Fun in the Mud

Despite two failed attempts to fly on the South Downs, after a three month layoff I head back to Mendlesham to blow off the cobwebs and commit aviation! Due to the large nail stuck through my rear tyre, I had to detour for a fix before I arrived at Mendlesham.

At Mendlesham the sky was overcast and the top of the radio mast was obscured by low cloud. Winter had turned the runway into thick clumpy mud and as I rigged, I tried my best to keep my glider clean. I was soon ready for my first flight and with a good breeze blowing straight down the runway; take-off was achieved with one step!

My first tow seemed to go on forever and I released at 1,050 ft - just above the radio mast by my reckoning. From then it was a gentle boat around the sky in a vain attempt at finding a thermal [there must have been smoething around as the sky looked interesting]. Sadly it wasn't to be, so I headed back to launch, burned some height off with some 360's then landed in the muddiest bit of ground I could find! By the time I'd walked the short distance back to launch my shoes were 10 times heavier!

After Pete had a flight on my glider, I was ready for my second tow. The sky had now cleared considerably and I launched into a great big blue hole in the sky. The first 200 ft were pretty rough [probably due to all the moisture burning off], but thereafter it was a lovely smooth climb back to 1,050 ft.

After release I headed in a southerly direction but again didn't connect with anything. After I had slowly descended back to launch, I tried to land in a less muddy area. It turned out this was not possible, there was mud everywhere!

By my third launch the sun was low in the sky so I knew this would be my final flight. The wind had now dropped to almost nil and when the other pilots voiced their reluctance to launch, I jumped the queue and was off! The launch required a significant run on my part before I was airborne but thereafter I had a lovely smooth climb to a release height of 800 ft.

After release I turned back, pulled the bar back to my knees and the glider quickly accelerated. It wasn't long before I was back over the hanger where I spiralled down and landed… In mud of course!