Wednesday promised a flyable day if a little windy from the WNW, and so it turned out when the cloud base lifted a little. The promised showers managed to avoid North Hill for a change, all day.
Guy Adams was Duty Instructor assisted by Shaun Dayman. There was a good crowd in a warm clubhouse (Log burner going nicely) for the briefing at 9:15. With a long list of training and currency on the two-seater list, we were eager to get going. The field was set up and gliders DI’d but the cloudbase stayed stubbornly low until 10:45 when the first launch took place. Two K21’s and one Junior were in use, the DG505 making an appearance in the afternoon. From the start the west ridge was providing lift in places and the sky became reliably thermic although in the strong wind thermals were a bit broken. Cloudbase continued to rise with climbs to 3300ft by lunchtime and 3800ft by 3pm. Conditions encouraged two private owners to rig Pete Startup and Rich Roberts in their respective Discus’ . Pete clocking up 147 minutes and checking out Tiverton a couple of times, and Rich exploring just west of the motorway in two hours.
Many pilots returned excited by strong boisterous climbs in the regular thermals progressing from the North West. A total of 13 dual flights 10 solos and three self launch flights. A lovely bright cold day and everyone flew who wanted to. 19hours 28minutes flying time.
Guy had been briefed that an RAF Chinook was planned to make a low-level flight over our field between 17:00 and 17:30 so all gliders were on the ground by 17:00 and we were treated to a close-up view of the Chinook flying over the Club at 17:18.
Thanks to Guy for running the day and to Guy with Shaun for getting through the long two-seater list. All kit safely away before 6pm. – John Borland
