13 Logbook 2007

Date

Pilot

From

Task or Route

T/O

Land

Time

Kms

Eng

IGC

OLC

Pics

22-Feb

O Binder

Ostheim

Local

11:15

11:37

0:22

0.11

C of A Test flight by Oliver Binder.

05-Apr

Rob

Dunstable

WAN-BIC-BLY

14:51

17:07

2:16

148

0.22

At last, back in the air. Blue day, low inversion but some surprisingly good thermals.

06-Apr

Steve

Dunstable

M4 O/R

14:10

16:34

2:24

139

0.10

07-Apr

Rob

Dunstable

LEZ-GAI-MAH-CHL-LEZ-HUS

11:17

17:30

6:13

604

0.10

Blipmaps suggested North and they were right, good conditions improving Northwards. Though CHL was weak having only become soarable an hour before.

08-Apr

Steve

Dunstable

LEZ-BRU-RAB-SUW

11:35

15:42

4:07

341

0.24

Declared Bovey Tracy o/r 500k, set off early and had to burn on downwind leg at Thame a/f. Poor conditions improved over the higher ground towards Marlborough, but gave up on Devon shortly after The Park. Trapped in the corner over Fairford, then north around Brize for an excellent run home.

09-Apr

Rob

Steve

Dunstable

LEZ-CHL-NEW-SIL

12:20

16:20

4:00

300

0.11

Very difficult over Cotswolds, weak and broken. Improved on 2nd leg to smooth 4kts with big clouds. Afte DID northbound almost 8/8ths. Nice climb nr Buckingham to FG.

11-Apr

Rob

R Broadbridge

Dunstable

LEZ-SHO-DUN-BRO-DUN

11:55

17:14

5:19

515

0.09

Nice day, smooth thermals to 5000 eventually, virtually no wind in the middle of a high. Initial 322 O/R at 114kph.

15-Apr

Steve

J Reed

Dunstable

BRY O/R

12:59

16:55

3:56

270

0.33

Glooky day, glide from LEZ to Calvert then weak thermals to1700', airfield hopped low BIC ENS LRS, eventually good climb north of LRS, low at Gt Malvern to good climb, turned Bromyard (goal was SHO) and poor run back after Gt Malvern to final burn at Edgehill.

17-Apr

Rob

Dunstable

WBS O/R

11:24

18:40

7:16

493

0.18

Potential cracker spoilt by cirrus, nvertheless decent flight to Yorkshire. Eventually found wave S of Leeds and climbed to 12900'. Lovely long final glide from Nottingham.

19-Apr

Rob

P Hunt

Dunstable

LEZ-OUN-WCB-NOS

13:59

17:49

3:50

310

0.11

Modest day with small cu at 4500, late starting.

21-Apr

100

Steve

M Newland-S

Dunstable

LEZ-RUS-NLE

12:56

16:46

3:50

249

0.11

Late start due hazy conditions, tiptoe to Rushden, then largely weak run to Cotswolds, abandoned the declared 330k around Northleach due topcover, and scuppered home.13's 100th flight.

25-Apr

101

Rob

Dunstable

OXF-CHL

14:41

17:44

3:03

214

0.14

Almost didn't fly due high cover. Not bad at all where the cirrus thinned out.

01-May

102

Rob

Dunstable

Aberporth

ABE-TAL-Snowdon-Irish Sea-Snowdon-Aberporth

08:17

18:26

10:09

609

0.36

Strong Easterly flow over UK, no cloud. Initial climb to glide onto Blorenge at Abergavenny. Not working! Lower winds bent around mts. Eventually got onto Black Mts and then picked up wave at Talgarth to 12000. Easy run across Wales to Cader Idris and Snowdon. Extraordinary clb over Snowdon to FL195.Flew to corner of UK/Irish airspace then back to Snowdon for top up and glide to Aberporth. Fantastic high altitude flight.

02-May

103

Rob

Aberporth

Dunstable

TAL-NYM-DUN

11:03

16:39

5:36

208

0.74

String of weak wave climbs along the S Wales hills. Best climb in the Cwm Du and over Talgarth to 9900. Glide out to Kemble, some cu but really scrappy climbs. Started engine at Swindon.

