The previous course week had been very difficult for the instructors, they struggled in temperatures of over 30c.
Steve and I watched the forecast for this week with trepidation as the heat was to return!
The course members were a good spread of age and experience, the least experienced was soon to be new member Saulo.
Day one, 31c outside and 38c inside the cockpit.
Training started with everyone keen to get going, the conditions were ideal for first solo or in Benjie’s case first flight in the Junior!
Day two, nice weather (and cooler!) but very strong southerly making the approach difficult and landings even more so!
The decision was made to stop at 14:30 as the students were not getting enough stick time, progress was made with upper air exercises.
Day three, Wednesday was a good day with thermals everywhere, trips to the motorway and beyond were the norm.
Unfortunately a rather stiff westerly although fantastic for the ridge made it a challenge for our course members!
Long flights for everyone, course members really making progress at last.
Day four, Thursday, another absolutely fantastic day with lift off the clock at times, trips were now getting longer, with the tips back on the DG runs to the windmills were easy.
The course meal was roast prepared by Vicky, gone are the days where we used to trudge down the pub and spend a fortune!
Day Five, we did not have a log keeper so I shared the job with Simon Leeson and Steve all day.
Mike Sloggett stepped in to instruct with Simon and Steve doing the rest of the instructional flights, conditions once again were epic, Benjie had over an hour in the morning in the Junior and then well over two hours in the afternoon, as a bonus he gained his silver height in the process!
Friday also saw a BBC film crew at North Hill with an Escape to the Country episode being filmed with Stuart Procter.
A very rewarding week with smiles all round!
Thanks to Fred Marks and Roger Davis who helped all week and for Joey standing in on two of the days. – Mark Courtney
And perspective from Benjie Pitts course member
“The week started with a blue / cloud soaring day with several people getting away and having prolonged flight times. Tuesday saw a windy day with lectures and simulator work in the morning and afternoon as a turbulent approach called an early finish to flying. Wednesday saw the wind change to a nice headwind producing 1500 ft launches and helped people get away under some nice thermals. Most course members got around an hour or more in the sky. Thursday and Friday saw very promising soaring days with low wind on Friday and very calm and smooth conditions.
All six course members had lots of flying time throughout the week and ticks and signatures in their training cards thanks to our brilliant instructors Steve and Mark. Thank you also to the course helpers Fred Marks, Roger Davis and Joel Roulson.” – Benjie Pitts
