Sat 19 March
What? No blog entry yet? It was the first proper soaring day of the year. There were private gliders rigged, and went soaring. Not every flight connected, but there was over 16hrs soaring by those who did, and a total of 44 launches and a visitor landing. We even had a cross-country - er, well, if you count 8km. Why has no-one has taken the P155 yet, not even for coming back to the airfield without the glider? Anyone get any photos?
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What a change in the weather! By 09:30 the edge of the airfield already looked like Tesco's car park with rows of recently fettled gliders blinking in bright sunlight. I found the CFI with his head behind EEF's instrument panel busily making us the latest addition to the `flarmy army', whilst Stephen O assumed firm command at the launch point ensuring that an unbroken stream of gliders were propelled skyward. Phil left me to finish rigging while he and Carol set off in the Janus to find out why Chris B had chosen the unique method of travelling home by glider, whilst leaving his car on the airfield. I in turn took to flying circuits, searching in vain for whatever it was that was propelling everyone else skyward. As the queue of gliders awaiting launches diminished to a trickle I finally got away on my third (free!) attempt. There appeared to have been many good soaring flights; I'm sure Stephen will come back with the stats, but it really was a pleasure to see so ma ny people enjoying themselves and working hard together to keep things flowing without a hitch.
ReplyDeleteSoarable, yes (up to 3,200' by all accounts). Easy, no. A blue day with light, variable wind meant modest launch heights (by our standards!) and luck needed to find that first rumbling of a thermal. Having found it skill was needed to climb. Not only were we busy on the ground (4 club gliders 5 private)but the air got rather crowded when the Lasham gaggle piled into "our" thermal.
ReplyDeleteThe video of B1 in a field can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLznkQH0EC0 - commentary from messers Morgan and Pike from their lofty perch.
My thanks to everyone who pitched in to set-up, keep things running and tidy away. A very special thanks to Steve Gaze who winched for most of the day