Third Wednesday in a row where we’ve been “blessed” with an easterly crosswind. Only difference this time was the touch of northerly and a lot more of it. The challenge of the day (other than dealing with a lively cross wind) was to get into a double digit flight time. Sitting in the back seat with Jonty H flying, he declared he would do a gentle turn onto his high key. The vario chirped and Jonty got stuck in. Wrestling broken lift and drift he eventually got to 1,200′ at which point the “hot spot” we kept returning to went cold (a chilly 4 down). I did comment that if that was a “gentle” turn I would appreciate plenty of warning for a steep turn. Nobody else came close to Jonty’s 23 minutes but there were another 5 (of the 26) that achieved double digits.
Interestingly (?) we did one more launch and 2 more minutes than Sunday and 15 people flew on both days.
Sunday 14th
Rob S had organised a photography group to fly alongside normal club operations and the following note was received from the group’s organiser Paul (link to the photos will be added once received).
I just wanted to say a big thank you to you and everybody else who helped make last weekend’s gliding and photography day one of the best events we have had this year. Everybody really loved the flying, despite some initial apprehensions, and we were made so welcome that ii felt like were out with old friends. So please pass my thanks to everybody from the club who helped look after us.
I am trying to get a selection of photos and videos together from the day, and will try an set up an album somewhere (probably on facebook) for you to access. I will send you details when this is done.
Once again, many thanks to all at the gliding club from all of us in the photography club.
Wednesday 10th
Another Wednesday, another day with a 90 degree cross wind from the east. This time Colin had promised soaring and soaring we got. What we didn’t get was great vis. It was one of those days when the higher you climbed the smaller area you could see.
Apparently the day started with a bit of a double act preparing the winch. It was decided to replace two joins close to each other with just a single join. Joins replaced and it was found that the drums had been left engage so there was lots of loose cable on the other drum. In sorting that cable fell off the other drum and the quickest way to sort the tangle was to cut out the new join (I was asked to recount that tale by one of the participants).
Flying did get started shortly before midday and the first 8 flights all enjoyed some soaring (between 26 minutes and 1:56). Next 7 launches were just circuits and after that most were soaring flights. After having one of the 7 circuits, off my second launch I made straight for a likely looking cloud over Ham. The reading on the averager just kept getting better and from 2,000′ to 4,000′ (cloud base) it never went below 6 and peaked at 7. After that the averager never got much above 2 up.
Longest flight honours went to Paul McG with 2:04 in the Vega. With 35 launches we were somewhat behind Sunday’s exceptional number of launches but the flying time was more than double that of Sunday’s. If you exclude the longest flight on each day then Wednesday’s flying time was 3 time that of Sunday’s.
It was also a day for a small gathering of folks who were members many moons ago. Tony P rejoined after a lapse of about 25 years. Adam C visited after a similar period away. He was recently in Poland at the World championships as New Zealand’s team captain and now taking time to visit old friends in the UK. Adam and Colin had fun when Adam went as ballast in the Puchacz when Colin decided that the quickest way to get the Pauchacz to the back of the grid (as nobody was waiting to fly it at that time) was to launch and throw it about. Adam got his own back in a K13 when he headed for the only cloud on offer competition pilot style. The other person with a long gap between being a member was Jonty who flew at the club before Tony or Adam’s time – but that was done sitting on his father’s lap.
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| Adam C back “home” at Rivar Hill |
Wednesday 3rd
A slow start, even for a Wednesday, yielded some extended flights for those patient enough to wait for the morning mist to clear. Alternate patches of sunshine and overcast limited soaring time and out of three gliders that were rigged two managed and hour or so. The exception was EEF which steadfastly deigned not to soar in such poor conditions, sulking around the circuit instead. Nonetheless we managed to fill two log sheets and do some useful stuff, most useful of which was Rowland going solo, well done! (Especially for providing a good excuse for an evening tipple.)
Many thanks to Peter E and Stephen for helping out with TLs and other stuff. It would have been difficult to manage otherwise.
And by the way:
“The ASW 15 had just entered the full climb of a winch launch when its pilot saw the helicopter approaching. The Board highly commended him for his lookout; presence of mind and subsequent actions.”
Thus recorded the UK Airprox Board on the prompt action taken by Steve Barber in avoiding a collision with an overflying helicopter.