Thursday 3rd to Tuesday 8th December 2020
Posted: 09/12/2020 14:38
Thursday 3rd. With low pressure centered over the UK, it was a day of low cloud and rain at low levels and snow for a time at site, some 6.1 mm of rain being recorded. The light to moderate SE'ly slowly backed into the ENE but the conditions meant there was no flying.
Friday 4th. The low pressure was still in charge, a reading of 968 mb being recorded at RAF Topcliffe. More rain/snow and low cloud meant another non-flying day as a light to moderate and cold NNW'ly blew.
Saturday 5th. An intially light to moderate E'ly that backed into the N meant operations off runway 02 with intial landings on 06. 12 ATs were flown with K21 KLW, the Discus and the Astir being utilised. In the absence of any significant lift extended circuits were the order of the day with only 5 fights exceeding 20 minutes and non 30. Darren Lodge, taking the second launch of the day in the Discus topped the list with 28 minutes, with Fred Brown having two 21 minute flights in KLW, first with Toner Altman and then with Mark Newburn. Mark later had a 22 minute flight in the Astir with Toby Wilson having the same time in the Discus.
Sunday 6th. The wind reversed its movement on Saturday, going from being a light to moderate N'ly and then slowly backing to become E'ly and dying away almost entirely. Any decision on which runway to use was, however, not required as it rained on and off all day, depositing 6.9 mm of rain on an already wet airfield.
Monday 7th. A light to moderate NNW'ly blew all day but was accompanied by low cloud and a few isolated showers. The showers were not a problem but the persistent low cloud was, so much so that the only activity was a single flight by the Eurofox which confirmed cloud base at around 700'.
Tuesday 8th. A moderate ESE'ly blew all day and although the start of the morning was bright under a medium level overcast, cloud base soon lowered with rain from around 1230 hrs. The rain persisted for the rest of the day depositing another 6.3 mm by 2000 hrs, so there was no 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.