Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd November 2024
Posted: 24/11/2024 12:10
Monday 18th. A sunny start was followed by increasing cloudiness as a light/variable, mainly NNE'ly blew, the day's flying being restricted to 4 ATs in K21 JVZ, all circuits, mainly off 1100' tows with 3 of these by Simon Altman/Yuri Kozhevrov and a self launch by Les Rayment in his DG808. This activity was complemented by 2 flights in the Falke, again for circuit training.
Tuesday 19th. Overnight rain followed by low base, cloudy skies and an isolated shower resulted in the day's flying limited to Falke flying by Derek Smith/Andy Crilley.
Wednesday 20th. A brisk NW'ly on a cold day of sunny intervals and isolated showers, the wind gusting into the high 20 kts, meant a non-flying day.
Thursday 21st. The light to moderate WNW'ly slowly backed into the W on a cold and sunny day, with the result that of the 12 ATs off runway 24. 3 exceeded 30 minutes with 2 of these over an hour. The major sources and location of lift were the main bowl and in front of Hood Hill, with Bruce Grain/Steve Thompson in the DG500 also hill soaring the main W'ly ridge up to High Paradise Farm and Boltby while operating between 800-1200' QFE in their 1:07 flight. John Forrester in Astir DSU was the other > an hour pilot, his 1:38 being initially based on lift upwind of Hood Hill followed by soaring the main W'ly ridge via multiple O/Rs to Boltby while operating between 1100-1400' QFE. The other < 30 minute flight saw Chris O'Doyle take one of the 2 First Flight pupils of the day for 35 minutes in K21 JVZ, while Dave Campbell took the other First Flight pupil for a 25 minute flight that included 10 minutes above release height 4 km to the SW of site, while Guy Hartland/Neil Amos had a similar experience in the DG500 but this time while flying an O/R to Boltby in their 26 minute flight.
Friday 22nd. Another sunny and slightly warmer day, with the wind again light to moderate from the WNW, led to 11 ATs off runway 24, landings being on mainly 24 but occasionally on 02. Some weak lift, mainly in front of the Main Bowl and just to the N of Lake Gormire, led to 3 flights exceeding 30 minutes but none over an hour. Steve Ogden in his Discus had 40 minutes very slowly descending from 1100' to 900' QFE, in front of the Main Bowl, but including a 100' climb at one point, while Clive Swain/Yuri Kovhevrov had 34 minutes in K21 JVZ off the first flight of the day, this included a climb from 1100' to 1700' QFE that started just to the N of Lake Gormire. Clive and Yuri also managed to maintain their release height for a while in the same area in their 27 minute flight in JVZ off the last flight of the day, while the day's 3 First Flight pupils all had 20 minute flights.
Saturday 23rd, A forecast of snow and strong winds due to the approach of Storm Bert, led to Saturday's flying being scrubbed on Friday and the forecast proved to be correct with heavy snow from early morning, this turning to rain as the day progressed, the wind peaking with 40 kt gusts in the morning before slowly decreasing.
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.