Wednesday 9th February 2011

Hedging their bets, a small band of optimists started the day by ensuring that the clubhouse stove was firing 'on afterburner', then ventured onto the sodden airfield intent on exercising the K8  (the easiest glider to ground-handle in the prevailing conditions). But after the first two cables, the lowering cloudbase convinced us that  further attempts at aviating were inadvisable.

So it was back to the clubhouse and 'on' with the simulator to  practise spinning; the main focus being on bridging the gap between what we say we should be doing - and what actually happens (or should happen!) in real life. At this time of year, with few opportunities to soar above launch height, we all risk becoming rusty when it comes to practising the avoidance of and recovery from spins. Therefore I urge everyone to spend a few minutes in the simulator with an instructor to bring your skills up to scratch. Thanks to Dave Jesty for sharing with us some of the simulation techniques he gained while coaching Kelley College cadets.

By this time, John Bolt had completed the C of A work on the K7/13 (Thanks, John!), so the presence of so many of us craving fresh air and exercise enabled the glider to be rigged quickly, ready to be put to work again.Then finally, a celebratory pot of blue paint was opened and inroads were made in repairing those minor eruptions of hangar- and cable-rash which had been detracting from the appearance of this fine training glider.

Bob Pirie

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