With what looked like a very low, grey overcast hopes were not high for a flying day. However, on careful inspection of the cloud over the higher tors to the east there appeared to show sufficient cloud base to allow full height launches. Only one way to be sure so 2*K13 and a K8 were taken to the east end launch point. The winds were light southerly, forecast to veer to the SW and strengthen a little. The first launch confirmed that the cloud base was well above launch heights. Sometimes appearances can be be deceptive.
We welcomed two One Day Course candidates today, Graham Foster and Stephen Ball who both ended the day with smiles on their faces. Their initial briefings and familiarisation flights were conduct by Scratch (Dene Hitchen) after which they flew with me for the rest of the day.
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| Graham with Scratch ready to start the flying day |
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| Stephen waiting patiently for me (taking the photo) |
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| Graham and Scratch "take up slack" and ... |
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| ...off they go |
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| Followed by a safe return under the grey overcast sky |
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Graham receiving his certificate from Gavin who deputised for me
( I was flying at the time ) |
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Stephen received his certificate from me out side the hangar
after our final flight landed at that end |
Rick was busy all day in the other K13 delivering a mix of pre and post solo training.
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| The K8 and K13 at the launchpoint |
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| Another training flight ready to go |
The solo pilots took advantage of the K8 to maintain currency and of course search the local area and sources of the elusive rising air. Malcolm seemed to find a little ridge lift to the SW of the airfield which gave him a day topping extended circuit of 9 minutes.
We made the best of the day with a total of 34 launches.
Steve
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