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13
Logbook 2012 |
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Date |
FN |
Pilot |
P2 |
From |
To |
Task or Route |
T/O |
Land |
Time |
Kms |
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IGC |
Pics |
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07-Jan |
466 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Chinnor-Lower Clopton-Goucester
South-Black Mountains |
10:03 |
15:47 |
5:44 |
431 |
Launched onto Chilterns, some
weak wave at Chinnor but not going anywhere so positioned to Cotswold edge.
Ridge ran from Clopton to Nympsfield, wave bar over Gloucester looked good
but ridges were being messed around underneath. Lit up for 1000' then maxed
9.3kts in stunning wave lift. Pushed upwind to near Hay and FL145 then ran
home. Not a bad start to the season! |
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19-Jan |
467 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Edgehill-Tewkesbury-Enstone |
11:23 |
16:07 |
4:44 |
249 |
Picked up weak
wave nr. Edgehill in a drier slot between showers to the N & S. Pushed
upwind to next bar in lift (?) then better up to FL105 airspace, wind 66kts
300degs. Expected great things so ran into-wind to just short of Malvern but
not much in the way of wave - cloudbase now 3,000'+ so thermalled as far as
Enstone, still active 30mins before sunset... Another nice flight with ridge,
wave and thermal from what was originally a glider-drying-out exercise. |
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21-Jan |
468 |
Steve |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Aylesbury-Princes
Risboro |
11:25 |
13:26 |
2:01 |
90 |
Strong gusty
crosswind made for tricky take-off, showers on Chinnor ridge so stayed with
Halton and Ellesborough, caught a cloud street from Halton to Waddesdon inc a
3kt climb to 3200' Prop stop broke so avoided a 2nd start |
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19-Feb |
469 |
Rob |
Steve |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Upwood-Tuxford |
10:34 |
16:02 |
5:28 |
338 |
Made life
difficult setting Upwood as a first TP, it was sat in the blue for a long
time. No cloud streets which made the next bit difficult. That said the
cloudbase rose to 5800' near Rutland Water and the viz was fantastic and most
amazing it was February. |
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03-Mar |
470 |
Steve |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Oxford O/R |
13:56 |
16:16 |
2:20 |
145 |
A couple of nice
streets had us running into a stiff wind up to around 4000'. We'd hoped to
cross beyond Brize, but getting low disconnected us, and we had to turn back.
Robin gave an inflight lesson in patience as he tried to climb in ever
weakening conditions, until we eventually gave up/lit up at Bicester. |
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06-Mar |
471 |
Rob |
A May |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Eyebrook-Chinnor |
12:45 |
15:53 |
3:08 |
212 |
Narrow N/S
window between blue to the West and overcast to the East. Couple of 4kt
climbs to 3700'. Last TP was in the blue. Ran out of Red Kites to follow near
Princes Risborough. |
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08-Mar |
472 |
Rob |
M Marshall |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bedford-Avebury |
11:27 |
16:07 |
4:40 |
277 |
A tricky day
with mostly weak climbs, and too many low points for my liking, perked up a
bit over the Bershire Downs which made the task possible, and an unusual
thermal off Didcot got us home. |
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19-Mar |
473 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Great
Ashfield-Pershore |
11:01 |
15:46 |
4:45 |
437 |
Bimble downwind
to start, proper thermals by Cambridge. Couple of nice streets out of the
turn but always going N of track. Ran the edge of a large spreadout area
which was active, dived under 3500' airspace to get to Stratford. Street in
and out of Pershore, then good energy most of the way home, base nearly 5K in
the Vale of Evesham. Some pretty good climbs around but mostly 3-4kts. |
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20-Mar |
474 |
Ed |
A Roch |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Local |
12:07 |
13:22 |
1:15 |
89 |
Flight with A
Roch to revalidate licence |
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01-Apr |
475 |
Rob |
P Harvey |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Sleaford-Northampton
