Monday 26th
Sadly, continuous light rain kept the toys inside. However, the monthly guillotine checks were done under the winch shelter. The swallows are doing their 'thing' in the hangar.
Dumfries & District GC
A mini one man expedition to visit the Dumfries and District Gliding club on Sunday 18th. This club is decidedly off-the-beaten-track - about 6 miles from the nearest (small) town, most of which is along a single track road, you come to a sign for the club
On arrival the winch was out and running so that looked promising. Turns out I was only the second person to appear so it was time to retire to the club house and drink tea until others arrived.
Slowly others arrived until we had enough (just) to operate but the amount of wind was enough to dampen sufficient enthusiasm to commit aviation.
The club has been through a difficult period since the MOD visited in 2011 and ran large vehicles on the runway and ripped it up so much that it's only recently that the runway is once again useable. A small club to start with but the effect of the runway problems was to halve the membership. A tough time but the hard core of members are ready to rebuild the club. At the moment Sunday is the main day the members gather. A club worth visiting and supporting. The Galloway region is something special with spectacular scenery around every corner and such quiet roads (I saw 6 cars and 1 motorbike in my 20 mile trip to the club).
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| Entrance to the airfield - only 1 mile to go along the track |
Slowly others arrived until we had enough (just) to operate but the amount of wind was enough to dampen sufficient enthusiasm to commit aviation.
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| View from the runway |
Wednesday 14th
I suppose one has to feel sorry for the folks burden by wok and unable to get out to play on such a day. From 11:00 to 13:30 everything we threw at the sky soared away (well, with one exception). Colin B took the LS3 to somewhere north of Bristol. The Duo Discus (with Ken R and Bill C) only ventured off a modest distance as Bill had to head to work in the afternoon (the suggestion to "drop him off" was not thought to be prudent since he was working at Heathrow).
In the afternoon the blue hole settled in with great looking cu to the north, south, east and west. The prospect of the good stuff from the north coming within reach kept tempting folks but only a few got lucky - Rob J in the Cirrus (on his free launch), Steve B in the ASW-15 and myself in the LS3. Climbs to 4,800 were available and the visibility was exceptionally good. 25 hours flown off 37 launches.
In the afternoon the blue hole settled in with great looking cu to the north, south, east and west. The prospect of the good stuff from the north coming within reach kept tempting folks but only a few got lucky - Rob J in the Cirrus (on his free launch), Steve B in the ASW-15 and myself in the LS3. Climbs to 4,800 were available and the visibility was exceptionally good. 25 hours flown off 37 launches.
Open Day
An excess of wind (20 mph westerly gusting 40 mph) put paid to any hope of flying. Even so about a dozen folks turned up from as far afield as Melbourne, Australia and Polruan, Cornwall. Admittedly both these chaps were on holiday in the area. We welcomed about a dozen visitors and they were shown the club fleet and winches and watched videos in the clubhouse (thanks to Rob S and Phil M bringing their laptops along). Rob S had arranged for a fellow electric car enthusiast to big his go-faster car along which provided some interests to both visitors and members. At 0 to 60mph in 3.7 seconds I think it fair to brand it as "go-faster".
A very good turnout of club members there to share their experience with our visitors and eat donuts. Many thanks to all of them and those who phoned ready to appear if needed.
A very good turnout of club members there to share their experience with our visitors and eat donuts. Many thanks to all of them and those who phoned ready to appear if needed.
May 7th TLE
For our first Trial Lesson Evening of the year help members of 3rd Winchester Scouts to progress their aviation badges. Not the best of conditions with a lively cross-wind from the west and short flights on offer. A big group so the TLE crew were very gratefully to the "Wednesday boys" for getting our second K13 rigged and back in service. This meant we had all 3 of the 2-seaters pressed into operation. Fluffy Harris (who needs a windsock when Rodney is around - provided he's not wearing a hat) did his usual fantastic job on the winch. Paul B opted for the quiet life in the Land Rover retrieving the gliders - quiet until the scouts discovered the joys of riding in our "classic" vehicle. Rob S, Graham T and Steve B kept gliders filled and launched. The result of the efficient operation is that we flew 18 scouts and 7 adults who all went away with a big smile on their faces.
