18 May 2010 : Dunstable - Jedburgh - Dunstable : 888 km
Our Logbook reveals; Started at 0945, first climb 5kts to 4,700' shortly after then some long glides into weaker and lower conditions under altostratus. Eventually into the blue north of Newark - ran in low to Cottam power station which was producing a pillar of cloud that went up to 8,000'+. IMC climb which got us into a weak convergence after the Humber.Tricky until reached the N York Moors, then followed sea breeze up the coast until past Newcastle, then an amazing run in and out of the turn over the Borders. Came back down the Pennines then transferred back to the east. Cloudbase over the Moors was now nearly 8K, good run as far as Grantham, then into spreadout and poor vis. Followed what lift there was left in the sky and was on glide but lost out due to bugs/bad air/bad piloting. Tiny trickles over Milton Keynes at 1930 but not enough. 400' short of a sensible finish height... Oh well, was a fantastic flight, thanks Rob & all the ATC guys who helped out today.
These were the first cu to appear around Dunstable and unbelievably gave 5 knots to 4700'. Never saw that again for several hours.
Tuxford's giant plume drew us like a magnet especially as it was almost blue everywhere else. It gave a rough ride to 5000' and glide to Malton.
Some modest cu over the North York Moors kept us well to the East, the Vale of York was completely blue for some reason. However, beyond the moors we were rewarded with a nice looking sea breeze front (yesterday Devon and Dorset, today Yorshire and Durham!)
Crossing the Tee at Middlesborough.
Not the neatest of sea breezes, but it worked.
Durham.
The cu led us inland as we approached Newcastle.
Newcastle ATC were very good and allowed us across there fairly busy zone. Note the Easyjet on final approach below.
The moors of Northumbria leading towards the Cheviots.
Lovely run in to the TP, over the high ground between the danger areas. Here we did a couple of circles, we just couldn't help ourselves, and the 7kts soon got us to almost 7000'
Nearly at the turn, some 430 kms from Dunstable, and quite early, 14:17.
The Cheviots from the Scottish side.
Jedburgh.
Turning South and back onto the cloud street to England.
Pretty much in the centre of the country and we can see both coasts.
Kielder Reservoir
Hadrian's Wall. A lot bugs on the wing which was degrading our performance and would become a problem later.
Back onto the sea breeze for a nice run past Teeside onto the North York Moors. This time with cloudbase touching 8000' (when did that last happen?). The sea breeze fizzled out over the Wolds.
Not yet 5pm and only 155km to go, and 60 of that would be final glide. Well in you'd think. Unfortunately the quiet radio belied the fact there was no soaring going on in central England and although the spread was disappearing there was a reluctance for much new convection.
A lovely view of this viaduct just North of Corby, a long time spent in weak thermals over Corby, then Kettering got us up to final glide but our buggy wing was having none of it and we slipped below under a blank sky. Bletchley kept us level but would not give us the 400' we needed to finish at Leighton Buzzard. We did, however, make a new Free Out and Return distance flight of 824 km.
|
