Spring is here! Saturday 15th March

The midweekers are back in operation and keeping busy, so it was good to have such nice weather at the weekend too! In spite of predicted North westerlies there weren't many private gliders out, but those that turned up found it well worth their while....

First flight up was Clive in 373, who disappeared for almost 2 hours, finding both ridge lift and then thermals and wave. Clive was quite thrilled to find a good spot of wave and videoed the control panel and horizon as he climbed up past 2500ft in smooth lift. Next up were Graham P (duty instructor) and John Whiting in DVX - they also contacted wave and thermals and were gone for an hour. This was the pattern of the day - the K8 and K13s stayed up well, and most people had soaring flights of 15-45 minutes, apart from those undergoing the completion course.

Dave takes a winch launch ahead of the AT queue

At one point we ran out of gliders (and people) altogether....all that was missing was the tumbleweed.....

Paul Armstrong & Ian Willows were visiting from Hus Bos to do some Instructor completion flights with Malcolm (from Bidford) and Derrick S so they kept us busy most of the day with aerotows and winch launch failures. The K8 also managed to break two blue weak links, though Paul F. made it to the ridge from his break and soared away for nearly an hour !! Paul Noonan went ridge flying in his DG and Dave Smith, having spent the morning mowing the clubhouse field, went off in the Duo to the Cotswolds edge. 

Can't remember what we were all watching but it must have been interesting!

It was a busy day elsewhere on the airfield: Mary fed us soup, CFI Phil filled holes in the carpark and flew the motorglider, Mick worked on the bar roof, a gang of people moved the T21 in the top hanger so that the Skylark could be weighed. Thanks to everyone that helped out with driving the winch, retrieving, logging, instructing, tugging, hangar packing and generally getting things done. A very enjoyable day all round...

At times the sky was gorgeous, and as sunset approached the ridge worked well again and the horizon lit up. John W and Lucy took the last flight of the day onto the ridge and enjoyed the sunset from aloft.

The moon over the K8.....sunset behind the K21 as we put the kit away.