An optimistic weather forecast suggested that there might be the opportunity
for some flying today so a ‘who wants to fly?’ email on the Club Google Group
was sent out to gauge interest.
With a small but keen number of members
looking to fly today, and with the weather and wind set fair, it was then a
question of whether the airfield would be too wet, after recent rain, to allow
us to launch and land gliders as well as use vehicles and tow out cables
With
an easterly wind component forecast the area to the West end of the airfield was
carefully looked at and although it was evident that certain areas were unusable
it was also clear that a good sized area to the north of the track was usuable,
but with a reference point further into the airfield than would normally be the
case
 |
| Daily inspections on the wet hangar apron |
The K13 (DMX) and K8 (FXB) were taken out of the hangar and daily
inspections started whilst the winch was taken down to the eastern end of the
airfield. With the field being as soft as it was a decision was made to not move
the launch point vehicle from the other end of the field, with one of the tow
vehicles used as a temporary launch point
 |
| West end launch point |
With gliders and winch ready by mid
morning flying could not commence due to misting canopies so it was back to
the Clubhouse for warm drinks and a chat before a return to the launch point
confirmed that our patience had been rewarded with the canopies all clear
 |
| Colin watches Phil make an accurate landing |
 |
| Bob beside his K8 |
And
so it was on with the flying list with a dozen or so flights then completed in
the K13 and K8 allowing pilots to either regain or maintain flying
currency. Best flight of the day was 17minutes by Steve Fletcher in the K8 who managed to find a small thermal.
 |
| Looking south from the circuit |
Mid afternoon with everyone who wanted to fly having flown, and with
signs of the canopies starting to mist albeit under a bright blue sky, the
decision was made to take the gliders back to the hangar for a good clean of
same from the accumulated mud
 |
| Mary Tavy |
A good day all round with optimism and patience
rewarded suitably
Mike Sloggett
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