Today started with some real promise. The RASP soaring forecast was looking really good and the next cold front was not due until after 5pm. Early morning there was a slight chill in the air. This is a good thing on a soaring day; the diurnal variation ( meteorological term for the difference between the minimum and maximum temperatures ) is important for good thermal production; the bigger the temperature range the better.
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| Chris Jones in the K8 approaching the Zugvogel to share his thermal |
By 11am the sky was full of good looking clouds. I wondered if this would lead to some overdevelopment. But the weather had it’s own agenda. Phil Hardwick flew his Astir for 1/2 hour, Tony Dean was soaring in the Zugvogel on a 2 hour attempt . Chris Jones flew the K8 for 1/2 hour and Bob Pirie was airborne in the ASW20 for 20 minutes when quite suddenly the soaring stopped. The cloud still looked good but there was just no energy. The biggest victim of this was Tony Dean. He was forced to land the Zugvogel 1 hour 18 minutes into his 2 hour attempt. Unlucky Tony but well done on the longest flight of the day.
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| The early launch queue with a good looking sky |
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| The unlucky Tony Dean with the Zugvogel. |
The rest of the afternoon was filled with gliders making valiant attempts to soar in the poor conditions. Several managed 20 minutes or so but it was hard work. Best flight in this group was Richard Roberts flying the K8 who scratched out 40 minutes. Not bad as this was his first flight in a single seat glider for 18 years.
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| Martin Broadway in the ASW20 off to try and scratch out a soaring flight |
We welcomed Joe Dash, a temporary member who returned today for some more flying. Joe enjoyed a couple of flights with me in K13 G-CHXP.
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| Joe dash in the K13 |
Steve
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