Cold, wet, a changeable wind forcing a runway change and a low cloud-base were all challenges that were faced during the day.

A stuttering start that then made way for a full day’s flying to dusk.

2023 has been a great year for the club not just for success in getting our young service population flying through the Mechanics Endowment Fund (MEF) and Go-Solo funded programmes but also for the number of individual achievements by club members through the year.

We made the most of the perfect conditions today, a day of several firsts, following the run of recent bad weather.

We called it a day after just 2 launches.

Eventually, we found a forecast that showed some sort of promise.

…….then the mobile rang!

The weather conspired to defeat us yet again with just 3 launches completed before fine rain brought an end to proceedings.

It was super that club members old and new were able to gather to bid adieu to Alan Swan and Julie as they depart for the USA on the next chapter in their lives.

High winds stopped play after just one launch.

On 28 November Club Alan departs on posting for his final tour to pastures new. Well known in the wider gliding community Alan has been a long standing club member and has played a huge part in moving the club to its new home here at RAF Shawbury.

A cracking day out. Not a hint of lift but we achieved 28 launches and over 8 hours flying time.

After the excitement of a week away at Denbigh we gathered for morning briefing with bright skies over Shawbury, but it didn’t stay like that all day.

The weather has been at its frustrating best. Rain on Wednesday and benign conditions today.

Mixed weather in the first half of the week saw Sunday and Tuesday as the pick of the days on which to take advantage of the Wave conditions.

A dry and settled day with light variable winds. In the hazy sunshine it will feel warm with a max temp of c22°C.