THURSDAY 28 DECEMBER 2017

The Winter Flying mid-week group has been blessed with few flyable days in recent weeks, so it was good to blow away the cobwebs with a day in the fresh (cold) air and winter sunshine. About a dozen members did mutual flying in CCC. Thanks to Bob for taking the photos.

16th December

We had a good day at the club yesterday. We had a late start due to some rain showers, but most present wanted to get in the air so we flew the K21 two up, and took turns to fly. Wind didn't look quite right but we managed some extended flights on the ridge - longest flight of the day was with Rob F and Tim D at 17 minutes.

After flying we re-rigged the K8 which has recently had it's ARC completed. Phil M has done a marvellous job - the glider looks very smart and the paintwork gleams.

While we'd been doing that Mick, Christine and helpers had been putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the clubhouse. It looks very jolly now, Christmas feels like it's here! A number of members brought food or all sorts, and set this up in the clubhouse. Rowan made mulled wine from scratch with spices and fruit, and it went down very well. Lots of food and drink, plus a couple of silly party games organised by Lucy. Who knew that Paul D could draw cartoons that well??

Thanks to everyone who came along and contributed - it was lovely to have a relaxing & happy evening with friends. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

 

15th December

Some lucky people were flying today, report from Graham P:

The small group of Paul Lech Graham and Dave Price turned up to try the forecast northerly despite the cold.
We were joined by 2 air experience who had come on to site to eat lunch, to them be persuaded by Lech that they wanted to fly. The hill had worked moderately well,but feeling cold we were going to stop but Lech and I decided to use the last cable. Launching to 1600 ft in the K21 we reached the water tower at 1300ft but then climbed back to 1500ft on the return run. The hill was now working spectacularly well and for a time our height was limited by a lowering cloudbase. Cold and fading light finally persuaded us to return.

Photo looking along top of hill. Same field on Tuesday.
Graham

 

 

 

30th November

Graham reported a good hill day with some convection. Minus 12degrees C at 3000 ft cloudbase. Here is a fantastically clear view of the airfield from 2500 ft that Graham sent.

 

November 2017

The start of the month saw some decent weather, and some ridge days. Lech sent these photos:

A nice sunset....

 

And time for the Arc for the K8. A rainy duty day provided the time and people needed to get the K8 derigged, moved and cleaned up, and a start to the checks on the K21. Thanks to Phil M and John R for getting the gliders completed, and everyone else who helped get them ready for ARC.

 

 

October 2017

Seems like people mostly forgot to take photos in October!!

Jan & Bob P went on the Kerry gliding safari and flew gliders off the beach - they sent this photo of Bob's glorious yellow K6. Looks great fun, if a little mad!

We had a last days of the midweek operation, then Bruno, George and Paul hung up their boots till the Spring. Liam Beckett went solo in October, congratulations Liam!

September Flying & Maintenance

Mixed weather, and lots going on at the club to bring our buildings up to standard.

 
 

We had an 'end of season' party at the club (not that it's really end of our soaring season.....just getting quieter from now on) in late Sept....Food in the restaurant, then quiz and beer in the clubhouse!

Our student visitors helped demolish the old bunkhouse, and there were various work parties to clear the wreckage, and then to clear out and redecorate the club workshop. Thanks to the masses of club members who turned up to help dismantle the bunkhouse/fill the skip/empty out the workshop/clean and paint/move gliders, etc. 

Amazing how much stuff you can get in a container if you pack it carefully! 

The first painting crew. Shaun later did the floor, and the office was done a couple of weeks later.

Great to see progress being made with everyone working together.
On the clubhouse front, Steve B replaced the rotten front windows with hand built double glazed windows. Very smart, and the clubhouse is a lot warmer now, so should save on the heating bills.

 

September student solos!

We had a visit from Loughborough University Gliding Club in summer, and as well as helping us demolish the bunkhouse (which was falling to bits!) we also had some solo flights.

Here is Nick Wong just after solo.
Emma Burns soloed, and then shortly after soloed in the K8 too...

August 2017

Lots going on in August. We had visits from our friends from Bowland, Kent and Dublin Gliding clubs, PJ and Martin from Dublin went solo while here.

Paul in the aerotow queue...followed by Patrick.

 

George getting checked out for tugging.

 Another nice day at the launch point....

 Enstone and Shenington from the air...

 

Lucy, having completed her silver, went to the Junior Nationals and landed out somewhere near Badminton - looks like a bowling green!

 

Patrick flew his silver distance, landing out rather than ending up at a gliding club, but what a great field! Bigger than a lot of gliding clubs....

Rob went into the T21 syndicate and soloed on the glider in late August.

 

Shaun resoloed after a long break. Here he is celebrating afterwards with a beer!