Gliding Club News - Aston Down Expedition Day 6. 21st May 2023

Just when you thought it was all over the tenacious trio were still hanging on and aiming for greatness.  Phil, Andy, and John had stayed for one last day of flying spurred on by favourable soaring forecasts.  Initial reports from Andy were that the conditions were brilliant.

At Aston Down today (Ed: It was a Saturday club flying day) there was a large fleet of nearly 30 gliders. These were launched from 1130 onwards by both winch and aerotow.  All seemed to get away.

A busy day on Runway 03 at Aston Down

Runway 03 as seen from the perimeter track  (Ed: Gosh, it's posh here.  They even leave the alloy wheels in the tyres!)

Gliders stacked in all directions

Phil's and Andy's DG300 and Libelle at the back of the launch queue (Ed: How did that happen?  Were you overwhelmed by the rush?)

Thermals were strong and variable but the 1/8ths cloud and strong wind made progress slow. The wind also made it difficult to keep on course during cross country tasks.

Waiting for the magic to happen

Ignoring the initial feedback on conditions Phil and Andy attempted a cross country.  Andy made it to his first turn point of Enstone but abandoned the task and returned to Aston Down.  He did so because the time taken to make progress on task was excessive in the windy conditions.

Later Andy recounted "I had set a task of Aston-Enstone-Edgehill-Aston. All went reasonably well till about 15km short of Enstone when the sky ahead was just blue, I was about to turn for home when I got a good clime to cloud base so putting caution to the wind I pushed into the blue. Just prior to Enstone found a blue thermal which allowed me to easily turn Enstone. To the north it was still completely blue so I abandoned the task and set off home."

The highlight of the day was John Allan's flight.  He achieved his Silver and Gold duration flight of five hours (Ed: Well done John, a fantastic achievement.  Being restricted to the local area does have its benefits!).

John, at the head of the winch queue, watches a promising sky while waiting for the aerotow to depart

John at his highest point at 5,100 feet QFE (Ed: Aston Down airfield is at 600 feet above sea level)

5 Hours and 4,500 feet to spare :-)

On completion of their flying Phil and Andy waited by the trailer park to assist John in derigging when he came down to earth after his five hour flight.  When all were packed up the trio departed for home (Ed:  Or did they? I haven't heard from our very own gliding nomad Andy).

John arrives back at Dartmoor Gliding Society

Gavin Short (with additional reporting by Phil Hardwick and John Allan)