Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd June 2023
Posted: 04/06/2023 11:25
Thursday 1st. Early light drizzle and a low overcast as a moderate NNE'ly continued to blow, kept the gliders in the hangar, the low overcast persisting for most of the day, . However, the cloud base rose sufficiently from late morning to allow the Falke to have 4 flights, most of which were for field landing excercises.
Friday 2nd. The moderate NNE'ly persisted, but scattered cloud in the morning soon disappeared to leave a blue, sunny day. Flying commenced around 1015 hrs off runway 02 with the 1st of the day's 5 First Flight pupils and came to an end around 1630 hrs with 21 ATs were flown. Visitors Bob Johnson/Martin Hollowell in their DG1000t had 40 minutes after launching around 1130 hrs, but had to use their engine on the return leg of an O/R to Ripon. Taking off later in the day, they repeated the flight, this time resorting to their engine some 3 km E of Ripon, again on the return leg of their O/R They contributed 2 of the 7 private owner launches on the day, these pilots contributing all of the 6 >an hour flights, with the majority staying local. The other pilot to fly cross country was John Ellis in his DG800, who flew close to the following TPs, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge. Best altitudes were typically 3,200' to 3,800' asl with best average thermal climbs of 1.2 to 2 kts, although Clive Swain in his Kestrel 19 did find a 3.2 kt average climb. Apart from Bob/Martin's 40 minutes, only 2 other flights were more than 30 but less 60 minutes, both of these being for First Flight pupils, while Graeme Cooksey/Amelia Forrester in K21 JVZ had 29 minutes as they used a broken thermal to maintain 1,500' to 1,900' QFE for a while.
Saturday 3rd. Isolated Cumulus soon disappeared to leave a blue sunny day, as the light NNE'ly slowly increased to moderate. Competing sporting attractions at Wembley and Epsom seemed to have an effect on attendance, as of the 20 ATs flown off runway 02, 8 were for First Flight pupils and 6 for private owners. The latter accounted for all 5 of the flights to exceed an hour, with only 1 other flight to exceed, 30 minutes, this being 31 minutes for one of the day's First Flight pupils. The tenor of the day can be gauged by the fact that all the pilots but one flying turbos or self launching gliders had to use their engines at least once during their flights, the exception being James Prosser who preferred to land out at Wombledon in his Ventus bt. Darren Lodge in his un-engined LS8-18, had 4:11 as he stayed local, typical best altitudes for all pilots being 3,500-3,900' asl, although John Ellis climbed to 4,400' asl during his 180 km O/R to 11 km E of Rotherham. Best average climb rates were typically 2,5-3 kts for all pilots. Other cross country flights included, Bob Calvert's 150 km around Pateley Bridge and York, before flying 13 km NW of Site and then returning home, and Bob Johnson/Thomas' 100 km route around Harrogate North and Rufforth. The day was a special one for Sam Dawson, as he successfully converted to the Astir and had 2 flights, so congratulations Sam.
This blog describes a snippet of life at the Yorkshire Gliding Club. Why not take a flight and try it yourself, or we can teach you to fly as a full club member.