Gliding Club News - Aston Down Expedition Day 3. 17th May 2023

A similar forecast to the previous days so the DGS members were "Up and at 'em" early. At 0900 my brother, Noel arrived at the club house ready for the paperwork before starting his one day course (Ed: So that's the surprise then.  Are you going to tell them that you bought the course for his 60th Birthday or are you too much of a gentleman?).

A few planned tasks to Worcester "Do you hear there. The target for tonight is Worcester!"

Once again we were launching on runway 03.  After helping to empty the hangar and rustle up the parachutes Noel and I walked the K-21 down the long runway to the launch point.

Sam sought to lessen his instructor load by inviting Scratch and I to fly the two trial  lessons.  However we weren't aerotow current. So I flew with Sam in the K-21 behind the EuroFox for a check flight to 1,200 feet.  Scratch did the same with Tony Parker, the Regional Examiner, in the DG500.

Gavin on his aerotow check flight

The start of Scratch's aerotow check flight in the DG500 

With that we were cleared to fly the visitors in the Cotswold's DG500.  The tug pilot had to take me up in a blue hole to 3,000 feet to avoid the low clouds.  I delivered the exercises but I had to reposition regularly to avoid flying into the cloud.  The cloud base was at 1,500 feet so we didn't have much opportunity to find a thermal and soar. We were back on the ground after 20 minutes.  Scratch managed 27 minutes with his visitor.

Gavin with visitor Graham Cleland

Dartmoor and Cotswold glider pilots were lined up on the grid and the launch point was a flurry of activity. In amongst that the Cotswold DG500 was put to further good use with Scratch and Heather flying together and later Rick and Scratch, both launched by aerotows. (Ed: Of note this was Heather's first ever aerotow)

Hugh had several attempts at his tasks but ended up flying in the local area. He was rewarded by climbs where the vario was "pegged on the stop" at over 10 knots up (Ed: That's a climb rate of over 1,000 feet a minute).

Mark in in the Cotswold K-23 flying in company with Standard Cirrus, FCN

John and Rick at the front of the launch queue

And the view from the back of the launch queue

I like the K-23.  Can we have one at Dartmoor?  Pretty please?

Adam had a long flight mostly in the Nympsfield and Tewkesbury area for 3 hours 20 mins.  This duration was only surpassed by John Allan in his Mini-Nimbus who came down after 3 hours 23 minutes, just pipped Adam.

John's view of the meandering River Severn to the west

Noel enjoyed his course clocking up three flights for a total of 2 hours 26 minutes  His last flight launched after 1900 and it was still soarable climbing up the side of the cloud  and cruising in the local area which was concluded with some aerobatics (Ed: Cue; one happy younger brother.)

Noel Short after his first flight in the K-21

The Short brothers (Ed: Well one of them certainly is!)

So, Noel.  Do you like this gliding malarkey?

Tonight's extravaganza was Chicken Boona, caramelised onions, rice, naan breads, poppadoms, and mango chutney for the "eight erks" who were joined by Noel.

What will Thursday bring? 

Gavin Short