South-Bicester NW |
11:07 |
16:20 |
5:13 |
311 |
Slow going in
weak conditions, did reach an area of cu North of Rutland Water, but still
weak. Ran out of time to complete the intended 400km. |
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06-Apr |
476 |
Steve |
R Berry |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Didcot-Bicester |
10:53 |
13:26 |
2:33 |
141 |
Good 3-4 kts
where no top cover, weak elsewhere. Looked better to the south, as the
encroaching front threatened to cut us off. |
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10-Apr |
477 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Great
Yarmouth-Broadway(actually Gloucester South) due showers |
10:44 |
16:40 |
5:56 |
618 |
First decent
climb near Cambridge on the way out, then good streets to Yarmouth and back
to Duxford. Showers sent us on the first of many large deviations around dead
areas. Got to within 35Km of last TP at Broadway but under large line of
showers... Massive re-route via Brize then went into the sector south of
Gloucester! Amazing run in and out back to Oxford on edge of storm line with
shelf cloud. |
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11-Apr |
478 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Lyneham-Crewkerne-Hembury
Hill-Brackley-Bedford |
10:40 |
16:28 |
5:48 |
537 |
Crept away under
a low (2,000'AGL) cloudbase with showers already. Slowly improved but looked
like the end was near until past Lyneham where it opened out into a good sky
with much higher bases. Followed convergence in and out of North Hill and
back to Salisbury. Up to 5,500ASL near Chievely, then ran around the edge of
a line of storms coming in from the N. |
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13-Apr |
479 |
Steve |
J Reed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Melksham-Liphook-Avebury |
11:37 |
16:17 |
4:40 |
416 |
The day took a
while to get going, low cloud base initially, improving past Didcot.
Generally good conditions after that, some nice well-behaved thermals,
typically 3-4kts. The second/third leg showed some spreadout, and showers to
avoid on the way into AVE, but once back in the sunshine, all was well.
Expected more rain showers pm, which didn't happen. |
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14-Apr |
480 |
Steve |
L Roberts |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Watton-Mendlesham-Sackville |
11:28 |
16:01 |
4:33 |
336 |
Slow to start,
much due to top cover, then improving eastbound until near Watton where
lowering cloudbase made it a grind. Low point on way to Mendlesham. Then an
improving sky for a nice run to Sackville & home. Lloyd Roberts had his
first cross country, and thinks it's easy! |
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15-Apr |
481 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Eastbourne-Beaminster-Telford |
09:59 |
18:01 |
8:02 |
794 |
Tailwind float
down to the Ridges, working well mostly but the odd strong street produced
some fluffy patches. Xwind run to BEA under Southampton and Bournemouth
Radar, then turned for Telford. Never really had any runs in any direction,
so had to force it. Good clouds, excellent cloudbase but frustrating to find
and use. Will-it-won't-it final glide from way out at Mc0, dodging showers.
We were both frozen solid on landing, had to sit in the car until warm enough
to tow the glider back. We worked really hard to make this flight and it just
came good at the end. |
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21-Apr |
482 |
Steve |
T Mills |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bedford O/R |
10:11 |
11:53 |
1:42 |
77 |
Showery,
difficult day, which went to worms earlier than hoped. Much time spent with
obliging Cranfield. |
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22-Apr |
483 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Reedham O/R |
10:52 |
15:38 |
4:46 |
360 |
Downwind waffle
into supposedly better conditions - cloudbase went up then down again as we
approached the coast (2,500'). Improved on the into-wind leg but PIC
unreachable due heavy showers. Rest of flight a tactical progression around
more showers until made glide back home. Still fun with 5K max base but
mostly 3-4K. |
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24-Apr |
484 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Stockbridge-Worcester
then Southam O/R |
12:02 |
17:24 |
5:22 |
502 |
Almost didn't
