Well done to Peter C who flew his first cross-country flight on Saturday from Stratford on Avon Gliding Club at Snitterfield to Windrushers Gliding Club at Bicester!
The flight distance of 50km in Stratford’s Astir CS77 gives Peter his FAI Silver distance. The flight was flown on Saturday 26th which was say fairly tough local soaring conditions.
The only other Stratford glider to task on Saturday was Mike C who flew 203km in his LS10 (18m).
A truly busy day today at SoAGC!
With Andy B running the show, we had every club aircraft including G-CHXK plus a T21 in the air at the same time!
Many new visitors to Stratford were flown while some significant pilot development and goals were achieved.
Peter C and Kit B achieved their 2hr duration flights which are required for their Bronze cross-country endorsements. Peter’s endorsement is now complete and we are hoping there will be a suitable day in the remaining soaring conditions for him to complete his silver distance flight this year.
Phil C set off in Stratford’s new Astir CS77 G-FECO and made it down to Bicester for his Silver (50km) distance leg. Many thanks to the friendly folks at Windrushers GC and duty instructor AJ who let us derig ECO at the back of the their launchpoint.
We had a great day of flying today despite the early spreadout.
Every aircraft was out of the hangar and flying including our new Grob Astir CS 77 G-FECO. Those who have flown it have reported that they very much enjoyed it.
Brilliant achievements were also had by Keith L who reached Silver height (1000m height gain) and his two hour duration towards Bronze X/C.
Junior pilot Jesal P achieved his two hour duration flight with a brilliant bit a scratching in weak lift under heavy spread-out, needing to stay aloft until after 6pm.
Jesal P soaring towards his 2hr goal under heavy Spreadout.
Bristol Sid’s forecast for today matched up well with what we experienced in our area, particularly the arrival of the top-cover.
However, tasks were flown, the longest being by Mike C in his LS10 flying Snitterfield South West > Winchcombe > Calvert > Snitterfield South West for a 157.1km triangle at 82.2kph. http://www.bgaladder.co.uk/dscore.asp?FlightID=55215
Geoff B and one of Stratford’s newly cross-country endorsed Bronze C pilots, Phil S converted onto the club’s new LS4 G-DEMG.
We couldn’t get Phil out of it, he flew it a total of 5 times and enjoyed every minute of it.
Today turned out rather blue with few cumulus. Fairly fast climbs were coupled with equally fast and extensive sink later on.
Several pilots planned and launched on a 500km+ task. Snitterfield SW > Cambridge West > Great Malvern > Bedford Bridge > Snitterfield SW.
Mike C in an LS10, Barry & Barry in a Duo and visiting Jack T in an LS8 aborted the task at various stages but Stratford’s junior pilot Daniel Brown in a LAK 19 & Andy B in an LS8 continued round.
Andy came back first having reached all turn points and Daniel Brown struggled along the last leg to complete his first 500km task flight.
Andy B’s flight: http://www.bgaladder.co.uk/dscore.asp?FlightID=55080
Daniel Brown’s Flight: http://www.bgaladder.co.uk/dscore.asp?FlightID=55082
Well done to those who tried and those who succeeded!
Today’s flying was tricky. Climbs could be as fast as 10kts but we were chased back into the hangar and clubhouse by rain once, we got the aircraft back out after an hour and flew again.
A convective cloud-street finally chased us away after 5pm.
…and they wonder why British pilots are expert jenga players…
With the power out at Wootton Wawen, some pilots made their way to the Curry Republic at Henley in Arden to finish the day.
We made the right choice to fly on Monday and it was a good day with some excellent thermals. Unfortunately we were late starting for various reasons and the first launch was not until 11-11am.
We then had a problem with the winch which further delayed launching. After that the launches were to around 1650′ and we had some good flights. Most people managed to do well although a couple of the early flights were shorter. We had climbs to around 2500′ with good lift, the sun shone for most of the day until the well forecast front moved in around 2pm.
It was a shame we decided to fly at short notice as about half of our regulars were unable to make it. So we only had 12 members on the flying list but all managed to fly. The front put paid to a nice day and so we finished flying at 14-40pm. We had the first spots of rain half an hour later.
