Today was meant to be the first day of the "Women Go Gliding" weekend which is a national BGA initiative. The weather (Ed: Of course!) had other ideas with a band of rain forecast to cover a large part of UK from the south west to the north east. Detail from the Met Office about the weekend had been very limited throughout the week. What the forecasters could agree on that there would be heavy showers across the country. With a heavy heart and much analysis of many different weather forecasts our event organisers made the difficult decision and postponed the event to the weekend of 8/9th June.
Second guessing the weather in UK can be a thankless task. When I arrived at the club it looked OK but the northerly wind was bitingly cold. When Malcolm arrived he reported that Bodmin Moor was "socked in" with cloud and it was raining heavily. During the day we received reports of heavy downpours in St.Austell, Launceston, and Okehampton. Glide and Seek showed no glider activity at our sister club, Devon and Somerset GC, at North Hill (Ed: Subsequently we found out that they didn't even open the hangar doors as the airfield was enveloped in cloud).
Perversely for, and to taunt, our event decision makers it didn't rain, apart from a few "spits and spots", at Brentor today. However, at times the air was turbulent and unforgiving. So in retrospect the right decision had been made as it definitely wasn't a good day to showcase our sport.
None of the above stopped the Chief Flying Instructor in his plans to get the best out of a mediocre day by utilising the small numbers of members on site. With that the GRP gliders (Puchacz and Astir CS77) were taken to the launch point at the west end. The wooden gliders were left behind (Ed: This is a DGS first). After a weather check by Rick I was up in the Puchacz for Basic Instructor re-validation checks; three flights to cover the effects of the elevator, the ailerons and the rudder as Rick plays "Bloggs". Of course it never runs like that with the order being juggled and an awkward height launch failure engineered on the second launch. Success! I got his signature in my log book and I am cleared to fly visitors, in both the Puchacz and the K-13s, for another year. These sessions may appear to be formulaic but the observations and tips from the CFI during the three short flights are invaluable to finesse one's flying.
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The view to the East with a training glider returning to the launch point
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Then it was Viktor's turn to fly with Rick to progress his training (Ed: I think Victor really likes the Puchacz).
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Trainee Viktor conducts his pre-flight walk around observed closely by the CFI
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Club members made use of the Astir CS77 to practice circuits. Little lift was to be found.
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Scratch readies the Astir CS77 for flight (Ed: While Mike gets the butties in!)
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K-13 FSD near the hangar apron
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Another lonely wooden glider languishing at the hangar apron rather than the launch point
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To maximize the usage of the aircraft we had at the launch point I flew with Malcolm in the Puchacz. I managed to climb to 1,500 feet QFE and then Malcolm climbed a further 100 feet. I was sorely disappointed that the "Liftmeister" could not find lift and show me how it should be done (Ed: So much of a learning exercise for you). We struggled for 36 minutes before returning to earth. We were often taunted by Scratch flying about 500 feet above us. He too seemed to be struggling to find usable lift which he confirmed after his flight. John Allen and I managed a tawdry nine minutes and that was all the soaring to be had today. In addition, considering it was the end of April there was very little sunshine to take the edge of the biting north wind.
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K-13, FGR in the hangar after adjustment of the air brakes by the maintenance team. Now ready to return to service (Ed: I am sure you know that the air brakes are unlocked in the picture).
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In the club house David Archer "fettles" his instrument panel (Ed: Dave it is possible to fly a glider with very little instrumentation at all!)
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Apparently the work required much concentration as it took two attempts for him to look up.
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At the end of the day the Supacat winch is brought back to the Motor Transport hangar (Ed: You still haven't mastered reversing the tractor with the winch on the back have you?)
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The hangar packing team in action. K-13 and a Puchacz so far. Next another K-13 please.
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So we didn't get to run the first day of the "Women Go Gliding" weekend today. With a minimum crew, and only our two GRP gliders ranged at the launch point, what did we achieve? In 17 flights we managed a Basic Instructor re-validation, continued with Viktor's training, and acquainted two more members with the Puchacz. Scratch, Mike, Rick and John flew the Astir CS77 with Scratch gaining the "Man of the match" with a flight of one hour nine minutes. Not, of course, forgetting the maintenance team who brought FGR back on line and Dave who continued to fettle his much beloved Ka6-CR, G-DHEB (Ed: If you were going to make a scurrilous comment at this juncture. Don't!).
Gavin Short
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