13 Logbook 2011

Date

Pilot

From

Task or Route

T/O

Land

Time

Kms

IGC

Pics

09-Jan

369

Rob

R Berry

Dunstable

Hay Bluff-Llangorse Lake-Old Radnor

08:22

16:25

8:03

393

Dawn launch into a clear sky, first proper wave near Moreton in the Marsh. Long glide to Ledbury to reach next wave train which got us onto the Black Mountain ridge. Moist air here giving a cloudbase just on the top of the ridge. Tried several times to climb amongst cloud and with the help of the ridge to regain the wave, in the end power climbed above cloud and found 1-2kts to 12,000' in the lee of Radnor Forest. Landed at dusk.

11-Mar

370

Steve

K Woods

Dunstable

Milton Keynes-Bicester

11:56

13:55

1:59

19-Mar

371

Steve

A Sampson

Dunstable

Wisbech-Woburn

12:09

16:15

4:06

210

Maybe we went too far into the flatlands, it was very soft after March, and a lot of field selection took place, eventually lighting up in the circuit at Alconbury. Soaring conditions better when we got back home. Still was nice to fly x/c again!

23-Mar

372

Rob

Dunstable

Pershore-Aylesbury-Kingston Bagpuize

12:25

15:25

3:00

311

Forecast for weak & blue. Launched after "stratus" started looking more and more like good cu. Flew first 200Km without turning, base 4,500'+ over the Cotswolds. Probably soarable for at least an hour either side, so 500Kms worth of weather. The season has started!

25-Mar

373

Steve

Dunstable

Wymondham-Peterborough

13:07

17:21

4:14

309

Very glooky and low until Cambridge. Nice run all the way to PET with 4-4,500' and 4kts. Climbed to just over 4K@PET then dead glide out into stable air, lit up at Bedford Thurleigh. Ed nagged me incessantly from the back, fun flight and worth going NE for the better air.

03-Apr

374

I Reekie

Dunstable

Norwich O/R

11:55

15:25

3:30

314

Trough slowly approaching from W - glid out from start and picked up cloud street which went most of the way to Norwich. Turned round and repeated the performance up to Cambridge, where it fell apart a bit. Took a couple of cloud climbs and eventually made glide under some low-level scraps ahead of a big shower. Was tempted to carry on to the coast but probably one of my better decisions to turn back as 20mins late would have seen us unable to finish.

07-Apr

375

Steve

J Thompson

Dunstable

Bozeat-Wescott

11:53

14:44

2:51

125

Not mega ! The front cut off the sunshine, couldn't go further north than Santa Pod, had to take an engine climb & then flew along the front of the front, trying to stay airborne. Life can only get better!

12-Apr

376

Steve

A Hobbs

Dunstable

Whitchurch-Lake Bala-Ross on Wye

09:36

16:59

7:23

616

Early launch 0940 produced nice initial conditions to 2800, tricky with strong wind around Reading and blue into the first TP. Back to cu & nice into wind leg until I crossed Brize which slowed me down. Excellent conditions into N Wales, 5k cloudbase, several 6kt climbs. Then blue at Shobdon heading SW made it difficult around Ross. At Gloucester, the cu perked up again, 6k bases & the odd 7 kt climb.

16-Apr

377

Steve

Dunstable

Stratford-Cosford-Ollerton

10:58

15:29

4:31

412

Didn't look good at LHR this morning with 1,000' of altostratus. Overcast burnt back from centre of country outwards, so set task in that area. A bit low and slow until Redditch then a big change to 3-4kts to 4,000'+ more spreadout on leg past Alton Towers but improved again on the way South. Very variable dewpoints/cloudbases but last climb at Kettering 6kts to 5K+. Almost unsoarable on return to DUN with medium level cloud. A very interesting day.

20-Apr

378

Dunstable

Bicester

Bury St Edmunds-Bicester

14:00

16:55

2:55

176

Was going to be a ferry flight to Bicester to avid the dreaded easterlies at LGC. RASP said there would be good bases in E Anglia, so did a high launch and glid out to Newmarket, where it was rocketing up to 1,500'AGL. Pushed a little further E and it was going to 7,500'AGL in a band about 20Km wide with blue either side. Was on glide for BIC from Bury (c.115Km) but bad air and near zero vis meant a short top up required near Cranfield. Hope for soaring conditions to be a bit more widespread tomorrow!

21-Apr

379

A Smith

Bicester

Marlborough-Northampton

14:28

16:57

2:29

216

Late start due waiting for medium cover to clear. Some showers but 7,000' cloudbase meant easily avoided. Cloud climb onto long final glide as not much convection (if any) to the N of Bicester.

22-Apr

380

Steve

P Berriman

Bicester

Earith-Tuxford

12:33

17:39

5:06

365

A day that started full of promise, good to Earith but any further east would have been difficult. Then affected by poor air most of the way to Tuxford. A few really good climbs, max c 6500'. A save at Hus Bos, but then brought down from 1k over glide by buggy leading edge to engine start at Turweston.

23-Apr

381

Steve

Bicester

Newmarket-Darlton

12:37

17:28

4:51

434

I climbed up and sat on the canopy just before they took off. A bit bumpy with the tailwind but I clung on. Eventually the houses got smaller and they set off in the direction of East Anglia - sometimes they were high, sometimes low, a bit random, I suppose. I had a really good view of Cambridge, could see the people in the streets - after that the ground was a bit further away, as were the clouds. Once we started heading south, the clouds got REALLY BIG and we went INSIDE one of them! I got very cold and slipped back a bit in the wind but managed to hold on, even though I was covered in ice. Brrr!
After that, we seemed to go mostly in straight lines until we got back home. I held on to the last minute then flew away once we'd stopped. What fun! The Bug

25-Apr

382

Steve

T Pridgeon

Bicester

Skeffington O/R

11:29

15:55

4:26

213

We have good days we have bad days........