fly but spotted clearance coming through early at home. TopMeteo said centre
of country, don't go too far W or E. A bit spreadout down to STK but the
thermals were there and it opened out nicely on the 2nd leg with 4-4,500' and
4kt climbs. Could see big showers in the Severn Valley but Worcester in the
clear. Good run back then OLC'd another 150Km on one thermal as a street
formed up to the NW after finishing. Glad we made the effort to fly. |
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05-May |
485 |
Rob |
J Roberts |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Hay Bluff O/R |
12:28 |
16:44 |
4:16 |
360 |
Having set a
west/east task, abandoned this at Oxford when it became apparent conditions
were much better west and continued to the Black Mountains. There appeared to
be a dry line from Dunstable to the Severn where cloudbase was 4500' and much
lower to north and south. Surprisingly good flight after an indifferent
forecast. |
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06-May |
486 |
Steve |
H Hingley |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Brecon-Worcester |
10:31 |
15:37 |
5:06 |
422 |
Had to start at
Bletchley with the DUN area unsoarable. Initially looked like an excellent
improving sky heading west, until past the Severn Valley. Became soggy and
overcast approaching the Talgarth area, & got to within 7k of intended
1st TP at Cray Reservoir. Couldn't have got in and back to sunshine, so
abandoned. Were due to go to N Wales next, which looked (& sounded)
soggy, so took a slow run back home with lots of long glides. |
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11-May |
487 |
Steve |
M Burton |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Goring-Old
Radnor |
10:12 |
16:49 |
6:37 |
413 |
Windy day,
broken thermals low down. Brize refused us, what with active Fairford &
South Cerney, had to reroute significantly to the east of the zone. Almost
"landed out" there. Improved as we went west, until interference
from hills at Cheltenham, joined the Trevor school of flying briefly on the
hills, difficult progress in the Shobdon area where a great looking sky kept
failing to deliver. Eventually abandoned task in the lee of a daunting
Radnor, excellent run back to Evesham where cloud base dropped 1500'. |
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12-May |
488 |
Ed |
A Hippel |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Gransden-Weymouth-Llanwrst-Stratford
on Avon-Gransden |
09:19 |
19:06 |
9:47 |
923 |
Remote start at
Gransden. Rather tricky on the 1st leg until the Boscombe area, with the
track being on the edge of the blue and thermals a bit broken. 2nd went well
with Bristol being very friendly and base rising over Central Wales. Somewhat
spreadout into LLN but climbed well at the turn. Rather poor run out under
huge clouds that delivered very little. Scratched around near Shrewsbury
& Telford under a big patch of spreadout. Much better when eventually got
to Kidderminster and fairly straightforward after that. Finished high at
Gransden and managed to soar home for 885Km on OLC. NEW UK TRIANGLE RECORD
823km |
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13-May |
489 |
Steve |
D Cornelius |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Garboldisham-Langport |
10:23 |
17:37 |
7:14 |
613 |
Nice
straightforward flight until the Yeovilton area, where overcast & little
convection. Was about to give up 8km from the turn, but that would have been
3 times in a row, so squeaked around the turn and back to the sunshine,
lovely! |
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16-May |
490 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Tontine
Inn-Littleport |
10:08 |
16:30 |
6:22 |
624 |
Top meteo
promised high cloudbases in Yorkshire, and they were right, well over 6000'
and fantastic visibility to boot. Some excellent climbs over places not
normally visited, like the chemical works at Grimsby which delivered 6 to
9kts! Had the feeling of the door closing behind us as we went round
Littleport. |
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24-May |
491 |
Ed |
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Dunstable |
Bicester |
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13:51 |
14:20 |
0:29 |
40 |
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26-May |
492 |
Ed |
R Markham |
Bicester |
Bicester |
Cinderford-Abergavenny-Cwmbran-Menai
Strait |
10:22 |
17:40 |
7:18 |
607 |
Windy. Blue.
