Friday was a blue sunny day, and after chasing 4 cows off the runway, I got the tug out and ready to fly. The wind was very light, and although the cumulus looked reasonable, there wasn't much lift about. Kurt did five solos in the Puchatek, the last of which we practised cruising level on aerotow.
Ray Tilley and Marga Tilley turned up in the afternoon, and Ray drilled a hole in the Junior to inspect a suspected crack that had been noticed in the form 2 inspection. It turned out that there was no crack, and the inspection hole will be repaired in due course, but it won't stop the glider from flying once we have the replacement trim spring.
On Saturday morning Craig Borchard came out to do some more training on the winch. We did the daily inspection of the glider and winch in thick fog, but it cleared up as predicted and became a nice sunny day.
Trevor West made a comeback, and after helping with the winch operation, lined up for an aerotow. John Stewart also made an appearance. Sam Clift came out to the club, and fixed the shade sail almost before anyone noticed he had arrived! He and Ray between them also replaced the bearings in the tailwheel of the Junior.
Craig had three winch launches with me, and Kurt Wiesman had two more solo launches. In very light conditions, Craig and I managed a launch to 1700 ft in the Puchatek. This winch launching really is OK! Craig was much more relaxed than last time, and his co-ordination much improved.
The Winch was put away at about 12.30 pm, and the operation changed from 14 to 32 and aerotowing, thanks to Geoff Neely who flew the tug. Geoff Sim offered me a lift back to Cowra in his Lancair departing at 1.30. We arrived at Cowra at 3.00pm despite having 15 to 20kt head wind at the height we were flying. That aeroplane is fast! Geoff Neely took over the running of the day, and also offered to look after the flying on Monday. Thanks Geoff, much appreciated.
I am planning to fly the Callair back to Lake Keepit on Monday weather permitting.
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