Monday 21st to Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Posted: 23/10/2024 16:23
Monday 20th. Storm Ashley had transferred to the Norwegian Sea, leaving the site in a moderate SW'ly that produced some soaring opportunities, mainly via ridge lift but also by some weak thermal and wave. The day's launch total of 18 off runway 24 included 13 via the winch and 5 by AT, the latter including 4 for First Flight pupils, with 13 flights equalling or exceeding 30 minutes, including 8 of over an hour. 5 private owners launched in anticipation of finding wave, but 4 were unsuccessful, their subsequent soaring flights being mainly based on hill soaring with the main W'ly ridge soared as far north as Tontine as well as the forward ridge and peak altitudes of 2,500' to 3,500' asl reached as they searched for wave. The 4 comprised, Fred Brown in his Ventus 2ct, Dean Crosby in his LS10t, Martyn Johnson in his DG600 and Steve Codd in his Nimbus 2. The exception was Bob Calvert in his Discus 2ct who. after failing to contact wave in spite of using this engine and exploring favourite wave areas, returned to site and then contacted the wave, eventually climbing to 10,100' asl near Masham before returning to site via Tadcaster. Bob supplied the following photo from his flight.
The other > an hour pilots were Clive Swain/Mark James in K21 KLW, Ian McFarlane with one of the day's First Flight pupils in K21 JVZ and Neil Anderson in Astir DPO who all hill soared, Clive/Mark as far north as High Paradise Farm while Ian and Neil primarily used the main bowl with operating heights of 900-1300' QFE.
Tuesday 22nd. An establishing High Pressure system brought a day of hazy sunshine and a light to moderate W'ly than produced another soaring day, with 15 of the day's 21 launches exceeding 30 minutes, 8 of these being over an hour. Thermals and to a lesser degree the ridges were the main sources of lift, but it was Dean Crosby's turn in his LS10t to contact wave, eventually climbing to around 8,000' asl, although a lack of a trace means I have no further detail of his flight other than its 4:39 duration. This lack of a trace extended to many of the day's flights, including all the flights in K21's JVZ and KLW and those by private owner Martyn Johnson in his DG600 who soared for 3:19. Other > an hour pilots included John Ellis in his DG808 with 3:33, Neil Paveley in his Nimbus 2 with 3:35, Sam Batchelor and Rob Bailey in the Discus with 2:00 and 1:00 respectively and Bruce Grain, first with Phil Alexander, 1:06 and then with Tor Tavenver, 1:02 both flights in K21 KLW. The limited trace data indicated that thermals in the local area were the main source of lift, with average peak rates around 2,5 kts and cloud base around 3,500' asl on a day when a further 4 First Flight pupils were flown.
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.