20:30 Wednesday 6th June, Phil Colbert chucks a post onto Pennine Flight Club group asking if anyone fancies some XC coaching on Thursday. That day I'd walked about 8 mile with my 20Kg pack looking for non existent wind. I was planning a day off & had a course to go to. However, XC coaching with Phil.... had to be worth a go, course can wait.
Meeting up there were 5 of us - Me, Phil, John O, GJ, and another pilot off on sick. We shall call him Dartanian to protect his job. Whilst driving, Phil was giving me loads of tips as I sheepishly admitted I've not left any hill yet - but he was great and said that is exactly what this day was about. Note to all other pilots thinking the same!
I've had 3 knee ops in last 2 years & just started flying at the beginning of the month so I march off early knowing my muscles have deteriorated. Westy's IOTA in my pack - first real outing. On the way up, I am passed as expected. My poor limbs screaming as I attempted the steep incline. I was ready to admit defeat when a bay-watch style body came bounding toward me. Phil grabbed my pack (ooerr) and like a mountain goat took it to the top (I wasn't too far off in my defence).
Anyone who carries another's pack is alright in my book.
Holding back the puke I rested whilst the others got ready. The wind blew through in bursts as the thermals raced through. John O gave comforting words - thx. GJ took off near vertically. "Told you it would be easy to stay up" says Phil as GJ disappears.
Pukey feeling still there, Dartanian suggests I eat something. Really? I did eat a scotch egg but struggled to keep it down. But then I started feeling a little better.
GJ off, Dartanian off, John O off, Phil, off, me.... questioning my frame of mind - in hindsight that was a good thing to do. Decided the walk down was not an option so pulled up the new wing easily in a lull and effortlessly glided off the hill.
All 5 of us were up & down, thermals strong at times but a little narrow. Wind slightly off the hill. We got the first thermal but pushing out front for second thermal seemed more problematic until Phil, GJ & Dartanian seemed to cadge a lift off a cloud. Maybe not Dartanian actually but Phil & GJ left the hill.
John O cunningly waited whilst Dartanian bombed out way behind take off somewhere. All safe. I'll stick with John O was my not so cunning plan.
However, eventually I decided not to push things so I went to land. At Mach 2. What's this wing all about?
Of course, almost immediately John O went up in the strongest, widest thermal of the year - skies were looking great now as opposed to when Phil & GJ set off.
He already had his grin ready for when he passed Phil & GJ in the air.
Meanwhile, Dartanian had returned to the lip. Blown out! He (or she) had to walk half way down to take off into a crappy air mass.
Meanwhile, John O's grin was rapidly fading as all the fluffy clouds seemed to be missing him! He bombed short of Phil & GJ!
The retrieve procedure used Phil's airwhere & live tracking webpage.
Clicked on him then selected "directions to pilot" and job done.
Everyone picked up & returned to cars.
This day was a great learning experience & huge thanks to Phil for organising it. If you are just starting XC or are thinking about it, come along if he does another one - you don't actually have to go XC but you see how it can all work smoothly with a bit of planning & the right software. Airwhere tracking for android is worth getting (from play
store) - you can say you are hitchhiking or anything & it appears on a map.
Whilst I didn't get away, I was taught a load of stuff by Phil (& John
- O) which only made sense when I was on the hill looking to get away.
It's a totally different perspective between planning to soar & planning to go XC.
I just need that one big thermal & I'm off.
Paul Hester
In a very slick presentation, Jocky pulled up video clips to illustrate all of his points about glider behaviour and, most importantly, pilot behaviour. As someone who went on one of his courses 5 years ago, it was fascinating to see how the emphasis of teaching has subtly shifted towards building a deeper understanding of canopy flight and how the combination of pilot and wing need to be married together to produce the right outcome. Modern gliders are so well designed that it is nearly always the pilot mis-timing their control input that leads to a simple collapse turning into an inescapable cascade. A very useful revision/review of this vast subject, and a good reminder of how necessary it is to explore the abilities of our gliders, and ourselves, and to recognise their (and our) limitations.
On the 19th Novemer, Richard Butterworth gave a review of the airlaw part of the pilot exam, along with additional hints and tips and some exercises to help in everyday flying which are not on the exam.