30-Apr

383

D Francis

Bicester

Brecon-Rodney's Pillar

09:35

15:43

6:08

405

Hurtled downwind towards Wales. Was waving off the Cotswold edge on the way past, first climb E of Hay Bluff then transferred to near Talgarth. Tried to get to N Wales but howling gale gave only 0.5kts to 5-6K in places. Eventually fell out N. of Welshpool and 2x climb & glide to get home. It was thermic underneath but rough, broken & almost impossible to go into-wind (40kts).

01-May

384

Steve

A Harrison

Bicester

Talgarth O/R

08:09

13:47

5:38

343

Similar to 13's Welsh trip yesterday in a howling easterly. Reached 11500' just east of TAL. Hoped for some wave on the way home at Gloucester, but it wasn't usable. Again a fun flight.

03-May

385

P Stratten

Bicester

Old Radnor-Westcott-Blaenau Ffestiniog

10:11

17:48

7:37

758

A day of many parts: started well but became a little sheared near Radnor much better over the Cotswolds and in/out Westcott, then mostly blue from then on with the odd haze cap or brief cloud. Some surprisingly good climbs later on but really needed hooking instantly.

03-May

386

R King

Bicester

Garboldisham-Peterborough-Birdlip

11:53

17:21

5:28

459

Blue to start, met cu at Cambridge, good from there round GAB to PET then blue for the remainder. Some fairly good climbs but the air between we found fairly rotten most of the time. Crept under altocu to get in and out of BIR but still working underneath. Had to top up several times as final glide kept being blown by prolonged sink... Eventually took enough height to dive-bomb Bicester then lift all the way in (as usual). Interesting flight, helped to have 2 pilots taking turns at the lift.

04-May

387

Bicester

Dunstable

17:28

17:54

0:26

Position

06-May

388

Steve

R Dowty

Dunstable

Eyebrook-Harpley

11:12

16:15

5:03

313

Essentially blue (or rather, grey) day, cu were always beyond the tp's. Several very long glides to bump into occasionally surprising climbs, best c 4kts to 4500'. Last half of final leg was saved by top cover burning back to let the late pm sun do its work. Slow but satisfying.

08-May

389

Steve

J Turner

Dunstable

Northampton-Bullington-Wescott

10:50

16:12

5:22

269

Windy windy 20kts - 24 kts, v difficult to get down to Bullington, helpful Benson ATC had to put up with us for ages, took so long to get down south that there wasn't enough day to get to TOW.

09-May

390

Rob

Dunstable

Louth-Bedford Bridge-Blakeney Point

10:40

16:33

5:53

608

With strong wind forecast, chose a task aligned with it and for the first leg it really worked with 90% of it done without turning. Was supposed to veer during the afternoon on the second o/r, which didn't happen but the cloudbase went to 6,700' near the coast which helped! Tried hard to avoid low points, which helped the overall speed.

10-May

391

Rob

Dunstable

Cromer Pier-Oakington-Lavenham-Cromer Pier

11:01

16:43

5:42

621

Similar to yesterday with a slot of drier air between the old front over France and the trough approaching from the NW. Good run out to Cromer, not bad into-wind then good to Lavenham and great from there to Cromer for the second time with 6,000'+ and 6kts. Long return leg went smoothly until Cambridge where met spreadout/cycling, which necessitated a bit of fiddling to get on glide.

12-May

392

Rob

Dunstable

Stockbridge-Axminster-Stockbridge

10:44

16:19

5:35

449

TopMeteo said E. Anglia, RASP said E. Anglia, we said no, not again! So went to Axminster. Cloudbase initially much better than forecast - nearly 5,000' in places vs. 3,000' predicted. Quite a lot of spreadout and layer cloud in places. Lower to the W with 3-4,000' and a long glide needed on the way home from Winchester to nearly Newbury under clag. Cycled on the last leg and was improving when we eventually made glide. Fantastic visibility, great flight.

13-May

393

Steve

S Newby

Dunstable

Harpley-Claydon-Saxthorpe

09:38

14:37

4:59

451

Fantastic fast run out to HPY, and reasonable conditions down sth to Ipswich & back to Saxthorpe. Progressively worsening on the final leg as the top cover crept eastwards. Gave up eventually at Old Warden.

15-May

394

Rob

T Hutchings

Dunstable

Farringdon O/R

10:15

13:14

2:59

163

Sky looked good as we launched, within 45 minutes the sky filled with mid level cloud, which got thicker and thicker until it started raining. Lift continued at 1-3 kts during the rain but the glider performance was crap. No hint of this on the forecasts, still the glider got an unscheduled wash.

19-May

395

Rob

D Bennett

Dunstable

Pickenham-Crewkerne-Dunstable-Rutland Water

10:12

17:57

7:45

808

I was concerned that spreadout might cause problems, but though there was some, the high cloudbase more than compensated. Easy run out to Norfolk whilst the sky was developing, it was weaker in the SW, so pleased I hadn't gone too far in that direction. Finished early so continued after finishing, with Rutland O/R to do over 800km.