PS most flights were either 5 or 6 minutes but Ken R defied gravity on one flight with an astounding 11 minutes
PS most flights were either 5 or 6 minutes but Ken R defied gravity on one flight with an astounding 11 minutes
Monday 5th may
Winch cable changed
Soaring done
Nimbus fettled*
Managed to only spend 2 figures at the garden centre*
Roast dinner*
What did you do?
(* only Claire and Pete)
Soaring done
Nimbus fettled*
Managed to only spend 2 figures at the garden centre*
Roast dinner*
What did you do?
(* only Claire and Pete)
Saturday 3rd
Bank Holiday weekends often suffer from a lack of members and this one likely to be more so with the returning expedition participants needing to replenish brownie points. Certainly, there were only a few of us there to setup. However, shortly after toys ready and in the right place there was an influx and I had a long list of those looking for the services of an instructor. I took the first launch (with a TL) - straight off the launch into a thermal to 3,000' and that's the way it seemed to work for most flights. Most training flights were half an hour of soaring followed by creative (and instructive) ways to remove surplus height. A few launches found the sink between the thermals resulting in circuit (Bill O claiming the prize for finding most impressive sink with a 4 minute circuit off a 1,400'launch).
We only managed to fly because Steve B was prepared to winch all day with Richard D pitching in so that Steve could at least get a flight. Richard, Bob B and Ken R helped me work through the instruction list, without their help some folks would not have got to fly.
One Wyvern pilot appeared with his Nimbus 2A with Upavon being closed. He took longest flight of the day honours of 2:34.
Of the 4 hangar flights 3 took an hour or more. 21 hours flown off 27 launches with a cloud base of up to 3,900.
We only managed to fly because Steve B was prepared to winch all day with Richard D pitching in so that Steve could at least get a flight. Richard, Bob B and Ken R helped me work through the instruction list, without their help some folks would not have got to fly.
One Wyvern pilot appeared with his Nimbus 2A with Upavon being closed. He took longest flight of the day honours of 2:34.
Of the 4 hangar flights 3 took an hour or more. 21 hours flown off 27 launches with a cloud base of up to 3,900.
Sunday 4th May (meanwhile - back at the ranch)
With precious few people operating on the ground, only the tireless efforts of Steve G on the winch and Pablo at one time both retrieving cables and operating the signals ensured we all got airborne - and for the most part stayed airborne. Gliders were launched and stayed that way for extraordinarily long times. I've never seen a day with so few launches and so many hours. Selvam and Graham got priority launches and duly achieved their target one and two hour flights as planned - well done both. Then two Nimbuses (ii?) flown by Jim and a visitor from Upavon, me in the LS3 and two Kens in the Duo got aloft to tour the countryside for a few hours.
Meanwhile DI Richard gave extended instructional flights to all and sundry, with soaring still active until the last glider was derigged.
The kind of day we all dream about.
Meanwhile DI Richard gave extended instructional flights to all and sundry, with soaring still active until the last glider was derigged.
The kind of day we all dream about.
Club exped - last report
As I write this most members who came up to Portmoak are now back down south. Trevor and I are towing the remaining gliders back later today but so just time for a quick update covering the last few days of flying.
On Thursday the rain finally stopped around 5.30 and with the local evening flying group cancelled it was down to Shalbourne to run the airfield. With the aid of the professional winch driver and the rest of us manning the launch point Nigel took the Vega up for a 8 minute circuit swiftly followed by James who contacted a patch of lift which enabled him to stay up for 10 mins.
After the early low cloud cleared Friday turned out to be a reasonable day
and both Nigel and Paul both had their first flight in a Junior. Nigel remarked that with Paul flying it should be called a Senior!
Wednesday 30th
Meanwhile, south of the border, Wednesday is a flying day - and a quite reasonable looking one at that. I should maybe qualify that by saying we could see good looking cu the north, south, east and west and we started the day sitting in the middle of a blue hole. Whilst rigging his Pilat Justin B asked me if I though a 2 hour flight would be possible and I encouragingly said "yes" but thought "hmm, depends".
Shortly after midday Bill C failed to immediately return in the K8 so Chris K pulled his Cirrus online, shortly followed by me in the LS3. The ability to scratch and determination to do so was needed but with those, climbs to 3,200' were possible (Chris K claiming that particular prize). Cloud base was very variable and was down 2,200' at times and in places. Justin didn't manage his 2 hours but did do over an hour to go towards his cross country endorsement. Having said a 2 hour was possible I felt obliged to stay airborne for at least that time and that proved to be the longest flight of the day. In total just over 14 hours of flying was clocked up by "the Wednesday boys" (I'll skip the aka).
