Rain stopped play with the last launch at 12:50 but not before we had achieved a number of objectives for the day. Wall-to-wall sunshine greeted us as we set up but from 2,000ft the early launchers could see the front approaching, albeit slowly.

We welcomed, for their first visit, Noah and Alasdair both of whom are on the MEF programme. Our priority was to get them flying and they managed 3 launches each in R35, the dedicated MEF aircraft. Thanks for mucking in guys and we look forward to watching your progress.

The next priority was continuity training in R38 for Will Dean, in the capable hands of Simon Adlard, and it’s good to see Will making progress on his way to becoming our next ½ Cat. Despite the inflight reports on the approaching rain they managed to get to 5,000ft and from the ground we watched with interest their downward progress through various exercises including, inter-alia, recognition of wing drop in a steep turn/thermal and effect of the rudder near the stall.

With sky clagging over there was just enough time to get everyone a trip with the exception of the late comers.

One of those who missed out was The Vicar who turned up too late for his own flight, however, he had played a blinder. Taking divine inspiration and a forecast from another source…..