Easterly. Low inversion. What to do? Just for a laugh, declared downwind to
the Pontypool ridges, wave to Anglesey then thermals home. Actually got to
1,000' short of Bicester on the way back. Low points: low in the Usk Valley
wondering if it would work below the top, plus not quite making glide after a
lot of effort. High point: leaving 5kts at 15K over Snowdonia, where there
was lift all over the place, going up in circles like thermals plus climbing
away from Talagarth where it was unfortunately too rough to launch. Was
warned definitely NOT to land there! Fantastic views of an almost cloud-free
Wales. |
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27-May |
493 |
Steve |
T Pridgeon |
Bicester |
Bicester |
Great Malvern
O/R |
11:29 |
13:47 |
2:18 |
164 |
Blue, very hot
& sticky, slow grind to the Malverns had Tom feeling rather unwell and a
preference to be back on the ground |
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28-May |
494 |
Ed |
R Homer |
Bicester |
Bicester |
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13:19 |
18:00 |
4:41 |
420 |
Waited for quite
a long time for the altocu and alstostratus to burn off as it was thinning to
a point almost directly overhead. Retasked using the latest met. data which
said mid-Wales should be nice. Some good climbs on the way out, went blue
beyond Malvern so big deviation to the Shobon area to pick up a line running
into the turn. Impressive clouds on the way north but thermals a bit
sporadic. Took a cloud climb to 8K to get round the turn and out again. Made
glide near Redditch, just inside the Birmingham airspace (thanks) after a
glide out from Kidderminster. Could see the trough still active to the E with
mega cu-nims. |
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28-May |
495 |
Ed |
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Bicester |
Dunstable |
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18:22 |
18:43 |
0:21 |
40 |
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30-May |
496 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Ilsley-Bottesford-Bury
St Edmunds |
11:31 |
16:52 |
5:21 |
476 |
Good long look
at the met data showed an area of reasonable conditions drifting east ahead
of a weak front coming in. Not bad down to Ilsley but it was overcooking when
we left. Somewhat blue to BOT but enough markers to make progress. Line of
CBs just past the turn so glad we didn't go any further. Big clouds on the
leg down to Bury but rather soft. Best thermals on the leg back home, until
met another CB line crossing the track with just one gap in it near Bedford.
Cloud climbed to well above glide then a couple of miles in rain (which
washed the bugs off nicely) and back to LGC. |
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05-Jun |
497 |
Steve |
A Sampson |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Long Mynd O/R |
12:00 |
16:27 |
4:27 |
350 |
Had intended
BIC-Lake Vyrnwy - Dun, had to use iron thermal at Bidford, conditions much
better to the W. On return had a strategy discussion after BIC which resulted
in another go with the engine. |
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09-Jun |
498 |
Steve |
T Stuart |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bath-Nympsfield |
09:27 |
15:23 |
5:56 |
293 |
Under
instruction from Trevor Stuart (lesson 1) on ridge flying the Chilterns &
Cotswold ridges. Rounded BAT & reached NYM, at which point the wind, too
much south in it, wouldn't support continuing north to LCL or returning to
Bath, so lit up there |
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10-Jun |
499 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Saxthorpe-Lichfield-Crowland |
10:24 |
17:17 |
6:53 |
552 |
Just on the edge
of a sheet of altostratus at LGC but got away ahead. Not a bad run out to
SAX, then followed a weak sea breeze to the Wash. Some cirrus coming and
going making the climbs a bit variable but rounded Lichfield then good until
Peterborough on the way home. Got a bit of a cloud climb but not enough.
Faffed around for ages near Rushden as there was nothing on track and
eventually got away. 1,200' over glide and was working out but hit bad air
and light rain which slowly eroded the margin until we could see it wasn't
going to work about 17km out. |
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15-Jun |
500 |
Steve |
P Rackham |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bicester-Bury
St Edmunds |
09:48 |
13:36 |
3:48 |
289 |
Paul Rackham
writes: the right day to be offered the back seat in 13, even so it was
tricky in places but never became impossible despite expectations. The air
was much moister just to the north of the track line, so good task setting
which made the most of the day. |
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18-Jun |
501 |
Ed |
S Haley |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bicester-Brecon-Walford-Cerrig-Bicester |
11:37 |
18:51 |
7:14 |
571 |
Bit low and damp
at LGC so remote start at Bicester. Spent most of the 1st leg in cloud,
occasionally coming out below and not liking what I saw. Improved running
into Wales but long glides between climbs and although there wasn't much
wind, I found the thermals difficult. Also plenty of continuous sink in large
areas! Lots of spreadout going in/out of Cerrig, then very slow past
Birmingham on the way back as it was slowly cycling. Once on glide, much
better and last climb to get back to LGC after finishing was 5kts at 1830. |
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19-Jun |
502 |
Ed |
Steve |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Reedham-Tiverton |
10:31 |
18:05 |
7:34 |
803 |
Downwind to
Reedham in slowly improving conditions. Coming back, Cloudbase took a step up
from Lakenheath, after then there were 4-5kts available to 5K+. Followed a
convergence line across Somerset to Devon, glad we weren't going any further
as low bases and showers ahead. On turning, realised that the planned 750km
was actually a 791km! No problem as plenty of day left over for a fast
return. I'd say there was 900km+ there but none of the forecasts were *that*
promising. |
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20-Jun |
503 |
Rob |
P Hunt |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Brecon-Andover-Bourne |
10:31 |
17:02 |
6:31 |
561 |
Escaped from
Central England before the spreadout. Variable bases, 3500' at Buckingham
then 5600' at Cheltenham and just 4000' on the other side of the Severn.