20-May

396

Steve

T Weatherhe

Dunstable

Earith-Ipswich East-Saxthorpe

09:59

15:06

5:07

415

A day of much variety. Good run east til Wattisham, then we reached the end of the cu, so v cautious in & out of Ipswich. Rejoined the cu 2/3 down 2nd leg, had a couple of brill (6-7 kt) climbs around Diss. Into wind excellent til Mildenhall, then rapidly went pants with the overdevelopment that everyone had been whingeing about! Awful struggle at Waterbeach and then tortuous to reach eventual glide.

21-May

397

Steve

C Withall

Dunstable

Barney-Papworth-Swannington

10:38

16:55

6:17

519

Maybe started too early as first leg was purgatory, improving as we came back south to an excellent run after that.

22-May

398

S Astley

Dunstable

Hay NW-Henlow

12:27

16:00

3:33

400

Long grind out to start point, wind was nearly 50kts over the hills. Blue gap to cross to start with but improved beyond the Malverns. Not that much in the way of energy lines but a couple of 5kt climbs sorted us out. Hopefully new 200Km goal record.

24-May

399

Rob

P Warner

Dunstable

Framlington Windmill-Gloucester West- Storrington-Marlborough

10:16

18:26

8:10

759

Gentle float downwind to Framlington, then shared a 5kt climb with 24 to 5200', remarkable for 11am. Long drag into wind with very little streeting to help, cloudbase reached 6000+ by Cheltenham, though it was 1500' lower just a few miles South. Eventually reached the sea breeze about 40k west of Parham, worked but not brilliant. Then faced with a long glide in the blue to Marlborough before drifting home.

27-May

400

Steve

G Lynn

Dunstable

Edgehill-Nympsfield-Hay Bluff-Carreg Cennan Castle-Nympsfield

10:47

17:13

6:26

501

8/8 at DUN, took 3 low burns to get out to Evesham & join Trevor. Flew his task from NYM. Worst part was between HAY & Brecon where wave interference worked against me in low thermals, but 970 managed to use the wave. Well done Trev. Bit of a slog into wind to CCC, then nice back to NYM. After the task, glid home on some of the best thermals of the day.

31-May

401

Rob

R Berry

Dunstable

Weymouth-Newark + Rushden O/R

09:47

18:04

8:17

735

Managed to creep away from Central England before it spread out and became difficult, rewarded with an excellent airmass over Dorset which produced a 7kt climb to 5600' over Weymouth at 1230. By the time we reached the Keevil area the central part had opened up nicely with 6000' cloudbase, and was able sail over Brize Norton instead of going round. OLC'd it up to 735km after finishing the task.

01-Jun

402

Rob

P Hunt

Dunstable

Wantage-The Wash

10:46

16:47

6:01

387

First leg into lowering cloudbase, only 2400asl at Wantage, then gradual improvement Eastwards until Bedford, then blue beyond. Stayed with the last cloud line which took us to the Wash and back. My intended TP was Swanton Morley which looked too difficult for me and the day. A day with just a narrow band of soarability.

03-Jun

403

Steve

Dunstable

Chard O/R

11:37

17:45

6:08

413

The most sheared thermals I have experienced, and several patches of just bad air. Never got any really good runs, and a few heroic saves done by both Ed and myself. Had 1000' spare on a 2kt glide, but destroyed by sink on the way in, leading to an engine start 5 km short.

05-Jun

404

Steve

R Lynn

Dunstable

Local

11:02

11:57

0:55

The most local flight ever done in 13?

11-Jun

405

Steve

R Berry

Dunstable

Broadway-Diss-Heyford

10:38

15:52

5:14

518

Launched into a 3000ft cloudbase and a 3 knot average thermal to go with it. Run into Broadway was farily striaght forward, just following the energy lines up to cloubase (5000ft by the time we turned) Run downwind into Diss was a complete breeze with regular 5 knot climbs to 6000ft. Spreadout around Diss looked tricky but proved to be un-eventful. Running back towards the final turnpoint was again pretty easy with one or two 8 knot averages to 6500ft. Rain at the final TP made getting in and out very tricky ... so much so that Steve had to use the engine :P

13-Jun

406

Rob

C Collingham

Dunstable

Great Malvern O/R

12:40

17:41

5:01

269

Very windy and low cloudbase, that just wouldn't go up. Gave up at Upper Heyford and decided to have a go at the wave from above. Usual start spot near Moreton, made 10k a couple of times including the last climb over the River Severn.

14-Jun

407

Rob

M Till

Dunstable

Stradishall-Helmsley

10:20

18:03

7:43

617

All the evidence suggested a task to the North and keep East, with Central and West due to spread, reality was nice cu field there and almost blue on the chosen task! It proved really slow going past the Wash and across the Humber and back to Newark. Then for us the best part of the day. The 1500' over glide from Northampton diminished to a few hundred feet so used the engine to avoid any embarassment in the last few km.

19-Jun

408

Steve

Dunstable

Kidderminster-Bromsgrove-Cheltenham-Bromsgrove

11:02

16:15

5:13

351

Everything that could make a flight more difficult was there: loads of parachuting, spreadout, airspace, wind, bendy thermals, medium level cloud, showers, etc. Fair amount of low points too. Am not admitting to what I declared! Oh yes, mustn't forget about the rocket launching in the only bit of sky with lift in it (eyes rolling)...

