Flying Open Day 4th June

Fancy a day going up on the downs? Gliding Open Day Saturday 4^th June.

Looking for a family day out full of adventure in an area of outstanding natural beauty? Then walk, cycle or drive to Shalbourne Gliding Club’s airfield near Hungerford. You can join in the excitement and adventure of gliding over the beautiful downland countryside, or just watch the fun while you enjoy a family picnic with your tea, cake and biscuits. There will be discounts on trial lessons if you want to try the gliding experience. All visitors will be welcome to join in the fun, or maybe just watch and chat and find out what gliding is all about.

• Discounted Trial Lesson: £30 for a single launch and up to 15 minutes (duration of the flight is dependent upon weather conditions and may be shorter)

• Trial Lesson Vouchers purchased on the day as a gift will receive a free launch voucher worth £8:00
  (for use in the month following the use of the voucher)
• All trial lessons include one month of membership. If you subsequently join your trial lesson will be charged at member's rates, e.g. A 15 minute flight would cost £12.20
  

A blustery sort of day (28May)

Some early fettling whilst the weather improved and then some good training flights in the morning. In the afternoon 23 Girl Guides appeared over the hill on a hike and we flew a few before the rain, then it cleared and we started on flying the rest, however the wind was strengthening and gusting more and more and we decided to call it a day before the gliders took off sans pilote...

They then set about a BBQ in the shelter of the clubhouse.

Wednesday 25th May

The day started with a stronger wind than expected so we pulled out a couple of 2-seaters but with nobody rushing to launch. James H was the first to give in and when he carried on vertically after coming off the wire there was a flurry of activity in the rigging area. His flight of just over an hour turned out to be the longest of the day but there were plenty of other soaring flights.
We discovered that the trailer Rod has been touring the around the country actually contains a glider which came out to play. It was good to see the Swales flying - and even better to fly it (thanks Rod, a new type for my log book).
JMX reappeared and the test flight proved it launches well (to 2,100'), climbs well, spins nicely and the controls oh so crisp.

Saturday 21 May

A cracking day but a number of those who headed off XC reported how difficult it was to make progress up-wind. A busy day with visitors from Wyvern (with 3 gliders) escaping from their closed airfield. Some good lift but big pockets of heavy sink to ensure some folks only getting short flights. 30 launches, 22 hours flown and 21 people flying. Highest reported climb was to 3,300 and Martin Hoskins managed a 2,000' launch in a K13

15th May

Today I rigged...

managed 2 hours, some good climbs (3-4kt ave) to 3700ft QFE but everytime I pointed away from the airfield the next cloud was raining...

14th May

Should have rigged...

Eden Week Photos

Just a few photos taken at Eden recently.

Paul shared the living room with his pet sheep...........he said he especially liked its blue eyes.......didn't want to ask!

Weekend 7th/8th May

The overnight/morning downpour appeared to have dampend folks interest in flying on Saturday and only the fettlers appear at the airfield.

The duty team plus a few hardy types appeared on Sunday. With the rather lively southerly we only flew 2-seaters (2 up). Launches were high (up to 2,000') and landings short (demanding full concentration with the significant wind gradient and turblence over the trees). The bit inbetween presented mainly broken thermals but with the occassional one that presented the opportunity to climb (and drift). Best climb achieved was 1,200 to 2,500 and Chris Keating took the longest flight honours (39 minutes).

Eden week

Well we are all back from our Eden expedition and I can honestly say a great time was had by all.

Only 4 days of flying but Chris got to 11,000 ft in the IS28 and Colin to 7,000ft in the LS3 both in Helm wave. The rest of us enjoyed many XC flights over and around Penrith, Ullswater, Haweswater Reservoir and Warcop Range.

Unfortunately we did not have any westerly winds otherwise we would have experienced ridge flying as well! That said when we did run the ridge after gaining height in the valley we found that the into wind gullies were kicking off some stonking thermals which enabled us to get some good climbs.

With good thermals in blue conditions regularly taking us to over 5,000ft we all had a great time and add to that good local pubs and accomodation can't wait to return next year.

If you want to see some of our traces drop me an email and I will send them to you.



Phil

Eden saturday

Saturday was the first day of flying as Friday was too blustery. Too windy to fly until 4.30 when we rigged Pete Whiteheads IS 28b and launched Pete and Chris B into the wave bar over the field. 3 hrs later we decided to leave them to it and went off to the pub for our meal when a phone call from Chris came through saying they had landed out and needed a retrieve! Seems after getting to 11,000 ft they found the rotor over the airfield and decided to land about 3 miles away, luckily they were only 1/2 mile from our pub so all was good. Glider was left in field overnight for retrieve this morning.
At least Chris is maintaining his 100% land out record!,

Easterly Saturday

Not much of a day today. The duty crew plus a couple of others were there - everyone else gone to Eden or Haddenham, or got more sense than to attempt the rough east wind. Still, we had a few flights to improve the skill with turbulence and crosswinds, and towards the end of the day Martin (after a lay-off of several years) showed Richard he cousl still soar despite the challenging conditions, and got to 2800ft.

Royal Wedding Friday

Not sure why but every village we passed through on the way to the seemed to be having a big wedding - at least most had closed off the roads and were having a party...

As we weren't flying a few of us were up to fettle equipment and work on private toys and some to collect their toys for trips away. Happy flying to those at Eden and Haddenham.

