Saturday 1st August 2026
Posted: 01/08/2026 21:38
Saturday 1st. Another good thermal day with a cloud base rising to to around 7,000' asl in places and average peak climb rates of 5-6kts, only tempered by patches of Stratocumulus and some wave interference as a moderate W'ly blew. 28 ATs and 1 self launch off runway 24 included 11 for private owners and 1 for a First Flight pupil, with soaring flights of 30 minutes or more totalling 25, of which 14 were over an hour. XC's of > 100 OLC km were flown by 6 pilots but recourse to engines and a land out demonstrated it wasn't all plain sailing or should that be plain gliding. Dean Crosby in his LS10t flew a declared 521 km with TPs at Sackville, Silverstone and Rushden, having to deal with a showery start, spreadout and a strong wind N of the Humber on the return leg. Toby Wilson in his Std Cirrus declared it was "another peculiar day up north" after completing a 194 O/R to Gainsborough, surviving a 1,600' asl low point just before rounding the TP, while Fred Brown in his Ventus ct climbed to 7,400' asl during his 3;07 flight of 156 OLC km, visiting or near to Foston, Thirsk, Pateley Bridge, and Ripon. Ripon was a popular destination with visits from Darren Lodge in his LS8-18, Clive Swain in his Kestrel 19, and John Marsh in his DG303, John also visiting Helmsley, Boroughbridge, Thirsk before Ripon and than Sutton on Forest before returning to site, covering 138 OLC km in the process. James Shaw in his Vega 15m also flew to the west of Ripon and then to the NE of Leyburn before running out of lift and landing out just outside Northallerton, while those having to resort to engine power included Kelly Teagle in her LS8t-18 who did so just to the SW of Rufforth while on the return lef of an O/R to Blyth, having covered 173 OLC km up to that point. Kelly was joined by Les Rayment in his DG808, who had to use his engine twice within 20 minutes while some 13 km to the SSE of site during his 2:24 flight, and by Steve Scothern in his Discus t while locally soaring during his 2:06 flight. Maxwell Miller in the Discus had 2:39 of local soaring, while Paul Whitehead/Ravi Fradi had the longest flight in a 2 seater club glider, with 45 minutes in K21 KLW.
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.