11/12/13
They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” – I think Colin’s last lyrical entry puts the lie to that cliché. The few of us who made the effort to make our way through the fog to the clear air at Rivar Hill enjoyed flights to remember – with one exception. Rowland needed the services of an instructor but the canopy’s of both the K13 and Puchacz misted up (despite all our efforts). For reasons best known to itself the K8 remained clear. Three of us had launches to 2,200′ taking 11 minutes to return to earth but Steve B managed to squeeze that extra minute to take “longest flight of the day” honours.
I snapped away with the camera on my phone. The pictures don’t do justice to Colin’s words but I offer them anyway.
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| Looking East |
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| Looking North |
A camera can’t see this
Last launch of the day – 2200 ft and two minutes after sunset, soft scarlet strands merging layer cloud into threads of valley mist to the south. To the north under magenta sky a carpet of fog shrouds the entire Thames Valley. Three score miles away to the east the lights of evening commerce queue into Heathrow, the lead disappearing softly down into the fog. Bright cherry clad fingers of Membury and Kingsclere soaring up through the mist; the lights of hamlets twinkling in the gloaming.
Below fellow aviators, momentarily my humble support, track slowly up the airfield behind headlamps drawing the means of my brief release from earthbound existence to its well earned place of rest.
I sit in crystal air with views beyond the Evening Star. I am the aviator, I am the navigator, I have no purpose or existence beyond my craft.
Everything is – just – perfect.
Sunday 8th December
As yesterday’s forecast suggested today was indeed a good flying day.
Loads of good high launches, plenty of extended soaring and for me the chance to indulge in my favourite sport of bung pulling…………….yes you guessed it more Instructor checks!
This time it was Pete Ellison’s time to have his annual BI checks done by me so after much spinning, stalling and Bloggs generally having much fun his logbook was duly endorsed with a signature 🙂
Good to see Jim McCormick back at the club.
Also nice also to see that despite a layoff for a year or so Jim hadn’t forgotten how to launch and land a K13 as for the first two flights he flew the whole flight without me needing to take over……well done Jim, good to see you back!
Yes I know the picture shows him in the Puchacz but this was just before his third flight!
Phil