13 Logbook 2015

Date

Pilot

From

Task or Route

T/O

Land

Time

Kms

IGC

Pics

02-Jan

696

Rob

Dunstable

Radnor O/R

10:08

15:57

5:49

365

Hard work getting established with 45-50kt headwind on the way out, enough to climb in short of Moreton. Odd bits and pieces, climbed OK Severn valley, got cocky and ran all the way to Radnor without finding much. Just got away, primary climb at ORA, easy 180Km glide home.

24-Jan

697

Steve

H Jones

Dunstable

Chinnor O/R

11:00

13:41

2:41

Chiltern ridges

24-Mar

698

Rob

Dunstable

Mundford-Marlborough

10:54

15:16

4:22

410

Forecast for some showers but the worst around the edges of the country. Just got in and out of MUN with the help of Lakenheath. Opened up nicely past Woburn, 5kts+ to 5,000', eventually showered but we were on the way home. Nice early season flight

06-Apr

699

Steve

M Biggs

Dunstable

Local

2:18

09-Apr

700

A Harrison

Dunstable

Montgomery O/R

12:03

16:22

4:19

387

Visibility was so poor to start with, almost called it off. Slow improvement going west but thermals were not too bad, despite the glook. Soggy patch between Banbury and Worcester but better vis and cloudbase from then on. Was blueing out at the turn, needed to get about 50km back before it became reliable then a nice run home with some 4kt averages to 4-4,500'. Still poor vis but better than when we left.

11-Apr

701

Rob

Dunstable

Presteigne-Llanganidyr Bridge-Old Radnor

11:47

16:08

4:21

443

Fairly rapid clearance of cold front, followed streets into improving conditions. Found a bit of a hole in the Severn Valley but recovered OK. Bit broken around Presteigne, nice run in and out of LLG along the Black Mountains & Llangorse. Kept high into ORA then easy run home with a couple of 4-5kt climbs and the rest running.

18-Apr

702

Steve

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Enstone O/R

11:30

13:23

1:53

130

Phil Warner gave me an assisted tow, which went fine. Was planning on hill soaring east face Black Mountains, but abandoned at ENS as climbs were few and far between, & difficult in strong wind. More cu as we came back East, but not encouraged to continue.

26-Apr

703

Steve

S Astley

Dunstable

Newport Pagnell-Mynd-Pontypool-Newport Pagnell

10:39

16:28

5:49

438

Totally socked in at DUN with cloud hanging around after cold front, so we motored to NPT. First climb still under 8/8 sth of Nothampton, very weak for a while. Then flew into improving conditions, seeing 5k' and climbs frequently 5kts. The day seemed to die rapidly from Cotswold Edge, last gasp over Finmere got us back to NPT. Postscript: Stefan Astley then did some great scratching to get us home.

28-Apr

704

Rob

Dunstable

Felixstowe-Leominster-Banbury-March

9:59

18:27

8:28

763

OK run downwind to the coast, came to a bit of halt when we turned into-wind. Not many runs but some good climbs to 5,000+. Had a bad patch from Banbury to the Cotswold Edge, could not make anything work. Better from then on with some 5-6kt climbs. Raced the clock out to March, eventually made glide at 6,700' after a bit of a scrabble, glide turned out OK into a 18-20kt wind. In retrospect a nice day but it didn't feel like that all the time.

29-Apr

705

Rob

R Page

Dunstable

Hereford-Stony Stratford

13:50

16:39

2:49

310

After the morning front cleared, some great streets to be had with cloud base over 5k in places. The showers killed some areas and a fair amount of detouring was required. But with lift under the clouds today (unlike yesterday) and endless visibility it was great afternoon to fly on.

30-Apr

706

A Delaney

Dunstable

Ivybridge-W Meon Hut-Pangbourne

9:42

15:27

5:45

609

Low-ish base to start but some running, showers to the north and rather claggy to the south. Improved past Swindon then steadily downhill to 2,500' base near Yeovilton. Pressed on in the ancient tradition and was rewarded by a sudden step to 5,000'+ approaching Dunkeswell along with a convergence near the south coast. Easy run in and out of IVY, followed the edge towards MEW which was good as it had gone totally blue in a band downwind of the Somerset Levels. Got a clearance from Southampton and another great run under a convergence almost as far as MEW. Nice as far as the M4, then much spreadout but got a good climb onto a fast glide.

