Sunday 31st January to Monday 1st February
Sunday 31st. The cold NNW’ly continued to blow and with skies remaining sunny, 29 AT’s were flown off runway 02 plus a single Rotax Falke flight, albeit with smoother climb outs as the wind speed had dropped compared to the previous days. 9 of the flights were with a group of visiting Scouts and consequently the club 2 seaters were well utilised as were the club DG303 and the Discus. There was even a single private owner flight in a Cirrus, the first of the year. Flight times were generally in the range 10 -25 minutes, with Geoff Harrison taking his Scout passenger, Tom Richardson, for a 25 minutes flight in the K21 off a 2000′ tow and Rob Bailey managing 34 minutes off a 3000′ tow in the Discus.
Monday 1st. Monday saw a light to moderate W’ly and generally cloudy skies, albeit at high level, but glider flying did not commence until 2-30pm although the Rotax Falke was gainfully employed doing 2 check flights. The slow start to glider flying was mainly due to lack of customers, although a long blockage on the A170, Sutton Bank, didn’t help. Glider flying eventually generated 6 AT’s off runway 24, with most landings on 20, although Rob Bailey flying the Discus, was persuaded by a somewhat variable windsock to land on 02. The club’s K21, Discus and DG303 were all utilised with flight times generally between 20-40 minutes in hill lift with a suggestion of wave. A member who shall remain anonymous landed after 44 minutes in the Discus having mistaken his take off time and consequently exceeded his 30 minutes of free flying. Mike Smith had the first flight of the day in the the Rotax Falke with Dick Cole, before having an AT with Les Rayment in the K21 for the longest 2 seater flight of the day, 30 minutes, and then rounding everything off with a 38 minute flight in the DG303. Thickening cloud as the afternoon progressed heralded an approaching front but more immediately cut off the Sun, leading to a very cold end to a truncated but enjoyable day’s flying.