Despite our best endeavours to get the two K21s and a tug out to the launch point before the front arrived, we were thwarted by the increasing wind speed. With gusts in excess of 30kts we scrubbed. Such disappointment for our young aviators from whom there was a really good turnout, nevertheless their time was not wasted.

At the end of the morning brief we were delighted to recognise the hard work and efforts of our Chief Technical Officer, Colin Haynes. One of the awards at our club Annual Awards ceremony in December each year is the prestigious Ernst Pottawenis Memorial Trophy.

Avid readers of the blog may recall past winner Colin whose efforts whilst driving the tug were forever immortalised in the Club Calendar, following his successful collision with the launch point caravan.

This year the awards committee decided to take the unprecedented step of making an interim award following Colin’s unparalleled success in busting KE on its test flight following its long period in maintenance. Top Job Colin.😎

The wet weather programme then kicked into action. Nigel had decided that whilst he was away we were to conduct yet another exercise of taking the wings off and putting them back on WG. Described as Supererogulation (noun)……

Meaning: The act of performing an entirely unnecessary task with great seriousness and dignity.

. ……apparently, this is a very good thing to do and many thanks to all took who took the strain.

At the end of the supererogulation, it was time for cakes. Thanks again to Mrs #vulcanbomber ……

……and also to Nick Lewinton in celebration of his 70th birthday. In recognition of reaching this birthday milestone the club presented Nick with a spare prop, the very one made redundant by Colin!

Welcome to new MEF gliding bursary students Barney and Kyle, both in training at RAF Cosford. They joined Hoss, Becky, Ethan and Billy all under the watchful eyes of instructors Brad and Laura. We took advantage of the day to get cockpit briefs, parachute fitting and other essentials out of the way without any rush.

In the Sim room there is plenty of scope for our students to get to grips with some of the basics and it is also a perfect opportunity for instructors to teach in a classroom environment, practicing their long briefing skills and covering items that we can’t normally do in such detail out the airfield.

Another spell of good work today from young Ben who is doing part of his D of E volunteering with the club. Ben is applying for an Air League gliding scholarship and we hope to see him flying in the not-too-distant future.

Finally, farewell to Hoss and Becky and good luck on posting from Cosford to Lossiemouth. Thanks for all your help and support and we would be delighted hope to see you both at Shawbury on some future occasion.