Easter Sunday

The conditions today were nothing like yesterday's but we still managed to fit in quite a few flights albeit short ones. Ken Reid manged the longest flight of the day with 29 minutes and Steve Gaze with me in the Janus squeezed in 21 minutes.

Richard Barber flew his recently acquired Sport Vega, which he had delivered from Aboyne during the week, and seemed to enjoy his new toy. Hopefully he will get many hours and xc flights in it over the following months.

Jeff Lynes, after some encouragement, converted to the club's Sport Vega and enjoyed the experience. Lastly, but not least, Rod Harris completed his annual checks and we also fitted in some welcome trial lessons.

All in all a good day's flying was had by all.

Phil

Easter Pt 1. 7072ft & 304km

As has been the way recently Good Friday and Saturday were late to get going but when they did there was lovely fluffy cumulus over Shalbourne. Friday was forecast as marginal but turned out much better than that. I went up to Bicester via North Swindon for just shy of 200km and 185 and R3 visiting from Keevil did West-East tasks of about the same.

Saturday was forecast as a much better day and indeed it was. I had tasked a double out and return to the Northampton area but a blue sky beyond Bicester got my blueophobia going and I turned to follow the clouds down to Aston Down back to Islely and the extending past Rivar to Keevil and back for 305km. Passing Great Bedwyn to Keevil I took a climb to 7072ft above see level, which is about as high as I've climbed in thermal. (and yes the spelling is deliberate as around Keevil into sun the visibility was appalling.) Colin in EEF and Carol'n'Phil in the Janus also went for some cross-country, see the ladder for their adventures.

Tuesday 12th April

With the forecast for a wet Wednesday and a cracking Tuesday, Wednesday was moved forward a day. Bit of a slow start with a modest turnout but more people appeared as the day progressed (15 folks flew a some point during the day - including a vsitor from Parham who dropped in). The wind sock said NW but the wind felt N (i.e. blooming cold). Only one private glider rigged (the LS3) which Colin flew for 1:40. On his return I just had an hour before I needed to be back. So, found my first thermal and took it to cloud base (5,400) then followed the cloud street which took me almost to Swindon. Ran back along it to Andover then back to Great Bedwyn all without stoping to thermal after that first climb. Our new FLARM/logger was put to good use (logger side at least) with 3 silver heights achieved. Highest average flight time in 2011 was achieved

Saturday 16th April

Definately a day for flying flying early. We were greated with no wind and far more blue sky than forecast so I opted for the launch point at the top end to make it easier to get more gliders out if needed. The first 3 gliders to launch found the lift and clocked up two hours flying between them. Then the gaps in the cloud filled in and all teh thermals stopped. After four more launches we'd halved the average flight time to 20 mins. It would have been a great training day but there were no takers. Hopefully the next open day will bring some new members but as always the club is happy to see potential new members at any time. Congratulations to the three who flew Silver Height on Tuesday. Pete has checked the loggers in the Flarms and has confirmed all three claims are good.

They said Tuesday would be good....

... and it was. Colin changed this week's midweek day to Tuesday (12th April), which was a good call or we'd have all missed out. At first, every launch soared away, but then it got harder low down and some flights were only quick circuits - commiserations to those who didn't connect, including our visitor from Parham who desperately wanted to fly back home. But if you got that first thermal, it was a fast climb to 5000ft+, even just short of 6500ft by 5pm. Subject to ratification, congratulations to the three pilots who got their silver height climbs, two in consecutive flights in the K8.

We had our first BBQ on friday night...

...and that tended to be how the expert gliding forecasters predicted the weekend's weather and how it turned out. I was duty on Saturday (9th April) which proved to be the more soarable of the two days with a couple of pilots getting over two hours but not being able to get any where. The high ground around the ridge line produced those cumulus clouds that tempt you over but you know they will disappear by the time you get there. An Easterly wind meant landing was "fun" and provided other operational challenges - watch those low wings.

Sunday (10th April) was (now let me get the grammar correct) the most poorerest of the two days probably because the 737 roster had a "P for Peter" written on it. For some reason at about 12.30 all the private owners pulled on line, I guess to test the still air characteristics of their steeds for it wasn't thermic... Sometime later I took a launch and climbed in nothing for 93 minutes in a glider that doesn't turn and thermals that even the birds rejected, but the lessons of learning at a sea breeze site kicked in - if its not going down, stay in it - an adage that's very rarely true in gliding. All that said I stood outside the hangar at 6pm looking up at DHA, EGF & HCF stacked in a thermal. All in all it wasn't a classic gliding weekend by any stretch, but is there a better way to spend a weekend in that weather?

Saturday 2nd

Good news! I'm pleased to report that Steve Gaze passed his Bronze paper on Saturday and has now completed his Bronze Badge. Well done Steve, now go over to see Uncle Roy at Upavon and get your Cross Country Endorsement done so you can go off XC! Phil

Sat 2nd, Sun 3rd

Saturday was a blustery one, sadly with the wind 180deg opposed to the ridge direction... Ken P provided instruction and a few extended flights. Much more work was done in the hangar, new launch point caravan and assorted mottled trailers. JPC is now fitted with FLARM - please can all pilots (including P2s, excluding TLs) sign the brief briefing sheet in the log before flying.

Sunday was soarable. It wasn't epic and it seems from the ladder no-one went cross country west of the Greenwich meridian but it was soarable, this with a reasonable blow meant high winch launches and with 2 rated instructors excellent training opportunities - make sure to use them next time.