01-May

707

Steve

E Bittenbend

Dunstable

Bletchley-Bourton-on-the-water-Great Ashfield-Woburn

10:27

15:03

4:36

411

Launch was always going to be an issue, nice assisted tow, thanks Bill. Up & down wind task, with streeting working only some of the time, and more inefficient crossing of streets than ideal. The approaching cirrus from the SW was a major factor, almost cutting off Bourton completely, and then chasing us eastwards. Final leg was benign with no turns required after Cambridge.

05-May

708

Steve

T McFadyen

Dunstable

Strubby-Bolsover-Osbournby

9:32

15:34

6:02

461

Andy Roch suggested the thermals would be interfered with by early wave, and beyond, and they were indeed unpredictable & fickle. We were too slow on the first 2 legs to complete before the forecast end of day, so abandoned attempting to make the last TP.

07-May

709

Rob

Dunstable

Newbury-Winchcombe-Talgarth

13:15

17:54

4:39

429

Again nearly didn't fly, rained on several times before launch. Cloudbase rose from 2,000' AGL at the start to 6,000'+ over the Black Mountains. Followed a bit of a convergence/pseudo sea breeze to the N, looked nasty north of it. Chased by cirrus on the way home. Another unexpected day out.

10-May

710

Steve

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Langham O/R

12:11

16:48

4:37

314

Cloud base for first 50k only 2600' with 17kt tailwind, so shallow climbs for a while. Better towards the coast, although climbs rarely 3kts, so the prospect of the return leg was not great. Surprised we made it back as far as Bedford, where we had to light up about 1500' below glide.

15-May

711

Steve

S Walker

Dunstable

Downham Market-Horncastle

10:50

15:58

5:08

339

Mid level moistness took longer to clear DUN than expected, so later start. After DOW, went blue and soggy, looked grim after Coningsby, so abandoned. Returned initially in weak blue to a low save at Peterborough, after which back into cu, and much more acceptable conditions.

21-May

712

Rob

Dunstable

Fordingbridge-Hinckley-Swainsthorpe

10:45

18:55

8:10

641

Spent ages going through all the met data, which appeared to be changing as you looked at it. Eventually picked a task that we thought would keep us in reasonable air most of the way round but with problem patches. Low base to start but improved along the Chilterns, some good climbs of 5kts+. Could see the air warming/drying aloft on the run into FOR as the clouds were dissipating rapidly. Semi-blue run to BIC then some scroffly cu into the turn. Had our first encounter with a patch of altocu cutting off the sun. Good run to SWT downwind with 1/8 cu and some running. Turned into wind then ran 30km under boiling cloudstreets to find nothing at all. Scraped away south of Lakenheath then met our nemesis altocu again after Cambridge. Decided to go way north of track to weak sunshine, just managed to stay airborne but it looked like the end near Henlow. Got away (just) then slow improvement and got onto glide at 1830. Whew!

28-May

713

Rob

J Hooley

Dunstable

Cheltenham O/R

14:42

17:04

2:22

235

Last minute decision to fly and it was a fantastic afternoon, with streets to 5700' and a sea breeze that ran from S Wales to Brize.

30-May

714

Steve

Dunstable

Woburn-Hay-Market Weighton-Mendelsham-Woburn

9:13

18:14

9:01

755

Slower to get going than expected, turned into a brilliant second leg up to Yorkshire. Then the fun started coming south, when thermals & clouds bore little relation to one another. Led to a couple of lowish saves with much head scratching. Normal service resumed between Kings Lynn & Downham Market. From Mendlesham, back into increasing overcast. A nail biting final glide from the Duxford area.

07-Jun

715

Rob

B Crook

Dunstable

Lake Bala-Cwmbran

11:41

17:22

5:41

565

Thought Wales might be good today, so headed for L Bala. The only tricky bit really as it was over high ground, lower cloud and almost 8/8ths, having escaped that a nice run down the centre of Wales with cloudbase 6000' in places.

