Today we had the pleasure of meeting the duty instructor Mark (Butch) Butcher. Mark is a very experienced aerobatic instructor as Kai was able to confirm later in the day!
Mark asked the winch driver to set up for a short west even though there was some south in the wind. Butch took Callum Ellis for check flight and after soaring, confirmed the ridge was well and truly working! The “Short West” was on!
Dave Perriam having been cleared the day before was allocated the clubs K23 and had two soaring flights.
Richard Lean also enjoyed a long soaring flight in the K23 and they both declared the aircraft a “delight” to fly!
For most of the day we were able to use both the Mynd’s K21’s and our DG505 which enabled the Juniors to have an hours flight instead of having to come down for others to have a go.
The ridge was working well, weak wave developed in the valley so pilots could tease outwards and return to top up.
Luckily the heavy shower that drenched Mr Leeson and Dave Perriam wasn’t repeated during the day.
The wind temporarily went more south so the winch was moved for a conventional launch, of course as soon as that was done the wind went back to due west and square onto the hill! This now meant that you took of to the SW and landed to the west, great character building!
At the end of day Andrew Logan flew with Simon Lesson in their K21 for 30 mins, Andrew stating “there is lift everywhere”!
Mike Sloggett who had been soaring all day in the Mynd’s K21 flew our DG 505 with Arthur Lean, they stayed up until nearly dark and only came down so we could pack away and warm up!
The early disappointment of the trip was rewarded with yesterday’s excitement followed by today’s rewarding conditions. We hope to fly tomorrow but not expecting much wind. – Mark Courtney
.
