Members' area

With a super day forecast and many people planning tasks, duration and other badge claims, the kit was out and a full grid of gliders were ready for launching by 9am. Yours truly and Lesley Waters did the first launch in the PW6 about 9.30 with lift already starting, so after landing we reported back and set off on a second flight where we managed 30mins before coming back for the next club member. Thereafter a series of club and private owners all started launching with the local area quite a busy place for a bit.

Member unity and cooperation throughout the day with good organisation from our launchmasters and some excellent winching got all gliders off, and with good conditions all gliders seemed to manage to stay up and do some successful flights - check out the Ladder for who did what, but suffice to say there was beer bought afterwards with everyone back and I think no landouts too.

All in all a Super Sunday.

The day started with 1000ft cloudbases, and a light westerly wind. The winds became southerly with clear skies and broken blue thermals. Mid afternoon a wave rotor set up over the field and the winds steadily freshened to about a5 knots westerly. A strange mixture.

Andrew Bolton went off solo during the light wind part of the day. Well done to him, Andrew an ex RAF warrant officer, has been on a number of training courses over a number of years. He now plans to return and complete his licence training.

Alan Thomas solo in the K13 for the first time and ready to move to the K8.

Chris Godding is now an unprompted pilot after just one week.

David Hart spent the day familiarising himself with the operational systems.

David Chapman appeared during the day to fly his recently re-weighed Astir.

Thanks Chris Power who relieved David on the winch so David could take a much deserved afternoon off.

The picture shows Andrew Bolton, me, Alan Thomas, Chris Godding and David Hart.

By 8.30 Mike Oliver is already rigged at the launch point. Before too long the grid starts to fill in anticipation of a good day.

Thermal activity was not quite as good as the predictions but a good time was had by all.

One land out and one land in---a Nympsfield pilot dropped in for a relaunch.

We welcome another new visitor from South Devon, David Hart.

Well done to Alan Thomas for his resolo today.

The day was finished off with a communal Chinese "hotch potch" dinner. Oh yes and a few beers.

Thanks to Dave, the bus has a new steering wheel. The new one is actually circular---how unusual is that. Chris Power is seen putting the final touches to the temporary windscreen.

The hangar opened at 8.30, and launching started soon after that.

A club day, members were treated to 6 knot plus climbs to 4000ft agl. Pat and Roger kept the club members flying with the DG500 and K13.

The course started with a series of launch failures, thank heavens for the tow out gear, and ended with some great soaring flights.

Some latecomers to the field arrived from the Southwest (Cornwall etc) enjoyed some great soaring and then had a beer or two with us in the bar. Welcome Alan, Roger and Mike.

Unexpectedly Gerald decided to push in and start driving the winch----watch out Dave he might take over!

Winds gusting up to 40 knots, but at least it stopped raining.

The course had classroom briefings until we thought some simulator flying would be a lot more fun.

Davids friend Gerald was consulted and, according to David, Gerald was against the idea of flying---it rather looks like he has personal experience of flight in strong winds. I think David just made that up.

We all look forward to a good day tomorrow. Form an orderly queue outside the hangar at 8.30.

Andrew Bolton and Chris Godding joined us today for the first day of course no 10.

Fresh winds straight down the runway and some huge showers made the day "sporting".

With just 2 on the course for the first 2 days, we were grateful to Chris Power who lent a hand while the course members learnt the procedures.

Eventually the winds reached 35 knots, by which time the PW6 was safely back in the hangar.

The weather is related to the position of the jetstream, even Gerald the crow stayed in the dry. Clever bird.

A chocolate gateaux and briefing tempted us back into the warm and dry.

The day started with rain, followed by heavy rain followed by drizzle.

So what better subject for the classroom than weather. I am pleased to say the Lasham cadets and course guys managed to stay awake throughout, and managed to ask sensible questions.

The sounding below says it all.

We took the aircraft out to the launch point and managed a few circuits in a sporting crosswind before going back to the warmth of the clubroom.

Davids new friend "Gerald" has taken an active interest in the gliding activities. I am hoping we might get some free consultancy, he seems to have fairly low maintenance costs--- a few scraps of Daves dinner seems to suffice. it is good to think Dave isnt all alone at the winch.

Gerald is pictured on the tow out truck--- a bit scruffy so fits in well.

Stronger winds forecast. 270/20. So it was off to the short runway.

Andy Smith set off to the west early on, and his trailer was seen setting off in the same direction some time later in the evening.

The duo discus set off to the west in search of the wave reported over Wales.

The day became extremely good for soaring, Callum from Lasham achieved his silver height---well done to him.

With some slick groundhandling, we had a very good day, with a few minor stoppages to let the grass collection gang pass through.

The day team handed over to the evening group who treated a group of Scouts to flight experiences.

Meanwhile Debs cooked us all a magnificent chicken pie, the clubroom went very quiet as we all tucked in.

Fingers crossed for a decent day tomorrow.

The photos show the Lasham group and the Cotswold gliding course members. The photos show the key briefing points for the day.

Club day today. Surprisingly good soaring.

The Lasham cadets managed a number of firsts, including 2 soaring flights of over an hour for the cross country endorsement. Lesley took this picture of a Piper Lance about to depart with one of the cadets. Mike took 2 cadets on cross country experience flights in the Arcus.

All the course members managed soaring flights, climbs around 6 knots at times.

It was good to see the keen midweek flyers helping to unpack the hangar at 8.30, they obviously knew about the weather.

Flying stopped around 5 pm when the winds freshened and a new weather system arrived.

lets hope for another good day tomorrow.

Tom and his gang carried on with the work required to refit the bus windscreen.

Another busy day and turned out to be surprisingly soarable. The Lasham cadets did another great job helping to keep the field operating.

Mike pulled the Arcus out to give the lasham cadets a new flying experience.

The sportability group managed 11 introductory flight experiences and the course enjoyed another good days flying.

In the evening a scout troop were shown the fun of flying as they flew into a great summery evening.

The arrival of 2 helicopters including the Harrods helicopter added some additional interest to the day.

Vernon a course member is shown getting a pre flight briefing. David took a great picture of Harrods helicopter landing. And the sportability group are seen chatting in the sunshine while waiting to fly.