Sunday 20th August 2017
Posted: 21/08/2017 14:22
Sunday 20th. Sunday dawned with slightly milky skies but with the promise of a reasonable soaring day, the wind being a light to moderate WSW that moderated during the day. The end of a successful Northern's week on Saturday, marked by an end of competition party, was followed by the start of the YGC's Task Week with Director George Rowden setting a Bull's Eye task that required entrants to fly to designated BGA TPs at approximately 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kms from home, distance and speed being via an OLC claim. Flying got underway just before 1000 hrs and by the time the last glider landed at around 1735 hrs, 46 ATs had been flown off runway 24, most of these behind the Eurofox as the Super Cub was providing launches at the 2 seater competition at Pocklington for part of the day. The conditions encouraged 20 private owner to launch and produced 22 flights of over an hour, with an additional 7 over 30 minutes, 4 pilots exceeding 4 hours. Visitor Steve Woolcock, flying his LS8-18, recorded 6:21 in a flight that saw him turn Gransden Lodge in Cambridgshire and get most of the way back to Sutton before having to have recourse to his engine as the thermals died. Another visitor, Graham Morris, flew his ASW27 for 4:58, but where to is currently unknown, while Task Week competitors John Ellis in his DG800 and Jon May/Steve Ball in their Duo Discus had 4:51 and 4:30 respectively. John covering 271 km and Jon and Steve 217 km. Derek Taylor, carrying out a Eurofox launch assisted by the engine of his ASW22, did 229 km of his declared task at 88.1 kph before abandoning it north of Masham and returning to Sutton. Toby Wilson, flying Astir DPO in Task Week had 1:52 before handing the glider over to Naomi Kennard, who, later in the day stayed up for an hour, while Colin Troise had 1:15 solo in the DG500. John Marsh and Tash Popps posted the longest club 2 seater flight of the day with 53 minutes in K21 JVZ, the club 2 seaters also being busy with First Flight pupils. Past Chairman Graham Evison thought he had put the burdens of leadership behind him but has taken on some new burdens as the following photo shows.
Perhaps he should have waited for assistance from Naomi Kennard seen here driving our new airfield retrieve vehicle.
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.