Shortly after midday Bill C failed to immediately return in the K8 so Chris K pulled his Cirrus online, shortly followed by me in the LS3. The ability to scratch and determination to do so was needed but with those, climbs to 3,200' were possible (Chris K claiming that particular prize). Cloud base was very variable and was down 2,200' at times and in places. Justin didn't manage his 2 hours but did do over an hour to go towards his cross country endorsement. Having said a 2 hour was possible I felt obliged to stay airborne for at least that time and that proved to be the longest flight of the day. In total just over 14 hours of flying was clocked up by "the Wednesday boys" (I'll skip the aka).
Club exped to Portmoak Tuesday 29th
As the locals predicted Tuesday was going to be a ridge day. With a light SW wind we were a little pessimistic of how it would perform but at least with Cu forming overhead we had the option of having a thermal flight if nothing else.
As usual the gliders which were left rigged overnight were readied for flight and we towed them over to the eastern launch run which was a novelty as the last two days flying were launching from the west. This direction is amazing as at the top of the launch you are over the loch.
View of Bishop from the launch point.
Nigel enjoying his first ridge flight in the Vega, the launch point is just around the corner of Bishop in line with St Serf island (in distance).
Below is a view from the same spot a little higher (and closer) than Nigel was at.
Colin, a member at Challock, showed us the workings of the jet sustainer fitted to his Shark.
The noise from this really is something prompting the CFI to ask him to start it up further away7 from the airfield next time...............I want one!
The ridge at Portmoak is truly amazing to run along and it is clear from the smiles that everyone thought this was the highlight of the week. Nigel, Jon and Wavey all had ridge flights over an hour, Paul and Rod in the Puch and Carol and I in the Janus clocked up around 3 hours apiece.
All in all a very good day and a lot of fun was had by all and I know that some of you have seen us flying in real time on the internet.
Today (Wednesday) is a non flying day but we hope to get into lee-wave tomorrow afternoon.
Club exped to Portmoak
The first two days were not flyable due to low cloud but on Sunday Carol and I managed to get every ones site checks done so it was time for Nigel, Jon and James to give the Vega a go.
With the easterly wind soaring times were in single figures but its fair to say that the circuit out over Loch Leven was different to what we are used to at Shalbourne, a video will be posted when I get back.
Despite the short flight times everyone is thoroughly enjoying the experience of flying here. The locals are very friendly and helpful, we are effectively a club within a club and have access to a tug when we need one.....only have to ask and a tuggy comes to site to launch us!
Also they say if it gets busy they will arrange for us to have our own launch run and winch.........can't get better than that!
Paul had an aerotow check with Carol in the Puchacz and was cleared for solo aero-towing as was James Walters who had a check in a K21 with one of the Portmoak instructors.
According to the locals today (Tuesday) is promising to be a good day so hopefully I will be able to report some longer flights.
St George's Day
Driving through Hungerford on the way to the club I began to wonder if I'd stumbled on an EDL rally until I realised it was St George's Day - George Cross flags every where. Hive of activity when I got to the club including the toilets being cleaned. I promised Chris not to let on who did it in case his wife reads the blog.
Then it was time to fit in some flying - the steady wind down the strip promised some great launches. Unfortunately the 1,300' cloudbase never gave us a chance to find out what might have been possible. It didn't take long before there was no one else waiting to fly and the hangar was packed as the rain settled in.
Updating my logbook just now I discovered that I clocked up my 5,000th launch - 7 minutes solo in the Puchacz was not exactly a special flight to mark the occasion.
Then it was time to fit in some flying - the steady wind down the strip promised some great launches. Unfortunately the 1,300' cloudbase never gave us a chance to find out what might have been possible. It didn't take long before there was no one else waiting to fly and the hangar was packed as the rain settled in.
Updating my logbook just now I discovered that I clocked up my 5,000th launch - 7 minutes solo in the Puchacz was not exactly a special flight to mark the occasion.
Unnamed Saturday
Or is it? I'm sure it's got a name, I'll have to Google that...
Anyway smith shut up about such inconsequential drivel...