Sunday 27th march

After a misty start we managed to get flying around noon and clocked up over 20 flights today. We even had a visitor on the field in the shape of Martin Hoskins who turned up to inspect his Cirrus. Martin explained that he was now missing the flying and was looking at transitioning the Cirrus in the near future. After very little persuasion he took a couple of flights with me in JPC and showed that he has not forgotten how to fly a K13. He then was cleared to drive the winch and spent most of the remaining time lobbing gliders skywards!

Sat 26 March

A small turnout, but then it wasn't much of a day for soaring. Training flying went on well until early afternoon, when the forecast of possible isolated sharp showers proved correct. Guess where Shalbourne is! And with so little wind, that one little (but very heavy) shower lasted an hour.

Wednesday 23rd March

Another blue day but for those lucky enough to find that first thermal, and skillfull enough to work it, there were good flights to be had. 10 of the 27 launches had ove 30 minutes with Bill C exercising his K6 for over 2 hours. Thermals came to an abrupt halt at 3,000' coming up to the inversion but couple of folks headed for the haze caps to the south of the field to get up to 4,000'

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?

W/E 12th & 13th March

Saturday: Hazy sun but those that turned out enjoyed extended flights, with dutyman Tim and John Turk claiming the longest at 22mins.

Sunday: As I left Basingstoke it was darker than black, the rain slowed M3 traffic to 50mph and it was quite simply bleak. But with a forecast clearance arriving from the west by the time we got to the airfield it had upgraded to the uninspiring category.

We set up, lined the toys up and Claire and I launched into 1100ft cloud, flew a circuit and landed. After that Claire quite spectacularly failed to get the top on the next three attempts, for some reason either i pulled the bung or the winch driver decided to cut the power. A few others flew some circuits but then the sky broke apart and fluffy cumulus appeared. With no-one on the 2 seat list I took the Vega but it was too soon, on my second go it stuck in rather pleasant medium thermals to 2500' above airfield height. Chris in bi and the K8 joined me, as did the pooch and soon the airfield was empty. Later on Chris lent me the LS7 and I joined the K8 in a thermal to get some FLARM fixes to test the unit newly installed in the K8.

Saturday 6th March

Despite a promising forecast Saturday dawned drab and overcast. But thanks to Chris and others setting up early we were ready to launch as soon as cloud base started to rise by mid morning with some good launches and weak winter thermals to be had.

A good day for training with Steve B getting his annual checks out of the way and new member Jim M making the most of the quiet day to get in 5 training flights with rapid progress.

Essential maintenance was also completed on the skybrid winch at the end of the day and an expedition to recover some rare spares for a vintage Oly restoration project was seen to return all smiles. So despite the slow start a very successful day all round.

Wednesday 2nd March

Northerly wind with just a hint of east and lots of it promised a classic ridge day. However, try as we might (27 attempts) we weren't able to find it and instead we seemed to find sink everywhere. It's an indication of how "good" the day was when there was excitiment over the first (and only) flight that achieved double digits - Peter Mason with all of 11 minutes. Highest launch I heard about was 2,000'. The ridge refusing to co-operate was disappointing but the banter was good and the donuts welcomed. Oh, and JPC was back on-line in its multi coloured finery.

Sunday 27th Feb

Just a few of us there to see what flying we could get in before (and around) the promised showers. Started flying at 10:00 and retired to the launch point caravan shortley after 11:30. During that time we discovered that Liz had developed an aversion to height and/or turning as Graham T was subjected to several bung pulls. Also discovered it doesn't take many to make the caravan feel crowed. When the first "shower" abated (after more tha an hour and a half) we decided to lob gliders back to the hangar with the 2 cables to hand. Only managed to lob one back (just) as the next "shower" appeared this time bearing hail. Toys were tucked away and we retired to the club house to dry off and listen to an excellent presentation by Liz on getting more out of cross-county flying. Lessons were drawn from analysis of Nigel's Silver distance to Parham and a task from a Worlds comp Liz took part in (by coincidence a day that she won).

Saturday 26th Feb

An interesting day with varying degrees of lift.

The wind started off as a moderate WNW which meant that only flights of about 8-10 mins were achievable as any lift was broken. Steve Gaze and myself took advantage of this to practise field landings as part of his bronze flight tests. Landing up hill into the freshly muck spread field to the east of the south end of the airfield was an experience!

For the last few flights of the day the wind went round more to the north and the ridge started to work, Paul P and Carol squeezed a respectful 17mins out of the K13 but then Chris B, flying the Vega, managed to get a whopping 41 minutes!

The evening was finished off with a presentation from Colin and myself about the pros and cons of GPS navigation and the use of XCSoar in navigating. During which one nameless person (Ok it was Chris!) fell asleep :-)


Phil

Photo Comp

Need a summer banner picture: so please email in your best offering to me Pete. Needs to be wide and short like the one above.

Prize is that it will be used as the banner photo unitl i get bored or fancy a change. I am judge, jury and executioner. No cash alternative will be offered.

Sunday 20th Feb

A hardy few turned out today and had an enjoyable few hours in the great outdoors. Just an up-and-down kind of a day. Only a few flights managed to break, just, into double digits flying time. We are not quite sure how Chris B managed to get 15 minutes - must have been his new toy trying to avoid the the muddy field.

Wednesday 16th Feb

Clear blue shy and sun when I left Newbury - complete cloud cover by the time I got to Rivar. Could base started to lift and occasional glimses of that yellow ball in the sky. Paul Prentice set the standard with 8 minutes which nobody managed to match until I took JMX just to keep the place tidy. I stumbled into the day's thermal (well, a more of a mini street) and was rewarded with 29 minutes. Colin was doing his best to keep the average flight time low (the lure of the yellow knob). With just 8 of us flying today no shortage on the donut front (thanks Peter M).

