Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th November 2017

Posted: 25/11/2017 11:34

Wednesday 22nd.  A cloudy, damp and increasingly windy day, with the moderate to fresh SE'ly gusting into the mid 40 kts by late afternoon, resulting in a non-flying day.

Thursday 23rd.  A day of blustery showers with the moderate  S'ly wind soon veering into the WSW and increasing to fresh, with gusts to 40 kts, meant a very restricted flying day with only 1 AT.  This was flown by Albert Newbery who took  his Mile High pupil, A Sandy, for a 38 minute flight in K21 KLW reporting rough conditions aloft that meant the end of flying for the day.

Friday 24th.  In true British fashion, the wildish weather of the last couple of days was replaced by sunny skies, light winds and excellent visibility, allowing members and visitors to have a good gliding day, with even some weak wave to enjoy.  The SW'ly wind slowly increased from light to light to moderate over the day and veered into the WSW, the day's 28 ATs behind the Eurofox and Pawnee being off runway 20.  Six RAF pilots from the Fast Jet course at Linton on Ouse had a good introduction to gliding, as did the 3 First Flight pupils of the day, including 2 Mile High flights.  The lack of any usable lift before lunch meant a high tow was the only means of extending flight times but shortly after lunch, some weak but extensive wave allowed 3 pilots to have at least an hour aloft.  Colin Troise, flying the DG1000 solo had 1:17 while ascending to 5,300', Ken Arkley flying K21 KLW solo, 1:14 with a climb to 4,200' and Mike Smith in the DG303, 1:11 with a climb to 4,100', all asl.  The day's 2 Mile High flights contributed 2 to the list of 5 flights exceeding an hour, with Ben Dawson having 39 minutes in the Astir, Will Blackburn taking his First Flight pupil Richard Garlick for 37 minutes in K21 JVZ and Andy Parish and Nora v G having 32 minutes in the DG1000.  Andy and Nora, as well as Jeff Wright brought the day's flying to a exuberant end, with those at the launch point enjoying Andy and Nora's spinning excercises and Jeff's aerobatics in K21 KLW.   Although a cold day, maximum temperature 4.8C, the sunshine and light winds and the physical activity involved in manually retrieving gliders, especially through some of the soft areas on the airfield, kept those waiting to fly reasonably warm although some preferred the comparative warmth of the Falke which had a couple of sorties.

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.

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