Wonderful Wednesday

November is often a woefull month for gliding weather in the UK, but this year we've had some really good days, including last Sunday's classic ridge day. Today was another good club day with Derrick instructing and a number of keen club members out to make the best of what was on offer, including young Christian who, deprived of a school day due to strike action, took the opportunity to cycle to the club and further his flying education!

A Good Training Day

Another productive day. I covered the instructing, with Richard A flying a good check flight after a few weeks off and then flying solo. Martin J also had a number of productive training flights. Also out were John M flying his RF4, and Tim & Derrick flying their G109. Special thanks to Lee for driving the winch, and Scott & Phil Z who helped out at the launch point this afternoon to enable us to get the most out of the day.

Ridge & Thermal

Whilst Jan, Clive and Gillian selflessly manned the SGC stall at the Banbury Christmas Market we were all enjoying soaring the ridge.  Lee and Gavin ran the day with Robin starting off the winch launching, with Jon C taking over later on once he had flown. The ridge was booming and there was super soaring available from dawn 'til dusk. Trish and Alan L had their DG300 out and both enjoyed soaring flights with even some ridge enhance thermals popping off! Others out enjoying the soaring included Kris from Oxford GC who flew a K21 for the first time, Nigel C, Christian, Suzie, Gail and myself.  It was one of the best ridge days in ages - if you weren't there, you should have been!

Friday Fun



Bruno launches Charlie on another solo flight.

Another good training day with Bruno course instructing again and authorising the airfield. jane came out to keep current on aero-tow with Dave G flew the tug. Others out flying included Robin and Gail flying the Falke, Phil H in his Bolkow and course members, Bob K and Charlie, who concentrated on winch launching and getting up to 1700ft thanks to the stiff westerly wind and Kath's expert winching. Shame you couldn't make it!

Phil H lines up his Bolkow BO-207 for take-off.

Brunoexplains wave formations to Charlie whilst Bob gets ready to fly.



Nice for November

After several days of murk the high pressure gloom had shifted this morning and Derrick S was Duty Instructor and keen to make the best of the day along with with several other club members out to keep current and work on their AFRs. Dave Gould provided the Aero-tows for Keith M, Eric L, John L-C, with Brian H and the others also doing some winch launches and, most importantly, all enjoying themselves.

Report from Keith Marchant.

More blue skies

Bruno and Clive prepare to launch

Off into the wild blue yonder



Paul takes control

 Other out flying included Dave L-M, Derrick S, John R, with Lee and Scott in the Falke.

Winter Achievements!

Blue Skies

 

Clive takes the back seat

It was fantastic weather for November with the early morning mist clearing before 9am. When I arrived at 08:55 only our duty BI Jane Jervis was up and busy, already preping the launch point bus and putting out the winch. New junior member, 14 year old Christian (who signed up yesterday) soon turned up having rode in on his bicycle from Shutford. Robin and Clive also appeared and helped to set up the airfield. Robin preped the Falke and offered the spare seat to our new recruit, which Christian eagerly accepted.

How do I see the tug round those ears?

First glider flight of the day was an A/T with Clive in the back seat of DVX with me in the front making a start on his BI training and completeing his AFR and Pax Carrying Endorsement. John D flew the tug. Brilliant blue skies and by 11:30am lots more folks were appearing, and lots of flying was crammed in to the next 5 hours, and we could have done more if we'd been able to start sooner! I flew with Geoff P and Mike C to complete thier Year 3 Instructor Checks and AFRs. Tim D, Gail, Alison, Lucy, Charles, Jon C Tez and Paul N (aerobating the K21 as usual) were amongst the others out enjoying the sunshine. Star of the day, however, was Nigel Clarke, who completed his NST and Field Landing Checks with Lee to finish off his Bronze Badge and XC Endorsement.

9 Days A Week!!!

Whilst most of our neighbouring clubs have 'moth-balled' their midweek operations for the winter, we've been out flying on every occasion the weather allows. Indeed, we have enjoyed some useful flying on all of the last nine days, proving that at Shenington 'Winter Mode' does NOT mean hiberanation.

Fri - It was a day for the Falke, and Robin was out flying in the clear spells between the showers.

 

The Bonfire

Sat - Paul Noonan ran the day which started rather dull, but picked up during the afternoon enough for some flying followed by our Bonfire and Fireworks, and John D's "JAR Party" with the barrel of Hook he'd provided. A good night was had by all.



Wonderful Autumnal Colours

  

Sun - Super sunny made it a fantastic autumnal day for flying and taking in the spectacular autumnal colours. Bruno and team ran the day with Dave P as LPC and Roddy in the Tug. I flew with Paul N to complete his AFR and start work on his Full Cat work-up, and Derrick S to combine his AFR and currency checks now he's back from Spain and available as a mid-week instructor to encourage mid-week club flying.



 

The Castel Inn at Edgehill in the autumn sunshine



First solo for Charlie

Our first week of mid-week winter ops continued to go from strength to strength with Dave Perkins providing club instruction with Suzie S-W and Eric on Wednesday. Thursday saw an intensive day with Bruno flying Bob K and Charlie M. Charlie had a particularly memorable day and flew his first solo this afternoon in HVQ - Well done Charlie!

Bruno congratulates Charlie on his first solo

Now to concentrate on Bob...

HVQ ready for action again!

Back to GMT

The weather is still providing some decent opportunities for productive flying.

Saturday saw Geoff P and team getting in some strong wind practice for number of folks and making the most of the daylight before the clocks changed back to GMT. 

Martin enjoys the outstanding view with visability to beyond Didcot!



Sunday started poor but Lee and team hung on for the late clearance and squeezed in a couple of hours before sunset stopped play.

Monday and Tuesday;  I was off work and was club instructor.  Martin J made the most of the opportunity and is now romping through the syllabus with practice launch failures on Mon and some stalling and spinning on Tue. Lee drove the buggy and the tug - not simultaneously! Terry T also took a quick winch launch. The Falke is now back on line and after being test flown by Tim D, Robin and I took it to Enstone for fuel. Sven then also got a short trip. Meanwhile Tim D hitched a ride down to Wing Farm in the Chippie with Dave G to retrieve G-WAVY. Thanks for help on the field to to Lee and Sven, and particularly Robin for acting as duty winch driver for the last 2 days, allowing the club to operate.