Sat 12th Feb

After a lot of hard work over the last few years the Pirat was finally launched skywards and as James had flown it before had the honour of taking the first launch.

Everything went well and it now awaits conditions to improve so that it can spend as much time as possible flying.

Having had a go in it myself yesterday i'm sure they will have a lot of fun over the coming years.

Sat 12th Feb

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!

Sunday 30th Jan

Another good January day with in excess of 35 flights. Some thermal activity ensured that a few had extended soaring flights of around 16 minutes or so. The ridge was not working but did help to pop off the occasional thermal.

After a final check ride Richard Barber converted to the Vega and seemed to enjoy himeslf!

Nigel gained his P1 mutual rating and we even managed to fly a trial lesson. All in all a very enjoyable day's flying. Good conditions for this time of year.

Saturday 29th

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.

Sunday 23rd Ridge day!

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

Wednesday 19th January

At last a flyable Wednesday and the sunny day ensured a good turnout. Getting started proved a bit of a trial with the launch lights difficult for the winch driver to see but we finally got going launching into a northerly - however, not enough of a northerly to get the ridge working. The 4 club gliders out clocked up 26 launches with Paul Prentice taking longest flight honours with an impressive (for the day!) 17 minutes. Half a dozen other flights manged more than 10 minutes.

Sunday 9th January

After a non-flying Saturday we were able to play. An up and down day with only one flight over 10 minutes. That was a massive (?) 12 minutes flown by the duty instructor (Ken Porter) and Graham Tanner. With 27 launches a pretty good performance for a January day.

Sunday 3rd January

Dodging the snow showers we managed to get some decent flying in today.

Ok the flight times were not as impressive as yesterday but all those present certainly enjoyed the flights they had.

Jim was suffering in the cold so thought Carol would not notice if he joined him and Paul P as P3 in JMX but eagle eyed Carol soon rumbled his little plan and oiked him out before take off!

And Rod was so pleased with the new oven gloves he was given for christmas that he just had to bring them to the club to show them off to the rest of us............should have known better :-)

I've said it before...

..and those who know me will know that I will say it again...

...you should have been there.

I wasn't clever enough to take pictures, but if I had they'd have been of blue skies and an empty airfield - but this time because all the serviceable gliders were in the air soaring. Flights of the best part of an hour were the highlights of the middle of the day, and we were all fairly sure that Rod was off cross-country at one point!

We also had a visitor from another club to check out on the winch, I refused to fly with him but then he is my husband and many of you know what happens when we fly together... He, like me, thinks the Vega is very nice (as D Piggott would say).

And, for the instructors among you, not one but TWO ab-initios were there for us to hone our teaching/bastardry skills (delete where applicable) upon. And Andrew is in a wheelchair (No - he was before arriving!) so we have another member to take advantage of the hand rudder, although he's obviously got longer legs than Derek so we will need to devise some foot restraints for safe flight.

Enough - after a hard day's flying I've got a hard evening's prep for the Worlds - Ayala is on her way over for dinner. See you all next time, meanwhile happy New Year and I wish you all lots of safe fun soaring in 2011

Liz

Thursday 23rd December

Not wishing to waste a good ridge day, the four of us present set up the airfield and towed JMX and EGF down to the launch point. After being idle for a couple of weeks in sub-zero temperatures all equipment obligingly roared into life on cue. Launches to 2000 ft revealed a top wind in excess of 25 kt, so getting to the ridge from half way along the airfield required some patience. This was amply rewarded by good ridge lift to 1 200 ft along to and beyond Combe Gibbet. Being decent types (and to avoid frostbite) we limited our flights to around 30 minutes. By midday we numbered an even half dozen, which kept operations going nicely until mid afternoon.

Some may say we're crazy , but it certainly beats sleeping on the floor at Terminal Three

Saturday 18th Time to dream of a white Christmas

Just in case anyone hasn't guessed we won't be flying today.

All reports indicate falling snow across the area with low cloud. Our weatherman reports he is snowed in and expects similar conditions. Reports of accidents on nearby main roads indicate it is not safe to attempt travel to the club.

Time to wrap up the XMAS presents (at least those not stuck min the post) and murder an old song.

Sunday 12th Earliest sunset

Well from now on sunset starts getting later, even though dawn doesn't start getting earlier until the new year.

The day started with the Ka13 launching to 2300ft. Something between the club and Great Bedwyn was causing reduced sink and occasionally the vario would creep into the positive half. Tom and Bob shared the honours for the longest flight, beating me my two minutes.

Sunday 5th December

Surprisingly after all the adverse weather we have had over the last few days it was a good day for flying. All in all we managed to get in 3 hrs and 21 launches of flying with Rod Harris claiming the longest flight of the day with 19 minutes in the K8, a full 5 minutes longer than everyone else!


Steve Gaze and James Walters got their annual checks out of the way and Chris Bessent took a flight in his LS7 and after a bit of arm twisting let me have a go as well.

Must admit the LS7 is a very nice glider to fly and another one for the list........thanks Chris :-)


Phil

Sunday 28th November

Decidedly nippy but none of the snow covering other parts of the UK. A few "I flew the Helm" woolly hats on show and Rod H reported a spotting a brass monkey in search of a welder. Not enough wind to bring the ridge to life but folks were squeezing 10 or 11 minutes out of the K8 with Chris K taking the days honours with 13 minutes. Highest reported launch was 2,000'. First launch to last landing was 3:21 and in that time we clocked up 3:17 flying off 22 launches (only 2 gliders in use).

