Boot Camp Day Two

The previous night I and a few others had set-up camp on the runway at Mendlesham. I didn't get the best night's sleep, but at least I didn't have the 120 mile drive to do! After an Olympic breakfast at the Little Thief [the named coined by certain club members] we were all fuelled for the day.

Tow 1

Somehow I was the first pilot to be ready - probably a factor of the Aeros Target being an easy glider to rig. The winch operators were keen to get winching, so I was quickly attached to the line and hauled into the sky. The flight was straight forward and the conditions hinted of a great day of flying! I was able to make use of some thermals to prolong my flight a little longer than normal and when I landed, I was instructed to go again! No-one else was quite ready and they desperately needed winch fodder!

Tow 2

My second flight of the day was almost a replay of the first but without as much thermal success. My landing was spot on [no pun intended] but wasn't close enough to the spot! I was now really hot and needed a rest. Fortunately a queue of helmets had now appeared as other pilots were now ready to be launched. I decided on a retreat to the shade for a drink and a cool off.

Tow 3

Now I would like to think I timed this perfectly. Keith had launched before me and was still in the sky when I launched. Other pilots were now consistently prolonging their flights with the increased thermal activity. The tow didn't feel particularly fast, but it was definitely thermic. At around 400ft, I felt my glider surge upward and with a muffled thud I felt the weak link snap. I glanced down to see the winch cable dropping away. I was high enough to do a 180, head back to launch and land so I turned to my right and it happened. My vario started beeping so I kept the turn going developing it into a 360. The vario continued to beep and the glider climbed upwards. This was it, that surge that lifted me and snapped the winch cable was the edge of a thermal and I'd turned directly into it when the weak link broke. It began to concentrate; this was my first proper thermal and I started to create a mental image of where the thermal might be. As I continued upward, the thermal ejected me in protest as if to tell me, it isn’t going to be that easy! It’s an interesting feeling but not a particularly pleasant sensation when you fall out of the side of a thermal, but I knew roughly where it was and with determination returned to it and continued my upward journey!

I worked the thermal as effectively as I could and knew that Keith was still flying somewhere nearby. After an initial scan of the sky, I spotted him some 200ft below headed for a landing. I continued to circle, occasionally popping in and out of lift, but still maintained a climb. Eventually I noticed I was getting close to the 1000ft radio mast. The wind had blown me with the thermal towards it! Damn, I had to leave the thermal and head back! After one final 360 I left the thermal and headed back to launch.

I returned to take-off but still had 500ft between me and the ground so turned to start losing height and with that, my vario beeped again! I had stumbled into another thermal and the whole process of circling and climbing started again. Eventually after some 20 minutes my luck came to an end and I was headed back for a landing. Once landed, I unclipped and walked back to the group of pilots waiting at launch. I had the biggest grin from ear to ear; this one flight had made my entire weekend! Another pilot came up to me and said that was very impressive for a Target; this further increased my grin!

Tow 4

My next flight didn't quite enjoy the success of my previous, I wasn't disappointed as I was able to prolong the flight a while with some small bits of lift I encountered.

Tow 5 - But Not Quite!

My fifth flight of the day didn't quite go to plan. I was ready to go, and when I instructed "All out!", I simply watched the cable in front of me tension, then drop to the ground. I wasn't pulled forward. Apparently that was the winch cable snapping somewhere [not the weak link but the steel cable!]. I thought to myself, I'm glad it happened then and not 15 seconds later! That little incident stopped winching for a while whilst the break was located and repaired.

Tow 6

After a break, I was ready for my final flight of the day. The weekend had been tiring and I wanted to be conscious enough for my 122 mile drive back later. A sea breeze had now developed which assisted in my achievement of 908ft off the tow! The rest of the flight was a gentle float back down where I landed, dropped my glider and began to pack up.

That concluded my flying for the weekend. I was completely flown out but had had a taste of thermic flying and I was now hooked! I just can't wait for my next one!