Sunday 18th to Monday 19th February 2024
Posted: 20/02/2024 10:20
Sunday 18th. A light to moderate NW'ly slowly backed into the W on a day of sunny intervals that generated some weak thermals. 15 ATs were flown off runway 24, but the conditions only led to 3 flights of over 30 minutes, with 1 over an hour, the latter aided by mechanical means. Visitor Colwyn Darlow in his LS10t was the > 1 hour pilot, having 1:26 as he operated mainly above 2,400' asl with a peak of 4,900' asl south of Bagby in some weak wave. Discus pilots Rob Bailey and Adam Sayer accounted for the next two longest flights, Rob having 58 minutes as he made use of some weak thermals in the early part of his flight and hill soared the NW'ly facing part of the main bowl during the latter part. Adam took a high tow before maintaining around 2,600'asl in weak thermal before landing after 39 minutes. The longest 2 seater flight saw Sarah Stubbs and Adam have 28 minutes in K21 JVZ, again courtesy of a high tow and weak thermals.
Monday 19th. A moderate and at times gusty WNW'ly opened the day, the wind backing into the W and becoming less gusty as the skies clouded in. 12 winch launches were flown off runway 24, the thermal enhanced hill lift and even a bit of wave meaning 9 of the day's flights exceeded 30 minutes with 7 of these over an hour. Steve Thompson took the first launch of the day in Astir DSU, returning after 1:57 having had excursions to Bagby and the forward ridge, the ridges working well at 800-1400' QFE with a thermal climb to 3,100' asl just north of Gormire. Bob Calvert in the Discus had 1:10 as he found some weak wave just to the SW of site, climbing to peak altitude of 4,900' asl and then exploring west to the East Coast Main Line WNW of Thirsk without finding any other lift. Ian McFarlane/Naomi Kennard in K21 JVZ and Chris O'Boyle/Konrad Kawalec in K21 KLW both had > 1 hr flights, Ian/Naomi 1:30 and Chris/Konrad 1:15 while flying up and down the main W'ly ridge at 700-1000' QFE. George Rowden in the Discus, Chris Handzlik in Astir DSU and Bill Payton in Astir FSH were the remaining >1 hr pilots, George having 1:16, Chris 1:34 and Bill 1:54. While George and Bill mainly used the main W'ly ridge and the passing thermals, Chris went as far north as Black Hambleton via the forward ridge and also recovered from a low point of 300' QFE, with all 3 pilots having peak altitudes of 2,600' to 2,900' asl. Towards the end of the flying day, thermal activity died and operating heights declined to 600' to 800' in the hill lift, Dave McKinney/Andrew Bedford having 54 minutes in KLW and Ian McFarlane/John Tayler having 44 minutes in the same glider off the last flight of the day.
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.