Sat 20th November

Fog clearing to low rain and drizzle = scrub!

Saturday 13th November

The appearance of DI Tim R wearing a jacket confirmed that Winter has definitely arrived. Mind it wasn't fastened and he was just wearing a tee shirt underneath it. Some us were donning our Ozee's. Another up and down day but Tim was kept busy in the backseat. I threw down the gauntlet for the longest flight with 8 minutes in the K8 (up till then all flights were 5 minutes). That was comprehensively beaten by both Rob J and Richard D clocking up 12 minutes each.
Cloud of white smoke from the winch end of the airfield hinted that something was not quite right. The broken fan belt was replaced by Ken H, Rob J and Steve B but the attempt to launch following that was abandoned due to misting.
Just 12 launches (1:23 flying time)

Saturday 6th November

After the initial rain cleared we took adavantage of the dryer conditions to get some flying in. Ok so it wasn't great soaring weather but that did not stop us managing to get in 2hrs 49 mins of flying from 28 launches, 4 of which tied with 8 mins each !

Colin got his 3 year instructor checks done and Nigel his annuals so at least they went home happy :-)

And finally many thanks to Steve Ottner for helping out with the trial lessons.


Phil

Saturday 30th October

Clear skies, a good turnout - the day looked set to be a good one. Then the pre-halloween spell kicked in. Pajero had to be helped out of the container with a push and then a tow start. The prime mover engine on the bus winch refused to start - left for a quiet 10 minutes it then co-operated. When removing the filler hose from the gas tank clouds of LPG erupted and there was nothing we could do until the tank emptied itself and froze everything nearby (including Chris K's thumb). Over tea and bacon butties the theory was formulated that a ladybird had got lodged in the valve preventing it from shutting and tha pumping some gas in should clear it (there was a reason for suspecting a ladybird!). The theory proved to be sound (the blockage was cleared (but unproven if the culprit was a ladybird). Naturally, the bus engine refused to start (this time there was access to hook on jumper leads). Winch put in position, glider and caravan in position - we were raring to go. Towing out the cable, just short of the launch point, loud ping as the weak link broke on one cable - yup, drum overrun and a snarl-up.
So, we finally got to fly and Steve B flew the K8 to set the standard with a 15 minute flight and Peter E and myself were kept busy flying our keen new members. Just over an hour later Graham T showed me his soaring skills in a 38 minute flight along the sunny side of a cloud street. I sat in the back seat and enjoyed the autumn colours and the view of the showers to the south and east of us. To confirm we had broken the spell we also picked up a new member - Andrew Farrow had a trial lesson at the begining of the month and came back to sample some more and decided to join us.
Thanks to the C team, especially Chris K who fixed each problem encountered and then drove the winch for 20 of the 22 launches.

Halloween - Sunday 31 Oct...spooky...

...in spite of the hour change, it still wasn't fully light.....the field was so quiet it was spooky...but wait... what are those shadowy figures I see waiting at at the gate as I arrive?





Are they the ghosts of trial lessons past?

The undead (now then, now then!) waiting tirelessly for soarable weather?

Zombie ab initios marching inexorably towards the duty instructor baying for blood?

Souls of long departed glider pilots who roam the world restlessly howling for the days before the malign god EASA ruled the skies, sucking the heart out of our thermals?









Or have the committee just let the grass get a little too long?





Thanks to Chris for making me laugh out loud when I arrived in the gloom of this morning to see the lights flickering in their eyes.

Soaring Sunday 24th October - in thermal!

Again a lovely autumn weekend day with thermals and a light northerly wind. A quiet start suggested sunday lie-ins but the launch point got progressively busier. 185 was the only private glider to rig but the club gliders were kept busy with soaring, annual checks and beginner lessons. Colin repaired the "new" Pajero so we are back to a full compliment of vehicles.

Wed 20 Oct

Another splendid day for October. No private owners rigged, but the four club aircraft were kept busy, amassing over 11hrs between them off their 24 launches, reaching over 4000ft again.

Sunday 17th - cold at 4000'

It was great to find two new members at the launch point as we walked the gliders down. We'd thought that we'd only need one two-seater but that soon changed with Peter Elison easily distracted from removing sheep 'residue' from the private Puchacz to fly one of the new members and a couple of trial lessons.

Rob Jarvis and Chris Keating had decided it would be a Ka8 day and Rob duely proved it with the longest flight of the day with an hour and seven minutes. Meanwhile Graham Tanner took me to cloudbase at 4000' above ground where it was distinctly chilly. Well it is October.

I could have done without encountering the wing of the Puchacz on my way out of the hanger at the end of the day. Many thanks to those who patched me up. You'll be pleased to hear the wing was completely unharmed.

Visit to Parham Saturday 16th

After our little trip to Eden didn't quite go to plan we thought we would finish the week off with a day trip to Parham.




A 1000ft aerotow was all that was needed to get us onto the ridge which was working quite well, and so we set off to see how far we could go.








Rod flew his Swales for a couple of hours of so but seemed to prefer to stay low to scare the rabbits (just like at Eden last year!)






All in all not a bad day, great fun on the ridge and i'm still current on aerotow!

Maybe we should organise a return trip with a club two seater?

