Well today Tony, Mark, Pablo, Graham, John and I flew RIV/KEE/NHL/SAL/RIV. We got back nicely in time for tea and cake and to greet Richard, Carol and Phil on our return to the airfield…
Wednesday 30th
October started off well with 5 flying days -3 of which were exceptional for the time of year. Then 2 weeks of no flying because of the rubbish weather. Today we finished off October in style.
We started flying about 10:30 and an hour later Alan B set the bar to beat with a 2,100′ launch and 14 minutes. Another hour and Rob J pipped Alan’s flight time by 1 minute Not to be out-done by his syndicate partner Chris K clocked up a 20 minute flight. which include climbing in a thermal from 1,000′ to cloud base at 1,800′. Alan still held highest launch honours until I got my hands on the K8 and launched to 2,350′.
16 members enjoyed what the day had to offer.
Sutton Bank October 2013 part two
Just as the locals predicted Thursday was indeed a good ridge day at SB.
The day started off bright and mild but with not quite enough wind to make the ridge work the first flights by the locals were not that long.
Not to be put off Chris and I took the Janus for a flight and after thermalling down from our 2,000ft aerotow began working the ridge, after an hour we landed to give Carol and Rod a go.
As Carol and Rod were flying I noticed that the SB motor-glider was ridge soaring as well and was making good use of the lift.
It soon became clear that not only was the motor-glider ridge soaring but that also it was doing so with the engine switched off! After half an hour’s ridge soaring they gave up and came into land probably due to the fact that with the engine turned off it was not costing anything and the treasurer had noticed!
After an hour or so Carol and Rod landed and after a brief delay for lunch Carol and I took it up for another hour, Chris taking his LS7 ridge soaring for almost an hour as well.
So out of the 7 days we were there we had one day of wave and one day of ridge/thermal clocking up about 4 hours airtime each but as usual the flying, banter and the friendly locals made it all worth while…….roll on next year 🙂
Phil
Sutton Bank October 2013
After a few days where we could not fly due to rain or low cloud on Tuesday afternoon we were finally rewarded with some great wave flights.
Chris managed 2 hrs 1 minute in the LS7 whilst Carol and I had two flights, one which had to be cut short to 29 minutes as the wave slot closed beneath us forcing us to descend quickly through a small hole.
Our second flight lasted over 1 1/2 hrs and enabled me to take some photos and to shoot some video.
The office staff at SB thought the police had really cordoned off his camper van but in fact it was only Chris mucking around again!
I was only there only to act as photographer honest officer!
Tomorrow looks like being a great ridge day with the possibility of wave……..more tomorrow.
Phil