As the early birds started getting the kit out,one thing everyone noticed straight away was that the north easterly wind was not as forecast. The prospect of the long walk to the west end of the field didn’t fill those present with joy as we knew what was going to come. After the briefing, off to the west end it was, but the weather gods were playing with us because after a couple of launches back we came. The wind had finally swung round to a more north westerly direction.
The hangar was empty of gliders, as the whole fleet was out due to the long flying lists for both the two and single seaters. Intially the Junior LRD was under inspection in the workshop after being derigged yesterday after a strange noise was resonating from the fuselage when operating the elevator.
George Sanderson and his two apprentices (Mark and Shaun) along with Pete Startup and his magic cupboard of special tools used a endoscope camera, some flexi rods, a plastic tube connected to an oil can plus a length of electrical tape to free up and lubricate a sticky roller on the elevator control rod deep inside the fuselage. After the challenge was completed the glider was rigged and taken to the launch point.
RASP was indicating a good period of thermals around midday and even though the Cumulus didn’t look promising and were quite far apart – if you made contact you were away! – if you didn’t it was just another circuit. Four private gliders were rigged and flown including the Eagle for its first outing of the year. Most people managed to achieve what they wanted whether it was currency flights, cable failure practice, spinning or just staying up longer than five minutes.
Congratulations to Callum Ellis for becoming the first DSGC pilot to be examined for SPL and getting through all the paperwork!
With everyone having flown all the toys were put away before 6pm. The adjustment to summer time makes a welcome change, not travelling home in the dark makes all the difference. A good day around! – Mark Layton