23-Jun

409

Rob

Dunstable

Lake Vyrnwy O/R

11:31

17:16

5:45

463

Wasn't sure whether to fly or not. Thought I saw the possibility of a drier slot between the front to the north and shower lines to the south, so declared VRY as that seemed to be the best direction. Long slog out with much deviation. Was faced with a probable glide out into nothing near Edgehill, so went 90degs off track for 15Km to get a cloud climb: glid out under overcast towards distant cu over a sunny patch, contacted again near Pershore, same again near Kidderminster. Eventually latched onto weak street that took us most of the way into the turn, big relief to get round. Looked great on the way home but many of the cloudstreets didn't have much under them, until well over glide, as usual. Wind 290/300 @15-20kts, base up to 5,000' in places, down to 3,500' in others.

24-Jun

410

Steve

A Darby

Dunstable

Gainsborough O/R + Bicester O/R

09:38

16:02

6:24

429

0945 start looked hopeful, but as the morning developed, the spreadout patches became bigger, greyer & flatter. Where the sun shone, we had good climbs, but the glides became too iffy in the Doncaster area, so turned back for DUN at Gainsborough. Adam Darby then took us out to Bicester.

26-Jun

411

Steve

G Pursey

Dunstable

Moreton in the Marsh-Downham Market

12:55

17:51

4:56

278

Hot, sticky, much of it low. SO slow to Moreton, then got stuck at Northampton, couldn't connect for ages. Became bluer south of Kettering but much better, however we were so far behind schedule, so turned back at Upwood. Probably just as well, as it wasn't easy to get onto glide at Bedford.

28-Jun

412

Rob

Pontarlier

Bolzano

Gruyeres-Sion Valley-Tete Du Portail-Furka Pass-Ambri-Samedan-Wildspitze-Samedan

10:55

19:26

8:31

698

Launched from Pontarlier then glid out over the plains to the foothills near Gruyeres. A bit reluctant but after much grinding and close inspection of alpine pastures and mountain huts, got established and crossed to the Sion valley. Conditions improved so ran west to the end then east into Italy in company with an ASH-25. The San Vittore area proved difficult and we only got away by going to the middle of the valley after trying everything else. We then moved back into the Engadin towards Austria with better structure to the lift, finding 12K+ base in the Oetztal but eventually weakening off so another visit to St. Moritz before gliding down to Bolzano. A great start to the trip with some fabulous alpine vistas across four countries.

29-Jun

413

Rob

Bolzano

Austria and Dolomites

12:50

19:53

7:03

624

Launch onto the plateau NW of Bolzano. Much grinding until eventually got away off the edge - N wind shearing the thermals but 13K+ base not far away. Crossed the Brenner then ran E, past Mayrhofen and Zell in good lift to just short of Mauterndorf, where it weakened and blued out. Headed SE via Lienz, then tried a convergence near Noetsch but it didn't work. Returned over the main spine where it looked better S of Zell and ran back as far as the Gerlos pass, where an approaching front was lowering the base, spreading out and growing the clouds and cutting off the sun. Transferred S again into the Dolomites, where there was a working convergence to 14,000' and stunning views then glid the height off back to Bolzano. Great flight covering plenty of new territory.

30-Jun

414

Rob

Bolzano

Sondrio

Samedan-Como

13:25

18:31

5:06

467

Overcast and showery to the north but just enough sun locally to allow convection. Only a 20min grind today as we went to the right place to start with! Very variable cloudbase but managed to tuck in close, work up a side valley and sneak over the high ground north of the Tonale pass. Routed up to Samaden but surprisingly soft, so crept out SW via the Maloja pass, then ran the Sondrio valley to Bormio, where it was weak as well but working to 12,000'. Used the height to cross lake Como, then back to land at Sondrio. Didn't expect to fly today so a real bonus plus we relocated to a (hopefully) better area.

01-Jul

415

Rob

Sondrio

Mont Blanc-Adamello

12:13

19:47

7:34

796

Easier getaway with 10K base locally. Pushed west over the northern end of the Lakes, passing Locarno and Masera in moderate conditions with 3-4kts to 11K. More cloud ahead coming off Monte Rosa and the Swiss side of the border and didn't look great ahead, so topped up at the head of the Masera valley. Contacted wave and climbed to 17K, then ran just inside Italian airspace, along the crest of Monte Rosa and behind the Matterhorn. Some interestingly turbulent air in the 40kt+ NW'ly but eventually climbed up on the windward face of the Matterhorn which enabled a move to the Mont Blanc massif. A quick pass of the summit and a climb to FL195 behind gave a long glide out back into thermals near San Vittore. Transferred to the S side of the Sondrio valley with a good line to Adamello and nearly 14K base: from there just under 250Km at nearly 200kph as there was almost continuous lift on the valley edge - had to find some sink to get down and land! Amazing day.

02-Jul

416

Rob

Sondrio

Nuna-Montechiaro-Brig-Naturno

11:43

18:37

6:54

668

Another long grind of nearly an hour to get out of the valley, eventually catching a decent climb near Tirano. Worked up between Samaden & Livigno to catch a 9kt climb off Nuna, then a cracking run E to the Merano valley and back, with 13K base. Moved on W into the upper Rhine valley, past Thusis, with base 9-10K, taking thermals off the lower ridges. Crossed over the Furka pass near Andermatt, into the Rhone valley, then good as far as Muenster, from where we turned SE into Italy. The N component in the wind was shearing the climbs but we found 5kts off the spine between Ambri & Lodri, enough to get us to the Maloja pass, with the deep valley giving enough contrast to improve conditions. Ran the front face of Bernina and then an excellent run on the dry edge to Merano, giving 6-8kts to 14K+. Tried the evening lift trick but only sink all the way home... Showed how special yesterday was. Yet more excellent soaring today, though.

