Wow, what a week! If you ever wanted to do a gliding course at North Hill, this was the week to do it. Soaring conditions everyday in t-shirt and shorts weather, what’s not to like!
With four junior members and two somewhat ‘older’ ones it was a big contrast in ages but all worked well together to keep things going with minimum of fuss.
The younger contingent comprising of Elise Turpin and Edith Williams, who hadn’t met before became firm friends from the start encouraging each other throughout the week. Whilst George Lee and Faber Green carried on regardless with quiet enthusiasm. Experienced club members Andrew Logan and Tim Petty helped things run smoothly as they progressed their flying after long layoffs.
All six course members progressed throughout the week enjoying plenty of early morning launch failures and circuit planning, then as conditions improved there was plenty of soaring to be had. Plenty of ticks and signatures were added to the training cards as instructors Chris Wool and Shaun Dayman managed to cover all aspects in the excellent conditions for glider training.
The good weather brought out quite a few private owners on the two club days as well as Friday’s adhoc day making things at the launch point extremely busy at times keeping the weeks full time helpers (Robert Lee and Mark Layton) more than adequately occupied! Luckily Jonathan Erskine and Gordon Hutchinson helped on odd days to ease the workload.
Fridays adhoc day brought out a ‘gaggle’ of privateers in 711, SM, KP, 230, 202, HMS, DD3, LRD all heading east to Salisbury and beyond to various degrees of success.
Club Task NHL – CHILBOLTON – MEMBURY – NHL 310km
230 “Not my best day. A quick run to Chilbolton even after getting into an airspace pickle around Boscombe, it all sort of fell apart after that and I found the good climbs hard to find. Had to detour off track to avoid the sea air across the Somerset Levels. North Hill Nomads day out so we did a Club task. Keevil notam’d to 3,200′ amsl only.” Pete Startup
SM “Nice day out with the NHL boys, Sea air from the North coast made things a little interesting on the final leg !” Simon Minson
KPV “Added Crediton to the club task – fast to the east then slowed down getting through the narrows to Chilbolton. Came back via NHL so I’d have a backup of the club task if I couldn’t make crediton station. Quite slow getting back there as it was into the sea breeze for the last few km.” John Allan
DD3 O/R Salisbury
“Day out with Nick in our Duo. Didn’t find it that easy” JB
Vicky had a busy week with not only the course week and club members but also a constant flow of visitors enjoying the lovely weather. She also managed to supply a lovely roast dinner (we were fed up with salads! 😂) for the Thursday night course dinner.
By the the final flight of the day we had done 85 launches totalling 1357 minutes for the week. – Mark Layton
