It was wet, windy and there were heavy showers, so there was no staycation expedition at DGS today.
Instead, for our readers, here is a look back at last year's expedition (2025) to Aston Down in the form of photo essay with their captions of the time (and an explanation if needed).
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| "Breaker, Breaker, we have got ourselves a convoy." |
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| Gavin dancing with his Standard Cirrus. Around and around we go. (He is actually swinging his fluxgate compass and calibrating the electronic artificial horizon). |
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| The launch point on runway 08 viewed from the parking area |
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| A busy launch point |
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| Are you ready for a cable madam? (offering a cable to Val, and Scratch) |
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| Nympsfield airfield. Look closely, and you can see a sole glider; an
Aston Down cross-country pilot who didn't make it back home. |
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| Gavin gets his Standard Cirrus, CNN, ready |
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| Waiting for the cumulus and the tug pilot to arrive |
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| Those gliders with water ballast keep their wings level |
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| Walking the T-21 down the runway. Goggles and flying helmet anyone? |
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| Rick waiting in style |
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| Looking good. Notice CNN's shorter wing when compared to Peter's Kestrel 19 |
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| John's second turn point, Grafham water |
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| Rick with his instructing hat on readies to take Val to the skies |
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| Adam in Snoopy, happy to go flying again |
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| Phil delighted to be back in the air again after a day off |
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| The smoothest field that Snoopy has ever landed on (Adam landed out at the local polo club and was apparently taken good care of by the "young ladies in jodphurs") |
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| Do you think anyone will notice if we took the Eurofox home? |
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| The wing of Andy's Ventus CT cruises above the clouds (when he found wave to the north of the site) |
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| Val's view of the Eurofox tug |
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| Scratch is looking a little more relaxed at altitude, and no Eurofox tug to worry about. |
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| Happy campers |
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Adam's view of the Severn Estuary |
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| Proof that Snoopy was there |
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| CNN parked up after my second flight, ready to have the wings washed to
get rid of any bugs, and then to be de-rigged for the journey home. |
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| Not all the Expeders had returned, or had they had headed elsewhere, and so the glider "rack" still had plenty of holes in it |
The feedback to Mike on the expedition was universally positive.
Andy summed it up:
"Can I echo all of the above?
Fantastic Flying,
Fantastic company,
Fantastic food.
Overall, a fantastic week."
Let's hope we can make it back to Aston Down in 2027.
Gavin Short
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