Wednesday 25th

Those who turned up early with a view to getting the field set-up before it got too hot were thwarted by a bent and bruised winch that need some TLC before if could be used.  It was, therefore, just before midday before the first launch.  Colin took the Puchacz to explore the land beyond the green mist (i.e. he flew under the Olympic ceiling to the unrestricted area - and returned!).  Paul P set the benchmark for longest flight at an hour.  Steve B and I rigged our gliders (both struggling to get the wings on - lack of practice?).  I was not encouraged when Steve B returned in cHZD after 5 minutes.  However, the winch driver was kinder to me (thanks Paul) and delivered me straight into a gentle thermal that carried me up to our current limit of 2,500' from where I set forth.  Cleared the restricted area and straight into a thermal.  On to Calne, pausing to climb and attempt to take piccies of a crop-circle.  Climbed above Calne to just over 5,000 and headed home.  Distinct lack of lift coming back - first hint of anything just south of the Savernak.  Slowed right down to gain a couple of hundred feet then nose down to return back under the Olympic ceiling at spot on 2,500 with 100 knots on the clock.  Wonderful when a plan comes together :)

I'm pleased to report that Steve B's 2nd launch was much more successful and resulted in the longest flight of the day at 1:19.  He had no trouble keeping below the Olympic ceiling as he sent time at 700' (plus ridge height!) near Burbage picking fields (which, he avoided having to find out how good his choice was).
The Wednesday "Progress Group" was missing a few of the regulars but it did mean that Jim Mc and Selvan had lots of opportunity to practice circuits and landing on a just about perfect evening for doing so.

Sunday 21st July, blue, hot and difficult.

It was the first day for a while it was good enough to go XC, Saturday too was OK but I was working.
Jim was flying the Nimbus so we agreed on a short XC; Elkstone Sackville Ashbusy and back home.
Just over 300km.
Now just to get things straight, it's as well not to try to keep up with Jim Clarke, he's actually really very good. Next don't try to keep up with a Nimbus in an LS7, especially when flown by James Clarke, see previous sentence....
It was difficult conditions with the occasional cumulus popping, but get it wrong and by the time you got to the thermal it was collapsing. The working height was around 3,500 MSL give or take a little and it was slow going.
We both took the first two turn points but then the air seemed to collapse around me which, at this time was about 4pm. Struggling I got past Milton Keynes only to land straight into a field of ling grass and clover.
The people were lovely and very helpful but it was still about eighty miles from home. Have I ever said what a terrific guy Richard Dann is??? He turned up a few hours later with my trailer and helped me fetch the glider out of the field.
We got to Rivar at about 10pm and we didn't even get to have some food.
Richard I owe you a big fat pint and a meal.
Jim got back due to superior piloting and bloody long wings. Mostly piloting to be fair.
My ClearNav shut down and wouldn't start just past Sackville so I was reliant on chart and Oudie, god bless redundancy in moving maps!
I also tried my latest pee system. Why I don't just urinate myself and save with all the flipping faffing I just don't know.
So once again I didn't get back but it wasn't easy at all. Should I give up or keep trying, just harder?
See you up the field!

Sunday 15th

The last day before the green mist descended and stops us getting too high for a month.  The Olympic map came into force the day before but the zone limiting our vertical progression only came into force on the 16th - phew!  Not only was it a flyable day (not something we've been able to take for granted this "summer") but climbs to 4,500 were available - if you launched at the right time.  A very cyclic day, only 10 of the 40 flights managed more than half an hour.  Four private gliders rigged (Janus, Duo Discuss, LS7 and the Nimbus) and were all reward with extended flights - though, most had more than one attempt to get away.  The exception was Jim C in the Nimbus who disappeared off for the best part of 3 hours - no idea where he got to.
At the end of the day we made the mistake of asking Trevor G to take the last launch to get the Vega to the top end of the field.  Off the wire and away he went.  With the aid of airbrakes he returned 20 minutes later to report the last cycle of the weather and it was now booming - he knew we were all standing around the hangar waitng so kerbed his natural instinct to soar.

Different kind of LIFT!