09-Jun

716

M Fase

Dunstable

Carmarthen-Snowdon-Brynamman

9:50

19:21

9:31

764

Pretty much unsoarable to start, glid out in IMC, little burbles until Bicester where a cloud climb just gave enough range to get out from under 8/8ths. Slow improvement, got good passing Abergavenny, really nice beyond Carmarthen. Hoped for a convergence along the coast and we could see one to the south but not much north. Lots of plate/layer clouds, got a bit low half way up but reconnected. Snowdon very rough but only 12kts of wind. Better run to BMM, stupid choice of TP as it was in the lee of the Brecons so got shot down and had to hillsoar for a bit. Eventually got it right and a nice run as far as the Severn where much deviating was required. Kept pressing on and the airmass changed once over the Cotswolds. Very surprised to make glide around 7pm, still pretty thermic. A grand day out!

15-Jun

717

J Jeffries

Dunstable

Newmarket-Malton-Shobdon

10:38

19:09

8:31

726

Bit blue an weak to start, improved by Cambridge, decent run as far as Wisbech then base fell and thermals became more reluctant. Made first of many visits to 1,500', lots of spreadout. Waddington let me through Scampton, then the first OK climb again off Scunthorpe. Better run into MAL, then medium cover came in to go with the high cover. Grovelled a bit west of Doncaster then improved over the Pennines then more low points. Better past Telford, medium cover went then a bit of a cruch glide in and out of Shobdon as massive spreadout was attacking from Wales. Got away, glid out to Worcester where the skies were open and thermals good. Fairly straightforward after that, kept high and was able to glide back to LGC after finishing. A big effort at times but worth it in the end.

23-Jun

718

E Bittenbend

Dunstable

Dorchester-Newtown

10:38

17:23

6:45

594

Declared Dorchester-Bala, almost unsoarable to start, grovelled away downwind talking to Benson & Boscombe. Lots of spreadout and wrong side of the convergence at DOR but a tactical cloud climb got us in and out. Bristol friendly as always, once past Hereford skies opened up with fantastic vis and 5,000+ bases. Thermal structure a bit unpredictable with lots of pulsing and shearing. Last 50km into Bala was blue and I chickened out as it didn't look good. Cycling conditions on the way home but not problematic although it didn't feel like it was going to last much in the Severn Valley.

27-Jun

719

Steve

C Rupasinha

Dunstable

Shepton Mallet-Yattenden-Wantage-Bicester

9:32

14:50

5:18

337

The fundamental flaw was launching at 0930 in the belief the ridges would work, which was ok until Chinnor didn't. So we restarted there, problematic thermals much of the way to Shepton M, some improvement on the way east, all of which followed the original task until it was clear we weren't going to get past Swindon going west, so we bimbled home.

01-Jul

720

Rob

Buochs

Agathazell

12:21

17:28

5:07

315

https://robincmay.wordpress.com/category/euro-2015/

02-Jul

721

Rob

Agathazell

10:38

18:18

7:40

757

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04-Jul

722

Rob

Agathazell

Füssen

10:03

18:23

8:20

754

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05-Jul

723

A Ishkanian

Füssen

Sondrio

11:21

17:49

6:28

675

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06-Jul

724

Rob

Sondrio

11:47

18:33

6:46

590

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09-Jul

725

Rob

Sondrio

Le Versoud

12:16

18:09

5:53

529

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10-Jul

726

Rob

Le Versoud

13:02

18:33

5:31

525

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11-Jul

727

A Ishkanian

Le Versoud

12:25

15:59

3:34

277

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18-Jul

728

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Bungay-Edgehill-Pickenham

11:23

18:04

6:41

643

Some streeting helped combat the strongish wind. No real problems until the cirrus arrived mid-afternoon and the strong climbs played hard to get. The thermals varied with the top cover but never completely stopped. Starting a good bit earlier would have made for a faster flight and a more comfortable last leg.

19-Jul

729

Steve

S Astley

Dunstable

Hereford O/R

10:54

16:01

5:07

314

Breezy day. Slow start as remnnants of front continued to provide cover. Decent from BIC but slow going until we had a bit of a play with a bit of wave in the lee of the Malverns. Couldn't keep up with TJ, and abandoned intention of getting to Hay when it seemed unlikely we would find much from Hereford on. Nice run back, largely blue but well separated strong climbs.

