Wednesday 20th June 2012

Once again, thanks to the efforts of those who got the show on the road early, we had an most enjoyable day's flying before the rain set in for real during the late afternoon.

Right from the start we had an easterly breeze - with the windsock lurching occasionally between north and south. There were early hints of wave, and as the day progressed, the wind strengthened to give wide areas of lift between the airfield and the moor, with rotor to keep us on our toes on our final approaches.

Lenticular to the north of Brentor.

With the whole club fleet as well as the Open Cirrus and ASW20F in action, we often had four or five gliders in the air at once, and for a short time all six. Today's high flyer was Martin Broadway (3,600 feet) in the ASW, with Alan Holland achieving 1 hour 41 minutes in the Zugvogel. I think the only pilot to leave the field disappointed was Richard Williamson who, after a successful check flight, was unable to grab a solo glider before he had to leave the field to prepare for an important career-related interview tomorrow with his employer, FlyBe. We hope all goes well, Richard.

Chris Fagg looks left...

..while Mike Payne (leader of the visiting team from HMS Vengeance) looks right. Mike is well on his way to becoming a solo pilot, following previous experience at Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club, Lee-on-Solent.

On the ground, there was - as so often happens - some last minute scrabbling around for loggers, while at the winch end, Robin Wilson and John Howe once again provided a splendid service, with launches up to around 1,500 feet. I know they're happy in their work, but it would be nice to have more volunteers come forward.

Leith Whittington looks relieved having coped with a 'lively' approach through the rotor and incoming rain. 

As we did last week, we left the fence up, topped by fluorescent markers to deter us all from 'cutting it fine' with our approaches.

A fair cop, guv!'  Newby Open Cirrus partner Mike Gadd - trying out his new investment for size - appears to be about to be 'cuffed' by Steve Raine (who is allegedly experienced in such techniques). 

Hardly a flying day goes by without one or more interesting visitors joining in the fun, and today we had a nautical theme with six members of the crew of the Trident nuclear submarine, HMS Vengeance, which is currently undergoing a refit at Devonport. (This will be the first of several groups, apparently.) Despite a certain amount of 'Navy Lark'-type banter from the mostly 'mature' club members present, this young and enthusiastic team really entered into the spirit of the occasion, had a good day's flying, and even helped the private owners to de-rig in the pouring rain, before heading back to base with smiles on their faces. Thanks, guys - and we hope we'll see you at Brentor again before you set sail (or whatever it is that you nuclear submariners call it).

Cap'n Steve (left) with our nuclear submariner visitors

'Steady as she goes!' Naval officer and advanced trainee glider pilot, Michael Payne, goes solo on the quad bike.

Bob Pirie