Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September 2025
Posted: 14/09/2025 18:36
Friday 12th. A light to moderate SW'ly veered into the WSW after a series of showers restricted the morning's flying to I AT off runway 24, Bruce Grain/Steve Morgan having 31 minutes in K21 JVZ. Flying resumed mid afternoon with an additional 3 flights flown, 2 in JVZ and the other by Bob Calvert in his Discus 2ct. An initial spell of hill soaring and then weak thermal conditions plus aid from his engine helped Bob to have 2:56, with excursions out the Ripon/Masham areas, while back at site Andy Balkwill/Peter Reid had 52 minutes in JVZ, climbing to 3,300' asl. At the end of the flying day, K21 landed back from a 25 minute AT retrieve from Rufforth after having been there for a few days.
Saturday 13th The light to moderate SSW'ly continued to bring in a few showers, but 12 ATs were flown off runway 20, the day's patchy thermal lift leading to only 3 flights of 30 minutes or more, of which 2, both by private owners, were over an hour. The 30 minute flight was by Jamie Quartermaine with one of the day's 3 First Flight pupils in the DG500, while Andy Wilson in his Skylark 4 and Fred Brown in his Ventus 2ct were the > an hour pilots. Both flew locally, with Fred doing a cloud climb to 5,800' asl at 4.7 kts average during his 2:03 flight and Andy having 1:40 but, being traceless, I have no detailed record of his flight.
Sunday 14th. An approaching Atlantic low changed a bright morning into a windy and wet late afternoon/evening, the rain arriving around 1700 hrs, with flying terminating around 1530 hrs after having been delayed due to showers and low cloud until early afternoon, when Kelly Teagle/Sarah Stubbs flew a weather check in K21 KLW. Thereafter, 7 ATs were flown off runway, with the 3 longest flights of 27 to 33 minutes, being by Sarah for the day's 3 First Flight pupils, partially the result of 3,000' tows. The other reason was weak lift in the area between site and Wass, the first 2 flights being able to maintain close to their release height in weak pre frontal wave, with the other finding reduced sink in the same area and slowly leasing height between 2,400'and 1,800' asl.
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.