The unnamed Saturday was actually quite good, the same airmass as the oh so good Friday giving strong climbs, yes the spreadout made finding a climb close to a lottery or maybe the subject of a future masterclass... But it was good fun!
EDIT Holy Saturday
Anyway smith shut up about such inconsequential drivel...
The unnamed Saturday was actually quite good, the same airmass as the oh so good Friday giving strong climbs, yes the spreadout made finding a climb close to a lottery or maybe the subject of a future masterclass... But it was good fun!
EDIT Holy Saturday
Good Friday
And "good" it was. I promised cracking launches plus thermals popping and the C team delivered - almost 27 hours off 32 launches. I saw lift of 7 knots (on the averager) and visited cloudbase at 4,500', maybe others topped those.
Good turnout of private gliders rigged - Nimbus, Cirrus, LS3, LS7, Duo Discus and Jantar. Only 3 on the instructor's list though and each of them got in over a hour of flying.
Longest flight honours (time and distance) went to Pete Smith who visited Northampton South, Chieveley and Calvert Rail Junction to clock up 320km. The sky kept delivering all day - it took Paul P half an hour to hangar fly the Puchaz and Andrew B (yes, he flys as well as fixes gliders) took 40 minutes to hangar fly the K13 (resorting to spin and stall exercises and deliberately flying through lift).
Good turnout of private gliders rigged - Nimbus, Cirrus, LS3, LS7, Duo Discus and Jantar. Only 3 on the instructor's list though and each of them got in over a hour of flying.
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| Great Bedwyn from a check flight |
Wednesday 16th
Colin returned from the weather check reporting "lift everywhere" and having to side-slip along the downwind leg. The advice to his syndicate partner - "it's worth rigging". LS3 rigged and the word from Colin in the back seat was "sorry, it's as if there's been a complete change of air". Alan P had been airborne for some time so something must be working. Straight off the launch into a reasonable thermal which stopped dead at 2,000' by the inversion. No matter, plenty more where that came from, or so I thought. Nothing found to impede my inevitable descent to Mother Earth. Launch number 2 turned into an epic scratch - half an hour off only 2 thermals, each providing a gain in height of 500', gives an idea of just how feeble the climb rate was. All good character forming stuff I suppose. Mine was the second longest flight of the day, beaten by Alan P with over an hour in his Skylark. How he managed that length of time is a mystery (especially, it was suggested, given the soaring ability demonstrated on the previous couple of flying days - one wag observed that maybe he should stick to yellow aircraft and avoid blue) but impressive.
The day ended prematurely when the intermittent problem on with the winch was no longer intermittent and the starter motor gave up.
The day ended prematurely when the intermittent problem on with the winch was no longer intermittent and the starter motor gave up.
Sunday 13th
Thirteen is considered unlucky but only for those people who didnt turn up at the airfield today with a total of 39 flights and over 20 hours of soaring time logged this was our busiest day since August last year.
The good forecast brought out quite a few private owners who were busy trying to remember how to fly their hot ships after a winters slumber, the Janus, Nimbus, Ls3, Oly, Pirat and Jantar all taking to the skies for extended soaring flights and short cross countries. The club gliders were also kept fully utilised with Daniel and Pablo up first in the Puchacz for check flights before Daniel took to the skies in the K8 and decided not to come back, twice, clocking up two flights of over an hour to double his solo hours to date and get his first Bronze leg. Mean while Pablo kept the launch point uncluttered soaring the Puchacz solo for the fist time while Phil put Justin through his paces for his Bronze flying test. Stuart obviously also appreciates a tidy launch point as he disappeared off in the club Vega and Alan proved that the surest way to catch a thermal is to decide to hangar fly and went soaring in the Oly on his fourth attempt. Unfortunately Richard brought the Ls3 back for his syndicate partner who had already absconded in a spare seat in the Janus so the airfield didn't remain tidy for long.
Conditions remained soarable until late in the day so I was able to sneak off for an hour in the Nimbus to remember what 50:1 is really like while Pete checked Graham out befrore his type conversion to the Vega ending a long day of good soaring and numerous personal achievements.
It looks like the soaring season is here.
