Saturday 22nd February

I know it seems unlikely given our recent weather, but yes, we did manage two flying days in a week! Saturday was predicted to be the best day of the weekend and many of the usual suspects arrived, keen to get back in the air. Paul Noonan was Duty Instructor and supervised the setup on the short hard runway with CCC and HLH. Then disaster fell....the winch had problems and these turned out to be due to a leaking oil pressure sensor. Luckily we had Lech to come to the rescue - having diagnosed the issue he stood down flying for an hour and went to buy a replacement part. Paul N went for a flight in the Falke, and everyone else went to have Mary's soup & chocolate cake.

In the meantime Graham had decided the forecast was promising and took the big nimbus up to the launch point to go flying with Paul Fletcher. Tim & John Donovan turned up in the Grob and headed off to the west, soon followed by Graham & Paul.

With the winch fixed, we went back to the 'short hard' and started launching the club gliders and CPJ. By this time the wind had swung round almost directly down the runway, and was picking up. Probably less than an hour later - after Bob K, Lech and Alistair had flown - the K8 was sent back to the hangar as the wind became more gusty and the ground handling more difficult. Nigel was flying the Falke, and said the take-off was quite hard work with the wind near Paul's hill.

Flying continued with just the K13. Paul flew with Witold, Phil A and then a last flight with me before we put the kit to bed mid afternoon. If I tell you that we had a 1300 feet launch two up in the K13 without me upsetting Paul by pole bending, you will be able to judge the wind! Just as we retrieved the K13, Graham & Paul F returned in the nimbus. They had been in thermals up to almost 3000ft, and had seen good lift in places. They went out to the Cotswold Edge then back to Daventry via a cloud street and then routed South and home, for the longest glider flight of the day. The record in the K13 was 11 minutes - and there was lift low down but we couldn't stay in it in the wind!

 

Thanks to Lech, Clive & Eric for fixing/driving the winch, and Paul N for instructing - a nice afternoon was had by all, and there was time for tea & a chat afterwards before everyone headed home.

Sunday 16th February

A delightful day for weather, not properly capitalised upon by us I feel, only 30 launches of which 6 were aerotow.

Visitors from Bidford and Bicester swelled the assembly, and Gavin oversaw the day.

Trish with HMB. Alan had gone off with Graham in 60 to play on the Cotswold Edge.

It was good to see some old members too - Red Staley and Martyn Wells both popped in to say hello.

 

HLH saw sterling service and did 9 of these launches. Lucy flew after she’d K13’d with Paul G.  Phil Lacey reappeared and re-soloed with Gavin, and also flew the K8. Stephanie Lown was given a flight by Grandad.

Eric (ntd)

Saturday 15th Feb - Annual Dinner

Flying was scrubbed early on Saturday owing to the wild winds and heavy showers. Mary had soup on tap in the clubhouse, and members turned up gradually through the day to have a late lunch and do 'fettle' type tasks before wandering off to Banbury for the evening. 

The Annual Dinner was held at Whately Hall Hotel in Banbury and once again they did us proud. We had an excellent meal, with plenty of jollity, followed by a short speech by Mary - our mystery speaker - who wanted to encourage us all to fly and try new things, and told us briefly about the time she represented GB in the Womens Europeans Comp (see next NL for more detail!).

The Chairman deep in concentration

We dispensed with speeches this year - probably to the relief of the CFI, Chairman and partners of all glider pilots - so straight on to prizegiving. 

Anne & Paul enjoying electricity having been cut off in the storms

Who knows what John was making..?....

The farpoint prize went to Eric (ntd) again,  for another epic flight out east, and Eric was also awarded the Highest achiever prize for his two 300km flights this summer in his K6, which has been quite an inspiration to other club members. Trish Langlands was awarded the best flight prize for her 300km this summer while CFI's prize went to Michael Bell for keeping the bar well stocked!

Our token junior Lucy (who is apparently 'getting on a bit') adds some glamour to the line up of Eric & Mick and has a welcome break from studying.

Trish and Eric are pictured with their prizes below. Colin Hales won Clubman of the Year, and most improved pilot was awarded to two pilots this year - Lech Zakrzewski and Alistair Frier.












After the formalities were over there was dancing to an excellent disco....at times it would have been very difficult to detect the male membership of the club, but the women were unbowed!

Danger on the dance floor as Paul Duffy shows a couple of legs! Paul is having a hip replacement in two weeks time so we hope to get him back in the air this spring.

Bob glitters on the dance floor...

Many thanks to Liz and helper Jane for organising the evening - a great time was had by all!

Saturday 25th January: Burns Night

A few photos from our Burns Night Celebrations. A big thank you goes to Liz and the team for preparing a wonderful meal and to Alan, for reciting some wonderful Burns' poems.