On Saturday morning, 12 July, Mike Rose persuaded me to have a flight in his PIK 20E - who was I to refuse? Ian Barraclough kindly offered to tow early in the morning because I had to drive back to Cowra that day. We had a problem getting the tug started in the frost, so Ian towed me in his own aeroplane MIE.
The PIK really feels like a fast machine, a delight to fly. Thank you so much Mike for the opportunity to fly it.
Robin has reported on the rest of that weekend's flying, pretty good by the sound of it. The tug started OK later on, and I think I have the technique sorted out for getting it going on a cold morning now.
Got back to the club on Monday, with Mosquito trailer in tow. Just had time to park and unhitch it before the heavens opened and it rained more or less for the rest of the day. Bruce and Matt Clark turned up for a short gettaway break in the evening.
Tuesday morning was very foggy, and Geoff Sim, on his way here by Lancair, had to stop at Mudgee and wait for a couple of hours before proceding. Tamworth and Gunnedah equally fogged in. We gave Geoff a call as soon as it started breaking up, and he arrived safely later on.
Once the fog lifted it was a nice day, and Bruce flew in the Grob for a couple of high tows, with young Matt. It was the first time I towed with the new mirror on the tug - its great.
On Wednesday, it was rather overcast, and felt completely flat and dead. Having been nagged by Matt, Bruce decided to take a launch anyway - a couple of sled runs he thought. He took a launch to 3000 ft and soared for nearly an hour - most unexpected! Just goes to show it can be worth taking a launch sometimes even if it looks no good.
It felt funny me towing and Bruce in the glider - its usually the other way about!
Pretty quiet on Thursday, but Steve Hedley and Ross Edwards turned up in the evening. Steve came to do some more electrical work on the new hangars, and they planned to derig the Nimbus and take to Camden for its form 2 at the end of the weekend.
On Friday some people turned up who had booked to do air experience flights on Saturday - the weather was fine, if windy, Steve Hedley was available to fly the glider, so we did them there and then. No time like the present. They were agreeable surprised to be able to fly straight away. Steve reported some signs of lift on the first flight he did, but nothing on the others. Had we started earlier it would probably have been quite good, and the clouds were looking good.
I was happy with those flights as it was the most crosswind I have ever towed in, and it went perfectly OK, and I managed to land smoothly and without ground looping! Perhaps I've got the hand of this after all..... Towing is fun!!!
On Saturday heaps of people turned up for John Hoyes social winching weekend - the weather on Saturday was beautiful, but I had to go to Cowra for the weekend again. It's a long drive - I'll be glad when I get my Jabiru going again. As it happened it was a good job I drove, as the weather on Sunday and Monday was not conducive for flying.
So that's the news so far. Lovely day again today, where are you all?
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