Category: Flying Reports

Once upon a time Wednesdays were a gentle affair – some setting to on those jobs that need doing, a little flying and a lot of banter for the fortunate few unburden by a “proper” job.  Nowadays Wednesdays (regardless of which day it actually falls on) are a hive of activity with lots more flying.  The jobs still get done and the banter is relentless – plus edible goodies often appear.  There are even folk not old enough to retire (and during the summer holidays those still at school).

This Wednesday was certainly hive of activity with the first launch at 11:03 and, 38 launches later, the last one at 18:20.  Check flights with the 3 recent solo members provided some entertainment for the duty instructor and winch drivers.  After that the long instruction list was steadily worked through (it started of not too long but early afternoon it suddenly grew).  Start of the day didn’t look promising but Colin B insisted it would get good and rigged his LS3-17.  The only private glider to rig.  As he clocked up a flight of over 2 hours (longest of the day) he proved his assessment was spot on.

EUF made a long awaited return to the launch point (thanks to Andy B and others rigging it and then derigging JMX) and was kept busy.  Martin S and Adrian N progressed their winch driving training with Chris K.  Peter E and Trevor G were at the club mainly to work on Trevor’s trailer but Trevor ended up on the winch for a stint and Peter did 3:23 (7 launches) in the back seat.  Mention should also be made of Rowland P replacing something on one of the vehicles (I was told what but…) and Ken H + Tony P progressing the new launch point wagon.

All in all a busy and productive day.

Saturday

Well saturady was ok really, a little westerly breeze was a bit annoying and it wasnt a classic sky but it was soarable for a good while. Tim and Pete E knocked out the instruction and a few gliders rigged.

Whilst Claire and I were climbing away, it all went very dark,  the animals seemed oddly quiet, the vario spun round and round and round, the radio fell silent… …but it was just the EB29 competing in the European champs flying over us along with a few mere JS1C-21ms

 

 

Sunday 

Sunday was the days of days, thats what we expected. Many many gliders rigged and we formed a grid and launched them off on task. Most of us ran up the oxford corridor in excellent conditions, nearly 6000ft cloudbase and good 5+kt averages, sometimes troubling the top stop. Most found however that when they turned round it was spreading out and that made the return much more difficult. Claire and I continued on task to Bullington but abandoned our declaration for Oxford again at Chievely and bravely ran away home.

Huge congrats to John and Jeremy on their 50km Silver Badge flights, both completing Oxford out-and-return tasks.

 

John’s picture of his winglets

 

Carol insisted on some old-school TP photography, for those that are interested they can download the on-line OS maps and spend tonight working out if they are in sector…..

Running out under a perfect sky

 

 

 

Yet another wet Wednesday but it was followed by a promising looking Thursday.  Enough wind on the ridge to make that work – except any ridge lift was messed up by thermals – but oh what streets were on offer.  first few flights were disappointing short but then Colin B (LS3-17) and Steve B (ASW-15) launched and remained airborne.  In Steve’s case for almost 3.5 hours, practicing dashing between Newbury and Didcot.  Colin reported that his return from Marlborough took 6 minutes.  From then on it was mostly decent soaring flights with climbs up to 4,650′ (that being James N who bettered his Granddad’s high point by 100′ and flight time by 2 minutes).  The wind in the morning was a bit lively for early solo pilots but as the wind eased in the afternoon Bob S and David N managed to fit in solo flights.  David clocking up just over an hour on his 4th solo flight.

Tony P made a return after his hip operation (I’m sure it was Tony that folks were pleased to see rather than his freshly baked Victoria sponge) and found he could manage to get in and out of the Puchacz (with some soaring in between).  A little bit of a bake-off competition going with Anica contributing her scones, shortbread and cinnamon swirls.  Bob B provided a healthy offset with delicious apples from his garden.  The average age of midweek flying was considerably reduced with 3 junior members flying.

Big thank you from me for the backseat help provided by Bob B, Peter E and Colin B.  Without their help I wouldn’t have been able to get through the list (r sneak off for a decent soaring flight in the Ls3-17).  Not to forget the winch drivers (especially Trevor G who got us started when the other winch drivers were rigging and Ken H who went on the winch as soon as he arrived and only got dragged off when it was time for him to fly).

Another splendid “Wednesday”

Saturday – Big Showers

Retrieve vehicle window

 

Sunday – Better than forecast

N’s window

N’s window

737’s window