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2018 Flying Season Starts

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Two weeks into the New Year and three weeks since we last operated the airfield at Snitterfield, we are flying again at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.

The weather towards the very end of 2017 was unkind and our airfield became water-logged meaning we were unable to launch from our grass.

Finally, on Saturday we were able to find sufficient dry areas to set up a workable field with the launchpoint at the western end. Although pretty chilly and with only moderate but VFR visibility, a decent turnout of members, all keen to fly managed a tentative first 21 launches.

Sunday saw a similarly good turnout of eager members who operated from the same dry areas of the field in similar although less windy conditions. The landing areas were marked out with sheeting and what may be the first valid use of hi-vis workwear on a glider field 😉

2018-season-startDespite having to operate from the far end, single cable operations and only three gliders in use (two 2-seaters + the Junior), the Sunday crew managed a stonking 40 launches including aerobatic flights and mandatory precision landings.

Well done to Bob who made his conversion to the K13 (yes, really) on Sunday and thanks to all the members who made on-the-spot surface repairs to the field and put effort into cleaning the (relatively un-muddied) aircraft after flying.

As flying and field conditions hopefully become suitable, we look forward to being able to resume visitor flying.

Our 2018 Flying Season has finally begun.

Flying Report 5/12/17

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We had a good day today with the wind as expected from S.W. to West and just enough to give us launches to 1700′. It stayed dry all day with a cloudbase of around 3000′.

Unfortunately we did not get much sun but it was nice when it occasionally did show itself. The visibility was however very good, not only could we see Bredon Hill and the Malverns very clearly you could also see the Black Mountains in south Wales !

We started to fly nice and early and it was just as well we did as the winch had a wrap up later in the afternoon which took a long time to clear. Many thanks to those who stopped behind to make sure it was all clear and repaired for the weekend. It did take a long time and it was dark before the winch came back to be put away.

There were 2 flights of note, both in the Junior.

Statistics………………………

Total Launches……………………..20

Total Flight Time……………………2 hrs. 34mins.

Longest Flights……………………..13mins. Well Done to Dave C. closely followed by Bob H. who had 11mins.

Average Flight Time………………..7 mins.

Thanks to Tony P. for running the day and getting us going early, it really pays off when the days are short.

Steve P.

Flying Report Tuesday 28/11/17

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We had a great day today and the weather was very kind to us. The wind was just as expected with a gentle WNW. first thing and then slowly veering to the North West during the day. It did increase to around 15kts but was never a problem so we were able to operate from outside the clubhouse all day.

Early on there was some cloud about and we could see showers out to the West and to the North but it soon cleared to a beautiful blue sky autumn day. We stopped for lunch as Charlie unexpectedly brought one of his delicious curries, it was as always “Delicious” thanks Charlie.

There were plenty of members there and we were kept busy all day, we stayed dry all day and although it did cloud over a little around lunch time by the time we had finished lunch it was a blue sky again and so it stayed for the rest of the day. We had no problems with the canopies misting and as we were landing on 33 even the low sun was not a problem, so we flew until the sun went down. Great day and well worth the effort.

Statistics……………

Total Launches……………….23.
Total Flight Time………………3 hrs. 6 mins.
Average Flight Time…………8 mins.
Longest Flight…………………18 min. Very well done to John H. in the Junior, an exceptional flight in very light conditions. Well ahead of everyone else.

Steve P.

Sunday 26/11/17 – Wave Contact at Snitterfield

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Sunday was a really chilly and frosted start but we had a solid turn out of members. The airfield was set-up up for operations by 0910 and we were briefing by 0930.

We had to wait a short while after briefing for misted aircraft canopies to clear but we were soon flying. The whole fleet was flying and we rigged K-21 G-CGAG as it completed it’s ARC maintenance.

Despite the Met Office F214 showing strong upper winds, there was no MTW forecast on the F215 for our area. After a blue start, there was a gradual procession of lenticular clouds towards us from the welsh mountains and by mid-afternoon, some gliders had contacted weak wave conditions gaining small climbs. The longest flight was 22 minutes and the maximum launch height was available by winch due to the steady wind velocity.

We were lucky at the end of the day as the canopies remained clear allowing the last flight which was flown by our CFI who took a junior member along as a passenger to land about 10 minutes after local sunset.

49 launches in total at this time of year is not to be sniffed at! 😉

Flying Report Sat 11th / Sun 12th November

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Saturday’s forecast suggested it would be flyable after the clearance of a second front heading south. However, we were initially greeted by rain and low-cloud followed by low cloud that reported higher at met stations north of us and then, frustratingly lower.

We decided to hang on until after 1200 when the first front went by and somebody caught sight of just a bit of blue sky. The remaining band of willing pilots readied and launched the two-seaters just as the second front was passing. The second front was tame with a high-enough cloudbase and it couldn’t stop us as we provided training flights for our ab-initios and early solo students. Due to a short-ish flying list by the time we started, we were able to go round the list twice for instructional flying.

