Friday 23 December 2016

Thursday 22nd Dec

13 stalwarts gathered at the club to enjoy the post winter solstice and to celebrate the commencement of the lengthening days towards the forthcoming soaring season.

The weather was cold, sunny, with a moderate south westerly wind which allowed the 8 acre field to be used, XXI and DVX were given an airing with members pairing up for a bit of mutual flying.
A lovely day enjoying what we like best!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Lech





Monday 7 November 2016

Sunday 6 November 2016

Patrick's new toy.....

Photo from Rowan. Yes, Patrick finally bought a glider! What will we discuss at the pub now?!


More from Thursday

Lech sent some more photos, commenting that the autumnal views were spectacular with Alan Langlands managing to stay up for over half an hour in weak thermals coming off the ridge. Later in the afternoon some of the T21 syndicate with the help from Alan Chubb de-rigged BTH putting her away for winter.
 Bye bye Beth...see you in 2017.
 Discus owners in the sun!
 The ridge in autumn light...

Thursday 3 November 2016


Winter Mid-week Flying.

About a dozen members flew yesterday, tempted out by sunshine and a forecast indicating the ridge might work. Actually the wind did not live up to its forecast, so most flights were about 6 minutes, a few around 10 minutes and Alan L. achieved 33 minutes. Patrick tried out his recently acquired Discus, see below. We did 19 launches, and everyone enjoyed the day.

Friday 28 October 2016

I've just finished a very enjoyable season as the club's winch driver. Here are a few photos from the season. - Paul D

My new desk with view of the open plan office.


April
Typical weather


The Perkoz was on a sales trip around the UK. Members from SGC, Weston and Oxford took the opportunity to fly it. John Rogers had a brief soaring flight and Bruno span it, all in the name of research.


Brian, Gail, Carole and Richard.


May
Bruno and Patrick take CCC back to the launch point, going past the 'strop swallower' field.


John R, Kevin and Martin being trained on the big toys.



Former club member Roddy Maddocks (right) flew in one evening with a mutual friend, Sam. Roddy took me for a flight in the Ikarus, between showers.


June
Dazzling white legs. It's summer plumage.


July
Bob and Jan's beautiful Capstan, BUR.


August
Lavender crop near Shutford


Kent GC made their annual visit. Club member George Kyriacou (below) completed his silver distance in his OLY 463.


September
Bruno debriefing Zanna, shortly after sending her solo, with Neville and Rick from Ireland who went solo themselves a couple of days later.


Harvest time in the Eight Acre.


Slingsby Sooty was getting bolder. Impressive claws.


Autumn has arrived. G-ICRS was fog-bound for a day or two.



Seven Shenington members had a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting few days at Talgarth (BMGC) recently, Alan, Mick and Lech took Q5, John and Sue took EPU and George brought his PIK (537).  Paul F joined them over the weekend. There was some thoroughly enjoyable flying with ridge soaring, thermalling and, for John and George, wave to over 10,000ft. Enjoy these photos from John.







Wednesday 31 August 2016

Saturday 27th August

After the sun comes the weather....well, it was Bank Holiday weekend after all! 
Waited for the low cloud and drizzle to clear, then managed a few flights on the winch before abandoning our post for light rain. This turned out to be a mistake as the light rain turned into a torrential downpour, with thunder (and lightening) that caused the clubhouse to shudder, and the K13 & K8 were parked up in the top hangar. Dave H took some nice photos as the storm finally passed on:

After it cleared we brought them back down and gave the gliders and winch a good clean, then went out for dinner at the Roebuck.
 

The mystery of Smudge's kittens was finally solved! There are three of them and they are living under the clubhouse at present, unless Christine has managed to catch them when trying to get Smudge to the vet.

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Friday 26th August

Sun again, but this time a reduction in temperature after the warm sector from yesterday, and some pretty cumulus clouds. Mass rigging at the launchpoint as the the various members on holiday today got their gliders out and primed for unquestionably the best day of the week. There was no consensus on which way to go as those without engines didn't fancy Welsh fields and there was a feeling that it might go blue. So Steve T & Phil A both headed out west to Wales, whilst Graeme H, John W, John R, Rowan, Gordon C et. al. did a Midlands circuit ranging from Pershore down to Didcot via various TPs.



Just for a moment mid afternoon we got rid of every single glider! Peace....

Back at base Gavin sent 14 year old Chandler Pegg solo, a great achievement. Meanwhile Robb Batty went off in the motorglider with Bruno to do field landing checks and duly completed his cross country endorsement. A great day for our juniors.
The club gliders were kept busy, and the K8 went soaring with Patrick and myself - climbs and view were marvellous. What a great day.


In the evening Josh cooked for us all, and we had an extra treat when we finally found Smudge's kittens! Almost grown up, and this our first view of the three of them. Anyone want a kitten??  These may be the last as Christine is planning to (try to) get Smudge to the vet on Wed!
 



Monday 29 August 2016

Wednesday 24th August

Another blue day - even hotter today and no-one bothered getting the private gliders out as it was just too stable. Gavin was mega busy all day, with Terry Mc, Rowan and John W all helping out with visitor and instructional flights. Derek cracked on with BI training with Lech so more 'interesting' aerotows and launch failures. Dave P did a great job of keeping the launch point organised, and also getting the solo pilots launched off in the K8/K13. A long but satisfying day. Phil A cooked carbonara and fruit salad for all us Shenington holiday makers in the evening which was great. I don't remember any rain but we had a rather nice rainbow followed by some amazing sunset colours last thing.


Tuesday 23rd August

Another very hot and blue (and windy!) day at the airfield. Gavin was in charge with a couple of course members, with Terry Mc helping out with trial lessons and general instructing. Various club members on holiday rigged their gliders only to find it not massively thermic due to the strong inversion and extreme (for UK!) heat.....John R, Rowan, Phil A and John W all launched but no-one stayed up very long.

Meanwhile back at base Derek W was putting Al & Paul D and myself through the BI course again which made for some very interesting aerotows and winch flights. Charles Birks re-soloed after a break from gliding.

 A big thanks to Alan C for organising the launch point and making sure that everyone flew. Photos from Rowan.

Wednesday 17th August

Not to be outdone, Wednesday was also hot and blue and the time for more achievements. Phil Hebden flew his silver distance to Sackville whilst syndicate partner Lucy did her silver duration in the K8 back at Shenington. Robb Batty had his first solo flight in the K21, achieving his 2 hour duration flight for the cross country endorsement. Congratulations to all! Photos from Eric of 2 out of the 3 happy pilots.
 

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Tuesday 16th August.

We used to have a slogan on an old design of the club sweatshirt that said “You should have been here yesterday!”.  Derek greeted me with that phrase, as apparently Monday had been blue but booming.  Phil E. had done his five hours in a K6, actually staying up for six and a half hours.

We can’t turn back the clock, so we made the best we could of Tuesday. Christopher Stean was getting to grips with winch launches on the second day of his 5-day course. We had a few air experience visitors, including Mahir Said, who came all the way from Bristol. Mahir looked a bit nervous before the flight, but was beaming a smile afterwards, which is the sequence we like. 


John R., Eric and Rob B. brought the T21 out. One of Beth’s flights was an epic 18 minutes! Terry T. and I shared the K8, and Roger T. flew his Twin Astir. Tony M. brought his brother-in-law for a reciprocal visit, as he glides at Staffordshire G.C.

No-one climbed beyond 2400ft, or went very far, but we did 30 launches, and the day was enjoyed by all.


Dave P.