Rainy Days & Mondays

Forecast for another hot sunny day but the cloud rolled in and it rained. But we sat it out and by lunchtime the sun began to shine. Bruno managed to fly a trail lesson and abit of club flying.
It's always worth coming to the club as most days are flyable at somepoint in the day.

Friday 10 August

Winds light and variable, becoming 020/05. RASP predicted another good day from about midday to about 5pm.

The course continued, and a number of club members came out to play. A few cross country flights set.

Some 500s were set and a number of 100K diplomas by the Kent and Bowland Forest contingent.

Thanks again to Colin Beer for taking Nigel Curtis on his best ever yet cross country soaring flight---beats circuits by quite a margin.

Well done to Tez Bowler for completing his 2 hour duration and therefore his cross country endorsement---Silver next?

The fickle winds forced a change in airfield set up, no big deal for team Shenington.

The Kent group thanked us for our hospitality, and of course it was great to have them with us. See below:

Lee,

Thanks for welcome and hospitality during our recent visit. We all enjoyed ourselves and some personal achievements.

Attached a photo of most of group. Could you please forward to Don who requested same for, I believe, something to do with your blog!

Ian

Another great day, quite hot, but never too hot.

Don

Thursday 9 August

Westerly winds and RASP predicting a decent day.

Soaring got underway about midday, with cloudbases rising to 4000ft eventually.

The day course guys had a great day with some decent soaring flights.

A couple of 300s and 100k flights by the Kent contingent as well as some cross country endorsement legs.

Well done Lucy Wootton for getting both bronze legs and a cross country endorsement flight. Bronze C is now just around the corner.

Clive took off very late and scratched away in the last of the thermals---he was seen later wandering around with a silly grin saying 4000ft, no really 4000ft, its true 4000ft.

Thanks to the whole team for pitching in and making it all work on the ground.

Don

Wednesday 8 August

Winds 310/05 with a cold front off to the south.

The day started with low cloud around 700ft QFE and so time to get some handling practice in the Venture.

Thanks to Mick Fursdon and to George for keeping the courses going. 4 people in all getting flight training, including a one day course member.

Lucy Wootton completed the first part of her bronze GFT. Well done to her.

After the passage of the front, soaring became excellent with several notable soaring flights. cloudbases rose to 3300ft QFE and thermals off the clock.

Lots of tired and smiling faces at the end of the day.

Thanks to our visitors for helping to make it a fun day.

Don

Tuesday 7 August

Winds 260/10, several troughs in the area and a warm front to the west.

A slow start but some reasonable soaring at times. This was in between the rain showers.

The weeks course going well with some help from George, a newly qualified instructor from Kent.

Briefings on circuit planning and approach control in the morning and winch launching at the end of the day.

Don

Monday 6 August

Winds 280/10, an occluded front passing to the North of the region.

Welcome to Greg and Charles Molan at the beginning of the one week course. The Kent Gliding Club and Bowland Forest visitors had a good day with some soaring during the middle of the day.

Thanks to Colin Beer from Kent for assisting with our unexpected trial lessons. The assistance also meant we could get Sarah from Kent some flying lessons.

Don

Monday 6 August

Winds 280/10, an occluded front passing to the North of the region.

Welcome to Greg and Charles Molan at the beginning of the one week course. The Kent Gliding Club and Bowland Forest visitors had a good day with some soaring during the middle of the day.

Thanks to Colin Beer from Kent for assisting with our unexpected trial lessons. The assistance also meant we could get Sarah from Kent some flying lessons.

Don

Friday 3 August

The winds forecast as 200/20 with showers and some strong gusts.

Ashleigh and Nigel Curtis continued their training, many thanks to Clive for stepping in and taking care of our one day course and our trial lesson.

Rain stopped play about midday, and then stopped to reveal several windows of good soaring.

Lucy Wootton spotted the good weather and took the K8 for a trip.

The day ended with a debrief in the clubroom, and Lucy completing her Bronze oral test.

The first Kent Gliding club trailers started to arrive in the evening---welcome.

Another surprisingly good day, thanks everyone for making it fun.

Don

Pictures from the week

 Ashleigh Duggan, learning to fly.

 Alex Gill learning to fly

Bruno about to take Emily Upjohn for a trial flight on Wednesday.

Thanks to Mary Meagher for the pictures and thanks to Bruno for stepping in for a few flights on Wednesday.

Your pictures are always welcome to liven up the blog.

Don

Thursday 2 August

Winds 220/15 with rapidly developing cumulus, showers of rain and some big cu nims.

It was good to see the K6 syndicate brave the weather, and Dave Smith risk getting the tractor wet as he cut the grass.

The usual Thursday suspects came out to play and joined Ashleigh and Alex who are on a course.

Everyone got wet at some point, the good news is the water was warm.

Don