Many thanks to Graham Hoile for organising at the last minute, a flying day today, Doug for running the wings and Clive acting as LPC
Ten pilots launched in the blue wondering what the day held, but very soon Cu appeared with a base of over 5000ft, and eventually went to nearly 7000. It was one of the best days I have flown, and with very strong climbs.
It just shows how we need to be flexible and make the best of good days.
Alastair
Greetings Aviators 😎.
We were treated to a very pleasant Flying Week at the Park this week 🙂.
The weather wasn’t stellar for soaring, but we made the most of the week’s opportunities 🙂.
We kept busy in the workshop 🙂.
We drank lots of tea 🙂.
We kept cool at the Launch Point 😎.
We flew at every opportunity the weather graced us with 😎.
At the end of Friday’s flying we enjoyed a delicious BBQ 🙂.
On Saturday we were treated to some unexpected but very much appreciated musical accompaniment to our aviating adventures thanks to Tim 🙂.
All in all, another very pleasant week at the Park 😎.
Kind regards.
Damien.
The forecast of a really good day attracted half a dozen members to grab an extra day’s flying today, and many thanks to Gordon for flying the tug and Clive for helping with the launching. Top cover came in mid afternoon and caused an early shutdown, but for several hours cloudbase was over 6000ft and several flights of around 200K were flown.
The image above shows the dense smoke off the fires on Salisbury Plain. Just like the stubble fires of old.
Alastair
Good evening Aviators 😎.
We were treated to another wonderful Flying Week at the Park this week 🙂.
Glorious sunshine and gentle winds fueled an abundance of local soaring opportunities, as well as successful Cross Country pursuits, and a first solo flight for Peter E? Congratulations Peter, you will remember that flight always 🙂 👍🏻.
We also enjoyed the company of some very welcome guest Pilots from Keevil and Dorset Gliding Club, who were all very helpful and proactive around the airfield and great to share a few stories of soaring adventure with in the Club House at the end of the days flying. Look forward to seeing you all again soon gentlemen 🙂 👍🏻.
I took some pictures from our flying week to share with you all. Hope you enjoy them.
Kind regards.
Damien.
Well done Peter Everall on going solo (twice) today.
The trial went well and I have some nice videos. I was unable to upload a video clip due to it being too large a file.
I followed all the advice from the BGA with respect to mount cameras to gliders and constructed a bespoke fibreglass mount that fixes securely to the wing and has minimal wind resistance. I could not tell it was attached to the wing from how the glider performed in the air.
This is a still of my final approach to the Park
Mark P
Good evening Aviators 😎.
Thanks to Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II we had an extended run of fantastic mid-week flying days to enjoy this week. Thank you Ma’am 🙂.
The weather was wonderful for late Spring, with plenty of sunshine, gentle winds, and an abundance of soaring opportunities. Our trainers had a very productive time training new pilots, and the more experienced amongst us were treated to some excellent local soaring conditions and successful Cross Country pursuits.
‘Bath Wilts’ very own Harriet G is enjoying a great weeks soaring also. In between flights and airfield duties many of us enjoyed watching Harriet on ‘Glide & Seek’ very impressively racing along in the ‘Lasham Regionals’ Comp. Great work Harriet, and good luck for the final results 🙂 👍🏻.
I took some pictures from our mid-week flying days to share with you all. Hope you enjoy them.
Kind regards.
Damien.
Good evening fellow aviators 😎.
Last week BWND hosted the “VGC National Rally”. The event was a great success and Geoff P took some sensational pictures that he asked me to put on our Blog to share with you all 🙂 👍🏻.
The Soaring season is off to great start and will only get better as we progress into the Summer 🙂.
See you in the skies fellow aviators 😎.
Kind regards.
Damien.
A day with strong thermals to about 6000ft, but badly broken by the wave. The easy option therefore was a float around the Highlands in nice smooth air. M3 got to around 13,000ft, but I’ve not spoken to everyone yet.
The image above is Loch Tummel from about 8,000ft.
Alastair
Congratulations to Steve Lambourne on his Gold Height today.
