Tuesday 15th August 2017
Posted: 18/08/2017 10:42
A better day than yesterday, although more blustery, with the wind at 3-4000' QNH being noted as 22knots at 260 degrees. Most pilots experienced the turbulence when transiting over the western edge of the airfield - the tugs pilots experienced it even more, so "well-done" to them!
Club flying started at 10:40 and utilised all of the club aircraft with the exception of the K8, which didn't fly, and the DG1000 and Discus which were both entered in the Northerns. There were five trial lessons, all conducted by Will. Bill Payton and Stuart Heaton decided to avoid the Northern's tasked area and had a flight via Ripon to Camphill and flew 267km in their 4:02 flight. Paul Whitehead flew his Ventus for 3:59, we believe in the general direction of the Northerns task. However, two of the later flights, Phil Lazenby in the Club DG303 (launching at 15:58), and Jeremy Pack in his ASG29 (launching at 17:11, having just come second in the Northern task), both contacted wave. Phil broke off at 10,200' (no oxygen on board), but Jeremy continued on to 11,600. (And thanks to both for allowing me to mention the NSGA yet again!).
The Northerns grid started launching at 11:59, but after the fourteenth launch it unexpected started raining and the remaining competitors wisely decided to "refuse a launch" having seen a few of the earlier launchers fall out of the sky and land back. Eventually, of course, the rain ceased, and launching resumed at 13:07. The winner of the task of 204.89kms (SUT-TON-BUS-PKG-SUT) was YGC's DG1000 at a handicap speed of 88.13kph. However, the strong headwind on the last leg from Pickering, coupled with reducing thermal strengths at that time of day, did complicate things for a few competitors, who landed out; everyone was safely retrieved.
The day was rounded off by G Dale, who gave a short lecture on the types and formation of wave, and the techniques of getting into wave from below the wave system by making use of rotor thermals.
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.