Sunday 11th to Thursday 15th December
Posted: 15/12/2016 11:47
Sunday 11th. The high pressure had strengthened slightly, providing a moderate W'ly to start the day, this slowly decreasing as the day progressed, medium to high cover persisting. Similar to Saturday, a combination of hill lift, variable at times, and wave meant it was an interesting flying day, the possibility of soaring leading to 22 ATs and 5 winch launches and the utilisation of all the club fleet with the exception of the Ka8. 4 flights exceeded an hour and an additional 7 thirty minutes as a further 6 Scouts and 3 First Flight pupils were flown, with the highest wave climb being reported as reaching around 8,000' asl. Steve Thompson was the only winch launched flight to exceed an hour, with 1:12 in Astir DPO, while from the same launch method, Roger Burghall in the Discus and John Marsh and Eddie Marsden in K21 KLW each had 33 minutes. AT'ing provided the other three flights of over an hour, Tony Drury having 1:20 in the DG303, Darren Lodge 1:14 in the same glider and Mark Newburn with 1 hr exactly in Astir KRN. Andy Hatfield, flying Scout H Elliot in the DG500, came close with 56 minutes and also contributed to the flights exceeding 30 minutes with another Scout, A Davison, with 38 minutes in the same glider. Graham Taylor had 42 minutes in Astir DPO, while Andy Evans and Nigel Burke, sharing a late flight in the DG1000, had 36 minutes during which time they climbed in wave to around 4,000' asl.
Monday 12th. A foggy, murky morning was followed by increasing low cloud and light rain as a moderate SE'ly blew, the combination of low cloud and rain preventing any flying except on the simulator. Here Alan Bateman and Robert Walker flew under the tutelage of John Carter.
Tuesday 13th. Another murky day with light rain at times as a blocking high over Scandinavia led to decaying Atlantic fronts fizzling out over the UK, the initially light S'ly wind increasing to moderate and backing into the ESE. With no real flying possible, it was back on the simulator again for those who flew it on Tuesday.
Wednesday 14th. A murky misty start to the day in the Vale of York eventually cleared to hazy sunshine as a light to moderate SE'ly blew, this slowly increasing during the day to become moderate. The moistness of this airstream led to the site remaining in orographic cloud all day so there was again no flying, with the main source of interest being a high temperature of 9.5 C at 0200 hrs, this declining thereafter to reach 7.6 C at 1800 hrs.
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.