The good forecast brought out quite a few private owners who were busy trying to remember how to fly their hot ships after a winters slumber, the Janus, Nimbus, Ls3, Oly, Pirat and Jantar all taking to the skies for extended soaring flights and short cross countries. The club gliders were also kept fully utilised with Daniel and Pablo up first in the Puchacz for check flights before Daniel took to the skies in the K8 and decided not to come back, twice, clocking up two flights of over an hour to double his solo hours to date and get his first Bronze leg. Mean while Pablo kept the launch point uncluttered soaring the Puchacz solo for the fist time while Phil put Justin through his paces for his Bronze flying test. Stuart obviously also appreciates a tidy launch point as he disappeared off in the club Vega and Alan proved that the surest way to catch a thermal is to decide to hangar fly and went soaring in the Oly on his fourth attempt. Unfortunately Richard brought the Ls3 back for his syndicate partner who had already absconded in a spare seat in the Janus so the airfield didn't remain tidy for long.
Conditions remained soarable until late in the day so I was able to sneak off for an hour in the Nimbus to remember what 50:1 is really like while Pete checked Graham out befrore his type conversion to the Vega ending a long day of good soaring and numerous personal achievements.
It looks like the soaring season is here.
Saturday 12/04 and Sunday 13/04
I was duty Saturday, it was grey and overcast and quite windy, but it was soarable. With no-one willing to fly with me I took the Vega, having noticed a brightening - it was quite tricky and cycling but i managed 38mins, Nigel and Stephen coming close with their soaring efforts.
On Sunday I rigged 737 along side EEF, the pirat, the olly, FOT and 383 and launched into a much better looking sky for, in formula 1 parlance, a systems check and installation lap. It was working ok up to about 3000ft so I set off north for a wander. There I found the thermals much more broken (wave from wales?) and struggled to get back, fortunately the nimbo was good for the task.
Congratulations to Graham Tanner for converting to the Vega and to Justin for completing his bronze checks.
On Sunday I rigged 737 along side EEF, the pirat, the olly, FOT and 383 and launched into a much better looking sky for, in formula 1 parlance, a systems check and installation lap. It was working ok up to about 3000ft so I set off north for a wander. There I found the thermals much more broken (wave from wales?) and struggled to get back, fortunately the nimbo was good for the task.
Congratulations to Graham Tanner for converting to the Vega and to Justin for completing his bronze checks.
9th April - Busy Wednesday
Lots of members turned out to play and 4 private gliders rigged. Despite a 90 degree cross wind and the subsequent poor launches (1,200ish was what I was seeing from the back seat of a K13) thermals far from guaranteed, quite a few decent soaring flights were had. At one point in the afternoon all 7 gliders were airborne and the launch point empty. Chris K set the time to beat flying his Cirus for 50 minutes, which Colin B bettered by 8 minutes flying his LS3-17 but Rob J, in his Cirus, clocked up 1:13. Mind, it wasn't easy, Colin had to take 3 launches to get one decent length flight. Alan P decided to have a rest from short circuits in his Olly and handed over to Alan B to add a new type to his log book. He obviously hadn't been told the Olly was just doing circuits as he flew for 38 minutes. On handing it back to Alan P normality (i.e. a short flight) was restored.
Meanwhile at the top end of the field the phantom grass cutter was attacking some of the vigorous spring grass.
20 members flew, including Alex R one of our new junior members taking advantage of half term. Almost 10 hours flown off 37 launches.
Meanwhile at the top end of the field the phantom grass cutter was attacking some of the vigorous spring grass.
20 members flew, including Alex R one of our new junior members taking advantage of half term. Almost 10 hours flown off 37 launches.
Wednesday 26th
Many hands .....!
We also did a lot of soaring in a variety of conditions from ridge, to rain to thermal.
And congratulations to Jonty who was lured to the airfield following our encounter at the Gibbet (me in The Vega and he suspended under a green canopy). It turned out to be a good decision as he then flew his first solo in a glider.
We also did a lot of soaring in a variety of conditions from ridge, to rain to thermal.
And congratulations to Jonty who was lured to the airfield following our encounter at the Gibbet (me in The Vega and he suspended under a green canopy). It turned out to be a good decision as he then flew his first solo in a glider.
Task week / soaring week / open week, an exped at home 11th August
This year we are going to hold a combined task and soaring week beginning 11th August (tasks will be set from 9th-17th August).
The aim is to make it simple and fun - there will be multiple tasks per day for the range of experience on the day set by me and you wont need any complicated gubbins to record the tasks or have to memorise overly complex rules. In fact I intend to do all scoring in the pub and the results may change with consumption of IPA.
