Some weather forecasts are optimistic and some rather pessimistic. In the optimistic corner RASP. Early low cloud giving way to a 3500ft cloud base, 3 star soaring rating, light westerly wind and no rain. In the pessimistic corner low cloud lingering throughout the morning clearing with the possibility of some rain showers in the afternoon. Early doors showed that some Sunday Soarers had read the pessimistic version and were conspicuous by their absence. With only five members including one trainee we would have just enough bodies to fly and entertain our visitors throughout the day.
Trainee Sean Westrope joined me for a weather check flight. After a disappointing visit yesterday to North Hill when he was due to undertake his spin training, but it was cancelled because of a fault with the tug, Sean was just glad to get back into the air again.
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| Sean ready to fly. |
The first launch to 1000ft just above cloud base showed flying could take place. The next two launches showed the cloud base was already going up.
Ed Borlase launched in the K8. After struggling initially he could be seen gaining height slowly. Our first visitor arrived. Andrew Yeo and wife Jude hail from Lifton, where Andrew works at the Lifton filling station. Jude had bought him a voucher for his 60th Birthday, but sprung it on him in the DGS car park - so much for going on a picnic. Jude has mobility issues and Phil gallantly walked alongside her impressive motorised wheel chair to the east end launch point. After Andrew had made two flights Sean escorted both Andrew and Jude to the clubhouse whilst airfield operations were on hold.
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| Andrew Yeo with Gavin. |
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| Andrew and Jude with certificate. |
By now Ed could be seen doing very well. So as there was nobody else I radioed Ed and told him if he wanted to he could stay up and try for his 5 hours.
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| Ed's view south over Tavistock. |
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| And north past the airfield. |
Our next visitor arrived. David Thorne arrived with his wife and extended family from Devon with a voucher from David's son, a hang glider pilot, for David's 80th Birthday. Whilst Sean engaged in tales of hang gliding daring do Gavin and David enjoyed enjoyed 35 minutes of soaring and David enjoyed hands on time.
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| David Thorne ready to fly. |
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| David Thorne getting his certificate. |
The last visitor of the day arrived. Russell arrived with his partner and a friend from Bavaria with a voucher bought for Christmas . They had travelled from Holsworthy today.
Russell and Gavin enjoyed an amazing flight in the strong convergence conditions and Russell had plenty of stick time and was introduced to the effects of the elevator, ailerons and rudder. Gaining 300-400 ft during each exercise made teaching a delight. In places the cloud base was no more than 2,200 ft AGL. But that didn't stop the fun.
They extended their flight when no one else wanted the glider and were instructed to hangar land.
After 54 minutes Russell and Gavin came down with tales of full airbrakes at 60 knots and still climbing at 3-4 knots in the convergence. On the ground Andrew's supporters recounted the gliding terms they had learned. These were added to with the same expressions in German, courtesy of Gavin, which pleased their Bavarian friend.
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| Russell Jupp with Gavin. |
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| Russell receiving his certificate. |
What about Ed you may ask. As the attempt was unplanned and Ed didn't have any drink or snack with him he decided to land after 2 hours 42 minutes. So with everybody having flown what they wanted to, we packed up after only 8 flights. Thank you to Phil who did all the winching/retrieving, Andy who popped in to collect his trailer but stopped to help out and to the few others who entertained the visitors with the usual DGS friendly manner.
Peter Howarth
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