Tuesday 14th to /Friday 17th April 2026
Posted: 18/04/2026 20:54
Tuesday 14th. A moderate SSE'ly blew all day, with increasing cloudiness as the day progressed and a few showers developing. Thermal activity was generally weak, with peak average climb rates around 2 kts and with cloud base at 3,500' asl, most of the 24 ATs off runway 20 stayed local, with the area over the gulley adjacent to the east of the site being a regular source of lift. As a result, there were 8 flights of over 30 minutes, but only one of over an hour. This was by Steve Thompson in his Ventus bt who declared the local 100km Pocklington/Rufforth triangle and got as far a Rufforth where a shower meant he had to resort to his engine. Steve provided the following photo of Kirkham Priory.
Flying continued until around 2030 hrs as the Tuesday evening group took over operation. Ian Miskin added another 45 solo minutes to his log book while flying Astir DPO, while Andreas Rieder/Neil Armstrong had 42 minutes in K21 KLW. The day's flying also included one for a First Flight pupil and 4 flights in the Falke, 3 of which were repeated circuits with the other including visits to Helmsley and Topcliffe
Wednesday 15th. A forecast of low cloud, fresh S'ly winds and spells of rain led to the day being scrubbed.
Thursday 16th. A moderate WSW/SW'ly blew all day, so it was winching as the launch method of choice off runway 24, with 12 flown, including 5 by private owners. Hill, thermal and wave lift were utilised with some moderate XC's flown, 8 of the day's flights exceeding 30 minutes with 3 of these over an hour. The wave flying pilots comprised Fred Brown in his Ventus ct, Dean Crosby in his LS10t and Clive Swain in his Kestrel 19, all contacting wave over or a little way to the SW of site and climbing over their initial contact points to 13,800' asl, 11,100' asl and 8,100' asl respectively. Fred and Dean used their altitude to explore off to the west, with Fred flying 140 OLC km while visiting at or near Ripon, Masham and the area between Leyburn and Aysgarth before returning to site via Ripon. Dean flew 191 OLC km while visiting areas near Ripon, Kettlewell, back to Ripon and Thirsk before venturing halfway to Tontine and a little way south of site and then landing. Clive remained local in his 5:13 flight, mainly using thermal, with cloud base around 4,000' asl and moderate thermal strengths, while a mix of thermal and hill lift on the home bowl was the norm for the rest of the soaring flights. The other pilots to have over an hour were Andrew Wilmot in his ASW19 with 2:18 and Andreas Rieder/James Wray with 1:07 in K21 KLW, with Andrew using a mix of thermal and hill lift and Andreas/James principally thermal.
Friday 17th. Lowering cloud in advance of a cold front which brought a brief spell of rain around 1700 hrs and a moderate to fresh SSE'ly that veered to become SSW'ly, meant it was a non flying day.
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