Setting out for the airfield from the south coast the sky was a deep clear blue as the forecast suggested. Crossing the lower parts of Dartmoor revealed discrete areas of low level orographic cloud. The forecast had mentioned fog and low cloud but only in relation to the north coast. By the time we arrived at the airfield it was obvious that the low cloud was not confined to the north coast at all, it was overhead the airfield. Brentor Church was hidden in the cloud.
So the airfield and gliders were got ready and then we waited. for the low cloud to burn off. Instructor Rick Wiles seemed really excited after I returned from the hangar after having assembled a new tail wheel for DMX. Excited by a tailwheel? No he liked the idea that for once it was me who had dirty, black hands.
 |
| Two weeks in a row. My initiation into the black hand gang |
A quick clean up and it was time for Instructor Mike Jardine's morning briefing during which we explored the weather forecasts, the RASP soaring forecast and the current NOTAM's ( Notice to Airmen ) which list potential air navigation hazards etc.
 |
| The morning Briefing |
By 11.30 the low cloud had rolled sufficiently away for flying to commence. Early flights were mostly circuits unsurprisingly but a least the views were interesting with the low cloud north of the field. The air started to feel buoyant by about 1.30pm and strongly thermic around 3.00 pm. Longets flight og the day was 1 hour 17 minutes by Andy Davey flying the Zugvogel 3B with Steve Fletcher just 2 minutes less in the Open Cirrus. There were numerous flights around the half hour mark. The grid today was varied with the 2 K13s, the K8, K10, Astir, Open Cirrus and Zugvogel 3B all making a showing.
 |
| A view over the low cloud to the north provided some early interest |
Our visitors today were John Freeborrn, Edward Greenberry, Richard Evans, Rob Bannister and William Butterfield who flew with me in K13 G-CHXP, and Patrick Ager and Chris Wright who flew with Mike in K13 G-DDMX.
 |
| John Freeborn |
 |
| Edward Greenberry |
 |
| Richard Evans and family |
 |
| Rob Bannister |
 |
| William Butterfield |
 |
| Patrick Ager |
 |
| Chris Wright |
After flying the Committee assembled for their regular meeting which stretched on until dusk.
A busy club day.
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment