minutes in the K13 returning with reports of getting to 3,000′ between clouds with cloudbases significant lower.  That set high expectations for the day which didn’t materialise.  The next best was from Charles Mac with 26 minutes, most of the flights being little more than circuits.

Last launch at 17:27 was completing Steve B’s annual checks – the previous flights being done in December.  After packing the toys away 10 of us converged on The Plough for “Wednesday night is fish-n-chips” and the AGM.