Pub!
To all SGC members,
As some of you know the Local Pub in Seighford – The HollyBush – has recently changed tenant. As a result the Food has Improved dramatically, to such an extent that we’ve been struggling to get food on an ad hoc basis.
So I’ve Booked a Table for up to 8 to 10 places on Saturday Nights. Every Sat for the 6 week trial. The first week was last Saturday. The booking is under ‘SGC members’ and is authorized by myself. To start with please use me as the contact. 07850 495850
If you wish to use this booking, and join others from the club please do so, numbers need to be phoned through before hand. If there are no takers before or on the night I will need to cancel that’s night booking.
This is hopefully a start, obviously we can see how it goes.
Regards,
Nick Peatfield.
Last weekend and forecast
Another great weekend at the SGC last weekend. Saturday was a nice thermic day with lots of people achieving cross countries and lots of soaring locally.
Flight with Rob in the Janus to the Cambridge area and return.
On Sunday, Rob writes:
“Sunday Wave over Staffordshire”
Sunday day has brought many challenging flights especially landings and take offs as the we were experiencing a strong wind from the early hours in the morning until later on in the day. The thermals were workable, however not very reliable and thus most of the pilots were rather disappointed with the overall weather conditions and therefore a cup of tea, shade and a sandwich seemed to be a wiser thought for the day.
However, things changed towards the end of the day.
Nick Peatfield discovered that there was a wave sitting on the upwind side of the airfield and it didn`t take much announcing to get things moving into the right direction. Myself and Charles Wildblood managed to get into the EGN and young Lewis took a front seat in Nicks Janus. Nigel Frost took HUN for a quick spin around the wave and it wasn`t long before he had to get his brakes opened as he was briskly approaching FL55 around the Ecleshall area.
Myself and Charlie took a aerotow into the wind and managed to contact the wave around Newport area, which took us all way up to 5000 feet and then we pushed upwind through the massive sink until we reached another wave bar which gave us steady 2 knot climb up to 8000 feet msl. Nick was leading the way with the Janus and everybody was having a great time.
More importantly, many thanks must go to Jamie as he was keeping the tug steady whilst towing our gliders through very turbulent air.
Sounds like a great day as well!
The weekend is looking warm and soarable on both days with light winds. Very pleasant days to be out on an airfield I would say!
Mike
Saturday Fun July 23rd
A warm and soft sort of day with some scrappy thermals. A few private owners had decent local flights and Lewis managed well over the hour in Hun. Mike jumped in the Janus with Graham Sandford after lunch and found better conditions to the North so cruised off to Camphill – brilliant effort. We had an Air Ex chap arrive who was a bit too heavy so Mr Gill got him in the motor glider and everybody was happy. With a few spare bodies around we had a mass attack on the K8 Cabrio and got her ready for her maiden flight in no time. The resulting list of eager pilots then spent the rest of the afternoon getting used to open cockpit flying. The windscreen works so well that there is no need for goggles and the fun factor is huge. Happy days.
Opportune wave, forecast, convergence and scouts
Another good evening of Scout flying this Wednesday produced lots of smiles. Al Gillson came along with Bill to retrieve the Sleap Twin Astir back home – he writes:
We took off on aerotow retrieve back to Sleap in our Twin Astir and contacted wave (? – shear wave or wave from a convergence – I’m not entirely sure but it was lift in clear air) at 5500′ overhead Ternhill airfield. We managed to climb up to 7500′ but spent most of our 2 hour flight at or around 7000′ before landing at 21:30 with just enough time to put it away before it went dark. Thanks to Barney for towing us.
Some pictures attached for interest.
What a brilliant, unexpected flight – thanks for sending the pics for the blog Al. These are the sorts of flights that you remember for a long time. Ace.
A quick weekend forecast – looks like a soarable day on Saturday, if slightly moist at cloudbase and therefore prone to spreadout. It still looks pretty unstable in some areas as well, so don’t rule out a shower. Sunday looks cloudier, but I wouldn’t rule out some soaring.
Mike
2 seat comp and Goings on at Staffs GC
Nick Peatfield is taking the Janus to the Pocklington Two Seater competition 21st to the 28th August, and is looking for crew, both on the ground and in the second seat. The competition is very social and the picturesque market town of Pocklington with its many shops, gardens and eateries is an easy 15 minute walk away. The flying is good too, with ridge, wave and thermal as well as sea breeze convergence possibilities and friendly coal fired power stations to get you back home at the end of the day! If you would like to get involved, please contact Nick – napeatfield@yahoo.com
Good weather last weekend saw lots of activity at the club and lots of soaring going on. Last Wednesday there was a fantastic evening with about 20 people flown on a Scout evening group. More of the same tomorrow night.
Mike