04-May

104

Steve

M Jenkins

Dunstable

LEZ-HUN-MAR-OXF

13:18

17:11

3:53

204

0.15

90 deg x/w take-off from W run, beautifully behaved. Strong Nly & weak low thermals, drifted us to Marlborough area. One engine burn got us out of the crud nr Wantage and then a patient (wot me?) push against the wind to get home.

08-May

105

Rob

Dunstable

LEZ-EDG-OLN-NOW

14:28

18:18

3:50

215

0.14

Very windy, small window within a melee of fronts. Run to BIC to start, with cb to 4500 at best. Hard earned but fun with two pilots.

17-May

106

Rob

Dunstable

Chinnor Ridge-ABG-WAN

15:12

18:43

3:31

140

0.28

Short flight within a front and then for a short time post front. Hill lift very weak and collapsed completely as clearance came.

19-May

107

Rob

Dunstable

Black Mts O/R

13:20

18:14

4:54

365

0.11

Very windy, 25kt flying wind. But nice street from launch took us to Abingdon w/o circling. Then nice cu with 4500 base, unusually good conditions stretched to Black Mts. Some showers N and S but central area remained good.

20-May

108

Steve

J Craig

Dunstable

LEZ-OSB-SHM

10:40

16:54

6:14

524

0.10

Assisted take-off req'd, but only because Rob stared at the windsock til it went the wrong way! Reasonable romp up to Lincs & back to about CHL, at which stage I was going to jack it in. After 10 mins, it cycled enough to encourage us south, although going west to SHM was difficult. Long glide in & out left me 1000 agl nr Keevil, after which some long glides & tetchy thermals stretched us home, no problem

22-May

109

Rob

P Watson

Dunstable

LEZ-SB1-ABN-NPT

12:59

17:53

4:54

327

0.11

Blue with 3000' lid then cu with 4500' base, inc to overcast under approaching front. Weak in/out of Saltby, blue S of Oxford. Corkscrew thermals today.

23-May

110

Steve

P Stammell

Dunstable

LEZ-North Norfolk Coast-MRM

10:28

16:51

6:23

380

0.13

Difficult day in which the clouds never delivered as promised. Rewarded by reaching the Cromer area, something of a sea breeze took us back West along the coast for some beautiful views, before a cautious return home.

24-May

111

Steve

Dunstable

LEZ-WIN-Colerne-GRW

10:50

17:36

6:46

450

0.12

Another nap-of-the-Earth sortie in 13. Cloudbase 2500-2800 QNH most of the time, got up to 3,400 once, I think. Several low points but at least the thermal structure was OK. Gave up going SW nr. Yeovilton as 2,200ASL (and falling) was a bit on the low side for the top of a thermal. Somehow managed 450Km

26-May

112

Steve

P Shrosbee

Dunstable

WNG-BI1-HUS-MAN-SIL

10:47

14:46

3:59

264

0.24

Took off under 8/8 at DUN towards a line of cu at BIC. Shut down at 3000' for a long glide & 1st climb of 4-6kts at BIC. Could have gone SW or NE & chose latter. Low at HusBos (of course) then streets on towards Peterborough, where top cover was killing convection. Ran back to Turweston & needed a burn at MK to get back in to DUN.

29-May

113

Steve

G Lynn

Dunstable

LEZ-WEG-LEZ

10:39

15:43

5:04

424

0.17

NEW 200km GOAL RECORD 131.87 KPH Took off from DUN with 2300' QNH cloudbase & showers to run away from. Improved at Oxford for a comfortable run to Somerset. Started at Wellington at 2pm, reasonable (not great) run home but enjoyed some deep 5kt climbs, spoiled by showers just after DID, needing a final top up just short of LEZ. Outcome awaited. Lovely company

02-Jun

114

Rob

Steve

Dunstable

LEZ-SIL-CBN-MTM-OXF

12:01

17:49

5:48

488

0.12

Flight without LX, hard work as were some of the thermals. A few hard to find good climbs and some nice runs. High cirrus persuaded us to cut short of last turn.

03-Jun

115

Steve

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

LEZ-EYE-NMT-MCH-NOS

11:26

16:09

4:43

321

0.13

Base on first leg came down from 4000' to 3000'. Going east, it went almost completely blue, necessitating a S'ly diversion. Scrappy thermals into NMT. Fortunately, March produced a save, before some long glides back to the cu S of Peterborough, giving a reasonable run home.