Sunday 17th October

A very pleasant day with little cumulus around and thermals to cloudbase at 4000ft. Not bad for an autumn day.

Saturday 16th October

After the early morning low cloud cleared we were hopeful for some ridge action, alas the ridge was too westerly and too slight for the NNE 12kt wind, but good launches allowed training progress and annual check opportunities. Welcome to the 2 new members who signed up today.

Thanks to some hard work, the guys refurbishing the other K13 (JPC) have made significant progress and the argument over the final colour will soon be due.

Wednessday 13 October

Slow start with no one desperate to get launched. Steve Barber did the decent thing and offered to take the first launch and we held a sweepstake on what height he would meet the cloudbase. We were pleasantly surprised to see that he got almost to the top of the launch and then started soaring, achieving 17 minutes. A few flights later Rob Jarvis moved the bar up to 30 minutes. After several more folks just doing circuits Paul Prentice went along with Rob in the K13 to observe the master of soaring. Not much chance to observe soaring technique in a 6 minute flight. So then Rob went to with Paul (this time in the Puchacz) to see how he faired. 48 minutes later (longest flight of the day) a triumphant Paul returned. Highest launch of the day was 2,100' in the K8.
In total 24 launches of which a quarter were 30 minutes or more. A much better day than any of us had expected (plus the usual Wednesday donuts that Peter Mason feeds us).

Saturday 1st October

With Saturday being a reasonable day sandwiched between very wet days (and the weekend being declared a 1 day weekend) we'd expected a good turnout. We did have a strong turnout of TL's but a modest one of club members. Low cloudbase limited flight times with Paul Prentice taking the honours of longest and second longest flights (10 and 11 minutes). A record held until after 15:00 when Steve Barber jumped in the K8 after his marathon session on the winch and he soared away for a whole 17 minutes. No one else was able to crack the 10 minute barrier. 30 launches in total with TL's accounting for a dozen of those and annual checks for another 7.

Thursday 30th - 100 year old birthday boy takes to the skies!

Wednesday slipped a day this week because of the somewhat wet real Wednesday. I was able to take my neighbour for a Trial Lesson for his birthday - his 100th birthday! Not only his first flight in a glider but his first in any sort of small aircraft (30 seater being the smallest aircraft flown in previously). Many thanks to Rob, Paul, Peter, Alan B and Chris K for turning out to make the day possible (with Colin and James in reserve but working on things to keep us flying).
After our visitor (and his family, friends and photogaphers from the Newbury Weekly News) departed there was a hottly contested "keepie-up" challenge. With not much more than a 1,000 cloud base (occasional gaps to sneak through) the benchmark was set at a whole 8 minutes. This stepped up in 2 minute increments, topping out at 18 minutes

Sunday 26th - Ridge day!

The few that turned up enjoyed playing on the ridge trying to distinguish between ridge and thermal lift. It was good to welcome a former member who was getting to grips with winch launching. Between the few of us and a couple of TL's we manged to get 16 launches out of the day.

Sat 25th September

Well its Autumn. But that ment we all enjoyed the Autumn thermals. The northly wind teased on the ridge but it was the thermals that kept most aloft with flights of 20mins to 3hours.

Sat 18 Sep - a good day! (Well, brilliant actually)

The forecast was for good soaring conditions even by summer standards, and here we are well into September. What's more, it delivered pretty much as promised, even on Liz's day (it must have missed her swap with Tim). Here's what Liz said:
----------------------------------------------------
As forecast, conditions were good; I saw climbs up to 6kt sustained average (thanks Chris for lending me B1 to find them in towards the end of the day!). Best weather was to the SE although Phil and Chris aiming at a 300k Shepton Mallet / Parham got stuck with a blue hole between Salisbury and Southampton which caused them to have to abort the task and head for home. Had they got across it, reports were of excellent conditions to the east as well. To the north however as forecast it wasn't so good - various people tried to go that way and all gave up around Newbury-ish. Around 3pm the nice streets that had been set up all day seemed to dissipate which seemed as if it might be the end of the day, but in fact it continued to work in the blue, and then some splendid streets set up that were still working at 5 when the top cover finally damped it all down.

I finally got to fly the Vega at the end of the day and confirm that it scratches very nicely in the last broken thermal of the day, averaging around 0.2kt from 850' to just over 1000' before I decided it was time to go and try those comforting airbrakes. No need to overshoot anything there, is there!

A great time was had I think by all - including Stephen's 1-day course whose grin was probably a thermal source in itself. I hope we'll see him again.
----------------------------------------------------
Stephen's stats analysis tells us that we did more hours today than any day in the preceding 3 years. We also had several hundred km XC (mainly Chris and Phil's, but also a couple of quick 60k out-and-returns in flights of just an hour or less, and Trevor took the Skylark a-wandering. Well done to all.

No doubt Pete would have added to them in 737, but he was otherwise occupied - completing his Full Category Instructor's qualification, congratulations.

Steve

Saturday 18th

As I had not completed a 300k flight yet, Chris and I decided to set RIV,SHM,PAR,RIV as the task. The run to Shepton Mallet was not too bad but the lift was not quite consistent enough to really get a move on.

After turning SHM the run back to Frome was interesting! The lift we had left to run to the TP had done a runner and made us both really work at scraps of lift before being rewarded with decent climbs. At Warminster we headed south and followed the edge of the danger area round to Salisbury, keeping clear of Boscombe Down. It was here that we noticed that what little Cu there was had melted away leaving only a few wispy bits to aim for.

