Sunday 12th February 2012

Weather forecasts had said it was going to be the same as Saturday, with low cloud clearing by mid-morning and staying clear until sunset. Unluckily for the motley assortment of pilots at the club, it wasn't to be. Low cloud, mist and some crosswind dampened spirits until someone pointed out a tiny patch of blue several miles away. Optimistic to a man, we changed ends to take advantage of the touch of west in an otherwise northerly wind and settled down to wait it out.

The gliders look ready to go - where is the break in the weather? 

Tall stories about playing in the orographic with hang-gliders (centred around Father and Son Green) and Shrek telling Roger Appleboom and I about Polish news' ability to kill mice took us close to midday, when David Jesty and Leith Whittington decided to launch in BVB 'to have a go.' Three minutes later, they were back on the ground and saying they could have stayed on the cable longer than they thought - the clouds were there, but it was the fresh crosswind that was the issue.

On this, a full flying programme began as usual, being careful to stay well upwind of the airfield. As Martin Cropper and David took pre-solos up, winch and retrieve were operated by Alan Ballard and Nigel Williamson and the K8 was occasionally seen on circuits, the visibility began to improve.

Still unhappy with the circumstances, Leith said of his flights that 'they weren't all that bad, but I like a horizon from time to time...' Leith - don't complain too much, you got flight of the day at 5 minutes with Martin in BVB. John 'Ray Mears' Ashby, not content to go inside and be warm, launched aircraft wearing a hat that looked remarkably like an Artic Fox had been curling itself around his head, although on closer inspection no animals were harmed in keeping John's head warm that day.

Flying continued as normal throughout the day, except when John decided that falling backwards into a tyre was a good idea. As it was, it clouded in again very quickly as the last flights of the day were going up, calling a stop to flying before 1700. Aircraft washed, David's brand new car washed and 27 launches counted, the day ended in the clubhouse with a fire on.

The cloud returned at the end of the day.

A good day's flying out of what could have been a hangar and clubhouse day, thanks to all.

Joseph Morel

If you are wondering - Joseph is one of our junior pilots and a very keen member.
Steve