Taken from the new Bronze ‘C’ exam confuser: Q. Which of the following may induce a condition known as ‘deja-vu’? Answer A: The cloudbase was too low for flying at the start of the day; B: The wind became too strong/gusty for flying C: Flying was curtailed due to frequent rain showers; D. All of the above. And you’d be right, whatever your answer. Today was, like so many recently, like yesterday, last week and the week before. Except that today was, most unusually, forecast with a westerly wind ie. up and down the runway.
So, putting recent experience to use, as soon as we saw a patch of blue to the west (‘as big as a Dutchman’s trousers’) we got the gliders out and, with nostalgic tales of the T-21 from Chris Matten ringing in our ears, by 1230 we were flying. The westerly wind gave great launches, between 1,200-400ft all day, but the sink was also consistent and strong. The grey canopy provided lift in parts, from which we had a grandstand view of showers marching across the countryside, but the wind strength also proved testing in the latter parts of the circuit.
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| Karon Matten being briefed on ‘slow flying’ by Martin Cropper. |
Karon Matten continued to make good progress towards re-soloing, but increasing gustiness meant that this was not to be her day. Peter Howarth took K-8 FXB for a test flight post annual maintenance and subsequently found some lift for a satisfying Flight of the Day.
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| Peter Howarth awaiting the opportunity to test fly K-8 FXB... |
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| …and returning her safely back to earth. |
Back in the K-13 Ray Boundy also enjoyed making use of some unusually placed lift, before prudence drew him home.
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| Ray Boundy receiving some ‘turning tips’ from Martin Cropper. |
Noticing that soaring flight as being committed, Rich Roberts leapt into the K-8 only to discover that, the day having progressed, the wind/gusts had become too strong and it was returned to the hangar. ‘Relegated’ to the front seat of the K-13, Ed Borlase then took a couple of flights which, having found lift enough to return him to his 1,300ft launch height, caused the log-keeper’s watch to tick a couple of seconds more than on previous flights, thus enabling him to ‘snatch’ the prize from Peter. After light rain stopped play for a period Chris Matten brought up the rear with some tidy circuits on his return-to-solo flightpath.
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| Rich Roberts accelerates into the climb in K-8 FXB. |
So despite A. initial low cloudbase B. strong and gusty wind C. rain showers providing good reason for the pundits to keep the pounds in their pockets, the trainees once again gained some valuable experience, benefitting from above average launch heights to plan and take time in the execution of their circuits.
Thanks go to Phil Hardwick, who winched without flying, and also Peter Howarth and Rich Roberts for their winching. Next week’s question: what indicators predict good soaring weather? (Answers required by next weekend.)
Martin Cropper
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