For those wishing to do local soaring that is fine but the field wont necessarily be supervised so you will need at least a bronze and xc endorsement unless you make a private arrangement with an instructor. The same applies for pre-solo, make a private arrangement with an instructor.
Ken has kindly volunteered to winch drive all week.
I guess we'll visit the pub and have a BBQ or two after the glorious soaring weather that we'll have.
So save the date and watch out for more updates.
The aim is to make it simple and fun - there will be multiple tasks per day for the range of experience on the day set by me and you wont need any complicated gubbins to record the tasks or have to memorise overly complex rules. In fact I intend to do all scoring in the pub and the results may change with consumption of IPA.
For those wishing to do local soaring that is fine but the field wont necessarily be supervised so you will need at least a bronze and xc endorsement unless you make a private arrangement with an instructor. The same applies for pre-solo, make a private arrangement with an instructor.
Ken has kindly volunteered to winch drive all week.
I guess we'll visit the pub and have a BBQ or two after the glorious soaring weather that we'll have.
So save the date and watch out for more updates.
Saturday
A bright sunny day and the forecast had changed overnight to something a little more promising. Only 4 people on the airfield but annual checks on the winch guillotine were completed and the field set up anyway.
JPC up first flight at 10:15, 1900' winch launch and some weak but turbulent thermals. Chris was talked into rigging B1.
Second flight for JPC, strong narrow thermals to 2500 rapidly building to 5 knots to 3000' Spun down after B1 established.
Third flight B1, soaring flight and the Vega came out to play. Cloudbase now 3500'. You get the idea...
We ended up with seven people on the airfield, all flew and all had soaring flights of varying duration many of about an hour. Everyone even laid off on the launch. Chris takes the prize though with just under two hours before his toes froze.
A heavy shower stopped play at about 2pm but all the toys were packed away in super quick time to avoid getting wet with the vega landing and being pushed into the hanger just as the showers hit. All in all a very good day. Probably the best of the weekend.
JPC up first flight at 10:15, 1900' winch launch and some weak but turbulent thermals. Chris was talked into rigging B1.
Second flight for JPC, strong narrow thermals to 2500 rapidly building to 5 knots to 3000' Spun down after B1 established.
Third flight B1, soaring flight and the Vega came out to play. Cloudbase now 3500'. You get the idea...
We ended up with seven people on the airfield, all flew and all had soaring flights of varying duration many of about an hour. Everyone even laid off on the launch. Chris takes the prize though with just under two hours before his toes froze.
A heavy shower stopped play at about 2pm but all the toys were packed away in super quick time to avoid getting wet with the vega landing and being pushed into the hanger just as the showers hit. All in all a very good day. Probably the best of the weekend.
Weekend Flying.
There's hope for the weekend! Sunday is looking especially ok. Moderate North Westerly, maybe blue in the morning.....Possibly good for a small task.
So time to blow off the cobwebs and clear out the mouse poop from your glider and trailer.....
So time to blow off the cobwebs and clear out the mouse poop from your glider and trailer.....
10:00hrs
12:00hrs
14:00hrs.
Wavey Wednesday
Chris K and Rob J returned from the first launch reporting so scraps of 0. Carol P took the next launch in the K8 and returned 56 minutes later, Paul P followed in a K13 and returned 55 minutes later. That got Bob B pulling the Vega from the hanger and taking the next launch and flew for 49 minutes. Nobody was thermalling - they were all sliding around the sky following the wave up to 3,000'. Most got a taste of the wave but only two more flights (Chris K with Rob J in the K13 and Trevor G in the K8) got decent times (48 and 46 minutes).
15 of us clocked up almost 7:30 of flying off 24 launches - an unexpectedly good day. All that flying plus mini-muffins (Wednesday flying is very civilised).
15 of us clocked up almost 7:30 of flying off 24 launches - an unexpectedly good day. All that flying plus mini-muffins (Wednesday flying is very civilised).
Sunday 16th March
What a beautiful day! OK not much cop for soaring and the wind was stubbornly at 90deg to any chosen direction, but a blazing sun shone all day. Colin managed half an hour soaring in the K8 but not much else stuck (sorry yes Nigel you did too).
Special mention to Carol, busily re-skinning the Janus trailer on his 50th wedding anniversary.
Special mention to Carol, busily re-skinning the Janus trailer on his 50th wedding anniversary.
