There was conflict between the forecasts: the Met Office predicting sunshine throughout the day, whilst RASP foretold of low cloudbase with the dry and dew point temperatures in very close formation throughout. In the event RASP got the start right: today was much more humid than yesterday, the cloudbase was on the deck and moisture could be seen in the atmosphere. So nothing else for it but to find some useful activities whilst watching and waiting.
Our new K-13 FSD was given some TLC in the wing taping and canopy departments – with Gavin Short’s dedicated attitude and attention to detail as Fleet Manager this is going to be one tidy glider when it flies for us, and a very useful replacement for one of the current two-seaters. By about 1145 the pundits were saying “Well, if it hasn’t started to warm up now, it’s hardly worth waiting any longer…” By about 1215 other pundits were saying: “There’s a blue hole developing, how about an early lunch and see what it looks like after that?” To which, of course, the answer was “Why not?” During which time a small miracle occurred, as the blue hole became a patch, and the patch then developed into an expanse until eventually the sky was blue overall.
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With only four people in charge, what could possibly go wrong?
K-12 CCY is wheeled out for DI. |
We quickly got K-13 CCY to the west-end launchpoint (the wind being too unpredictably gusty for the K-8) whilst Phil Hardwick and a small team whisked the Twin Astir out of its T-hangar to alleviate the load. First flight of the day was taken by trainee member Freddie Colton: a launch to 1, 400ft bode well and, after a little searching, a NW-SE channel of rising air was found, varying between 1½-6/8 knots was found which after three or four beats had taken us to a little short of 3,000ft. The view was of tiny rivulets of cloud clinging the river valleys as they ran westwards off the moor, over which presided a clear firmament – the contrast between brown earth and deep blue sky was breath-taking. Pressure of time forced Freddie to return far too soon but, at 29 minutes, after his first even wave flight, he declared it to have been his “Best flight ever..!” Hopefully, Freddie, there’ll be more, higher and longer in the future.
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| Trainee member Freddie Colton conducting pre-flight checks… |
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| …and away he goes for almost half-an-hour of wave soaring. |
Ray Boundy quickly stepped into the front seat and again found the rising air partway down the airfield, but sadly was given the Spanish Archer (‘El Bow’) by the downside after ten or so minutes: still he has it recorded on video-cam, saying “That was one of the most instructive flights I’ve ever flown!” Gavin Short then took the K-13 solo, later saying, “After bouncing around in the rotor I had a steady 62 knot launch to 1,700ft. At 1,600ft I found the line of lift but by then it had decayed to a maximum of 1-and-a-bit knots. I tried to look elsewhere for lift without success”.
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| “All Out! All Out!” Gavin Short sets off solo to see what all the fuss is about… |
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| …to find breath-taking rivulets of cloud cling to the moor to the south-east… |
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| …whilst to the north-east all is spectacularly clear. |
In the Twin Astir Malcolm Roberts shared three flights with Phil Hardwick, with tentative connection to the wave over the church (suggesting a slight shift westwards). But, after a sprint rig of Astir FCJ worthy of a grand-prix F1 team, it was Peter Howarth who took today’s accolade: over the course of a 32-minute flight reaching over 3,500ft flying in much the same, north of the boundary mid-airfield area marked by the other contenders.
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| Malcolm Roberts ensures that the front canopy of the Twin Astir is well and truly locked… |
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| …before he too gets away, with Phil Hardwick in the back seat. |
By the time Peter landed we had run out of day – but not pilots – and so we apologise to those who, due to the late start, were not able to enjoy the stunning views that were available on this unexpectedly smooth, easterly aligned, but brief wave day.
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| “Watch out for moving cables and approaching” – not aircraft – but full moons..! |
Especial thanks go to Rich Roberts who, after some splendid soaring in his Discus yesterday was happy to winch ‘all’ day, and to those who helped-out stoically but were unable to achieve the goal. There will be other opportunities.
Martin Cropper
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