03-Jul

417

Rob

Sondrio

Local

13:32

15:10

1:38

Blue with tiny wisps above the peaks. Ground away for the whole flight in ground effect exploring nooks, crannies and peoples' back gardens, not getting much above 6,000' in a knot or fractions thereof. Hot and frustrating but the locals couldn't get away either. After 1.5hrs going nowhere in sweaty conditions, threw in the towel and went to climb a mountain instead. Found out why there was virtually no lift as the temperature at 7,000' was only 8deg less than at 1,000'... Talk about stable!

04-Jul

418

Rob

Sondrio

Samedan-Silandro-Oberalp Pass-Samaden

13:27

19:07

5:40

556

Interesting variation on the Daily Grind, working up NE of Sondrio town, eventually breaking free and crossing the pass into the Engadin. Good most of the way to Bolzano, then showers. Headed west towards Andermatt again but a band of thick upper cloud was coming in from the SW, cutting off the convection, so we turned just short and scuttled back to the E as the climbs were dying quickly under the overcast. Managed to get back into the Engadin, then a fairly long glide back to Sondrio. Cunims were sprouting off the back of the southerly ridge but there wasn't much lift left on the hills. Below 4,500' there was a 15kt valley breeze which made some of the outcrops work and set up interesting patterns of lift and sink in the valley. Fun day.

05-Jul

419

Rob

Sondrio

Sisteron

St Moritz-Courmayer

10:35

19:19

8:44

771

Same as yesterday's start but worked our way along the east flank of Bernina, then across to St. Moritz. ran W as far as Masera in good conditions (11K, 4kts) then chose the route south of Monte Rosa with lower cloud rather than uncertain blue to the N. Vaulted many ridges to eventually creep through a crack into the Aosta valley, where it was mostly blue. Worked our way slowly south by way of the high-level ski resorts, pretty much completely blue by now with tiny thermals a long way apart. Good in the blue at Bardoneccia then into cumulus from Barcelonette down to Thorame. Headed back north into the Ecrins for a high-altitude tour, then glid out to land at Sisteron. Another fascinating relocation across many climactic barriers.

06-Jul

420

Rob

Sisteron

Le Versoud-Aspres-Castellane

14:21

19:07

4:46

506

The sky was full of large alto-cu, which were all that remained of a weak front trailing across the Alps. We launched onto Hongrie and worked our way to Morgon, then Tete de Lucy. Eventually, the blue thermals underneath went high enough to interact with the alto-cu, so some of them started to behave like cumulus. The Ecrins was 8/8 so we crept round to the NW and followed the ridges to just past Grenoble, returning via the back of the Pic de Bure. We pushed SE as far as Castellane, where what looked like sea air was coming up the valley, so turned and ran the Parcours twice, which was working well in the 15kt SW'ly, before returning to Sisteron. An enjoyable day revisiting old haunts.

07-Jul

421

Rob

Sisteron

Local Wave

12:05

15:13

3:08

219

Southerly wind with broken cu, alto-cu, alto-stratus and cirrus. Launched onto the Baume which had ridge lift and gentle thermals up to 6,000'. Slid over behind the Lure and contacted wave up to 11K. Tried every ATC unit in France but unable to get the wave window opened as they kept passing us off to each other with the radio equivalent of a Gallic shrug. Wandered around the Durance valley trying to find a non-airspace wave bar but gave up in the end. Lots of layers of cloud in all shapes, sizes and colours.

07-Jul

422

Rob

D Chilcot

Sisteron

Local Wave

15:31

19:23

3:52

297

Similar launch and getaway to the earlier flight but a wave gap had formed in the Seyne valley, which was going up to FL190. Gently drifted down exploring the boundaries of the cloud mass surrounding the Sisteron/Gap area. Returned to the field after visiting Aspres, Serres and the western edge of the valley. Not a bad use of a day when only a handful of people from Sisteron flew at all.

08-Jul

423

Rob

Sisteron

Til Chatel

Briancon-Chambery-Chaumont-Saulieu

11:36

18:45

7:09

689

Goal of Til-Chalet, N of Dijon decided on. Just scraped away from Les Monges in the blue, then picked up a decent climb near Seyne. Crossed over to Tete de Lucy for a short grind before picking 5kts to 11K off a nearby saddle in the moderate S'ly wind. The Ecrins was very cloudy again, so moved over to the NW of Briancon but no lift. Came back for a wind-shadow climb on the edge of the Ecrins which got us into the Maurienne under thick 8/8 alto-stratus but at just under 12K. Decided to go for it on the lower route as the high alps to the N were cloud covered. There was stratus almost on the ground in the Grenoble area but we found medium-level convection that took us up to 11.5K under complete overcast. 130Km glide out, eventually losing the top cover and entering a cumulus field near Saint-Amour. Fairly average until heading SW from turning Chaumont, then 7,000'+ bases and 5kt thermals. Came back to Til-Chalet when the trailer caught up. An amazing escape from the Alps into central France and a fitting end to a superb trip.

14-Jul

424

Rob

R Colbeck

Dunstable

Dorchester-Hemsbury Hill-Earith

11:36

18:17

6:41

606

Routing SW and back was a good idea, extending task East at the end was not. Cloudbase reached 7000' just west of Bedford but then no cu or much lift in and out of Earith. So after a grovel free day I managed to engineer on at the end!