10-Jun

116

Steve

S Hill

Dunstable

WCO

12:30

14:36

2:06

0.19

Really rubbish, mostly below 1500'. Sorry for the e/g ratio as I had to take 2 extra burns. Happy holidays 13!

13-Jun

117

Rob

Dunstable

Ostheim

DUN-Dover-St. Omer-Cambrai-Metz-Heidelberg-Ostheim

08:32

18:22

9:50

942

0.94

EURO 2007 - Climb/Glide to Dover around London airspace. Channel covered in sea fog, stratus over NE France broke up near St. Omer but not enough to soar. 4th engine burn to Cambrai allowed us to soar the remaining 612km to Ostheim. Climbs weak and reluctant but did improve a bit over Germany. A gentle tailwind and gradually rising cloudbase to 6000' over Germany along with a small window of clear air over the UK made the flight possible.

16-Jun

118

R Colbeck

Ostheim

Wasserkuppe local

11:52

12:56

1:04

0.14

Local flight over Wasserkuppe.

16-Jun

119

Rob

Ostheim

Tannheim

Ostheim-Mainbullau-Tannheim

14:31

19:21

4:50

330

0.80

Delayed by engine problem. Then very weak lift, into wind flight as far as Mainbullau. Showers had cleared out large areas making it impossible to continue soaring. Engine used to complete flight.

17-Jun

120

Rob

Tannheim

Niederöblar

Tannheim-Zugspitze-Mayrhofen-Hochtor-Radstadt

12:07

18:40

6:33

532

0.13

Good looking day for transition into Alps. Good run past Zugspitze to Zillertal, then lowering cb to the East. Improvement over Austria moved East with us and gave us a pleasant run to the Hoch Tor and then into Niederöblarn via Radstadt. Best height 11800 near Mayrhofen.

18-Jun

121

Rob

R Colbeck

Niederöblar

Radstadt-Admont

14:07

18:10

4:03

178

0.25

Weak climbs, but great views from over the main divide S of Niederöblarn. Max height 10400.

19-Jun

122

Rob

Niederöblar

Lesce-Bled

Badgastein-Hohe Veitsch-Pass Thurn-Lienz

11:44

19:03

7:19

638

0.59

Headed West but thwarted by lowering cb. Ran in East into Ballistic conditions inc. A 9.6kt average climb as far as the Hohe Veitsch. Running W found weakening conditions and turned Pass Thurn before a tricky crossing of the main divide between the Grossglockner and the Grossvenediger (c 200' clearance). Became impossible to soar low near Lienz and took a burn to reach lift S of Lienz, soared on to Lesce-Bled.

20-Jun

123

Rob

R Colbeck

Lesce-Bled

Lesce-Bled local

12:50

17:21

4:31

173

0.18

Struggled in weak conditions, eventually compiled a few kilometres around Northern Slovenia.

21-Jun

124

Rob

Lesce-Bled

Asagio

via Nötsch and Reisskofe

11:47

18:49

7:02

339

0.19

Great run out of Slovenia along main ridge, then it became windy and cb lowered as the mountains became higher. Essentially trapped in the Nötsch valley with congested cloud and cbs to the South and West. Found wave and climbed to 18800, where the wind was SW at 46kts. Used this height to cross the Southern Alps towards Avisano. Very poor visibililty on Southern edge of the Italian Alps (normal), slow progress past Belluno and Feltre, before finding a slow climb to get us into Asagio.

24-Jun

125

Rob

R Colbeck

Aosta

Aosta local

12:20

17:10

4:50

127

0.78

Nice looking day but so weak it required 2 extra engine runs before contacting good ridge/rotor/thermals to maximum of 15000. Took in Courmayer and the Matterhorn before a very rapid descent ahead of approaching showers.

07-Jul

126

Steve

Dunstable

Bovey Tracey O/R

10:48

16:39

5:51

558

0.15

Conditions OK but with large overdeveloped cu up to Salisbury, where it went almost blue. Could see convergence/sea breeze on s. coast and ran that to close to the turn. Bit more difficult coming back as big blue hole over Wiltshire/Hampshire and convergence ran into Southampton's airspace. Fantastic vis. and views of Dorset coastline.