As we got further round the danger area the lift was more spreadout and harder to find. We decided to abandon the task near Chilbolton and make the run back to Rivar.

In hindsight we should have just hung around where we were and wait for the conditions to improve a bit because after we had landed it looked like things had improved and maybe we could have carried on a bit further.

All in all a very enjoyable flight just a shame we encountered the different airmass which caused us to wimp out. Still at least we managed to fly all the way round the danger area and flew just over 160K.

Phil

Wednesday 15th September

The words "interesting" and "character forming" were ones heard around the airfield today. 90 degree crosswind and lots of it. Colin did a weather check launch and declared it a "BI and above" day and suggested that I check conditions before riding shotgun with any members wanting to fly. Chris K jumped in offering his services as ballast and video crew. Off the launch into a thermal 2 up on one side and 4 up on the other. So, we climbed (up to 2,400') and drifted (alongside the Gibbet). Stately progress heading back to the field but looked fine until we hit the 6 down and then the 8 down (the airbrakes were closed!). Got back to the point we started but 300' lower. Ran down the side of the field (pretty close in) and turned in for finals at 800' to land across the field. Still had plenty of the width of the field left by the time we rolled to a halt. Chris is planning to edit the flight for viewing and promised to replace the soundtrack (lots of laughter interspersed with the occasional expletive) with music.
Most of the members in attendance got a taste of landing across the field as well as a couple of visitors from Aston Down

Vega at Parham

Nigel took this photo of the Vega after his Silver distance flight to Parham.

Nice photo and great flight well done! Who's next for a first 50K?

Sunday 12th September

A great days gliding in september...

Firstly congratulation to Nigel Burt on his 90km silver distance flight to the seaside (Parham) in EGF, thanks also to Colin and Alan S for retriving.

I met up with a friend above Sandhill Farm and we flew to Basingstoke and back to Sandhill where he flew back to Nympsfield and I flew back home. Carol and Phil in the Janus flew away from the good conditions in the south to Bicester, where Phil struggled in the poor conditions there, before returning home. The Duo did a couple of 100km laps and pretty much everyone else did some soaring.

We also had the pleasure of Rod's Swales returning to its home skies.

Also heard on the radio were pilots turning St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight...

Sat 11 Sep

The forecast was for cold front passage late morning. So we decided we'd turn up about lunchtime and fly in the afternoon. The few of us who did, plus the Trial Lesson had a flight each. But I guess everyon else decided Sunday was going to be the better day - after all the ridge was building behind the front.

Sunday 5th September

After waiting for the rain to stop we finally got going at 12.30 and despite the lack of useable lift Liz flew one of her friends in JMX for 23 minutes beating the next nearest flight by a whole 13 minutes :-)

Congratulations to Richard Greenaway who convinced Richard Dann to sign him "off checks", his manic grin said it all........well done!

Finally I can't let the opportunity pass without mentioning the slightly desperate radio call we received from the winch. It seems a gust of wind slammed the door of the winch shut leaving Paul Prentice stuck inside, the tone of his voice as he asked for assistance was priceless!!!!

In the end those who hung on for conditions to improve all had a flight so it well worth the wait.


Phil

Saturday 4th September

Not the most promising of weather but a few people managed extended flights of an hour or more in the afternoon.

Very nice to see a new member, John Turks, who is at the very early stages of learning to fly.

Saturday part 2

Carol and I had planned to do Didcot then onto Glastonbury but strong winds and deteriorating conditions meant that we abandoned the task near Keevil. Three gliders from Lasham landed out near Wantage showing just how awkward the conditions were at in some places.

Passing Welford

We were joined near Wantage by a K6E from Lasham who followed us to Devizes before making the run back to lasham. Adrian Emck manages to get some great flights in his K6E, apparently he has alomost done a 750k in it!

K6E over Devizes

Caen Hill Locks at Devizes

Running back from Devizes was quite good as with about 20 knots tailwind and with 100 knots on the ASI we covered a lot of ground quite quickly!

All in all a good flight but at 3hrs 6 mins was quite slow. I did managed to take a photo of another Janus which joined us near Rivar but couldn't quite make out the reg.

Phil

Saturday 29th August

Soaring for all during rapidly cycling conditions. Cross country for those that tried but with most falling back from tasked routes due to spreadout and strong winds - Carol mentioning flying past Upavon several times on the same leg...

Sunday 22nd August

Forecast through the week was for Saturday to be OK and Sunday rubbish. In the event no flying Saturday and the forecast on Saturday for Sunday changed its tune. Duty Instructor (Ken P) had his hands full with 2 folks on the instruction list and 4 TLs booked in. Not a great soaring day with over half of the 30 launches being basically circuits (i.e. less than 10 minutes) and with a light cross wind launch heights were nothing to get excited about. However, our fearless CFI showed what could be done by taking a run (well, more like a stroll) to Marlborough and back - most of it not much more than 1,600' with a high point of 2,700. The LS3 was the only private glider to rig but clocked up 3:24 off 3 launches.

Choices...

...sometimes you make the right one, sometimes you don't. (the cloud didn't work!)