15-Jul

425

Steve

A Brown

Dunstable

Sutton Bank O/R

10:38

16:51

6:13

548

Steve said he likes starting early. We took off and he said we had gone too early, so had to hang around for a bit...Conditions got very good as far as York, then a bit scrappy to Sutton Bank. Booming again past Doncaster before high cloud made things tricky for the last 100K. An excellent flight many thanks to Steve! Andrew Brown

23-Jul

426

Steve

A Cunningha

Dunstable

Feltwell-Long Sutton

10:23

14:33

4:10

277

Task was due to go SE from FWL, but conditions not suitable, so came back via Spalding. Mostly 8/8 with some good climbs under it.

24-Jul

427

Rob

Steve

Dunstable

York-Cambridge South-Eastwell

10:02

17:54

7:52

674

I think the task area was probably right though there was a blue area over N Lincs. Decent climbs but not stunning. The Satpic shows the band of well marked cu where conditions were quite good, elsewhere thermals weaker and difficult to work. Very cautious final glide into the blue but there were actually some good climbs. It looks like the Cheshire Gap introduced this band of moist air which modified an otherwise blue day.

30-Jul

428

Steve

B Craig

Dunstable

Clee Hill-Candover-Hinkley

10:28

17:45

7:17

563

Very mixed day, mostly under 7/8 until after CAC, but unstable enough to work. Then over Aldermarston northbound, a complete change of gear with a proper gliding sky and a good romp.

31-Jul

429

J Bridge

Dunstable

Woolley Down-Cottam-Newmarket-Bedford

11:17

16:48

5:31

509

Put off by Ac all over the place but it came and went enough to allow progress. Glide in and out of WLY and NMT had the last cloud going east, so couldn't have fitted much more in. Wide selection of thermals from excellent to crap, base higher than forecast, thankfully.

02-Aug

430

Rob

Dunstable

Lincoln SW-Stockbridge-Ilsley-Avebury

11:22

17:07

5:45

583

1st leg good with a nice tailwind and plenty of running - was just starting to get more difficult northbound as we turned. Not bad into-wind until South of Oxford where the clouds got much bigger and there was a lot of medium-level spreadout (but no showers, surprisingly). Tiptoe in and out of STK but not really a problem with 4,500-5,000' bases then good for the rest of the flight. Sky fell apart shortly before landing and it rained just as we were pushing into the hangar!

03-Aug

431

Rob

Dunstable

Caxton Gibbet-Evesham-Brize Norton

11:45

15:25

3:40

312

Expected great things with instability and possible storms... In the event, gave up on the task over Brize due steadily weakening conditions. Some good climbs to the N but lots of monster clouds with 0-2kts underneath. Brize extremely helpful.

06-Aug

432

Steve

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Aston Down

07:39

08:50

1:11

110

Position

06-Aug

433

Steve

A Watson

Aston Down

Nympsfield-Bath-Aston Down-Bicester

13:09

15:38

2:29

215

Inter uni task week at Aston Down, flying as alumni for Edinburgh University Gliding Club with Mr President, Adam Watson. Launched at the right time as the day was looking very flat beforehand, but we squeezed in a little xc before top cover killed it all again.

06-Aug

434

Steve

T Pridgeon

Aston Down

Dunstable

15:46

16:36

0:50

110

Position

09-Aug

435

Rob

Dunstable

Portsmouth North-Gainsborough Power Station-Cambridge West-Bourton on the Water

09:36

17:39

8:03

764

OK run down to just past Lasham then no lift... Tried everywhere/everything including clinging on to ridges but even they weren't working. Lit up then no real problems after that, as spreadout cycled and bases rose. Very good to the N and NE, perked up to the W later in the day. Actually soared 750Km today but technically in two flights - 150Km & 600Km. Oh well...

14-Aug

436

Steve

T Stuart

Dunstable

King's Lynn O/R

12:16

15:16

3:00

256

Rather soft until Wyton, then good run in & out of the first TP, followed by a couple of good runs down a street into wind. Except the street wasn't pointing where we needed to go, and poor conditons elsewhere. Trevor Stuart, down the back, kept saying "good conditions ahead Steve" until the ground came up & met us at Dunstable.

15-Aug

437

Rob

Dunstable

Beverley-Bedford-Halesworth

10:08

17:31

7:23

709

Could see high cover approaching before launch but Cu popped earlier than forecast so stuck with declaration. Nice looking sky going north but thermals needed a fair amount of concentration to pick up. Spreadout in last 50Km and BEV was about as far as you could go, with showers just beyond the TP. Waddington ATC helpful as Reds were about. Once back South of Lincoln, improved to 4-5kts to 5,500+, then lovely energy lines in and out of East Anglia. Not far off glide at Newmarket with 7,000' base, fell apart past Cambridge but picked up a decent margin mear Gransden. Overcast and flat at LGC on return.

19-Aug

438

Rob

Dunstable

Lasham

Lasham via Gaydon

12:33

16:10

3:37

232

Position to Lasham for Nationals. Heavy rain from Bournemouth to the Wash the previous day left a soggy airmass. Approaching Banbury cloudbase rose 1500' to 4800' and delineated the wet band. Almost blue over the Cotswold edge, then back into the soggy air South of Oxford.

21-Aug

439

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Avebury-Chievely

15:35

18:41

3:06

160

Open Nationals Day 1 - Broken thermals the order of the day, which meant flying with others all throwing there gliders around, was fraught. In an effort to escape the mêlée pushed on too hard and ended up wasting half an hour grinding away from 500' agl just S of Marlborough. Then the day ran out still needing another 1000' so not an auspicious start.