We all flew and some of us managed to transition into wave from the ridge and thermals. The image above is of Loch Earn from 18000ft.
Expecting a thermal day tomorrow.
Thanks to all the club members who have made this possible, we also did 50 launches and had a fabulous fish and chip supper in the clubroom after flying.
Portmoak Day 1 gave us a surprise wave day. By late morning, the Bishop was working and there were some thermals. A climb to 3500ft then allowed the classic transition to wave. The wave only went to 7300ft, which was fortunate as my oxygen was in the trailer.
Alastair
A cold front cleared through a little earlier than forecast on the morning of Saturday 7th, leaving behind a crisp, clear blue sky and a light north-easterly. The cumulus started to organise while the private gliders rigged, only three club gliders (FUY, JKW and LPM) making a showing.
Although tricky to get away from the winch, by the early afternoon those that did were rewarded with long flights and high cloud bases. James managed over four hours and 5000′ above The Park in JKW, bagging a Silver Height (congrats James), while the conditions and slow trade for the instructors enabled FUY to soar over 4500′ to the north, with a clear view of the Severn Bridges and South Wales.
Once JKW returned and the hangar was packed, it was time for a cold one in the bar!
With 40 launches today and many 100’s of km’s flown and hours logged it was a grand day, if a somewhat slow process for the thermals to get going. Climbs to over 5000ft were the norm.
So congratulation go to Alan Bennet for completing a two hour flight off the winch and gaining his Silver Height in the process. Mark Smallwood got to fly his Pegase and Bill Prince survived an aeratow check with yours truly.
We finally got the hangar stacked and the doors closed at 18:30 then a few minutes later a glider from Nympsfield landed and wanted an aeratow retrieve. Gordon was the only person not to have sunk a pint or two by then so having done 14 tows already another was called for, alas this was probably the first time that we have put the tug three rows back so had to unstack the hangar again – all good fun, hangar doors closed at 19:40.
Wednesday 20th April saw a chilly start to the morning, but the cloud started to separate, the ground warmed up and the private gliders came out en-masse for some good soaring conditions (atleast until I went up a bit too late in the day..). LPM is still on its back, but JKW was in active use and some flew FUY solo. Chris demonstrated the art of delegation in running the LPC (from the seated position), although she was caught temporarily off guard hooking on JKW (evidence attached). The great news of the day was Mike sending Roland solo – apparently his 13th solo having flown multiple fixed wing and helicopters in his career in the AAC – the last time however was in the early 1990’s, so a big congrats to Roland, and no doubt he will be onto LPM before too long to make it 14! Now for Rowan to catch up with his Dad!
Looking forward to the Flying Week next week!
The more experienced pilots are telling me that these are great conditions for March, so hopefully this heralds a good season ahead. “Blue Bird” was rigged by John and Gavin and they both had good soaring as well as instructing. Sadly it did not lead to John dropping his guard on my Bronze practical test, but having endured an air tow with the tug doing thermals, followed by “boxing”, various spins and stalls, heavy “sink” which appeared to disappear…and then came back with a vengeance…winch launches and circuits with no altimeter and a (very) awkward height cable break, I managed to persuade John that I was not too much of a hindrance to myself or others. Cross Country endorsement now awaits, so looking forward to trip or two in the motor glider. Mike turned up to do some solo flying, but naturally ended up giving up his time for some instruction/checks. Congrats are also due to Din who transitioned to soloing on LPM with an immediate 41 minute flight, so hopefully JKW will be back in action shortly.
Another great day out.
Another deceptively blue day at the Park yesterday saw much rocking’n’rolling in the air with good heights and durations achieved (not to mention a Bronze acquired – congrats, Mark!); on the ground there was much raking’n’rolling as the trailer park eased towards firm flatness.
After gliders were put to bed, a clattering of rollers on pebbles heralded the following image: perhaps an opportunity for a caption competition?
Stuart flying Bluebird
View from above, both pictures taken by Justin Wills
T21 pictures courtesy of David Camp, look away if flying without a canopy scares you !
