Sunday 21st October 2012

With four instructors on hand we were well prepared for the One Day Course and 6 trial lessons that were booked.  In the event, it was the club members who, for once, got the benefit of the day, and, whilst no-one went home disappointed, there was plenty of opportunity left in the sky that could have been exploited by others. 

A quick look at the weather forecast was enough for me: Easterly 16mph wind: Game on, and Nigel Williamson's photos give a vivid account of how the day looked from the cockpit of the K-8.

Nigel's view from the K8 heading South

Let's look at the stats - out of 23 launches: Yours truly - first to launch for 60 minutes in the air to 3300ft covering Lydford Woods to Tavistock golf club, 2 stalls 2 spins back on the ground before 1200;  Roger Appleboom flying his "new" K6 (after Don Puttock had made a test flight) - 2hrs 45 minutes to 3500ft during first flight on type; Colin Boyd (K6) – 2 flights of 30 minutes plus to 3500kft; Martin Broadway(ASW20) - 2hrs 30 minutes and Silver Height gain claim to 4700kft; Trevor Taylor (Jantar 1) 3hrs 33mins around the 3 reservoir triangle (must be 50kms plus); Alan Holland - 1hr 50 minutes 'in the blue'; David Jesty - a number of flights with club/prospective members all 20 minutes plus and Mike Sloggett flew with the 3 trial lessons (thanks, Mike, your support is always appreciated).  

Lower cloud over Mary Tavy

It was not all easy, the wind shifted through 180 degrees, as did the wave, but for most it was a matter of taking a launch with no crosswind (how often can we say that??), get into the wave (with minimal rotor), and treat the clouds like a ridge, flying on their upwind sides; in certain sweet spots (which moved very little) the vario would scream away at 6, 8 or even 10 up (well, so Nigel says...). 

Right turn Nigel

On their return to base, with the sun going down, those old sages of the sky (Trevor Taylor and Alan Holland) could not believe that (in a now northerly wind) they found strong lift in the valley between Blackdown and the site. 

If you were looking for Silver Height, or Distance, or the ability to get crystal clear photos the way Nigel did, today might well have been the day for you.

Martin Cropper

We are lucky today to have a 2nd opinion on events - This is how David Jesty saw things.

With the promise of a busy day and good wave-soaring conditions we got all three two-seaters out nice and early. Thanks to Don for helping out when he should have been elsewhere (and Pauline for her tolerance and the doughnuts) as a distinct lack of club members would have made getting launched impossible.

At the beginning of the day and no one for me to fly with, Don suggested I take my first flight-on-type in the Bocian. Slightly unconventional, difficult to handle on the ground and slow to respond, Don has been our CFI for a couple of years now. Nonetheless the flight in the Bocian went well, with Mike Sloggett in the front, straight into the wave gaining sufficient height to spin and then having to side-slip to lose height as the airbrakes weren't effective enough to overcome the lift.

Roger looks proud of his new acquision

Roger Appleboom took his first flight in his newly acquired K6 (but only after Don had thrown it around the sky to check the wings stayed on), staying airborne for nearly three hours. Not bad for a maiden flight.

Roger in the K6 ( as viewed by David in the back seat of the Bocian )

A number of trial lessons and two visitors from Usk kept the two-seaters reasonably busy and a few private gliders came out to play in the afternoon.

Although the wave collapsed locally at 1500 for about an hour, further north it continued nicely. Then it reformed straight off the end of the field continuing until after it got dark. Another five hour duration flight day not utilised!

What a fantastic day. Thanks to all who helped

David Jesty