A nice day and well worth the effort, best average flight time this year and “we few” all had a good day.
Total Launches……………….14
Best Flight………………….46min. We had a limit of 45 so everyone could enjoy but also well done to Jesal with 41, John H. with 25 and Roger, Chris and David all with close to 20min.
Total Flight Time…………….4hr. 12min.
Average Flight Time…………..17min.
Steve P.
Wednesday was a good day for us with plenty of long flights. Although we did not get quite the sunshine we were expecting it was still a nice day with no rain. The wind stayed light and was generally from a westerly direction. The T21 came out but what was really nice to see was the K6 of Humph and David out for the first time this year. David and Humph both had good long flights and are well on their way to equalling last years total flight time in the K6.
It was a very busy day and we kept all the club gliders busy, we started flying at 10-30am and finished at 16.30pm by which time it was getting very cold !
Geoff G. and Allan W. had a great flight in the T21 of 40mins and we could only look up at them much much higher than us and wished we could be there with them. Bet it was really cold up there though.
Best flights were by Humph and David in the K6 of 55 and 52 min. respectively and best flight in a club glider was by George S. who had a brilliant 36 mins. in a K13.
Total Launches……………….32.
Total Flight Time…………….7 hr. 29 min.
Longest Flight……………….55min.
..
Average Flight Time…………..14 mins.
Good Flying, Good Company, Good Day.
Steve P.
Wednesday eventually turned out to be a good day for the time of year after a slow start because of fog and then poor visibility. We set up at the West end because of a N.E. breeze and so we were not ready to fly until around 10.30am but even then it looked like poor visibility and so we did not do the first launch until 11.45am.
Although it looked reasonable from the ground once in the air the visibility was still poor and so we stopped flying to take an early lunch in the hope it would improve over the next hour or so. We tried again at 13.15pm and things had improved considerably and so we continued.
By 13.40pm it was thermic and David C. was the first to spot them with a very good 37mins. in the K18. The thermals were weak but usable with climbs to around 2500′ and continued until about 16.30pm. when Ann P. with Pete F. managed 32min also climbing to 2500′.
It was really good to have Peter F. on site to help out for the day and we kept him very busy. It would have been difficult to get everyone flown without his help, as it was everyone flew and overall we had good day with plenty of sunshine and a gentle N.N.E. breeze giving us launches to around 1400′.
Considering how late we started we did a good number of launches and there were 6 long flights with everyone coming back to give others a chance to try their luck (or skill !). Our last launch was at 17.32pm, we certainly made the best of the day.
As always thanks to everyone who helped to make it a good day and apologies to those who had to wait until late in the afternoon to get a flight.
Total Launches………………23.
Total Flight Time……………5hr. 4min.
Longest Flights……………..38min. well done to John H. and Tony M. also well done to Dave C., Ann P., Steve C.and Phil P.with flights of 37, 32, 24, 23mins.
Average Flight Time………….14min.
Steve P.
Tuesday was a great day for us with wall to wall sunshine and a gentle North Westerly that stayed in the West for most of the day, only going around to the North East late in the afternoon.
We started to fly at 10:20 and finished at 17:37 with all 5 (+T21) aircraft in the air for most of the day. The thermals started just before 11am (well done to Alan B. for showing everyone else they had started and where they were). From then on it was really a case of landing just so everyone else could enjoy the conditions. There were 3 instructors on site and they were all kept very busy all day.
We had usable thermals until 16:40 although at times they were not as strong as earlier and as the sky went blue they were difficult to find.
To many good flights to mention them all but well done to Ken M. with 57min. in the K18, Tony M. with 54min. in the Junior and Humph with 53min. also in the K18. One pilot also went around a mini-task in the Junior – ed. Thanks to all the others who also cut their flights short so others could have a go. I think that in the end just about everyone had good long flights and we certainly all had a great day.
Total Launches…………………45.
Longest Flight……………………57min.
Total Flight Time……………….11 hrs. 35 min.
Average Flight Time………….15 min. First time this year it is in double figures and includes several S.C.B’s.
So without a doubt the best day of the year so far.
Steve P.