25-Jul

730

Steve

T Hughes

Dunstable

Newark O/R

10:11

15:29

5:18

408

Some good runs north, although unable to align task with the wind. Planned to do o/r Goole, but top cover forced a retreat at Newark. The risk was known, but I should have listened to the met man!

31-Jul

731

Steve

L Allen

Dunstable

Taunton-Cricklade-Mynd

9:25

15:33

6:08

609

Mostly much more straightforward than I have come to expect this season. One sticky patch after Keevil, & again on the way back. One lowish point over (inactive) Sth Cerney. Otherwise one of the best UK days I've flown in. It should always be like that, lovely!

07-Aug

732

Rob

Dunstable

Axminster-Aston Down-Shipton

10:32

17:15

6:43

597

Nice to about 40km from AXM then much spreadout. Climbed near the coast but didn't get going again until short of Bath. OK run but the medium level cloud was just too thick to get both in and out of the last turn. Bimble back to LGC after that. Some excellent climbs in places but some very long glides in others.

08-Aug

733

Rob

Dunstable

Bruton-Northampton-Humber Bridge

10:30

18:32

8:02

712

Barely soarable until Wantage on the 1st leg then OK in and out of BRU. Improved past Brize but good thermals took a lot of locating, had one glide of nearly 60km from 5,000 down to 1,700' with nothing. Clearance through Scampton, big deviation E to stay up after HUM, finally connected with decent climbs about 150km out, no problem after that.

09-Aug

734

Rob

L Bennett

Dunstable

Chipping Camden-Newmarket-Bottesford

11:08

15:55

4:47

467

Apart from spread out quite a nice day, even then the remaining sunny spots almost guaranteed a thermal.

16-Aug

735

Steve

P Candler

Dunstable

Goole O/R

10:05

14:57

4:52

426

Started a wee bit early, so major faff SW of Cranfield (thanks for your patience!), after which the day settled into a pattern of long glides under spreadout to good deep climbs where there was sun & cu. Astonishing that the climbs were so good, frequently 5-6 kts. Initially looked grim on return leg, but nice climb in RHADS, and the pattern re-established.

28-Aug

736

Steve

S Longo

Dunstable

Langham-Needham Market-Long Sutton

10:40

16:14

5:34

459

Nice run downwind to the Norfolk coast, problem with the next 2 legs that they were crosswind on a breezy day, but no real issues. Task area selected for forecast high cloud base, & we eventually saw 6k'. Very nice. Thanks to Marham, Norwich & Lakenheath - all very helpful.

06-Sep

737

Steve

T Rose

Dunstable

Thame-Portsmouth-Glyndebourne-Newbury

11:12

16:22

5:10

410

From Portsmouth it was blue, and had been weak climbs. With just a low level semblance of a convergence on the south side of the island, we abandoned the SCP TP west of Havant. The rest of the task was fine, largely blue from Basingstoke home, but still delivering some good climbs.

07-Sep

738

Dunstable

Llanbedr

15:00

17:30

2:30

265

08-Sep

739

Rob

Llanbedr

Cadair Idris, Snowdon, Llandudno, Anglesey

11:05

17:00

5:55

319

Cadair Idris, Snowdon, Anglesey. Wave to 8500' then thermals to 4000'

09-Sep

740

Llanbedr

Dunstable

11:39

15:50

4:11

265

Wave formed up nearly overhead and was getting 10kts from 2,000'. Worked a weaker climb up to 11K behind Cadair Idris then set off over 8/8 central Wales. Fell into the convection near Ludlow, was able to run some energy lines. Was also having battery problems, so turned everything off except for the LX - the solar panels were just about giving enough to keep it going, although every time I went under a cloud the voltage dropped. Eventually blued out so that problem was solved. 100Km out the LX failed, so carried on with the mech. vario and 1/2mil, surprised I could still do it after all these years. Hence trace stops somewhere in the Cotstwolds, I did get back, honest!

249:12

20836

Time

Flts

2015

Rob