22-Aug

440

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Woolley Down-Rushden-Bicester Airfield-Popham

12:32

16:00

3:28

306

Day 2 - A good start today lead to a nice 4kt climb at the first TP leaving most behind. Ran with 176 for awhile running E/W streets. MK produced the strongest climb of the day (8kts) to 5400' just ahead of Jones and Harvey so led the way to Rushden where the 3 Nimbus 1 EB28 gang ran the rest of the flight moreorless as a group. 4th @ 112.7kph.

24-Aug

441

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Hungerford-Crowland Bridge-Skeffington-Brill-Hurstbourne Tarrant

12:00

17:18

5:18

445

Day 3 - Rather big task for the forecast, but conditions were exceptional the further NE we went and until we reached Skeffington, the most Northerly point. Cloudbase reached 5000' with the odd 5kts but much running. It felt like a great race. Then the Sbound leg slowly weakened, lower bases, weaker climbs and the wind increasing by a kt every 20k. Which landed everyone out but 5, finished 3rd at 109.4kph.

25-Aug

442

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Malmesbury-Kingston Bagpuize-Rivar Hill

14:44

17:40

2:56

214

Day 4 - Interesting day with big clouds and some showers and a stiff SW'ly. A couple of decent climbs and the company of Andy Davis reached the enhanced sector at Malmesbury, where a lively new area gave a swift climb to 4000', enough to get to Swindon where a couple of large clouds looked inviting. Cleaned a 6kt smooth climb under the first cloud and, as the first there, was able to take into cloud to 6200', this enough to get round Kingston Bagpuize and over the hill S of Wantage. A degree of streeting got me to 700' over glide at Rivar Hill. Set off crosswind and was disappointed to see the glide eroded and with a blank sky under thick cirrus. Not wishing to risk our precious glider started the engine at 5km out and threw the opportunity of a day win. Unfortunately the door did not close behind me but allowed a small street to drift onto the final leg just past the turn to allow quite a few finishers. Very frustrating.

27-Aug

443

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Cocking-Hungerford North-Buckingham-Whitchurch

12:18

16:31

4:13

300

Day 5 - Upto to startline open the area to the S was unsoarable but sunshine was approaching from the West. Left on our own at the upwind end of the line with a view to going to the upwind end of the enhanced TP at Cocking. Found weak wave which gave a super run, then drifted into sector over the S Downs and immediately fell into a 5kt climb. Duly descended upon and by the time we reached cloudbase (4200') a super street had formed Westwards, ran this at high speed and then routed towards Lasham where a 7kt climb produced another great street, this time almost to the TP. Then chose a directish route towards Oxford in good air, the others went wide along a dying street, gained 800' on them then picked up a smooth 6kt climb which we took into cloud to 6000' then direct fast run to BUC, met the others, still higher but not much, they had the benefit of an energy line at cloudbase. Oh well. Run home includued a 2-3kt climb in rain! but couldn't catch them. Fascinating day nevertheless.

28-Aug

444

Rob

D Bennett

Lasham

Warminster-Pewsey

14:37

17:21

2:44

188

Day 6 - Sent on an impossible task MAR-HUN-Swindon, only possible soaring along the sunny edge of approaching line of showers. All TPs were under torrential rain and low cloud! The lift line allowed us to route S of the Salisbury Plain danger areas and attack Marlborough from the West. Motored back to Lasham when it was obviously never going to be a day.

28-Aug

445

Rob

Lasham

Dunstable

Dunstable via Benson

17:54

18:40

0:46

Nipped out of Lasham before the heavens opened and then dodged a few showers on the way back to Dunstable.

03-Sep

446

Steve

Chula

Dunstable

Cambridge O/R

13:10

16:25

3:15

153

220/17 & thermals which didn't match. Thought it might get better to the east, but had to take one good burn at Waterbeach before gingerly coming back. All quite character-building, or is it too late?

14-Sep

447

Rob

Dunstable

Cambridge South-Felixstowe Pier-Cambridge West-Bicester NW

11:07

15:36

4:29

372

Moist air slowly coming down from the N, showers running across the SW so tried to keep the task midway between the two. Rather low run out but surprisingly thermals OK. Little faff at FEX then good energy lines in and out of CAS. Met spreadout beyond Milton Keynes but sunny patches produced reliably. Nice end-of-season flight

15-Sep

448

Rob

Dunstable

Bradford on Avon-Rivar Hill-Birdlip

11:37

16:02

4:25

358

Yesterday's front stalled almost overhead with variable cirrus. Glide out from high start, became soarable near Chinnor. Made it past the RA(T) before it became active, then OK conditions under thin cu in and out of BRF. Cirrus shadow denser towards BIR but hung onto a weak energy line that got us round. Slowly improved on the way home into better air and stronger sunshine.

25-Sep

449

Steve

R Robertson

Dunstable

Local

11:34

13:03

1:29

Weak & windy. Local airspace warning endurance exercise

26-Sep

450

Rob

P Hunt

Dunstable

Pitsford-Stratford on Avon-Corby-Hus Bos

13:15

16:43

3:28

276

Large dead area between LGC and Northampton extending east and west caused by high cloud after a cold front. Launched high enough to reach the convection and then some nice autumnal thermals to 3800', essentially followed the weather. Took 2 very weak climbs in the dead area to get 300' over glide, held on to it for a careful low energy return, very satisfying.

