Yes, do you remember that thing we used to do ? Well today, Sunday 13th December, we actually managed not only to fly but to soar !
The day did not start well with Milfield lying in a pool of quite dense fog. When your blogger arrived the windsock could not be seen from the clubhouse. By the time Stuart had done a briefing it was starting to clear and we duly got a couple of gliders ready. With a forecast wind of SE, Stuart and your blogger thought there was a slight possibility of wave up the right hand side of the valley. Just before taking the first launch Stuart pointed out a slight bar down towards Wooler but I decided to try the top of the valley first. On the way there were patches where we climbed quite well (Ka21 behind the Pawnee) but it was quite rough. Pulling off at 2500' I wondered if 3000' might not have been better but, pushing forward through quite strong sink to the corner of the triangular wood and the valley running along to Goldscleugh, I reached lift which rapidly strengthened. Around 3500' the vario was showing 6.7kts but there was quite a small beat available. Having reported wave John Brown joined me and also climbed away in the Astir. Knowing others were waiting to fly I returned to the field after having reached 5800'. By this time both the Alliance and the DG were ready to launch and they, the Ka21 and a 2nd launch of the Astir all contacted wave. Stuart reached 6000' and, from 5 launches we flew over 6.5 hours, a wonderful change from the last couple of months !
Bill Brittain (checked by Robin) and Robin Johnson (checked by Colin) both completed bi-annual training flights of around an hour each in the Eurofox so, all in all a really good day.
