Sunday 2nd to Wednesday 5th November 2025
Posted: 06/11/2025 16:46
Sunday 2nd. A generally cloudy day, but with some brighter periods as a light to moderate to moderate SW'ly blew, providing some weak lift in thermal, hill and patches of wave in the local area and stronger wave to the west. Consequently, the day's 22 ATs off runways 20 and 24, plus a self launch, resulted in 13 soaring flights of over 30 minutes, with 10 of these over an hour, 4 First Flight pupils were also flown. Bob Calvert in his Discus 2ct was the pilot to contact the stronger wave, getting a climb to 6,700' asl just to the N of Thirsk and then proceeding to the Yorkshire Dales, getting as far W as Brough, as far S as Pateley Bridge and as far N as Aysgarth, as well as oscillating between Harrogate and Catterick and visiting Ripon, Leeming and Boroughbridge to clock up 295 OLC km in his 5:19 flight which included an climb to 10,100' asl. Other pilot's wave flying was much more transient, Toby Wilson in his Standard Cirrus having a 500' climb near Easingwold, and Adam Sawer having a 1,200' climb in his ASW19 some 5 km to the SW of site, Weak thermal and hill lift provided most pilots with the means to soar, the home, main W'ly and Forward ridges being flown with maximum altitudes of of up to 3,800' asl and typical hill soaring heights of 900 - 1,500' QFE. Les Rayment bucked the local soaring trend somewhat by using thermal to get to just S of Leeming before reverting to hill soaring the local ridges. The day also saw a RF5 visit from Pocklington before returning there later in the day.
Monday 3rd. A mild and moist tropical maritime air mass brought in on a moderate SW'ly contained a lot of low cloud and bits and pieces of light rain and drizzle so there was no flying.
Tuesday 4th. With little change in the synoptic situation the low cloud and rain at times continued, albeit with a change to a moderate S'ly wind, so it was another non-flying day.
Wednesday 5th. The wind had become a moderate SSE/SE'ly, bringing a spell of rain in the morning and residual low cloud in the afternoon, the local temperature reaching 17C during a brighter interval around lunch time. This was. however, to brief to allow any flying.
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.