Wednesday 14th November 2012

With the wind having swung round to the south east (as forecast) and bright sunshine, the usual team of Wednesday enthusiasts got everything out and ready to go early, the only delaying factors being a need to change of ends and to wash the club gliders (encrusted in mud after last weekend's adventures). Also, a knackered 'spoon' on the Bocian's tail-skid had to be repaired and refitted. The latter was competently executed by Tony Pugh (newish member... ex-Vulcan and BA pilot) and Ged Nevisky, so that Steve Lewis could get airborne with one-day course trainee Anthony Cottle with minimum delay.

Ged Nevisky and Tony Pugh enjoying the sunshine after repairing the Bocian tail skid.

My first launch in the K7/13 with Dave Bourchier indicated hints of wave - although all we got were the 'sinky bits', resulting in a well-executed shortened circuit and landing. Steve Raine (K8) followed by our resident 'Astirisks', Andrew and Phil, also gave it ago - but otherwise all remained pretty quiet and routine at the launch point. Then, around late-morning, the world seemed to wake up to the fact that there might be wave in the offing, and several more members started arriving to get their names on the list or to put their wings on.

Dave Jesty helped Bob and Steve with the instruction task.

During mid-afternoon the hoped-for wave did, indeed, arrive with Phil (Astir) and Steve and Anthony (Bocian) climbing to above 2000ft, and Phil achieving the day's longest flight of 1hr.17 mins. With everyone convinced (at last) that things really were happening, the launch point was suddenly crowded with club and privately-owned gliders (including the Zugvogel, which these days seems to spend most of its time boxed-in at the back of the hangar).

Barry in the Zugvogel worked hard all day but didn't actually get to fly in the end.

But it was all too late, because the wave subsided and (sod's law!), having delivered a smooth performance for most of the day, our 'winchers' were suddenly plagued with launch failures. A special thank you here to winch drivers Dave Rippon, Mike Gadd, Steve Raine and Heather (in the cable retrieve vehicle) for all their efforts.

Sadly, several pilots 'missed the boat' due to a combination of their late start, winching delays and reducing visibility caused by a lowering sun. After consultation with Dave Jesty , who was helping out with trial lessons, I called a halt to flying. Our apologies to the two visitors whose trial lessons were cancelled, and we thank you for being so understanding.

The last flight of the day was by Trevor in the Jantar - just as wave was showing signs of reforming. But sadly the cable broke and he joined the long queue to get the gliders washed and packed away.

Finally, good luck to Messrs Rippon, Gadd and Raine who next week make a pilgrimage to Shennington to undertake cross country endorsement flights in a motor glider with our CFI, Don Puttock.

Bob Pirie