Flying Report Sun 15 Feb 26
And the rain kept falling as outlined in Nick’s timely forecast😮
For those who arrived today amidst yet another heavy downpour, it looked like another flying day was to be scrubbed. And so we had to be inventive for our new younger pilots who turned up in the hope of flying. Parachute and cockpit briefs in a dry Hangar 4 were followed by time on the simulator for Billy, Ethane and Oliver conducted by our aerobatics aviatrix, Laura……
…..and we applauded a very nice landout by a disoriented Shawbury based Oliver who was trying to navigate his way back to ………………SHAWBURY! Top job Oliver.
Meanwhile, excitement was growing as we neared an engine ground run and airtest for KE. Its last flight was on 28 Sep 25 and it has been in workshops ever since undergoing an extended annual maintenance period including the 5-year hose replacement. Engine test complete and with a brief break in the weather, Colin took KE on its air test but the engine began to run roughly and the aircraft was landed and returned to workshops for further investigation. This is disappointing after so much time spent by the maint team on KE.
We hope that the issues can be rectified soon as, weather permitting, in order to maintain the tempo of an aero-tow launch only club, we need more than one tug.
A longer break in the weather tempted our TMG WG out of the hangar for three flights during which we sent airborne new MEF gliding bursary student Ethane and then junior member Billy. And then another belt of rain descended.
We spent the next hour and a half looking at Nick’s weather forecast (again) and the rainfall radar, and then a collective decision was taken to see what might develop in the early afternoon. So, there was time to give some of the old lads who had been given a day pass, a bus tour of the airfield
By 1430 skies were set to clear to the point that we set up the launch point with just one ASK 21 (R22) and with the aim of getting everyone at least one trip.
The first launch got away at 1500…..
…...and the last as the sun went down setting in the West over the Breidden Hills.
Seemed to be water everywhere on the airfield; can it get more waterlogged than it already is?
Many thanks to all for going that extra mile in the freezing wet conditions today, with our efforts buoyed by much cake from Mrs #vulcanbomber and Ben’s Mum.😍
