A clear sky and heavy frost gave North Hill a crisp, seasonal makeover on the first morning of the New Year. The flying day, unsurprisingly, started slowly; leading to an early decision to operate with aerotow only. The club’s winch would enjoy a lie in, while the Eurofox, K21s and Junior were prepared for flight.
Unfortunately, a bank of cloud rolled over the airfield after the briefing. This prevented any launches during the morning, so we kept warm and fed in the clubhouse while waiting for an improvement.
Our patience was rewarded by lunchtime, with the cloud dispersing and the airmass providing a surprisingly thermic afternoon. The strengthening northwesterly yielded a choppy ride, but delivered reliable ridge lift. The visibility was remarkable, with spectacular views of both coasts and moors, and the Mendips and Wales clearly discernible from only 1500 feet.
As a result, we achieved a number of respectable soaring flights, with Mark Wallis and Pete Smith staying aloft for over an hour.
Despite the lethargic start the day proved that persistence in the face of ostensibly unremarkable conditions can pay dividends. You snooze, you lose. – Josh Howlett
