After the excitement of last week’s BBC filming, normal service was resumed with another weather interrupted day.

The club took part in FIT4life held in the Gymnasium, and home of the RAF School of Physical Training at RAF Cosford.

Today, with a fast-approaching front there, was just time to get all our MEF students into the air before light drizzle and a 900ft cloud base brought an end to flying at 13:00.

It was the Wave bars that captured everyones’ attention, with over 13 hours of flying time and everyone getting a great trip.

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.