Wednesday 1 June 2016

Saturday 22nd May

More odd weather! Mostly not very thermic, but I was lucky enough to fly into such a strong thermal on the launch in the K8 that the weak link broke. Up to 2800 in no time (cloud base) then back down almost as quickly. Trish managed an hour in her DG, and that was the best flight of the day.


 We had lots of visitors, and it was quite a fun day. Rain stopped play in the middle, but we regrouped in time to fly our second set of trial lesson visitors. The sky looked a bit threatening so we got on with it, and Alan managed to get third longest flight of the day (a magnificent 13 minutes!) when hangar flying the K8.

 

Sunday 15th May

Another busy day. 
It started sunny, and the team took both K13s and the K8 up to the eight acre together with Steve who was here for a day course. Patrick did first stint on the winch while Gavin flew with Steve, and Dave P had a trip in HLH. Weather looked promising, and John Rogers and Paul Noonan disappeared off in their respective gliders. Phil & Russell took an aerotow in JYR, and the rest of us kept the winch busy. Brian H took DVX when Gavin & Steve had a break & debrief, Derek W popped in just in time to take one of our visitors for an aerotow, then Gavin flew our second visitor before getting back in CCC with Steve for some more flying. 





The weather clagged over locally - Ed Styles flew in in his tiny biplane and reported that the weather was good until Upper Hayford! - so we all put jumpers on, and the flights got shorter for a while. However it cycled and Rowan took C2 for a flight off the winch, and Charles S went flying, having done second stint on the winch. Robb Batty showed us all how to do a proper cable break exercise  then went off solo, getting a welcome break from A Level studying. Ed Styles had a quick check over with Gavin then re-soloed and promptly went soaring too. Patrick put the K8 through it's paces, and brought it back so I could have a go too! The last couple of hours were pleasant and warm again (jumpers back off), and our final visitors flew with Russell.


Thanks to everyone who helped out, particularly with adhoc instructing as we had lots of visitors and just Gavin on duty. Thanks also to the other helpers such as Dean, Gary and David S. A very enjoyable day all round.