Tuesday was a miserable day with low cloud and rain, but a couple of hardy souls took to the air. Allan Buttenshaw got current again after not flying a glider for over a year. There was no task in the regatta.
On Wednesday the sun started shining again, and everyone was much more optimistic. Unfortunatel we were unable to Brad Edward's Pawnee, as there was an excessive maggie drop. Juho cleaned all the plugs and got it running properly again, but too late to launch the field. However we were able to launch the field quite fast with the Callair using two ropes and hooking on at the tug end instead of the glider end.
John McLeod flew in the Grob with John Hoye - sometimes I think you can have any name in our club as long as it's John! Unfortunately they landed out at Rangarai, and it was unsuitable for an aerotow. Robin and Graham Holland went to the rescue.
The rest of the field had quite a good day, although it was not easy by any means. Better conditions prevailed to the west where there had not been so much rain.
On Thursday we rigged the Grob again, but no takers to fly it. Conditions were a bit stable, but a task was called, and most finished. One outlanding - retrieved by aerotow this time.
Friday we had a good forecast and Garry Speight came out to fly. Task was Barraba, Edgeroi Mullaley with largish circles around them. Good clouds but apparently some cirrus to the west put a dampener on things. Two outlandings - no problems. Jay Anderson was retrieved from a paddock so enormous he didnt even have to push the glider back to the edge. Robin had a trailer retrieve - so many went that there was almost no room in his car for him! Must be because he has rescued so many others this summer. I was able to co-ordinate the retrieves from the back seat of the Grob, while John Patton flew it!
After flying everyone went to Bob Dirks house for a barbecue and game of croquet. Thousand thanks to Bob and Jan for their hospitality. Good fun for everyone!
Juho will be leaving us to return to Europe after this weekend - we will be really sorry to see him go. Our tug has never been so clean and shiny before - he has really looked after it well. He is threatening to come back again - but to fly gliders next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment