awaken the blog

The lack of blog entries by no mean reflects a lack of activity at the club.  Initially there were  technical/access issues but then we just got out of the habit of posting what’s been happening.

As I write this we are heading towards the end of Heatwave II and I’m hoping that tales of this weekend with climbs to 9,000′ will follow.  In the meantime here’s a glimpse of the vey popular latest club acquisition

oh for shade

Wednesday 10th August was a blue day with the wind flowing from the East.   There was a touch of north so 2-seaters were seeing launches to 1,400′ – everyone taking care to lay-off.  With it being blue it was a bit hit and miss whether that first thermal would be found found but most had extended flights with James W narrowing beating Martin S to poll position for longest flight with 1:42.  Nigel B was kept bust flying a small group of Scouts (no, not a group of small scouts) before getting a good flight in his own glider.

I managed to confuse members the previous Sunday by appearing at the club on a weekend day.  It was time to get some much needed solo flying.  First attempt in the Vega resulted me in having to return before an hour elapsed.  Stumbling around in the blue and struggled to centre when hints of lift appeared.  Later on in the afternoon I failed to persuade anyone to take the Vega to use the cable just lying there forlorn (John D refusing to fly pigeon toed).  Only one solution, jump in and fly it myself.  Still blue but thermals much more cooperative.

England’s green and pleasant land ???

Wednesday 26th January

Just half a dozen of us when I arrived and nobody desperate to fly given that the prospect was just circuits.  The suggestion was made we derig the K8 ready for its ARC and then decide whether to get the toys out.  By the time the K8 was in the workshop a couple more folks appeared so went flying and someone else turned up.  One of those was former member, fabled for his marathon stints on the winch, Ken H.  Ken was considering returning to the fold after being distinctly unimpressed by the club much , much closer to his home (no names, no…).  After his second flight his mind was made up to re-join and I’m delighted to welcome Ken back.

A modest 14 launches of which only Rowland P and Ken R managed double digit flights (just).  With an annual check and an out of position exercise I , at least, was entertained.

Footnote: one third of the folks who flew were called Ken

Saturday 22nd January

No it wasn’t a sudden, massive surge in demand for trial lessons but a chatter of metal detectorists parked up and exploring fields to the west. Phil M (duty instructor for the day) estimated there were about 50 of them.  After getting those who were parked near the tumulus to move flying flying commenced.  A respectable 31 launches happened but only 4 managed to achieve double digit flight times with Graham T taking top-dog honours with 14 minutes.  Well, it is January and not a mid-week day.

Foot note: “chatter” is metal detectorists jargon for “the sound a detector makes when it’s badly tuned, or sometimes when running with high sensitivity for maximum depth – a sort of static.   You’ll often see more advanced detectorists running with a lot of “chatter” to find deeper targets.”  Maybe you can suggest a better collective term.