On Friday Peter kindly brought his crane along to the airfield and we transferred the Tost winch from the back of the bus onto the new trailer. Thanks are also due to Colin for his help.

There's some jobs to do before the winch can be used again, such as plumbing in the new LPG tank, a bit of wiring, putting the mudguards on, etc. 

Now, who wants to start the rebuild of the bus?

Congratulations!

A really big 'well done' to Liz sparrow who won her recent competition.

You're a super star!!!

Pete and Claire's gliding holiday

As you may be aware Claire and I take a gliding trip every year to another club. This year we had booked last week off work - here's our daily account, it was a bit different as we booked on a course and got to try some different types:

Sunday: Arrived and got a quick recap on the Junior including how to rig before having a couple of hours getting used to them in the morning. In the afternoon we took to K21s with an instructor for the first session of our course.
Monday: Much the same, a specialist session on the Junior in the morning with some advanced drill in the K21 with instructors in the afternoon. Much stronger conditions today, almost at the limits.
Tuesday: This time a specialist session on the DG500 including lead and follow, Claire and i took one together in the morning, but landed out a couple of times. The afternoon saw us complete a practise race in the DG500, I think we did ok but it wasn't scored.
Wednesday: Morning free session in the DG500 practising going round a course.  In the afternoon the course had lead and follow in LS4s on the agenda, again some land outs buts lots of fun. After the leader had finished we kept going for another hour.
Thursday: Quick free session in the DG500 in the morning before daring to take out the Nimbus 3D together - returned scared for lunch. Afternoon, another lead and follow in the LS4s to complete our course, no land outs this time.
Friday: Late start for some aerobatics and advanced flap settings in the DG500 with an instructor along side - lots of land outs and a long distance covered during the flap training! In the afternoon a competitive race with Claire and I again in the DG500. A bit slow at the start but we recovered to finish 7th out of 14.

Claire after a land out.

Claire cranking the DG500 into a strong thermal.

Into July

Well, that was a miserable June with the lowest number of launches for June for 5 years (and we had the extra Bank Holiday) maybe summer is waiting for July.  Nope, in the first 2 weeks more non-flyable days and Trial Lesson Eveniings cancelled.  However, despite the weather, we managed to fly on the following days

Thursday 5th

No flying for the Wednesday boys but Phil moved the Progress Group to Thursday and they managed to squeeze in 16 launches in the evening (that included several training launch failures - well, this is the "progress" group).

Saturday 8th

On a positive note - 26 launches, but when the longest flights were 33 and 18 minutes this was hardly summer flying.

Monday 9th

Kintbury Scouts visiting for a TLE (after had their evening cancelled the previous week because of the weather).  A prompt 18:00 start and an excellent ground crew resulted in 21 scouts flying with one cable to be tided away.  Deservedly taken by our TLE co-ordinator Graham who was rewarded with a great view of the sunset

Wednesday 11th

One of those "interesting" days that adds to ones life experiences (i.e. difficult strong cross-wind  day).  Mainly circuits with a few extended flights.  Outstanding flight of the day was a 43 minute one from Chris K taking the the duty instructor along for ballast - lots of laughter on that flight.  The Progress Group discovered just how much circuits may need to be modified with high final turns and landing across the runway.

March Winds, April Showers (June 30, July 1)

Saturday 30th June

A gusty SSW wind kept everyone on their toes, whilst the base wind wasn't too bad, there were strong gusts coming through, requiring high, close circuits and steep approaches with plenty of speed.

In the morning 30min flights were the norm as the strong thermals were just about useable, in the afternoon, as the wind and turbulence built, they became less useable and staying aloft became much harder.

Sunday 1st July

We all awoke to blue skies and what in terms of 2012 was a positive forecast (ie you might be able to go somewhere), however it wasn't to be and a line of Welsh showers* set up from Reading to Bristol. By the time they had cleared we had changed a winch cable but Richard's weather check flight resulted in reports of serious vertical shear and the toys going away.

*A "Welsh shower" is a period of continuous rain interspersed with torrential downpours. It is normally found on expeditions** to Talgarth, Denbeigh etc.

**For clarity, expeditions over the Severn Bridge are highly recommended.