Flying Report Sat 15 Aug 26
A welcome drop in temperature put a spring in everyone’s step. With a large MEF student contingent, it was meant to be chocks away at 0800 with a TMG sortie for Grace to finish off her bursary programme and a series of eventualities for Lewis. However, that didn’t happen as the tug said “No”. After a tug test flight, we eventually commenced launching at 0925.
Conditions were overcast and cool and instructors and tuggies were kept busy with six bursary students……..
……and two junior members to fly. Our juniors are doing really well with Douglas now managing both aero-tow and landings.
Air Cadet Jenson is making progress on his gliding journey but his grant funding has now run out; fingers crossed you find another pot of gold Jenson.😍
We were delighted to welcome visitor Nigel, a guest of Alan Jolly. Rumour has it that Nigel played alongside Frank Beard in ZZTop, icons of 1980s Rock Culture.
Hope you enjoyed your introduction to flying at RAF Shawbury Nigel. Meanwhile, Team Adlard decided life was better at Shawbury rather than the Mynd and took a ride in RAF Myndbury’s ASK13 JMJ (ex-R46) but fell out of the sky after just 14 mins - apparently there was a mid-air row over whose turn it was to walk the dog!
The morning progressed with eventualities training in WG for Lewis but with cloud base around 2,000ft and 8/8ths cloud the morning never really got going. Norm and Jenson took the honours with a trip of 27mins. With rapid turn round thank goodness for our teams of pullers and pushers!
Then the sun turned up and things got lively. All our students managed a decent soaring trip in the afternoon in perfect conditions for a cracking day out. 26 launches and over 11 hours of flying time. Not bad and thanks to all helped to run the show throughout the day.
The last words go to Cosford based MEF gliding bursary student Grace as she comes to the end of her bursary programme.
Grace, who is applying for RAFGSA Go-Solo funding to continue her gliding journey, said:
“Having now finished the MEF bursary scheme I just want to say thank you for such an amazing opportunity and community provided by the club. In the short time I've been a member I’ve achieved a lot in gliding and also on the ground working as a team, which I'd highly encourage others with the access to the MEF bursary scheme to seek for themselves. Next step is to go solo so see you all soon!!”
Top Job Grace.