Arriving at the i noticed that the double gates were open. This usually means that a glider trailer has arrived or exited. A bit early for a landout. Engaging sleuth mode I quickly discover that Roger Green (ASW20) and Mike Gadd (Open Cirrus) left early this morning with their gliders for a few days cross country flying from the Cotswold Club, Aston Down. Hopefully we will get a report of their exploits from them soon.
The weather was favourable with a brisk(ish) breeze from the NW forecast to increase later and swing to the SW. Right from the start the day was soarable with cumulus building rapidly threatening to overdevelop.
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Looking North from just west of the airfield shows the good looking sky
and Roadford Lake in the distance.
Beyond, the sea air has already made the sky blue to the north |
We welcomed Daniel Slaughter who was attending for a One Day Course. Unfortunately, after his first 2 flights, he was called away on an urgent work related crisis even before I could even get his photograph> He will return again soon to finish his course ( the camera is ready and waiting also ). We also welcome Lee Waller for an Introductory Flight. He attended with a group of family and friends and there was almost a party atmosphere for a while.
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| IFP Fred Marks ( Top left ) with Lee Waller and family group. |
The soaring remained good for most of the day. Low down it required some inspired thermalling techniques to climb in the narrow bubbles up to the better and easier conditions above 2000 feet.
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Looking down on the runway from the south side.
Picture taken from the club K8 |
As the afternoon progressed we could see the sea air gradually edging in from the north coast. This culminated in a convergence setting up more or less over the airfield which gave the lucky pilots who were flying late in the day a chance to fly along the convergence in continuous rising air to be carried way above the cloudbase. There were, in fact, a couple of good convergence areas; a short glide south from the one over the airfield meant arriving at another energetic convergence line just south of Tavistock. Great fun.
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| Looking south down the Tamar Estuary from the southern convergence |
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Flying above cloud base is always fun.
Here we are fairly low down the convergence wall |
Our thanks once again to all the usual suspects for their winch driving, cable retrieving and the 101 jobs required to operate a gliding site.
A good day’s flying.
Steve
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