Saturday 15th
At least there wasn't any fog and the sun did appear. With a stiff 90 degree cross wind and strong sink (6 down) a good day for annual checks. This kept the duty instructor entertained for a while and gave the winch driver (Chris K) the opportunity to show off his creativity in producing launch failures. Peter E flew with David N who signed up as a member - our 3rd junior member within a month.
I guess you're probably thinking "with that strong sink, there must have been some lift on offer". Unfortunately no - well not within our reach. With the longest flight of the day going to Chris K with an 8 minute flight, that tells you how "good" it was.
I guess you're probably thinking "with that strong sink, there must have been some lift on offer". Unfortunately no - well not within our reach. With the longest flight of the day going to Chris K with an 8 minute flight, that tells you how "good" it was.
Wednesday 12th March
On entering the airfield the first challenge was to find the hangar. The closer you got to it the thicker the fog. The met man had promised the fog would burn off and we'd be bathed in bright sunshine so it was just a matter of being patient. We managed to keep ourselves occupied. While Ken H and Paul B solved the mystery of lack of power to the radio on the reserve winch the rest of us derigged JMX and moved it into the workshop and clubhouse.
By early afternoon toys were out and we were ready to fly and the launch point (at the south end) was in bright sunshine. Problem was, from there the winch was not visible. Waited a little longer and it appeared but orographic cloud still coming off the ridge. Time came to take a weather check and as the winch power disappeared when I was at 1,200' half way up the field, I realised that the winch driver must have lost sight of me. Line of cloud below me very noticeably following the ridge. Found my way back to the launch point and we waited another hour. Everyone who wanted to fly got a launch before canopy misting brought an enforced end to the day. Just a dozen launches and Rob J claimed longest flight of the day with 8 minutes (which the log keeper claimed was more to taking off just before the minute clicked over and landing just after another minute clicked over).
It was one of those days that we seemed to have more problems than usual but we over came them, flew and ate donuts (thanks to Paul B filling the donut gap while Peter M is recovering).
By early afternoon toys were out and we were ready to fly and the launch point (at the south end) was in bright sunshine. Problem was, from there the winch was not visible. Waited a little longer and it appeared but orographic cloud still coming off the ridge. Time came to take a weather check and as the winch power disappeared when I was at 1,200' half way up the field, I realised that the winch driver must have lost sight of me. Line of cloud below me very noticeably following the ridge. Found my way back to the launch point and we waited another hour. Everyone who wanted to fly got a launch before canopy misting brought an enforced end to the day. Just a dozen launches and Rob J claimed longest flight of the day with 8 minutes (which the log keeper claimed was more to taking off just before the minute clicked over and landing just after another minute clicked over).
It was one of those days that we seemed to have more problems than usual but we over came them, flew and ate donuts (thanks to Paul B filling the donut gap while Peter M is recovering).
Sunday 9th March
The sun comes out, the temperature rises and more people appear at the airfield. Hardly classic flying conditions (inversion with limited soaring opportunities and so-so vis) but just good to be out and flying. Bit of a queue formed for the one K13 available but Ken P (duty instructor) worked his way through the list, completing it by sunset. The Puchacz boys (EUF) rigged and got in lots of launches. There was also the first appearance of Justin's "new" Pirat. Justin was one happy bunny.
Bob B was the subject of envy, provoking comments such as "that's a big one Bob", "have you seen the size of Bob's" and "how does he hold something that big steady?". Certainly his new lens was producing spectacular results, such as the photo above.
After a 30 year lay-off from flying, Andrew P popped in to take a look at our operation, flew and joined on the spot.
Special mention of (and thanks to) Rod H who provided us with excellent launches to 2,000' for much of the day.
Bob B was the subject of envy, provoking comments such as "that's a big one Bob", "have you seen the size of Bob's" and "how does he hold something that big steady?". Certainly his new lens was producing spectacular results, such as the photo above.
After a 30 year lay-off from flying, Andrew P popped in to take a look at our operation, flew and joined on the spot.
Special mention of (and thanks to) Rod H who provided us with excellent launches to 2,000' for much of the day.
