A Wednesday washout where a select band of stoic Wavers fixed gliders and vehicles.
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A flashback to the 1970s. Q: Why do Škodas have heated rear windows? A: To keep your hands warm while you're pushing them. |
The Wednesday Wavers are a stoic bunch, but this is the fourth consecutive Wednesday that they have not flown. Perhaps a rebrand is needed - "The Wednesday Washouts"? Is there a malign influence at work? Is there a Jonah at play? Mike the Duty Instructor?
Personally, I can't complain. On Saturday, after Colin and I finished the work on the tailplane locking mechanism of the Astir CS77, someone had to test fly it. After being detailed off by the CFI I warned him that if it was soarable, then I would make it a normal flight. And so it was to be. Straight off the wire into a smooth 3.5 knot average, lovely thermal climb. Earlier, others thought there was evidence of wave, and I found that I could also climb in a straight line in bands of lift not associated with the clouds. Out of the sunshine, it was a bit chilly at 4,000 ft AMSL (3 degrees Centigrade), as Mike Jardine also found out with this two-hour-plus flight in his Standard Cirrus. I landed after 32 minutes and then took DB up for a wizz round the sky in the Twin Astir, DSL. So my spirits were high when faced with the realities of today's weather.
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| The rain icons should have started at 0800 in Skysight's Windgram! |
In the morning, there were waves of heavy showers occurring every 20 minutes. Fortunately, the wood burner made the clubhouse a pleasant place to be while we contemplated the day. I expected pushback when I listed seven items to be fixed on the gliders. But the Wavers happily set to work, and all the jobs that we could achieve with hangar doors closed were complete by 0930. The exception was fitting HBK's new brake master cylinder, which was completed by lunchtime.
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| The day's task list |
Twin Astir Trainer, HBK. The new master cylinder arrived from Germany. Scratch and DB ensured that the copper washers from the original were annealed and used to build up the new one. John Allan fitted it to the glider, and we now have an effective braking system again.
Peter and I removed the nose wheel of K-13, FGR, but couldn't find any reason for the reported rumble. It was refitted, and we will monitor it. Some of the day's tasks we couldn't manage in the hangar. The wet outside world was not conducive to getting the gliders out. So we got very industrious and checked and pumped up the tyres of all the tailwheels, tail dollies and tow-out gear wheels. We also pumped up all the tyres of K-13, FSD ready for it to re-enter service presently.
After lunch the sun came out, and apart from the wind, it was quite pleasant. Ray and Steve Lewis investigated the Zugvogel III in its cathedral-like trailer, and plans were hatched to bring it back into service. That would be welcome. The Zug is a veritable gentleman's soaring machine, and it would be wonderful to see it back in the sky.
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| The "Cathedral" (middle trailer) resplendent in the sunshine. The winch workers are off to the left up at the launch point |
During the morning, Scratch made some repairs to the winch: the pay-out gear, the safety cage, and a few other items. Serious stuff was evidently afoot as he arrived at the hangar asking the whereabouts of the club sledgehammer.
Repairs complete, a select team got the winch out and onto the field. The team added an extra 100 metres of steel cable to one of the drums and then put it away. His club tasks complete. Scratch used a bit of the hangar space to change the front brake discs and pads on his car.
The Wavers' tasks done; we decided on an early stack. On the way home, I contemplated the arrival of Storm Austen. While talking to Mike Bennett earlier in the day I referred to it as Steve Austin - gosh, that dates me. But from the frequent Met Office warnings, it may indeed be Bionic in its wind strength. Hopefully there won't be any rebuilding to do in its aftermath.
Gavin Short
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