08-Jul

127

Steve

Dunstable

LEZ-DEV-LAN-REE-LEZ-SUW

10:17

18:11

7:54

755

0.11

600k declared & done at 97 kph. Promising first leg to DEV, but lost out with unreliable climbs until we got back to Bedford and our first of several 7 knot climbs. Useful conditions at the 2nd TP on the Norfolk coast, after which relatively flat as we went round the Norwich area until about Thetford on the last leg. Back at LEZ we tacked on an extra 75k to Little Ris, and some great high climbs, to make an overall 750.

10-Jul

128

Rob

Dunstable

BLY-Holmsley-BLY

11:29

17:18

5:49

540

0.11

Just on the edge of the soarable weather at LGC. Some good climbs but also long glides; wind all over the place E'ly then S'ly then NW'ly.

14-Jul

129

Steve

D Jamin

Dunstable

LEZ-SHM-LEZ-BNW-DUN

11:19

17:00

5:41

413

0.10

Breezy 20kts out of DUN to the SW, flew some nice but rather low streets, but became patchier after DEV. Wind dropped off to 9 kts towards the turn, but thermals did not improve as hoped. Poor run back over the Hercs at Lyneham then improving as the wind picked up (?) past Swindon. Daniel then flew the undeclared 50k after LEZ out to Heyford, to give us a 400k day

16-Jul

130

Rob

R Broadbridge

Les Eplatures

Mollis

Les Eplatures-Le Chasseron-Montreux-Gruyéres-Schesaplana-Sihlsee-Ernitschwil-Mollis

13:05

19:29

6:24

455

0.68

Our trip to Rieti started in the high Jura of Switzerland due to poor weather over the Channel and N France. A deep inversion meant the Jura was not soarable at the time of launch. Used engine to reach Montreux area but again not possible to escape the inversion. At the 3rd attempt we climbed away from the Ruth from 8000 to 12000 at 5.4kts, this got us into the Sion valley. Again very difficult until a solid climb at Brig. Climbed in wave over Tödi to 14700 then flew out the height via Austria.

17-Jul

131

Rob

D Bennett

Mollis

Samedan

Piz Segnas-Oberalpass-Chiavenna-Ramosch-Samedan

13:50

19:26

5:36

357

0.49

Quite windy and the thermals low down were wild. West of the Oberalpass cloudbase dropped rapidly ahead of an approaching front. Spent some time getting into wave to make the transition to the Engadine more comfortable, nice and smooth at 15000. Ended the day by flying over the glaciers of Mt Bernina. Gorgeous.

19-Jul

132

Rob

R Broadbridge

Reggio Emilia

Rieti

Pavullo-Gran Sasso-Terni

14:15

19:05

4:50

485

0.42

Unable to launch at Samedan, we choose Reggio Emilia to start from. The high ground of the Appenines is just soarable and slowly a convergence line develops which gives an increasingly easy run Southwards. Nice views of the Gran Sasso before heading for Rieti.

20-Jul

133

Rob

D Bennett

Rieti

Campoli-Campo di Giove-Staffolo-Gran Sasso-Spoleto

13:14

18:09

4:55

541

0.15

Conventional run to 2nd TP then latched onto a super convergence. This took us up to the Ancona airspace boundary. 5 long glides including 142km and 130km with 2/3rds of the flight between 10000 and 13500. Classic Rieti.

21-Jul

134

Rob

R Broadbridge

Rieti

Villetta Barrea-Nocera Umbra

12:38

17:48

5:10

420

0.12

All Brit gliders did this task. A mix of ridge running and then street running, and finally the classic ridge run home from the North. Cloudbase to 11000. Some 30 to 50km stretches without height loss. Great flight and useful Brit training flight.

23-Jul

135

Rob

D Bennett

Rieti

Rieti local

13:33

16:07

2:34

109

0.12

A very windy day which gave ridge, thermal and wave. Wave to 9500 where the wind was 50kts. Below 7000 is was unpleasantly rough and very difficult to soar. Not a cross country day.

25-Jul

136

Rob

R Broadbridge

Rieti

Celano-Monero-Poggio-Gualdo-Cascia-Foligno

11:45

17:49

6:04

642

0.19

Attempt at a long flight to S and N, but S of Celano cloudbase dropped dramatically and most of the flight was done in the North. The Northernmost along a convergence. Max glide 78km. Best thermals from the same spot on the Cerrano ridge near Foligno 3400 @ 7.1kts and 2400 @ 7.0kts 2 hours later.

