In between two fronts a calm descended on the airfield, cold, negligible wind, cloud base to 4,000ft; the perfect conditions to get airborne our young RAF Central Fund sponsored MEF gliding scholarship students. Signs of the phased works on the airfield hard surfaces are very evident, however, with loads of runway and acres of grass available it hasn’t been an impediment to flying.

To keep morale high, this week’s mouth-watering tasty treat, kindly provided by Mrs #vulcanbomber was a Victoria Sponge. It didn’t last long!

A busy day with both ASK21s and 2 tugs fully occupied. Ethan, Jed, Karina and Ronan are all at different stages of their MEF bursary programme and so make different demands upon their instructors. Suffice to say all are making super progress.

Highlight of the day was Jack completing his Bronze Badge. After a shakedown trip with Colin to blow away the cobwebs, a couple for flights with Ian with, of course, the unexpected launch failure confirmed all Jack’s had work had borne fruit. Congratulations Jack, top job and look forward to your next challenge.

Andy is also working towards his Bronze Badge and he too took a trip with Colin, the two Cadets in one ASK21😍

The MEF gliding scholarship makes provision for, inter-alia and in no particular order, 9 training flights (launch to 2000ft), 1 aerobatics experience flight (launch to 4000ft) and 60 minutes of flying training in a motor glider. This week Karina, on her 4th flight took her aerobatics trip with Ian driving the back seek.

Our BI for the day was another Ethan, whose dad is Shawbury based. We placed Ethan in the capable hands of Geoff M (#sagalout) for his trip. Great to see you Ethan and look forward to seeing you on another day when conditions are more favourable.

We are slowly getting into our stride with instructor conversion on our Duo-Discus R2. “Where’s the Duo?” said the CFI, “here Chief!” squeaked an ever eager and over excited Colin…..

Conversion to our newly arrived Duo-Discus (R2) is continuing with Will, Colin and Mike……

……from which we deduced that for conspicuity we need more of the red-flashing anti-collision lights for our fleet. In the hazy and dull conditions these lights were, at one stage, the only glimpse we got of R2 at High Key

Whilst the airfield works are becoming more evident, over the airfield boundary it was the noisy quad bike racers and the pumpkin pickers who caught our eye whilst in the circuit.