Most ambitious task was declared by Ged Nevisky. He planned an out and back to Chicklade. Trevor Taylor turned up & rigged; generally a sign of a good soaring day ahead. Your humble scribe, not usually a Wednesday man, also turned out to rig the K6e for an attempt at 50k. Martin Cropper, the K6e owner, on leave for the week, also arrived but graciously gave me first dibs on the aircraft and helped out with instructing instead.
 |
| Martin Cropper briefs a visitor before an air ex flight while Alan flys the K6e |
So, how did it turn out? Ged launched early and, after working hard to gain height locally, set off east. He got as far as Meldon but didn’t like the look of what was ahead so turned back and enjoyed over an hour and a half of local soaring. Trevor decided to wait until the afternoon to launch. He opted to show me the way to North Hill but at 62km out, with only blue ahead, realised it would be a one-way trip and turned back to Brentor. Muggins failed to connect with any useful lift so it is still an open field for somebody to do the first 50k Silver leg from Brentor for some years. Who is going to take up the challenge?
It wasn’t all thwarted ambition, however. Farmer Phil knocked out his 2 hour cross-country endorsement flight as if it was no more difficult than rolling the runway. Doc Robin easily got his 1-hour Bronze leg by a margin of 22 minutes. He said he’d have carried on for his 2-hour but there seemed to be a fault with the heater in the Zugvogel!
Bob Samson had a 97 minute flight in his immaculate K8. Chris Fagg consolidated his solo status with several flights in the K13 before setting off for warmer climes and, hopefully not, forgetting everything he has learnt at
Brentor.
All in all, an excellent days gliding thanks to Martin Smith opening up the field & Don stepping into Bob Pirie’s tasselled loafers at short notice. 45 launches were achieved, the highest total, so far, this year. Any advance on 45? Many thanks to the winch drivers who gave me a very welcome day off from the throttle lever
Alan Ballard
No comments:
Post a Comment