26-Jul

137

Rob

D Bennett

Rieti

Villa Vallelonga-Assergi-Nocera Umbra-Villa Vallelonga-Foligno

11:43

17:28

5:45

625

0.14

Excellent day with 10k cloudbases in the central area. But again far South poor. Max glide 100km.

27-Jul

138

Rob

S Carmichael

Rieti

Carovilli-Gualdo

11:49

16:38

4:49

458

0.18

Last day and Dave and Roy, gave their seat up to Stuart (Andy's crew). Task to cover the whole comp area. Nice run between 9000 and 11000 over the high crests giving an almost continuous run from Villetta Barea to Gualdo. Cut a long flight short to get derigged, so ran a classic high speed final glide down the Val Nerina. Junior Worlds start tomorrow.

30-Jul

139

M Burton

Dunstable

BEN-Kielder Castle

10:19

19:15

8:56

897

0.17

Declared OXTon o/r (906). Wind about 16kts from NW, so long slog up North. Variable cloud cover at all levels made conditions cycle but pushed over to W of Pennines and rewarded with 5,000'+ bases and strong thermals over Scotland. Decided to turn short as running out of day but return was much faster than expected due to convergence starting in S. Yorks. Possibly a New Free O/R record.

31-Jul

140

A Roch

Dunstable

SIX-BAL

10:46

18:23

7:37

641

0.10

Blimaps forecasting blue conditions but seemed unlikely, so declared 615Km triangle to SW and NW. First 100Km good but became more difficult near SIX. Improved past Bath and crossed over to Welsh borders - blue but with haze caps and the odd cu marking better climbs. Convergences over the higher ground N. of Radnor, then 7/8 deep cu. at turn. Climbed as high as possible before setting off into lower ground; Severn valley weak but normal improvement at Cotswold Edge. Visibility was stunning for the whole flight, coasts and Snowdonia stood out amazingly.

01-Aug

141

Steve

G Payne

Dunstable

DOW-SHM

11:24

16:58

5:34

531

0.11

Ballistic 1st leg & half 2nd leg up & down energy lines, after which it was less reliable until cycling conditions gave an improving last leg back from SHM after Lyneham to deliver an overall 104kph for the 500.

03-Aug

142

Steve

S Astley

Dunstable

CHE-NOW-MET

10:48

16:44

5:56

345

0.08

Low level on the 1st leg until the Cotswolds when we met the first real cu. Widely broadcast complaints about wave interference towards the turn. Improving run back to NOW, top cover in the last 40k heading north forced abandoning Newark tp at MET.

04-Aug

143

Steve

E Crosbie

Dunstable

Chipping Norton O/R

12:00

14:50

2:50

150

0.47

V breezy SW. 2 engine burns after t/o to get us to the Enstone area above cloud at 5000' for weak poorly defined wave which delivered evens most of the time, and a couple of sporadic 2kts. Light up again at BIC to get home. East of BIC less wave interference, but was a scrub day in the rest of the UK.

05-Aug

144

Steve

Dunstable

Humber Bridge O/R

12:16

16:26

4:10

427

0.11

Wind 180/19 but looked like it might destabilise as a weak cold front approached. Blue/haze caps to start, then some shallow cu. by Rutland Water. Improved going N but odd near TP as nice looking clouds but rubbish thermals. Scampton (Red Arrows) was "cold" according to ATC. Nice energy lines on way home with 5kts to 6,000 as well; finished task @112.7Kph; better than anticipated given the wind - fun flight.

07-Aug

145

J Jeffries

Dunstable

AND-LOU-NPT-SCL

10:35

18:45

8:10

784

0.09

Reasonably early start into strong thermals (5kts). Great run in and out of AND; bad spreadout started abeam MK and became very extensive. Crept up to Louth where it had cycled, then followed line of weak convection south. Almost total medium level overcast but managed to climb near BED for max. glide in and out of NPT. Scrappy out to Ely then saw convergence forming N of Cambridge. Ran this to turn & back on a shelf above frontal-looking curtain cloud caused by cu-nim line outflow to the SE; almost on glide when left the line - one top-up and fast glide home. Fascinating flight in amazingly variable conditions.

