Light and variable: the description of the day’s
winds at YCAB also applied to the gliding
operations.
Light because absences overseas or on the sick
list for several of our Friday faithfuls reduced
the flight sheet to just eight flights for eight
pilots, all towed by last minute stand-in tug Mike
Grady. Variable because the calm atmosphere made
lift a difficult commodity to find and work,
resulting in flight times ranging from 13 to 50
minutes.
The day began with some essential maintenance on
the Barina’s exhaust system. Weekend flyers
please note that it is not up to rough driving, so
please avoid using the bush short cut between RWYs
06 and 12.
Flying got underway with the decision to take GYK
and IKW to RWY06, and it’s pleasing to report
that the power traffic sensibly followed us there
for most of the day. That traffic included motor
glider GHM, flown my Steve Bowtell on the check
flights which resulted in his well-deserved and
overdue elevation to Level 2 Instructor.
WELL DONE, STEVE
and Peter Stephenson is probably already
slotting you into the duty instructor roster!
(What a pity you had to leave for work
before we could congratulate you properly)
The first three club launches were training
flights for Jessica Bellamy with duty instructor
Barry McCarthy, polishing her take offs, towing
technique and landings towards solo standard.
Bob Hainsworth and Arthur Mailey were the first to
launch in IKW, but back after just 23 minutes of
scratching for thermals under clouds that promised
more than they proved to deliver.
Casual visitor Stephen George arrived
just at the right time for Tony Sorensen to take
him on a 12:40 departure AEF which set an unbeaten
50 minutes and just over twice the average
duration to remain the flight of the day.
This was most closely challenged by Bob and Arthur
who got 40 minutes from the Twin’s tie down
launch.
Next best was 25 minutes for Judith Smith and me
in GYK, with Kevin Rodda arriving just a bit too
late for anything better than 17 minutes, with
Judith again, for the Blanik’s tie down flight.
All up 5 flights @ 1:29 for GYK and 3 flights @
1:53 for IKW. And no surprises that we left GJY
slumbering in her pyjamas.
Onward and upward for bigger and better flights in
June!
