Friday 5th to Saturday 6th January 2024
Posted: 06/01/2024 20:30
Friday 5th. The Azores' anticyclone began to extend up to the UK but an old and slow moving occluded front over the east of the UK kept the site under low cloud with light rain at times, so there was no flying as the initially light NNW'ly dropped to become light and variable.
Saturday 6th. Pressure continued to rise as the anticlyclone continued to extend NEwards over the UK, this bringing sunny intervals and a light NNW'ly wind to site, as well as some low cloud and the occasional light shower to site, but neither of these potential hazards was significant enough to restrict flying. This got under way around 1030 hrs off runway 02, but the day's AT total was limited to 5, with an additional flight by the Falke, not due to the weather but due to a lack of members. The day's duty Ass Cat, Jamie Quatermaine and duty BI, George Rowden, shared the 4 flights for First Flight pupils, with duty Launch Point Organiser, Naomi Kennard taking the last launch of the day with duty Instructor I/C Chris Collingham. Duty Launch Point Controller, Bob Calvert, made sure all the duty team flew, albeit in his case virtually by spending some time on the simulator. All the real flights were in K21 KLW, with duty Tuggie, Simon Altman flying the Eurofox. Conditions aloft were silky smooth, so flights were slow descents from release height, although George, flying the 3rd First Flight pupil of the day, found some reduced sink in front of a shallow, low level wave cloud, extending the flight to 23 minutes, the longest of the day (and year so far). The Falke's flight included a trip to York and Hemsley followed by two touch and go landings.
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.