Sometimes it’s not about the flying, it’s the taking part. With the wind forecast to be in the E/SE/SSE there was always the prospect of wave and, with yesterday looking soarable but the field too wet, 24 hours of drying time later there was a certain impetus to get a glider into the air.
But getting the K-13 to the launch point itself proved a challenge when a little lack of local knowledge turned into a major ‘team building’ exercise of ‘get this item out of a bog without the aid of mechanical means – using a couple of bits of old hardboard and two rethreaded tyres, and a few club members’ (thanks to Dave London for being the human conveyor belt). This resulted in the K-13, which had sunk to the axle, being hauled out of the ‘soft patch’ and flying could commence.
The first couple of flights by Mike Keller in the K-13 indicated that cloud streaming in from the SE had something in it, and the K-8 was sent for, to add to the mix. Saturday’s clear blue and white streeting cumulus was not to be repeated, however, as high cirrus crept in from the south told its own story and the lower level cloud grew greyer and greyer. Not, however, before Allan Holland managed to achieve 25 minutes in the K-8 under impossible looking cloud (how does he do it?).
And so by 1630 we had put them back in the hangar, in anticipation of the rain, which duly arrived before sunset. So, apart from 10 pretty short launches, what was achieved? Well, everyone who wanted to fly did so, thus maintaining continuity. And Andrew Carter took and passed his Bronze ‘C’ exam with an overall mark of 95% (well done, Andrew). Plus Sandra Butterly (who brought her own electric sewing machine with her) completed the manufacture of covers for the new vertebrae shock absorbing cushions for the entire club fleet .
So the year to date? 3 solos and 3 Bronze C exam passes: not bad for February and certainly better than some clubs achieve by this time of year.
Martin Cropper
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