Sunday looked rather better forecast wise from the get-go although the wind promised a cross-field stiff blow. We set up on the south stub as early as we could and got to flying after our CFI Steve gave us a demo of parachute operation (using an expired chute) in the morning briefing.

It was really a bit parky and it paid to wrap up warm (or bag the job of driving the cable retrieve which has a good heater!) Some of our members appeared to go into their winter hibernation states at the launchpoint but we had enough heroes to keep the operation going. We made good enough progress that we were able to offer the student pilots extra flying towards the end of the day and the instructors put solid effort into making sure everyone was satisfied!

39 launches in all for Sunday.

Flying Report Sunday 15/10/17

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Sunday started out with a great forecast and nine-oktas of reality at the airfield.

There was a pretty huge turnout; one and a half pages of flying list with plenty of ab-initios. With the field set-up for flying by 0945, there was no hope of sending any body up the wire due to the lingering mist.

To pass the time, a willing group set about rigging the club’s SZD Junior single-seater which had just come back from it’s ARC. As we were rigging the Junior, a few glimmers of sunlight appeared although the local cloudbase seemed unwilling to go up.

Briefing an hour after the field was set up, still with unflyable cloudbase, we had a packed briefing room. We only just managed to find somewhere for our CFI to sit.

Packed Briefing Room

Packed Briefing Room

CFI gets pride of place

Post-briefing, we still had to wait for the cloudbase to lift, starting flying nearly 2 hours late. One of the first up the wire was Geoff test-flying the Junior followed by numerous training flights. Some of our solo pilots managed some local soaring in the single-seaters while both ab-initio and trial-lesson flying was carried out in the two seaters.

Busy Launchpoint

We noticed Ed getting some special attention from Barry K with simulated launch failures and sure enough, Ed was cleared for his first solo saiplane flight in K21 G-CGAG. Ed’s glider solo come one month after his daughter Emily flew her first solo at Stratford on Avon.

Into the evening, some of the solo pilots who had made way for ab-initios to fly earlier in the day doubled up in the two seaters to get their flying in under a reddening sunset caused by dust particles carried in the upper air-mass by a significant low/storm approaching Ireland.

Worn out instructor

Worn out instructor

K21 at sunset

K21 at sunset

Amazingly, despite the two-hour late start, we managed to get through 54 winch launches and there was still plenty of members and enthusiasm left at the end of the day to help with the hangar packing.

Well done everyone!

Ed flys his first glider solo at Stratford Gliding Club

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Congratulation to Ed who flew his first sailplane solo flight at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club on Sunday!

Ed who is an experienced PPL (powered aircraft) pilot flew his first glider solo in Stratford’s K21 training sailplane G-CGAG. Ed’s daughter Emily, acting as launchpoint controller launched him on his first glider solo and later met and congratulated him upon landing.

As the 2017 badge ladder is now closed, Ed has taken joint 1st on the 2018 badge ladder ranking with recent solo pilot Bob.

Ed was tested and authorised for his first sailplane solo by senior Stratford instructor Barry K who also authorised Ed’s daughter’s first solo flight last month.

Archie, Emily, Alistair & Bob solo the K21 at SoAGC

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Well done to Archie, Emily, Alistair and Bob who all solo’d in K21s at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club over a fantastic weekend of flying achievement.

Our junior sailplane pilots Archie, Emily & Alistair originally trained and flew their first solos in our vintage ‘wood’ K13 glider. The K21 type is their first, modern ‘glass’ (fibre-reinforced composite) two-seat trainer which they are now cleared to fly solo.

Next stop for them is our glass single-seater fleet, the Junior, Astir & LS4.

Bob also flew his first ever sailplane solo flight in Stratford’s K21 G-CGAG.

An honourable mention for Dave G who was also authorised solo on the K21 although he is already flying our glass single-seaters.

Many thanks to duty instructors Andy S on Saturday & Mike C on Sunday who flew the checkrides and authorised the new K21 pilots. Many thanks as well to all of the club members who turned up and helped make the weekend work.

Emily goes solo in a glider at the age of 14

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Junior glider pilot Emily flew her first solo glider flight from Stratford on Avon Gliding club last Sunday.

Emily, who is just 14 years old was met on landing and congratulated by her dad.

Emily has beaten her dad, also a pre-solo pilot and at Snitterfield and a qualified power pilot to the first glider solo goal. Hopefully this is a good sign of future family competition as they progress as glider pilots.

Stratford Full-Cat instructor Barry K put Emily through her paces with simulated launch failures and general handling tests before authorising her first solo flight.

Despite being late season, there was enough lift for a few thermal turns before returning to Snitterfield for a spot-landing parallel to the northerly cross-track.

Emily takes over from Ben as the youngest solo glider pilot at Snitterfield.