Friday August 11th – Saturday August 12th 2017
Posted: 16/08/2017 10:13
Friday 11th:
A series of Atlantic fronts continued to influence the gliding weather. The passage of one of these in the middle part of the day allowed some flying to take place during the morning then later in the afternoon.
Morning flying commenced under an overcast sky with a lively SSW wind meaning there was enough ridge lift for Will Blackburn to take a couple of first flighters for a taste of what gliding is all about. Jesper Mjels had a couple of hours in DG303 KJH in an unsuccessful search for wave amongst the cloud cover, a challenge also accepted by Jon May and Steve Ball in their Duo Discus but with the same result. The two remaining course members were able to get another flight in before weather stopped play, the mornings proceedings being completed with a couple of instructional flights in the K21 with Andy Parish in charge.
After the front had passed flying started again after 2pm allowing a further five flights, two of which were trial lessons, this time flown by Andy Parish, and more flights for the course members.
Saturday 12th:
The forecast promised a flying window before the weather went downhill in the afternoon. In the event 24 flights were squeezed in between 10am and 2pm at which point flying was abandoned for the day.
Mike Wood continued his love affair with our venerable K8, his two flights totalling over two hours. Toby Wilson had yet another flight in Astir DPO, this time for exactly one hour. Sue Aherne completed utilisation of the single seat fleet with a short flight in the DG303 landing just in time to get wet.
Several competitors in the Northerns took the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the site and surrounding area. One of them had a very close close inspection of the Yorkshire countryside by landing out quite close to the club.
The two-seaters continued to earn their keep with frequent instructional and trial lesson flights. Club members John Marsh and Martyn Johnson were the only private owners to rig and fly; John for over and hour and Martyn for two hours. For once Martyn did not contact wave so we assume there was none. Northerns competitor Graham Morris had the longest flight of the day with 2.40 in his ASW27, hardly a familarisation flight as he is such a regular visitor he must be close to honoury membership.
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.