Wednesday 5th March
The weather app on my 'phone said it was clear and sunny. My eyes, however, suggested there was a sheet of cloud completely filling the sky. The sun on broke though briefly to shine on Paul P washing the wings of the Vega. Undeterred, gliders were pulled on line and Carol P took the first launch in the K8 and returned 23 minutes later. That remained the target to beat until, a couple of hours later, Bill C, in the K8, established a new target of 34 minutes. The only other person to get near to that was Paul P in the Vega with 32 minutes. Given the extra launch height available with the K8 and the time just to use that height there were those that argued that the handicapped longest flight would have been with Paul P. The cloud cover stayed all day but out of the 30 launches 2 managed over 30 minutes and another 5 of 20, or more, minutes.
Couple of appearances on the airfield not seen for a while. HAX was rigged and flown for the first time this year and we were able to welcome back Bill O. Despite an 18 month lay-off he certainly hasn't forgotten how to fly.
Towards the end of the day a big fire on the hill to the south west was pouring out smoke that instead of rising ran down into the valley and up our western ridge
Couple of appearances on the airfield not seen for a while. HAX was rigged and flown for the first time this year and we were able to welcome back Bill O. Despite an 18 month lay-off he certainly hasn't forgotten how to fly.
Towards the end of the day a big fire on the hill to the south west was pouring out smoke that instead of rising ran down into the valley and up our western ridge
1st March
What a glorious first day of Spring - ideal for a wee cross-country.
Unfortunately, this XC was on foot (views of Didcot and Harwell from the Ridgeway). Reports of difficulties getting up the airfield on Friday and an unpromising forecast resulted in a scrubbed day
Unfortunately, this XC was on foot (views of Didcot and Harwell from the Ridgeway). Reports of difficulties getting up the airfield on Friday and an unpromising forecast resulted in a scrubbed day
Wednesday 26th Feb
This time it was Paul P's turn to throw down the gauntlet on the second launch of the day setting 19 minutes as the time to beat. It wasn't until almost two hours later Chris K and Rob J returned in a K13 after a 30 minute flight. There then followed a debate as to whether the time per glider or time per pilot should claim the honours. Out of the 21 launches only 2 others flights broke into double digits (but not by much).
Mainly circuits (with a bit of bung pulling) but a pleasant day anyway. We are hoping Peter M is making a speedy recovery as he is (and the Wednesday donuts are) missed.
Mainly circuits (with a bit of bung pulling) but a pleasant day anyway. We are hoping Peter M is making a speedy recovery as he is (and the Wednesday donuts are) missed.
Sunday 2nd March
Despite today turning out to be a non-flying day at least one member managed to get something out of his trip to the club.
Congratulations to Justin Butler for successfully passing his Bronze Theory test.....Well done Justin!
Phil
Congratulations to Justin Butler for successfully passing his Bronze Theory test.....Well done Justin!
Phil
Saturday 22nd
Second launch of the day, Mark P is thrown at the sky and sticks. The K13's just stuck to circuits while Trevor G and Bob B pulled out the Vega. Bob took a launch ready to grab some of the rising air that the K8 continued to enjoy but was back on the ground within minutes reporting that he only just got back having found some 6 down (or it having found him). Mark returned after being observed practicing spins and climbing back to cloudbase at 2,000'. Everyone else continued to do circuits until Nigel managed a whole 12 minutes in the K8. A little later I made an attempt at Nigel's record (no need to be too ambitious) and managed to record the shortest flight of the day thanks to a failed weak link. Next attempt somewhat better with a launch to 2,000' and a climb to 3,000' drifting to the gibbet. Mark's record remained completely safe all day.
Richard D (as duty instructor) was kept busy and we clocked up 35 launches.
Richard D (as duty instructor) was kept busy and we clocked up 35 launches.
Wednesday 19th February
After the fog and drizzle cleared there
appeared a ragged cloud base of between 800 and 1400 feet which
lifted by degrees until the sky briefly cleared in the afternoon. The
faithful had broken into two cohorts, one completing the repair to
the hangar roof and cladding while the other took unusual
pleasure in squeezing every last minute out of each flight
and celebrating 12 minutes airborne as though it were a Silver Duration.
Such is midweek gliding. :-)
Having now had both
fuselage and wings recovered JPC looks brand new and handles likewise having
been beautifully restored under Andy Brind's supervision. Just how he got a
paint finish like that in the winter weather is a mystery!
And in it
I had the privilege of introducing Jonty's seven year old son to the
sport of gliding. Get your dad to bring you again in the summer
William!
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