Sunday 15th August

The day started with a burst of enthusiasm - 4 club gliders pulled out and 5 private gliders rigged. Then everyone stood around and nattered - something to do with the top cover and the murk. Chris B broke ranks and went to see if the ridge was working - he stayed up for 26. For the next 2 hours launch rate very slow and only 1 glider doing any better (by 2 minutes!). Carol launched and didn't return so then a grid formed and we were rewarded with a number of hour+ flights. I have no reports of anyone going anywhere or what heights folks got. The 2-seaters were reporting 2.000' launches.
One landout, one visitor (with Ventus) from Talgarth, one TL, one annual checks. 34 launches (highest number we've seen since the Open Day) and 17:45 flown. As we packed the hangar we gazed up at the best looking sky of the day (seems to have been a fairly common occurance this year).

Weds 11 August.... 750k day..not....?

Sat at work, looking out at the complete cloud cover and suspecting I didn't miss as much as was promised... But doubtless those who flew will tell us all about it.
Meanwhile, the forecast for Saturday is looking promising and it's E Team day so be there and join in the fun

Sunday 8th August

Congratulations to James Hunneman who today heeded advice (not that he really needed it) and flew off in the Vega in search of the elusive 50k flight.
Not only happy with just making it he smashed it by a fair margin ending up at Shennington!
Well done James........where next :-)


Phil

July Stats

This July we managed more launches (all 9 of them) than last year and more flying time than either the last 2 years. The later quiet an achievement when you take into account that July 2 years ago we did almost 50% more launches than this year. To do a fair comparison we really need to lump July and August together as it varies which month Course and Task Week fall into. That said, year-to-date position is that we are behind (compared to last 2 years) on launches but ahead on flying time.
The arrival of the Sport Vega (EGF) this month pushed the k8 to being the least flown of the club aircraft. EGF clocked up over 25 hours off 50 launches and was flown by 21 members. 12 private gliders got exercised with EFF(737) being the most active (launches and time - we don't have enough information on km's)

Saturday 7th August

Only 4 members turned up but we still had an enjoyable day. Not a day for that big XC with cloudbase not much more than 2,000' all day but soaring to be had. We only huddled in the caravan a couple of times waiting for light showers to passed through (presented the opportunity for a nap for 1 person - no names...). Fortunately we were joined by a visitor from Heron (Paul Ginter who pops in periodically) and a TL. Richard G made an appearance to fill in holes in the hangar and had his arm twisted to take a flight. Chris B had his first sample of the Vega and took longest flight of the day honours with 26 minutes. A little later we had a cable, Puchacz and no one wanting to do the necessary. So, I felt obliged as DI to take a pop at Chris's "record". 40 minutes later pointed proved and enough money spent (have to admit it was very nearly only a short circuit).

Thu 5 Aug Task week

Well Tuesday was tough, the sort of day when out and return to Burbage was an achievement - some did achieve, and others enjoyed some local soaring.

Wednesday was declared a scrub due to the forecast, and yes, there was rain, in the form of heavy showers.

Today (Thursday)had promised to be good, but the nice little cumulus didn't appear to plan - rather overcast with some bigger clouds embedded. Still, out-and-returns to Frome and Devizes were achieved (admittedly undeclared, but then declaring anything ambitious would have been lunatic). Lift was really good at times, but not very consistent.

More rain tomorrow, it seems.

Mon 2nd Aug - Task week

Colin said: We went soaring We went cross country. RIV-BIC-BUL-RIV. Two landed out, one got round. More tomorrow?

Before landing at Ilsley, Chris had already done RIV-BUL and rejoined us late launchers (it had gone flat for a while) for the RIV-BIC bit. Steve got to BIC and a little way back. Colin was also flying, presumably modesty forbad mention of who got round. James Hunneman took the Vega to Marlborough and Membury. Carol went somewhere too, but at the time of writing I don't know details. Thanks to Paul, Paul, Ken and Alan for being ground ant retrieve crew.

Sunday 1st August

Congratulations to Nigel who converted to the Sport Vega for his first solo glass machine in his logbook. Earlier he practiced for a half hour solo in the K13. Claire also flew it for the first time.

Meanwhile, as it was somewhat quiet on the instructing front I had one of these, a true work of art you'll agree:

 

Chris had cooked a giant fried breakfast earlier, this gave him the energy to show Carol how to fly a circuit in 383. Carol then had a go and of course showed Chris his favourite TPs, Devizes and Wantage for 107km.

Others managed some good soaring and so I declare Task Week open!

Saturday 30th July

After conditions improved a bit I thought that as I was at 3000ft over Chute Causeway I would fly to Andover and take a few photos of my house (as you do!).




It was at this point that I had the idea to carry on to Chilbolton as I had only been there once before many years ago when Dave Owen, determined to land out in the Puchacz, took me for my first XC flight. I should have taken that as an omen as shortly after leaving Andover I encountered steady sink finally turning CBN at 1500ft and not finding any lift!
Looking below I noticed some large recently harvested fields that were very tempting but I was determined to try not to land out (how I wished I had put on the 17mtr tips!). I thermalled down looking for lift until eventually I contacted a small thermal no more than 1000ft agl. I drifted with it over to Wherwell and spent an eternity looking down on the village cricket match and I was sure I could almost see the score on the board!
Pete in 737 called me to say that there was good lift between Andover and the club but the problem was I was 1500ft below final glide. Eventually I gained enough height to leave the thermal and push on back to Andover but all I found was sink again. Once again I found myself looking for a good field but as I passed over the new council dump on Walworth Industrial Estate on the eastern edge of town I contacted a strong thermal that peaked at 5kts, took me up to 2500ft and within final glide of Rivar.
Just goes to show that it doesn't have to be a long flight to be memorable! Oh just in case you are wondering why there is not a photo of CBN .............I was a little to busy to take one!


Phil