BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): We almost went flying.
A frosty and snowy start to the day saw members from Cornwall and Devon arrive but few from Plymouth. It wasn't until the evening that I discovered the reason why: The roads in Plymouth hadn't been gritted (Ed: That's a genuine reason so you can stop calling them city softies now).
Approaching the club there was evidence of at least two Cumulo-Nimbus clouds (Ed: Thunderstorm clouds). So the conditions were thermic but not in a good way.
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| Heading to Brentor in the early morning light (Ed: Easy driving then with no Plymouthians on the roads?) |
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| Looking towards the moors with one of the Cu-Nims in sight |
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| I was the first to arrive so I was on gate opening duty |
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| A pristine white apron. The "Bouchier line" was obscured |
I know we are often critical of the weather forecast but the Met Office had the day nailed. Cold, blustery, squally NW wind with GS and SN showers (Ed: That is the Met code for "small hail and snow pellets - Granite Snow and SNow. Fortunately there wasn't any GR; Hail >5 mm or Granite Rain)
The Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, Peter and I conducted a pitch inspection. We encountered two snow showers, a biting wind and soggy ground where the snow was not frozen during the walk to the east end and back. The conditions were genuinely not conducive to Robert Howe's One Day Course so I turned back back to the club house early to telephone him and cancel his course (Ed: For the fifth time no less. What is it with the weather?). We hope to see Robert on Saturday.
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| Ominous dark clouds surround Michael de Rupe church |
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| A watery sun appears over Tavistock as the next bout of weather rolls in |
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| Snow showers shroud the east end as the pitch inspection team approaches (Ed: Is that a lone Hugh I spy in the distance?) |
After the instructors returned we decided not to get a K-13 out, for members to use, for the sake of the runway. So with Colin's arrival we set to on aircraft maintenance on a number of aircraft. The one good thing was that with a higher dew point the aircraft didn't have condensation on them so it was easier (Ed: And more pleasant) to work on.
Lots of jobs were attended to. Some of which were captured on camera.
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| The Maintenance Team prepares GDK's ailerons to receive the replacement hinges which are on back order from Germany (Ed: Gosh! Its all go at Brentor International.) |
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| Phil is introduced to the delicate art of applying Super Seam dope to Ceconite fabric on FSD's elevator. Colin: "Use yer finger mate!" |
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| Later in the day the snow on the apron started to melt |
Out of camera shot I fitted a set of new snazzy harnesses to GDK with some final finishing off needed on Saturday.
In conclusion, we almost went flying for the first time this year but it was not to be for the "Wednesday White-outs". The last of the Maintenance Team wrapped up at abut 1530 and enjoyed a drive home n the daylight.
Roll on Saturday.
Gavin Short
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