Sunday 18th May 2025
Posted: 19/05/2025 10:40
Sunday 17th. A low overcast brought in on a moderate N'ly persisted until the early afternoon but this didn't deter Bob Calvert in his Discus 2ct who took an early tow to 1,000' QFE and then contacted the wave by climbing through the cloud to reach 9,000' asl 5 km W of site and then setting off to the sunny skies to the W. Reaching clearly marked wave at Buckden, see photo below, Bob climbed to 10,000' asl before proceeding to Skelling Farm in the lee of Cross Fell and then returning to site having covered around 240 km in 4:43. The other photo below is of clear skies looking into the Lake District.
Bob's arrival back at site was followed an hour later by the first of 3 ATs off runway 02 into clearer skies with James Shaw in his Vega taking a high tow and contacting wave, climbing to 5,400' asl some 2.5 km to the S of site and then climbing to his maximum altitude of 6,000' asl in the Wass/Ampleforth area, landing after 1:29. He was followed by 2 flights in K21 JVZ, with Toby Wilson having a 29 minute flight with first Ian Walker, during which they maintained their launch height in weak wave while 3 km SSE of site, and then a 39 minute, thermal based flight with Ian Roberts. The day's flying was completed by Paul Whitehead/Adrian Flower who took the Falke for an O/R to Rufforth, completing a few touch and go landings there before returning to Sutton.
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.