08-Aug

146

A Nash

Dunstable

TUX-FOR-CHK

10:31

19:20

8:49

865

0.13

Blue/ wisps for 1st 50Km, difficult to get much above 3,000ASL. Speed into wind c.65Kph! Big improvement short of TUX (5kts/5,000'), ran south with tailwind into blue area in centre of country. Eventual climb to 6,000' to get round FOR then 50Km of 6,500+ and 7Kts, stunning. Some spreadout and lower bases into Wales but convergence forming over the borders allowed us in and out of CHK. Returned SE then left convergence to cross Severn Valley. Big line of deep cu. (another convergence) over Cotswold Edge which gave us glide. Another mega day!

09-Aug

147

R Hodge

Dunstable

DOR-CHK

11:31

18:58

7:27

734

0.07

Declared a 630Km FAI triangle with a later start as it took a while for the lift (and me) to get organised. Better on 2nd leg but more extensive spreadout over Welsh Borders than yesterday. Glid out to turn then latched onto street that took us to Ironbridge without circling. Further SE base went >6,000 with some strong cores - energy line formed running from Bidford to Bicester allowing a long, fast final glide. Climbed from LEZ and Robin flew an 80Km o/r to wind down. Haven't seen a run of days like this in the UK for decades...

10-Aug

148

Steve

D Miller

Dunstable

BRN-STS-LYV

10:16

17:16

7:00

523

0.17

After Ed’s 3 big flights (peer pressure!), I just had to declare a 750 which would have been as flown if I’d managed TP3 at TRN back up North, However, was no way a 750 day, narrow operating band up & down the country, poor blue in the Doncaster area. So turned it into a 500. Must get days off to fit the weather. Or just LOTS of days off like Ed & Rob.

11-Aug

149

Steve

V Pacher

Dunstable

LEH-STK-MAN

10:54

17:36

6:42

628

0.13

Ed set me the task in the morning, was brill! Used all the day: from the initial glide out to the absolutely first cu over central MK, right to the final climb at Kettering. V slow for the first leg & a half after which it was really wonderful, with climbs typically 5 kts up to 5500’. 13 was delighted to have an all German speaking crew. Quote Volker “es war yummie”!

17-Aug

150

Steve

A Claiden

Dunstable

OLN-CAX-THP-BAN

11:21

15:28

4:07

242

0.09

I declared a 300 taking in SWA. When I got to Wyton in 8/8 and it started RAINING on me (already), I came to the conclusion this was a joke, turned CAX and headed back to the sunny patches. It was a day of cycling conditions between poor & mediocre, interspersed with the odd 6 knotter!! typically though 3 knots when they could be found, and sunshine had a lot to do with it!

20-Aug

151

Steve

M Makin

Dunstable

Local

12:27

13:47

1:20

0.13

Snifting. Scrubbed day

25-Aug

152

D Starer

Dunstable

DEV O/R

11:56

16:24

4:28

270

0.07

Launched to sniff for Regionals... 1kt to 1,700AGL. 2hrs later: 1kt to 1,900AGL. Improved to SW but DEV was as far as we wanted to push it - saw many landouts, one as we watched from above! Crept home under fading skies...

26-Aug

153

Steve

T Stuart

Dunstable

St. Catherine's Pt O/R

11:23

16:23

5:00

337

0.08

Slow blue day for the first couple of hours, never above 3000'. More comfortable to have cu south of Lasham, but cloudbase stay fixed onto the island & back until north of Lasham. Never felt able to get up a head of steam, until conditions at Chalgrove took us to 4000' for final glide. Spectacular views as always of the Solent.

27-Aug

154

Steve

Dunstable

CCC O/R

10:59

17:39

6:40

500

0.09

Not sure where to go as forecast was for blue but didn't believe it. As wind in Wales was forecast N@15kts, declared the end of the Brecons at Carreg Cennen. Lots of cycling on the way out but some reasonable runs - went to the TP along the ridges (marginally working) but 8/8 to the NW so came out by Port Talbot along the sea breeze. Bit of a struggle getting back to LGC and wandered about like a drunken fly looking for lift; eventually made glide about 15km to go!