04-Oct

451

Rob

Dunstable

Lleweni Parc

via Clee Hills, Corwen and Colwyn Bay

10:36

17:13

6:37

293

Planned to position to Denbigh using whatever lift turned up but was expecting a fair amount of climb and glide using the engine. Found wave south of Milton Keynes off the launch, then followed weak ripples between 4.5 & 6K including lines of lift directly into wind. Fell out a couple of times but re-established. First good lift behind the Malverns, then 11K behind the Clee Hills. Chased northwards by 8/8 due to returning front, good wave conditions in North Wales. Very interesting flight

05-Oct

452

Rob

Lleweni Parc

Clwyd Valley and Conway Valley

10:34

13:22

2:48

154

Exciting launch into rather weak wave locally with 8/8 upwind. Pushed to behind Snowdonia, left 3kts @17K as the gaps were steadily filling in. Even more exciting landing

06-Oct

453

Rob

Lleweni Parc

Local Clwyd wave and ridge

10:14

15:35

5:21

175

Windy and showery with some weak wave. Very cold at 11K, especially as cunim anvils casting shadows. Landed just ahead of trough from the NW

07-Oct

454

Rob

Lleweni Parc

Dunstable

via Stourport, Moreton in the Marsh and Banbury

13:03

14:59

1:56

257

Showers pouring in from the Irish Sea, took a launch in a small window and escaped over the Clwyd hills to lower ground at Mold. Climber to 11000' which was just enough to cross a blocking line of showers. Descent slot found over Stratford on Avon, hung around here until the slot had moved into an area away from airspace and we continued on to Dunstable. Fun few days and thanks to Denbigh GC and members of Cambridge GC for their help with parking and launching.

11-Oct

455

Rob

J Jeffries

Dunstable

Wave flight between Bicester and Chipping Norton

10:31

13:45

3:14

179

Strong westerly, contacted weak wave to 8500' over ever increasing cloud amounts. Wave aligned strangely almost up and down wind, although generally aligned parallel with Cotswold edge. Very warm air, so no problem with a long descent through cloud from 6500' to 2500' with just the odd gap.

14-Oct

456

Steve

A Roch

Dunstable

Oakington-Stradishall-Soham

12:08

15:15

3:07

208

Very nice for mid Oct. Less blue to the east with the odd 3 kts to 3700', delivering well under the mature clouds, and. on the way back, the hot spots in the blue. Andy Roch supplied short-term micro weather forecasting with lots of suggestions on where to go! Great fun!

19-Oct

457

Rob

R Colbeck

Dunstable

Mursley-Chinnor-Chipping Campden-Stokenchurch-Brill

10:42

14:57

4:15

262

Started by hill soaring Chinnor ridge, then a few surprisingly good climbs before the showers developed and so created a task around these. Cloudbase reached 4700' in the Oxford area.

29-Oct

458

Steve

P Deane

Dunstable

Pershore O/R

09:56

13:14

3:18

222

1hr 30 playing in the wave, first at Moreton, then west of Evesham up to 7500'. Finally the showers grew around us, and we ran home with a good drenching.

01-Nov

459

Rob

G Greenwoo

Dunstable

Lambourn O/R

12:29

15:44

3:15

208

What a surprise, 200km in November in thermals! A few runs of a few miles each made progress into an 11kt wind. Then a decent run abeam Didcot to just past Membury, then back before it collapsed making use of a street across the Berkshire downs at not a lot of height.

06-Nov

460

Rob

Steve

Dunstable

East Meon-Lewes-Butser Hill-Lewes-Butser Hill

11:09

15:48

4:39

494

Touch & go trip with large cloud amounts, ridge was excellent with a perfectly angled 20 knots on to it. Did two runs to Lewes, 279km at 132.9 kph. Became brghter and slightly soarable at Petersfield but still a cloudy return, nice in the sunshine above though. Airspace, Fuel and Pilot management ably done by Steve.

17-Nov

461

Rob

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Local

14:02

14:46

0:44

Local flight after LX update, a little hill soaring

27-Nov

462

Rob

D Chilcot

Dunstable

Sarnesfield-Talgarth South-Old Radnor-Leominster-Stoney Stratford

08:37

16:06

7:29

456

Found an amazing cloud street from the edge of the Cotswolds to near Bromyard, flew the first part in bits of wave above it then underneath it at 3800' with the occasional 3 kt climb. Later, after a few beats of the Black Mountains ridge, managed to transfer into wave and eventually climbed up to 11700' behind Radnor Forest, then a fantastic 180 km glide home at high speed. Great day for late November.

03-Dec

463

Rob

J Roberts

Dunstable

Enstone-Sarnesfield-Shobdon

08:47

15:55

7:08

386

2 climbs to get just West of Bicester, then a slow climb in what apppeared to be wave from the Cotswold ridge, eventually got to a good spot over the Severn just downwind of the Malverns where it was easy to see what was going on and achieve a 2 kt climb, then at 10000' the wind quickly increased to 66kts and the climb rate went up to 5kts and we rapidly climbed to 14000' and only abandoned because the O2 was not working. Random bits and pieces over almost 8/8ths further West, but eventually arrived downwind of the Black Mountains where we had a repeat type of climb to 14000' then it was time to go home, at high speed, arriving at sunset, no problems but 15 minutes later!

04-Dec

464

Steve

R Berry

Dunstable

Enstone area

10:03

12:17

2:14

150

Unsuccessful wave hunt

07-Dec

465

Rob

R Colbeck

Dunstable

Chipping Norton area then Chiltern Ridge

08:46

15:08

6:22

270

50kt NW winds but no wave, high cu base of 4000' over the Cotswolds produced a couple of 3 kt climbs, but generally allowed a drift back to Chinnor. Chilterns working well, explored most bits including the Aldbury traiangle!

465:00

36434

Time

Flts

2011

Rob