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After a late start caused by low cloud that steadfastly refused to clear we made up for it with a busy afternoon.

The major event of which was the Pirat taking to the air for the first time (well its so long since it flew it felt like the first time.) James H must have feared an issue with the airbrakes as he stayed aloft for half an hour before eventually returning and allaying his fear. Nigel and Paul followed converting to it without drama and with cheshire cat smiles. (pictures to follow)

Carol and Phil soared the Janus for an hour as did Bob in the Vega and other soaring flights decluttered the airfield for a while.

Thanks to Steve O and Colin for helping with the 2 seat list.

Much swearing was heard from the hangar as weighings of puchacz EUF was attempted and JPC completed. JPC now needs a few loose ends tidying and putting on insurance and it will then be all ready to go.

In the evening we had light hearted but very enlightening talk from Phil who repackes our parachutes. There can’t be many devices that are used in emergencies for live saving by one group and used for enjoyment by another. His main message whatever their use – look after them!

A day for brass monkeys to stay indoors but our members are more hardy (especially those snugly wrapped up in their Ozee suits). Disappointingly the bitter NE wind did not deliver any lift on the ridge but something was stiring. James Hunneman managed to delay the effects of gravity playing around behind the ridge. Launch heights were limited by cloud base – well not so much a “base” more a layer of increasing murkyness. We did get one blue hole which Steve Barber managed to take advantage of and somehow managed to stay aloft for 16 minutes.

Well what can I say? For me there has only been a handful of occasions over the years that our ridge has worked so consistantly so low down 🙂

The problem we had was that cloudbase was gradually getting lower as the day went by. Initially launches to 1000ft were achieveable (wow!) but as the day passed by this gradually reduced until on the last flight, with Nigel and I in the Janus, we had to give up and turn back because cloudbase was getting just a bit too low!

After releasing at 800 ft half way up the airfield (just at the base of cloud) we pushed straight ahead reaching the ridge at 700ft and found that just as on the previous flights the ridge was still giving a steady 2-4 knots of lift. Working along towards the Gibbet it was clear that the lift was constant but we were also aware of the fact that the cloudbase was becoming lower. As we reached the Gibbet cloudbase had reduced to 700ft so we increased our speed to 80kts and reduced our height to 600ft to keep out of the gloom and raced back following the contours of the ridge, the vario still showing zero. Arriving back at the winch we still had plenty of height to fly a normal circuit and landing.

The K13, lacking the penetration and glide angle of the Janus, just could not get to the lift before having to turn back. If cloudbase had been a few hundred feet more then maybe it too would have been enjoying the conditions as well.

Must admit it is good to get back in the Janus after its little visit to Southern Sailplanes 😉

Phil