28-Aug

155

Rob

B Glasgow-Smith

Dunstable

ELY-KIM-CFD

12:50

17:08

4:18

323

0.08

Low cu under medium level spreadout with glimpses of sunshine, but fairly unstable which permitted a gentle open class wander around the countryside.

31-Aug

156

Steve

D Hayden

Dunstable

CNR O/R

14:50

16:47

1:57

0.16

Afternoon excursion down the ridges, no therms, 260 at 15, not as much north as hoped. Went down to the M40 & let David fly the CNR ridge.

01-Sep

157

Rob

S Astley

Dunstable

TOD-SNI-CAS

10:20

15:22

5:02

306

0.08

Surprisingly good, albeit low, early thermals. Strong wind made for slow progress to the SW corner of the Birmingham Zone. Very low and overcast further West, so turned East and found mixed conditions with a couple of 5kts to 4000', turned at Cambridge.

02-Sep

158

K Hook

Portmoak

KIC-COM-HEU-COM-DNG

15:03

19:47

4:44

383

0.24

Confused W/NW wave system with lots of deep cloud over the Grampians. Got a bit stuck N of Aboyne but scraped up to 14K so clould cross a large area of 8/8 at 10-11K to get back...

03-Sep

159

K Hook

Portmoak

MVN-LBU-PLY-POR

10:37

18:07

7:30

410

0.28

Launched into a fairly overcast sky with small "slots". Unable to find more than 1kt which gave out at 6K in cloud. Decided to try task in thermals instead so went to start point and got 5kts to 10K. Set off and found the wave to be weak and sporadic, with 7/8 underneath. More open towards Connell but turned short of Bunessan due lack of height. Picked up isolated climb over Oban that put us on glide to home. Stunning views over the Western Isles - Mull, Jura, Islay, Uist, Rhum... amazing; even Kevin was sightseeing most of the day. Magic flight.

04-Sep

160

Rob

Portmoak

Dunkeld-Drumshade-Ballater-Isle of May

12:38

18:25

5:47

330

0.18

Launch to 5500, contact at 4000 in a very mixed cloudy situation. Most of the high ground was 7/8ths. Flight involved working slowly up through maybe 6 different cloud layers. Culminating in 12k near Ballater. Flew off the height via the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth.

05-Sep

161

Rob

Portmoak

DNG-KLN-HEU-KLN-PLY-POR

11:53

18:13

6:20

435

0.15

Well marked local wave but became somewhat tricky when transitioning into the mountains. Eventually got to the start point at a decent height some 2hrs after launch! Original task not on as endless 8/8 5km beyond so ran up to NE where less cloud (but still a lot). Had two goes at HEU, second time getting up to 18K which took us round the next 220Km at 170kph. Some stunning stacks of lennies in the moist NW airstream. Another grand day out; must come back soon!

06-Sep

162

Rob

solo

Portmoak

Dunstable

Portmoak-Perth-Dunstable

11:08

18:31

7:23

612

0.54

Attempt at flying home from a wave start. Having launched to 7500, it was only possible to regain 7500 in weak wave after much searching. Left the area at 1305 (Bit late) and flew South to the E of Edinburgh. Found a few bits of wave downwind of the Lothian hills. Subsided below cloud just S of Milfield and found weak convection until a large blue area between Kielder and Newcastle. Some wave evident behind the Lake district but now too low. Required an engine run to join a weak wave system from Hexham to Pately bridge. Deep cu, started just N of Leeds with a 4000 max base, this gave a reasonably quick run from Harrogate to Syerstone. After this each cloud got lower and the lift weaker, and the vis went from exceptional to very hazy. Rushden was the last weak soaring with 0.2 to 2500asl. Although only 900 under glide an engine run was required to get in. Great flight nevertheless.

07-Sep

163

Steve

P Richer

Dunstable

SKE-BIC

12:42

16:29

3:47

216

0.08

Persuaded by Paul to launch under 8/8 & 2500' cloudbase, slowly opened up past Northampton. Never got above 2700' & had fields picked on probably 3 occasions. Another day only for 13 !

