To wave or not to wave? That is a question that must frequently be confronted by Royalty in their day-to-day progress. Today, however (no, we weren't visited by Royalty) the question applied to the weather: with a 1,000ft amsl wind from 170/180 at 15kts and increasing with height - would it wave or not? You would think that 170/180 would not have sufficient east in it to cause wave but it has happened before, and so it was with a certain amount of anticipation that we brought the launch point down to the west end.
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| 'Would it wave??' That was today's question. |
And with the first flight of the day at 1000 that anticipation appeared well founded, as Paula Howarth managed 23 mins - her longest flight to date - in smooth slowly rising air just to the SE of the airfield. Indeed the sight of the K-13 soaring with very little movement was sufficient to provoke Mike Gadd to throw his gardening irons back into the tool shed in Brentor village and race up to the club to rig his Open Cirrus.
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| Promising looking clouds (looking north) at the start of flying... |
Sadly, however, once the strong sun got to work the thermals generated destroyed the smoothness of the wave. That didn't perturb a strong team of solo pilots from trying, however, although the gusty wind precluded use of the K-8. On occasion the wave and thermal enhanced each other, as Kit Smith found when he gained contact at 800ft over Higher Farm, to be sped up to 1,800ft at rates between 6-8-10kts within 5 minutes. The lift abruptly stopping at that height, within a further 5 mins he was back at circuit height having consistently found 8kts of sink wherever he looked!
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| Trainee Paul Lowther concentrates on his turn co-ordination whilst the harvest is in full swing below. |
Other trainees, including Mike Bennett, Dave Downton, Paul Lowther, and Chris ('who stole the club K-8?!') Owen were able to experience the delights of the easterly approach in a 90 degree crosswind, whilst Jerry Wellington and Karon Matten were given check flights.
Leith Whittington, meanwhile, spent the entire day at the winch undertaking training (thanks to Pete Howarth) and we were grateful also to Barry Green for his winching. Our 'walk in' visitor, Edward Musgrave, was flown by Roger Appleboom (see photo) and left with a big smile on his face (which couldn't have been as a result of Roger's jokes...)
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| Visitor Edward Borlase flew with IFP Roger Appleboom. |
So, with a short intermission for some defect rectification, by the end of the day we had managed 32 launches, with many flights between 15-30 mins duration. Not a red letter day by any measure, but some unpredictable soaring and approaches certainly generated challenge and confidence building achievement.
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| Even more promising looking clouds (streeting SE-NW) at the end of flying... |
One day, our Prince will come (waving regally..!)
Martin Cropper
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