Flying Report Sun 6 Oct 24

It’s becoming clearer that without the Vicar, whose away in warmer climes, there is no one praying hard enough for good weather.  And so it was that with rain and low cloud today’s flying was scrubbed at 1430.

On the brighter side there was plenty of cake courtesy of our aerobatics champ Laura and Mrs #vulcanbomber, a choice of rock cakes, cakes which Nick unkindly said would have survived a winch launch, or Lemon Drizzle cake.  A vital part of any flying day and both equally delicious with many thanks to all our cake makers.

Aware of the low cloud and rain in the forecast, we got Harri, one of our Go-Solo students away early in WG with Colin for some circuit practice whilst we set up the launch point on r’way 18. 

With just two K21s out the plan was to give our students priority and then fit members in and around them and our BI due later in the day.  It’s great to see that both Harri and Shawbury based Jed are making good progress with their flying, 

The morning session saw launch heights just reach 2,000ft but with the fast approaching front and rain, flying ceased after 6 launches.

By the time flying resumed after a 90 minute rain break the cloud base was rapidly reducing, as were launch heights.

During the break our BI, Evie, had arrived for her flight, a 16th birthday treat.  Evi took a launch with Laura but only achieved a launch height of 900ft.  So as not to disappoint Evie who is an Air Cadet, we decided to fly her in WG with the other more senior Air Cadet, Colin.  They could at least achieve a couple of circuits despite the low cloud base.  We hope we have sown the idea of gliding to Evie

With cloud base around 800ft and more rain on the horizon we drew stumps at 1430 – even the local pumpkin pickers were amazed that we were still flying -

With thanks to pumpkin picker Steve Bishop

……but not before Ian in WG had followed #vulcanbomber #chickenshack through the cloud to make sure that he could find the way back to Shawbury this time!!

Having put the fleet to bed, we repaired to the club room for some after-flying banter.  Geoff M produce a book, “The Ladybird Book of Toilets and other Airfield Buildings of the 2nd World War” from which we learnt, amongst other things……….

  • On one airfield there were two toilets stacked one upon the other.  The upper one for Officers and the lower one for….

  • At Shawbury there was a naval commander who was piped to the loo.

  • At High Ercall there was a toilet on the relief (geddit🤣🤣) landing ground that was strafed by the Luftwaffe whilst it was occupied! The only casualties were a couple of overturned stools ((geddit🤣🤣) in the nearby NAFFI!!

Enough mindless tattle.

Club News:

R2 will be positioned at Lleweni Parc 11th to the 29th of November.  Norm Potts will be the point of contact for its use. For those on GoSolo, you may use your monies for Soaring Fees. However, the launch fee will be payable to Lleweni GC.  This is an excellent opportunity to fly in Wave and make use of our new glider.

The KE flying week at Sleap will take place in November. More details and dates to follow. Toby is the contact.

The club is proactively working with the station towards continuing ops whilst the runway resurfacing is in progress

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Bronze for Jack. Flying Report Sun 13 Oct 24

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Flying Report Sun 29 Sep 24