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31st May

Nice view from above the clouds.

14th May

Another of our pilots gets to practice a real field landing for the first time. Only 20 miles away so not too far for a crew and the trailer to drive and pick up glider and pilot.

Saturday 10th May

The best day of the year so far. Lots of long flights and congratulations to Jonathan and Dan for flying 300km tasks to achieve their Gold Distance. The club's new Sprot Vega gets a wash before being put away in the hangar.

4th May

Interesting cross country day in which 2 of our younger members landed out in the same field.

28nd April - 2nd May

The club held a Task Week which turned out to be mostly in the "Blue". (No cumulus) Tasks were still set by Andy and everyone had a good week with many people who're new to cross country flying getting some really useful experience. Andy says: "Thanks to all who took part in the club task weekand helped to make it fun, including the weather gods! We had about a dozen gliders over the 5 days so roughly 60 aerotows. Without Heggie and Robin flying the tugs, Jackie logging and launching it wouldn't have been possible. Only 2 landouts on the last day when we had to start at 2,500ft to reach the good conditions at Rivar Hill.

26th & 27th April - An excellent weekend!

Saturday dawned early for our visitors from Loughborough University with first launch at 6.59am despite the murk. The day then ignored the forecast and continued to brighten with a very busy airfield all day and last launch being around 7pm.

The club took part in its first Women's Go Gliding event and we had fourteen visits arrive on Saturday morning. Ava gave an inspiring presentation before they took a tour of the hangar and then venturing to the launch. Only five decided to fly with us but they all had a good day and the smiles on the faces of those that did fly said it all. One joined immediately and we expect more new members fairly quickly. Many thanks to all those who assisted with the event.

Sunday was busy but for a different reason and saw our first proper weekend XC grid of the year. A good number of private members were out tasking out towards Cambridgeshire. A number of 300km flights were logged. Locally there were some good soaring flights too. Heggie was kept busy in the tug with 23 tows for the day.

Thank you everyone for making the weekend such an enjoyable success.

Easter Bank Holiday

Friday was unfortunately washed out with rain most of the day. Some good flying on Saturday from runway 08 (new designation for 09 due to change in magnetic variation over the years) after some worthwhile ground school lectures while waiting for the weather to clear. Our new winch master was running training for upcoming winch drivers all day. On Sunday we were operating on 08 again with more winch training done; some winter refreshers polished off; guests from Saltby who were ever helpful on the field and type conversions to Perkoz, Vega and PW5. On Monday our visitors from Loughborough University had their first full day with us. More winch training included the visitors so that they can operate independently during the week. A mixed weekend but a lot of fun.

Saturday 12th April

Thanks everyone for a great day and bearing with us whilst we slotted in 8 trial lessons. Garry Hume won the longest flight with just under 2 hours in his DG with many others nailing their crosswind take offs and landings today.

Sunday 6th April

One of our members headed for wave above Talgarth in his Pik20. (With engine) "Arriving there lift was hard to find and Talgarth visitors were landing back. Solved that by going 6km south along a valley with a big hill to windward and three smaller ones on the downwind side. That kicked the wave up and the climb went from 0.6 to 6knots. Stopping the climb at the airway I headed back home into 25 knots of wind but a good final glide to Nympsfield. It was more marginal for Aston Down than I liked so near NYM a minute of engine got me a few more feet and comfortably home. It was pleasantly warm up there - and a lot of fun."

Sunday 30th March

Another cross-wind day. We set up on runway 03 but it was quite clear that we should be on 27 so only 2 launches were done on 03 and then we were OK for rest of the day. Lots of quite demanding flying in the strong wind but it was thermic and 2 of our intrepid solo pilots took their gliders on extended flights with one getting into some wave to 5k. The VEGA welcomed a couple more club members to become converted to her ways. Good breezy day, no rain, not much cloud.

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