Thursday 15th to Saturday 17th February 2024
Posted: 17/02/2024 21:03
Thursday 15th. A cloudy, damp and moderate S'ly airstream kept the hangar doors closed.
Friday 16th. A light to moderate SW'ly blew under cloudy skies, the cloud base being initially low, but improved as the day progressed, the wind tending to veer into the W. 12 launches resulted, 8 via AT and 4 via the winch, all off runway 24. There was some soft hill lift that led to extended circuits in the main, but 3 flights exceeded 30 minutes, with one exceeding an hour. Steve Thompson in Astir DSU took the 1st launch of the day via the winch and flew for 48 minutes, maintaining 400-700' QFE in the main bowl, while later in the day, John Forrester, also in DSU took a high tow to the Dishforth area, but finding no lift, returned to site and soared the main bowl at 400-600' QFE before landing after 49 minutes. The attraction of Dishforth may have been the result of Colwin Darlow's earlier flight in his LS10t. Colwin, a visitor from Husbands Bosworth, released over the A19 at 3,400' asl and proceeded westwards, arriving over the East Coast Main Line at 3,300' asl. Finding no significant lift Colwin returned to Dalton, fired up his engine and flew west where, engine off, he climbed to 4,000' asl just to the E of Dishforth. Getting no higher, he returned to Sutton, arriving at the Main Bowl at 1100' QFE and slowly descended to 600' QFE before landing after 1:10. Flying came to an end around 1630 hrs, the last 2 flights, flown first by Tim Stanley followed by Bruce Grain, both in K21 JVZ, being for First Flight pupils.
Saturday 17th. A moderate SSE'ly blew all day, a decaying occluded front bringing drizzle and low cloud that enveloped the hill from around 0930 hrs and persisted thereafter, so there was no flying. A much more active front brought rain and strengthening winds after nightfall.
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.