After a run of Sunday's with poor weather the Sunday Soarers were hoping to be able to fly. A light southerly breeze and sunshine all day, the only decision was which end do we fly from. A decision was made to fly from the east end giving more options if required.
Two K13's and a K8 were prepared and towed to the launch point. Before any visitors arrived and the airfield was relatively quiet, I took the opportunity to organise and demonstrated the ultra-low launch failure for both Sean Westrope and Matt Stone.
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| Ultra-low demonstration under way. |
We were visited today by Richard Lovell-Burt from Middle Wallop. Richard was making his annual trip to the south-west and always pops in to the club for a few flights. After a check flight he was cleared to fly the K8. Next to fly with me was Danny Surgeon. Danny has been away for about six months undertaking pre-deployment training with the navy. For me it was nice to get to the top of the launch for the first time and Danny was soon back into things and enjoying his flying.
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| K13 reaches the top of the launch. |
Our first trial flight visitor arrived. Paul Priscott who confusingly for Gavin our Duty BI wasn't on the list. Paul and partner were so buoyed up by an introduction to gliding recently at Sutton Bank Paul booked a pair of trial flights at DGS which is the nearest gliding club to their nearby home. The confusion was resolved as he was due to fly on the 8 November! Full marks for keenness and rather than turn him away Gavin duly flew him. Paul mastered the elevator and the ailerons quickly and flew some tidy turns.
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| Paul Priscott ready with Gavin. |
Next up was Joanne Philpott accompanied by partner Neil from Plymouth. Both work for Thales. Joanne thoroughly enjoyed her flights and the chance to handle the glider.
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| Joanne Philpott waiting to launch. |
Married couple Isla and Nathan Lacey from Nr Looe next flew with Gavin. Both got to grips with the effects of the elevator and the ailerons. Isla was on "cloud nine" after her flights. Nathan remembered some if his training with the air cadets at Rheindalen, Germany 25 years ago. On his first flight, despite being in the inversion layer, found some reduced sink to extend the flight. His second flight was a hangar landing which allowed him to witness the operation the winch.
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| Isla on cloud nine ready for her second flight. |
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| Nathan Lacey ready to fly. |
Whilst our visitors were being flown by Gavin training continued. Sean Westrope settled into the front seat. A couple of good flights and yet another launch failure saw Sean achieve that momentous point in his flying career, his first solo.
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| Sean completing his checks. |
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| Off he goes. |
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| Receiving his wings. |
The last trainee to fly with me was Matt Stone. Two good flights and a real launch failure sees Matt progressing well towards his own target.
With no soaring conditions today, solo pilots Steve Fletcher, Martin Broadway, Ed Borlase and Richard Lovell-Burt all enjoyed circuits in the K8 with the calm conditions.
Thank you to all at the club. Some good work was carried out at the winch where the radio comms were improved by mounting the antenna on a pole away from the winch. A more permanent solution will be instigated soon.
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| New antenna arrangement. |
Another successful day at Brentor with another solo. Congratulations Sean.
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