Wednesday 3rd December

Andrew-re-solo

What a delightful day.  Sun was out, wind blowing from the north.  Launches of up to 2,200′ were available (in the K8 and 2,100′ in the K13).  Not quite enough wind to get the ridge working reliaby but it did improve as the day progressed.  Rod H just pipped Bill O for longest flight honours with his 26 minutes.  Unlike Sunday when no one made double digit flight times there were 10 today (of the 26 launches).
This is what midweek flying is about – enjoyable flying, good company and donuts 🙂
The Skybrid winch was in use thanks to Peter E (plus helpers) – radiator leak on Saturday then removed, repaired, refitted and back online on Wednesday – pretty impressive.

Saturday 29th

The sun made a welcome appearance and tempted a lot of folks out for the day, including visits from a couple of former members.  John T brought his nephew along for a birthday treat.  Another chap (sorry, didn’t get his name) who was a member 16years ago turned up in a Morgan.

With no head wind (and not much in any direction) launch heights were modest and no thermals so flight times limited.  Nobody managed to better (or even match) Rob J’s 9 minutes in the K8.  Canopy misting delayed the start of flying and eventually put an end to the day.  We still managed to clock up 30 launches.  Rowland P converted to the K8.  As the afternoon progressed and the sun got lower we were treated to impressive shadows of the glider when coming into land.  The low sun and the murk, however, meant left hand circuits became necessary as visibility westwards was rather limited.
While most of us were enjoying the sun and a chance to get bums off the ground Colin B and Steve B were busy at the other end of the airfield “breathing life into the Pajero”.

Saturday 15th Nov

..will be known for all time as the mid-November day when it was too hot to have a jumper on…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The early morning fog and cloud lifted/dispersed – or at least split so there was some space between… The sun shone through the broken strata of cloud and with virtually no wind – lightest of southeasterlies – it was warm and pleasant. And SOOOOO pretty – although you had to be careful as, in defiance of all logic, a bank of cloud built up on the approach which meant circuits could be interesting – or indeed impossible. Even Steve Barber was flummoxed as to how a lee ridge appeared to be throwing up ororgraphic, but those who flew can attest that it did it all day. At heights between 200′ and 700′. If you have a suggestion as to what it was about, do share it. I don’t know about anyone else, but I had a great time!

Re: Remembrance Sunday (9th)

Pete’s image has a particular poignance for me. I flew my Silver Distance from Shalbourne to Tarrant Rushton in 1974. At that time nearing the end of its life as an active airfield. Now all that is left are the traces of runways on the ploughed fields.

Pete’s picture shows Horsa and Hamilcar gliders about to be towed by Halifax bombers, six of the former being dispatched to the legendary operation at Pegasus Bridge.