10-Sep

164

Rob

L Duhaney

Dunstable

STS-PRS-OXF

14:06

17:30

3:24

236

0.10

A day for streets and wave (Av wind 330/20) but didn't find much of either. Occ 3-4kt climb allowed progress to be made. Best base 4800'

11-Sep

165

Rob

B Hocking

Dunstable

DEV-KGS-AVE-DEV-BLY-DUN+BUC O/R

11:43

16:48

5:05

419

0.09

Delightful day, especially for mid September. Occ 5kts to 4000 asl and nice cu. The Berkshire Downs looked like the best area and task worked well. The "race" with Andy ended up with him winning (on handicap) and he used "my" tips.

13-Sep

166

Rob

A Nash

Dunstable

SHM-NEW-BIC-DUN+NOW O/R

12:08

17:08

5:00

449

0.09

Nice 340km declared at 100kph. Big fat easy thermals - lovely, base rose from 3000 to 4400 during flight. Finished at 1000 and Amelia flew 100k O/R to NOW.

15-Sep

167

Steve

R Robertson

Dunstable

EYE-BAN-POP-EDG

11:34

16:44

5:10

404

0.11

Very weak until past BAN on 2nd leg. Then a blast down to Popham & back to about Whitney til the day started dying at c 4pm. Lucky to find some cu beyond Edgehill to take us almost to glide, for a long gentle run home.

18-Sep

168

Rob

Dunstable

LEZ-Portland Bill-MAH

11:01

16:29

5:28

529

0.08

Remarkably good autumn day, light NW with good viz and thermals of 4-5kts eventually to 5000agl. Fantastic views of the South coast, thermalling over Durdle Door and cruising around Portland Bill.

23-Sep

169

Steve

T Mills

Dunstable

BLY-BED area

12:42

14:39

1:57

0.16

Wind 200 at 18-20. Thermals well broken & spent forever just trying to stay airborne below cloud around LEZ. Eventually took a burn to 3500' east side of MK where the low wave bars became apparent to the east. Spent an interesting hour or so up around 4000' before it started to fill in too much below.

25-Sep

170

Rob

L Barratt

Dunstable

DED-WOB area

10:57

13:58

3:01

160

0.25

Some low level soaring ahead of approaching trough. CB 2500 rising to 3000asl. Then some hill flying, Dunstable and Ivinghoe.

26-Sep

171

Rob

Dunstable

LAS-POL-SHL-POL-SHL-DUN

09:41

16:08

6:27

580

0.32

Start at LAS then glide onto South Downs, wind 350/18 at hilltop. Cautious on first lap then a bit faster on the second. Medium cloud slowly cleared to leave a convective sky; very scenic and could go pretty quickly once you got to know the ridges. POL not a great TP as needs to be closer in - SHL not really on the ridge at all! Finished the declared 370Km @ 112Km/h then bonus of 5kts to 4,500 as far as Reading then a bit of a struggle into 25kt NNE but made it back. Cracking flight.

30-Sep

172

Steve

A Hutchings

Dunstable

BED-PET area

12:44

16:08

3:24

231

0.32

Assisted take-off NE run "no problem". Nothing going on at Dunstable, so powered out to Grafham Water & back for some weak local soaring around Peterborough.

04-Oct

173

Rob

Dunstable

LEZ-DID-CHL-OXF-DUN

12:15

15:25

3:10

236

0.10

Fresh clear October day, light NW. Super run from Didcot to the Cotswold edge at Cheltenham holding 3000' for most of the way. Brize allowed us to cross the corner of their zone.

14-Oct

174

Rob

L Barratt

Dunstable

WNG-DID-UWH-DID-OXF-TOD

13:21

16:22

3:01

175

0.20

Overcast that fragmented to soarable cu. 5kts off DID and occ 3kts to 3000asl. Pleasant surprise for mid October.

17-Oct

175

Rob

Dunstable

Radnor Forest-Knighton O/R

11:02

16:21

5:19

390

0.50

Time

Flts

2007

Rob

239:18

18007

Steve

144:18

10904

217:23

17038

437:50

33174

Engine TT (hr)

18.09

E/G Ratio

4.06

2006

Time

Flts

Rob

196:51

15525

Steve

147:23

10678

146:49

12279

356:32

27606

Engine TT (hr)

16.29

E/G Ratio

4.52

Total

Time

Flts

Rob

436:09

33532

Steve

291:41

21582

364:12

29317

794:22

175

60780

Engine TT (hr)

34.38

Euro 2007

50:02

3326

Rieti 2007

46:07

4092