Returning to London after Sunday flying one is constantly struck, not just by the number of people who are around in the late evening, but by their dependence upon a regular and reliable Underground service. No other city in the world has a mass transit system of similar complexity or capability to get people into, or out of, the metropolis with speed. And the comparison with Brentor? Well today we averaged 6 launches per hour for 3 hours of the day, and 7 launches per hour over the middle 2 hours which, with the opening and closing scores added, made for a total of 44 launches and average rate of 5½ launches per hour. Whilst the total time in air was only 6 hrs 50 mins (average just over 9 mins), this did include 3 practice (and only 1 real) cable breaks.
With yesterday’s occlusion and its attendant low cloudbase having cleared to the south, this morning we could be confident that a full flying day would be possible. So it was with a will that we put a ‘fair wind behind’ taking down the hurdle fence and put the Guslaunch into the top field as far as possible. In the event, this guaranteed launches to 1,200 ft as a minimum.
Another contributory factor to today’s creditable launch total was the number of winch drivers on hand. With Adrian Irwin’s promotion to the elite, we had 4 winch drivers on hand, greatly easing the load and eradicating mistakes caused by over reliance upon a critical few. Although first launch of the day encountered a thin skein of cloud at 1,000 ft, this quickly dissipated as the ground warmed and soaring was possible by 11:00, as made evident to all by Pete Howarth in the K-8.
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| Today’s visitor was Chris Mason, from Yelverton, who flew with Peter Howarth. |
With a good mix of abilities among club trainees (Paula Howarth, Paul Lowther, Charlie Taylor (who both have powered experience) David Downton and Richard Roberts) and club solo jockeys (Roger Appleboom, Mike Keller, Chris Owen, Adrian Irwin and Barry Green), the team quickly got into the groove of launching, retrieving, and being ready for the cables upon arrival. This was being greatly enhanced by the launch point’s position further up field, thus allowing pilots to land behind the launchpoint and launches to continue unimpeded. It will be interesting to see how this converts into improved stats at the end of the season. And despite a moderate strength 90 degree crosswind, recovery of the cables also went without hitch, testament to the greater area made available by placing the winch as far up into the top field as possible. Our visitor today was Chris Mason (see photo) who flew with Peter Howarth. Having previously flown at Bicester (where the thermals are guaranteed and the pilots all above average) but now living at Yelverton, Chris is seriously thinking of joining – so thanks, Pete, for your ‘salesmanship’ skills..!
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| Richard Roberts soaring over Blackdown at 2,000ft. |
Whilst it has to be said that conditions were a bit hit and miss, if you hit a thermal they were quite easy to ride, being moderately strong but smooth, as Adrian Irwin was able to prove with his flight of the day winning 47 mins in the Zugvögel. He just needs to watch out for returning member Richard Roberts who, saddled with the burden of my 90 kgs in the back, nonetheless managed a 41 min flight in the K-13. Just wait until he gets to fly his K-6CR (and then I guess moves on to glass..!) With soaring conditions still in evidence, but all trainees having gone around twice, it was decided to call it a day – as Richard and I observed from 2,300ft in the K-13, thus prompting us to remain aloft until the hurdle fence had been well and truly put back in place!
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| Soaring conditions were still in evidence whilst the K-13 was towed back to the hangar. |
Thanks go to all those named above, plus Dave Bourchier and Heather Horsewill: Heather for maintaining our reputation for cleanliness in the clubhouse and Dave for his contribution to H&S on the field (we had failed to erect the chain link safety fence until he pointed this out…).
A very pleasant day, I think, was had by all.
Martin Cropper
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