Weather for the week ahead
Glorious, sunny weather for getting back into the swing of flying for the week ahead, but there are some caveats (as usual in this country).
Wednesday sees high pressure pushing in from the East, which is unusual, bringing strongish Southerly winds and warm, stable air. RASP doesn’t look very encouraging, as it’s taking into account the wind speed and stability, and the fact that it’s likely to be blue. However, looking at the forecast sounding for later in the day shows quite a nice plot. I think it’ll be warm, sunny and a bit thermic with a breeze. I think there will be the odd shallow cumulus. Perfect for pre-season practice.
Saturday shows a bluer picture, with some lingering weak fronts. Again, the sounding shows it’s soarable, but almost certainly blue with some high cloud to contend with. Another nice day for being at the club and blowing the cobwebs (and rain) off the toys and yourself! Similar for Sunday, but the situation is so slack I’m not sure if anyone really knows what’s happening for sure.
I’m out of the country at the weekend, so you will have to let me know if I was right!
Mike
Flying this summer at SGC
Despite the obvious terrible weather, flying and training has continued throughout winter at the Staffordshire Gliding Club and there has been much achieved. Some have enjoyed soaring flights where there is a ridge or some wave to sustain flight, but now it’s Seighfords turn to have some summer soaring. By the way – if you fancy flying at other places, especially during the winter, talk to an instructor at the club, and they will probably know who to contact to arrange it.
Peter Gill has already claimed the first 100Km flight, so the thermal season has truly started. A team of reporters at the club will be keeping in touch via this Blog during the summer to offer forecasts, flying reports and announcements to whet your appetite for some flying.
Don’t forget that from now on, it is actually quite unusual to get absolutely no thermal soaring on any particular day. All you need is a shaft of sunlight on the ground under many circumstances, and there will likely be a thermal.
What do you want to achieve in 2018? Talk to an instructor at the club, and we will attempt to get you the training you need to fly / soar / navigate / adventure / instruct / aerobat your way around the sky this season.
Happy flying and soaring in 2018. See you at the club!
Mike
Wave after the drizzle
Great day at the club today. Starting off grey and drizzling, the sky opened up to reveal the sun, thermals and wave. As the tug is back online, several took advantage of the opportunity to take a high tow to explore. Here are some of Charles Wildbloods shots from his and Grahams flight in the old faithful k13..
Soaring in 2017!
A nice day on Wednesday with a soft but useable airfield and some thermals! Our duty instructor Ian Carrick managed to climb to well above the winch launch, scoring the longest flight of the day.
The season has started!
Today Weds 14th at SGC
A good turnout on a misty December day marred initially with poor viz and fogged canopy’s, we enjoyed several aerotows thanks to Paul and some good winch launches, later in the day we found some weak wave to extend our flights.The good news is both the DCFI’s are back in the back seat! … Happy days … Dave K
