We are back. The first Sunday Soarer blog since 24th August 2025. A moderate NW wind, but no rain and no low cloud today. We set up to launch from the west end and a K13, Puchacz and K8 were taken to the launch point. They would be joined by privateers in a Std Cirrus and DG300. After the lay-off trainees would be brought back up to speed and early trainees checked to see if they were up to solo flights.
Duty BI Gavin Short would be kept busy with a steady stream of three trial flight visitors and a returning visitor who may be joining us as a member. First visitor was Jeff Priddis, Jeff and his wife came from North Devon. The flight voucher had been a 60th Birthday present.
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| Jeff waiting with Gavin. |
The next visitor was Sam Johns. Junior Sam came with his parents from Torquay. He aspires to join the RAF. He enjoyed an extended soaring flight with Gavin, and then conditions deteriorated and his second flight was a circuit.
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| Sam ready to launch into a flying career. |
Final visitor was David Bricknell. David came with his wife from Plymouth. He enjoyed a soaring flight and then a circuit with Gavin. He is a retired Naval architect. Gavin and he had much to talk about however, David has not worked on submarines.
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| David settled in the Puchacz. |
Gavin also flew with returning trial flight member Richard Hicks. Richard is thinking about joining as a member after his temporary membership period..Being a tall lad we made sure he could be accommodated in our main trainer, the K13 and all was well.
Trainees Misha Skochko, and Aiden Hughes both enjoyed three flights with me, getting them back in the air after three weeks away due to poor weather. Also, early solo pilots Viktor Skochko and Freddie Purkiss did similar, but no solo flights today due to the slightly turbulent conditions.
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| Viktor's view of the airfield during an extended flight. |
Some solo flying was done. John Allan enjoyed flights of 20 and 25 minutes in the K8. Phil Hardwick had 10 minutes in his DG300. Lastly, John Osment enjoyed his first flight in his Cirrus with 16 minutes.
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| DG300 and Cirrus waiting to launch. |
We were joined by a Navy flier Henry Cole. Henry has flown at RAF Upavon and recently at RNAS Culdrose. Based in Devonport we are his nearest club. He enjoyed three flights with me, getting used to the airfield and local area.
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| Richard, Henry and Aiden, the tall ones. |
After all had flown and we were packing up some rainbows were seen in the local area.
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| Rainbow over the winch as it is put away. |
Thank you to all at the airfield today. Just great to get the Sunday Soarers back in the air.
Peter Howarth
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