The art of predicting the weather (far too many contradicting forecasts) on flying days seems to have eluded most if not all of the Duty Instructors recently, often resulting in the ‘see what its like when we turn up’ school of thought. On this occasion Pete Smith and Guy Adams turned the daily brief into a democratic vote on whether we go home (it was drizzling outside) or wait it out for an hour or so (I think the bacon sarnies and mugs of tea might have something to do with the outcome). Luckily we all voted for the latter!
By late morning, under the cold grey sky with optimistic hope we took two K21’s and a Junior to the west end and started flying circuits. With Shaun Dayman and Andy Pincombe helping out meaning we could carry on through lunch after the late start.
By early afternoon the temperature started to increase as the sun tried to make the odd appearance which was just as well, it was like a freezing mid-January day at the launch point! Under a now warm grey sky it started to get thermic and the flight times increased from the mid-teens to over an hour and up to over 3000ft for the lucky few. It carried on until the last glider landed at 17:45.
Gliding can be frustrating at times as it’s so weather dependant. You can study all the forecasts you like, but as some wise old man once said, ‘if you don’t turn up, you definitely won’t fly’.- Mark Layton
