Monday & Tuesday 4 & 5 May

Got back to LKSC on Monday morning - beautiful day for flying. Not many around for the fourth day of the 4 day weekend, but those that stayed were rewarded with an excellent soaring day.

Bill Shean has returned to the club and getting current again after a long break. Matthew Minter has been instructing, while I fly the tug. Its a nice change to be in the tug once in a while!

John Trezise flew in the Jantar and did the Manilla Gunnedah milk run. Geoff Pratt flew for miles again in his Pik (see OLC) and John Clark flew his DG 808 cross country somewhere. Mike Zupanc flew the Junior after replacing the tube in the tailwheel. Later in the afternoon, Matthew went up in the Grob with John Clark to do some filming of Todd in the LS7.  This happenned at dusk - it got too dark for filming, so it was decided to do  more filming at sunrise on Tuesday.

I don't do mornings very well, but managed to crawl out of bed at 5 O'clock and have the tug

 ready by 6 am. Then we waited - the sun had to come up more apparently. Eventually launched Todd in the LS7 at about 6.50, with John and Geralding Clark over near the Chalet with the cameras. He had to land out on the other side of the lake in order to get the required shots. Phil Anderton came out to tow him back (I'm still not paddock rated) but had an interesting time.  I had put the pitot cover back on the Tug after refuelling as I didn't think it would be flown for some hours, but poor Phil didn't see it. Then, having landed next to the glider, the crew hooked the rope to the glider, but forgot to hook it on to the tug!

After that bit of excitement, we tried to have a normal days flying, but glider pilots being glider pilots, it was like herding cats trying to get them all together to have a briefing. The siren appears not to be working. 

Ray Tilley came out to install a new instrument panel cover in the Jantar, but did not fly. He did however do a sterling job in rounding up all the "cats" for a briefing. John Clark flew his DG again, Geoff Pratt flew his Pik again, John Trezise did a lead and follow with Todd Clark. Mike Zupanc (from Boonah ) flew the LS6. It was a really good soaring day, with good cumulus. Geoff Pratt said he got 7300ft in the blue in his last thermal. Zupy said he got 4 kts after 4 pm.

Bill Shean continued his (re)training with Matthew, last flight was at dusk. So as one of the pilots commented, I was flying the tug from Dawn to Dusk!

Blipmaps seem to have been quite accurate for the last couple of days - if the trend continues, it should be another good day tomorrow.