Tuesday 26 May

Thursday and Friday last week had rotten weather. Not much going on here. I went into Tamworth to get a few bits and pieces for the club.

Nick Singer, Dave Turner and Darian Thom turned up on Friday night to run the weekend operations. Wind was strong from the east on Saturday. I took off on runway 09 in the Jabiru and was airborne by the time I had crossed the main runway! There was lift and cloud streeting, but taking off would have been difficult for the gliders, and they elected not to fly. I had a good run home with a tail wind! Wind much lighter at Cowra.

Flew back on Monday morning - headwind this time, but otherwise straightforward. Thought there might be some weather associated with a front with a big band of cloud showing on the satellite photo, but it kind of fizzelled out up here at Keepit. 

Some cloud over Keepit burned off during the morning. Richard Fethers from Byron Bay club and Chris Bowman, last week's student were waiting for me, along with Geoff Neely towing and Matthew Minter who came out to help instruct.

Matthew took Chris in the Puchatek and I flew with Richard in the Grob. Richard is unusual in that he has only ever flown motor gliders - and has done quite a bit of flying in a motorised K21. He's here to get up to speed on aerotowing and get into a single seater for the first time.

The weather was very soarable with cloubase up around 6000ft. Richard had a good hour's familiarisation flight. Meanwhile Matthew was able to give Chris plenty of co-ordination practice. We managed to squeeze in two passenger flights - visitors from the caravan park. Then emergencies with Richard and circuits for Chris in the late afternoon. Followed by a sociable evening in the club house in front of a roaring fire, and dinner courtesy of Richard!

Tuesday was another good soaring day - John Hoye towing me instructing. Another couple of emergencies with Richard, then he went off in the Grob solo and didn't return for a couple of hours. Meanwhile Chris had a good soaring flight with me - learning to centre thermals with good success.  He's progressing rapidly.  Another visitor from the Caravan park - John flew him in the Grob and I towed. John said he was a natural! More circuits for Chris until the sun went down - absolutely amazing sky at sunset. We were luck today - the kangaroos didn't come out to play until after we had finished flying!

Great conditions for the time of year!