2025 Spring Week at Denbigh
With the anticipation of some great flying there’s always an air of expectation as we prepare for a week at Lleweni Parc, the home of Denbigh Gliding, regarded as one of the best soaring sites in the UK. With the Clwydian Range of hills and ridges to the East, Snowdonia to the West and the Welsh Coast to the North, Lllweni Parc has always been a firm club favourite.
Lleweni Parc is known not just for wave soaring but, dependent upon conditions, also produces ridge and thermal lift.
We took four aircraft for this year’s Spring Exped. Alan had flown over from the US to join us and the aircraft were boxed, including Alan’s DG400 (KESS), and travelled up from Shawbury on Sunday.
Monday and Tuesday were occupied with rigging and check flights and it was on a check flight that the grip on the front stick of R2 was found to have been damaged and the repaired. It took most of Wednesday morning to fix, with many thanks to Ian for collecting new parts from NavBoys and leading on the in-field rectification.
Whilst repairs were underway Geoff M took the opportunity to take his biennial TMG checks with Chris Gill, a flight which took in the views around Yr Wyddfa.
With repairs to R2 complete, Wednesday saw the skies brighten and this enabled both Geoff C and #vulcanbomber to take their first flights in the club DuoDiscus. Richard enjoyed the best trip toward the end of the day, getting into weak wave over Denbigh.
Alan fired up KESS, enjoying the longest trip on Wednesday.
Conditions improved as the week went on with some fantastic wave and ridge soaring. Everyone got a trip to at least 10,000ft with Ian claiming top dog with a climb to 15,000ft
As always, some stunning views.
Richard also took the opportunity to take his first trip in a DG1000 with Chris Gill.
Mike O worked at Lleweni Parc for many years and his local knowledge is invaluable. Sadly, in the first part of the week Mike O was feeling under the weather (in A Failed State!)……
……but had recovered to take a long trip on Thursday when the ridge was working well.
Another great exped and just a shame that our young MEF gliding bursary students could not take time off to enjoy some fantastic flying in North Wales.
