Sunday was pretty good too!

After a misty start it got pretty busy again, and although I was only able to pop in for a short time everything looked like it was in full swing. Most of the kit was out and it felt like spring had arrived!

Saturday 16th February

Another great day at the airfield. Nice weather brought people out in numbers and we flew 43 launches off a one wire operation (keeping off the soggy grass).
Phil Marks very enterprisingly decided to fill some holes in the top hangar area and runway

The sky started a dull grey, with no sun and virtually no wind - pity those poor people having cable break practice today! Eventually the cloud cleared and we had sunshine and weak convection, with a light accompanying SW wind.

The K8 has kept very busy (we still had takers when we ran out of day) though only 1 long thermal flight off the winch. Rowan did some tugging of the private gliders - JYR & HMB had good flights - and John le Coyte flew his DG.

There was some good weather to be had, but not on this flight left, just a great winch launch, and some zero sink!
John Rogers got the longest flight of the day off the winch.  Other solo pilots were Robin, Norman, Alistair F, Jon L, Paul Duffy, Jon C, Tess, Eric (ntd), Andy L, Clive & Trish. Dave Smith, Alan & Trish and John Whiting all enjoyed flights in the Duo Discus. Paul Mucha rigged his new toy (he's bought the Cirrus from Robin A & Paul F) which took some time and half of the launch point!

John Donovan was kept busy with students and check flights - flying with Laura & Richard, Richard Allen and Lucy...we flew almost up to sunset, beaten only by the canopy misting.
Thanks to John and the winch drivers for their hard work

Almost 40 of us had a fantastic evening courtesy of Liz & Mick who organised a three course meal and beer tasting. We had different beers to suit each course, starting with soup, then beef cobbler, topped off with sticky toffee pudding. Thanks to Liz & Mick for their sterling efforts. All in all a great day out.

Fab start to Feb...

A Busy Launch-Point (Photo by Ian)

Post cold front, bright blue skies and a NNW'ly wind drew out many club members hoping for some ridge soaring. Several private gliders were rigged and the launch queue grew fast. In fact, the wind was lighter than predicted making the ridge only work weakly. However, the silver lining was the instability in the airmass that allowed a stunningly thermic day for the time of year.
 



HVQ (photo by Mark Kerry)

Don P turned up with 3 DGS candidates for XC Endorsement Training in the Falke and spent the day providing NavExs and FLExs.



 

K6e 373 (Photo by mark Kerry)

John and Tim D flew their DG500 with a 4000ft tow and hooked into wave for the flight of the day clocking up 2hrs 28mins, only coming back to let Gary have a go. Trish L soared for 2 hours before landing to let Alan have a play, and most others folks got some soaring in on a day that provided ridge wave and thermal.



Tug On Approach (Photo by visitor Mark Kerry)

For a report from a visitors perspective see: http://www.dartmoorgliding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/saturday-2nd-february-2013-shenington.html