The weather forecast had been changing faster than a model in a fashion show. The latest version was giving easterly winds and a 50% chance of rain. On the airfield the sky looked a bit better than that. cloud cover was 6/8th's with variable cloud bases and the wind variable but mostly from the east.
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| Robert and I ready to launch |
Our first visitor today was Junior Robert Battersfield who had been bought his voucher by his sister. (Would my sister please take note.) Robert's launch was uneventful in what was almost still air on the ground but had a little turbulance in the top third which got my interest. Coming off the wire there was some strong lift - interesting. A circle showed just how narrow the lift was but a series
of "figure of 8" turns across the easterly wind kept us climbing. A few turns later we were able to level the wings and head off south in what was definitely wave bar giving a smooth 2 knots of lift. We climbed to 2500ft using a track from Mary Tavy to Tavistock which took us well above the local cloud base. All too soon it was time to pull the airbrakes and return return to the airfield. Robert had enjoyed this flight as much as I had. |
| Paul looking pleased with himself |
Second visitor today was Paul Fitzpatrick. I was hoping for some more wave flying but this time it was just not there and I was just resigning myself to an extended circuit when we bumped into a strong ( 4 knot ) thermal bubble overhead Brentor Church which had us turning and climbing steadily to 3500ft. Cloudbase was much higher here and the cloud cover was thinning out revealing the amazing clarity of the air.
We could see both coasts clearly with the radar domes near Bude shining brightly in sunshine. We returned to the airfield after a 33 minute flight during which Paul enjoyed himself trying out the aircraft controls.
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| Andrew waiting for his instrcutor |
Next to fly with me was Andrew Carlisle who also enjoyed a Soaring flight.
There were other visitors today. Matthew Cook a visiting instructor from the Long Mynd had been with us all week. Today he managed a 55 minute soaring flight in the K8. Well done Matt. Alson visiting today was the BGA Chief Technical Officer Gordon MacDonald who arrived in style in his beautifully presented Beechcraft Bonanza. This 4 seat, single engined aircraft in unusual in that it has a "V" tail.
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| Matthew's friend, Steve, also managed a flight |
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| Gordon's immaculate Beechcraft Bonnanza |
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| The "V" tail is very distinctive |
Club flying consisted mostly of training flights with Rick in DMX. The only private flying was the Twin Astir which made several short soaring flights with various combinations of the syndicate members flying it. Interestingly. Malcolm Wilton-Jones was in part of the crew for 3 of these flights. A future syndicate member perhaps?
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| John Allan turning right |
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| Looking down the runway towards the west |
And the weather. Better than the forecast with no rain at all until the evening after most of us had already left the airfield. Most of us? Gavin and Scratch remained behind - see the next post
A good day
Steve
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