Saturday 29th June 2025
Posted: 01/07/2025 15:16
Saturday 29th. A moderate SW'ly blew all day with nice looking Cu to gladden the heart of those with XC ambitions and those with more modest objectives. As appeared likely, only 4 of the day's 32 ATs off runway 20 failed to exceed 30 minutes, 3 of these being for First Flight pupils out of the 10 who were flown and the balance by Ian McFarlane/Sarah Nolan who took an 1100' tow in the DG500. There were 5 flights of over 5 hours, one of which was for Sanjay Nath in Astir DSU as he completed the duration leg of his Silver C and flew the local 100km triangle, so well done Sanjay. Average peak thermal strengths of 4-5 kts and cloud base approaching 5,000' asl suggested a trouble free day, but spreadout south of the Humber and some wave interference disrupted some plans but enhanced others. Dean Crosby's 387km in his LS10t was the longest of the day's thermal based flights, Dean visiting Gainsborough Power Station, Sutton Start W and Kirton in Lindsey, while Rob Bailey in his ASG29t visited Tontine and Horncastle to fly 317 km, finding conditions tricky on the first leg. Kelly Teagle in her LS8t-18 set a 244 km task with a first TP at Worksop E, but abandoned it just 15 km from the TP due to spreadout. Heading for Masham, a blue sky led to a decision to stay east of the Pennines where the Cu were and head for home, arriving back at site after a flight of 184 km. Fred Brown in his Ventus 2ct flew an indicated 309 km task with TPs at Kirton in Lindsey, Helmsley and Goole N, although his trace indicated a turn for home some 2 km N of the last TP, while Adam Sayer in his ASW19 completed a 200 km O/R to Kirton in Lindsey. However, arriving back at site Adam was informed of wave to the W and exploring the area SW of Topcliffe contacted and climbed to 7,500' asl before climbing to 8,500' asl near Masham and then returning to site via Northallerton to cover in all 277 km. Adam's informant was Bob Calvert who, after completing an O/R to near Syerston contacted wave near Topcliffe and then flew to or near Ripon, Masham, Aysgarth, Grains and Boroughbridge before landing back after 8:48 and 477 km. To complete the XC list, Eillen Scothern flew 123 km with TPs at Pocklington and Burn in her Discus t, Darren Lodge flew 109 km with an O/R to Burn in his LS8-18 and Toby Wilson flew his Std Cirrus on an 90 km O/R to Rufforth. The longest 2 seater flight of the day saw Ian McFarlane/John Forrester have 54 minutes in the DG500 landing back at 1850 hrs 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.