A lot of planning goes into a gliding expedition with uncertainty as to what the week ahead will provide in terms of flying opportunities. Those of us from DSGC who have travelled many miles to the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak, a not insignificant 480 miles from North Hill, in previous years have had only one day of flyable weather out of seven, flying every day on other occasions and often something in between.
This year the 4:45am start from North Hill on Friday morning saw us make good progress up the M5, then the M6, with the early start getting us past various potential bottlenecks with ease, and with the Scotland border soon being passed early afternoon – with Mark Courtney and Simon Leeson as co-drivers during the long trip North keeping Paul Summers and Mike Sloggett suitably entertained with their ‘verbal feedback’ to other drivers during the journey!
Our arrival at Portmoak mid-afternoon saw us greeted by Peter Smith who had flown up from Bristol Airport to Edinburgh earlier in the day – the DG505 trailer was soon parked up ready for JZK to be rigged this morning. As ever the weather forecasts could not quite agree with each other but there was enough optimism for alarm clocks to be set for an early start so that JZK could be rigged before the 8:30 briefing.
And then it was on with the day with Mark, Simon, Mike, Paul and Peter all taking turns to fly with each other to take the DG505 for flights of an hour or so each, each flight reminding us all of why the long trip north is worth it, well when the weather plays fair – a day which has already made this year’s journey very worthwhile.
During the day Andy Davey (Libelle M) and Ron Johns/Daniel Johns (ASH25 711) both having long flights exploring the Scottish countryside.
Another good day forecast for tomorrow, now where is that alarm clock…- Mike Sloggett
