Lots of very early activity; better check the forecast then. The forecasts suggest low cloud ( look out of window – confirmed ) SW wind ( another look out of window – wrong SE ). No rain forecast ( can’t see out of window to check, too many raindrops ).
So as today’s forecast was not very reliable we did what every good glider pilot would do, we waited for the weather to clear.
While we were waiting there was plenty of jobs to be done. Top of the list was to refurbish the front of the cable path on the Gus Launch winch which had some deep grooves caused by the cables over a period of time. Step forward 16 year old junior member Matthew Wiles who calmly announced that he could weld. And he could. The cable path is now beautifully smooth after some very expert welding and a little grinding. Thanks Matt.
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| Matthew demonstrates his welding skills |
Meanwhile Matt’s dad Rick was teaching Mike Jardine and Darren Wills how to drive the big tractor and operate all the hydraulics. In the interest of health and safety, this was all completed with my driving school headboard and “L” plates on the tractor roof.
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| Mike, Rick and Darren pose for the end of course photo call with their driving school vehicle |
At midday the weather cleared and there followed a hectic afternoon of trial lessons and training flights – thanks Don. It never really became thermic but that did not stop some valiant efforts to sustain the flights.
Definitely a game of 2 halves.
Steve
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