Excellent round Brecon to Andover. The run North towards Benson involved two
long glides across a massive dead area. Then good conditions again until
hitting a wall of rubbish beyond Bourne which prevented us making the last
turn at the E** place. |
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25-Jun |
504 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Brecon-Craven
Arms |
11:52 |
16:52 |
5:00 |
446 |
Wales looked
like the best part of the country on the forecast, which proved to be
accurate. Bit low and slow on the way out but improved beyond Hereford with
bases 4-4,500+. Thermals were OK but sheared a lot, even though the wind was
light. Found some sort of convergence on the way home that appeared to have
drifted north from the Severn Valley.
Sat pic shows arc of good convection and the convergence. Task was a
perfect fit. |
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30-Jun |
505 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bedford-Devizes |
12:39 |
16:45 |
4:06 |
297 |
Only just
whipped up enough enthusiasm to fly at all. Quite good when got up there,
4,000+ & streeting. All fell apart near Oakley but a good save near
Chalgrove. Persevered into wind in rather soft thermals then latched on to
trough line/convergence - thought it might take us into the turn but not
quite and would have been trapped by Salisbury plain on the way back.
Circle-free run back home ahead of the rain. Looks like the only chance for a
while so glad we made the most of it. |
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05-Jul |
506 |
Rob |
Ed |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Abergavenny-Montgomery |
11:59 |
18:19 |
6:20 |
451 |
Another triumph
of tasksetting over common sense. Didn't look good on any of the forecasts so
ignored them. 2,000' base to start, slowly improved on the way to Wales.
Medium cover coming and going but some OK climbs where there was full
sunshine. Gloomy around Abergavenny, so trickled in and out and just made a
decent cloud near Hereford. Nice past Montgomery and the Mynd, nearly 5,000'
but became trickier from Evesham onwards as the air became moister. Took the
last cloud over Bicester for all it was worth and a neutral run home, for
once. Like most of this year's flights, much effort required to get round,
really needed two of us at times. |
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12-Jul |
507 |
Rob |
R Colbeck |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bungay-Saltby |
10:10 |
15:00 |
4:50 |
418 |
Crept away with
2500 cloudbase which slowly rose to 3200 by Bungay, conditions improved
around Downham Market onwards with 4500 bases and occ 5kt thermals. Last leg
had the backdrop of the incoming front and the end of play but with the glide
in the bag not a problem. |
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15-Jul |
508 |
Steve |
T Hutchings |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Kidderminster-Grafham
Water-Mursley |
10:15 |
14:27 |
4:12 |
343 |
Excellent flight
although spreadout ended our declared task fairly early on. |
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21-Jul |
509 |
Rob |
D Irvine |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Gainsborough
Power Station-Six Mile Bottom-Colsterworth |
11:15 |
16:45 |
5:30 |
517 |
Fairly
straightforward for a change, the initial low cloudbase improved to 4500' and
some nice 5kt thermals to go with them. The approaching cirrus from the SW
slowed us down on the last leg so we were probably flying in the best area
before that. |
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22-Jul |
510 |
Rob |
L Duhaney |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Docking-Abingdon-Stoney
Stratford |
11:08 |
16:56 |
5:48 |
423 |
Bullish start
came to an abrupt end 55k from first TP, where high cloud rendered the route
in unsoarable, waited patiently in the Marham area, and eventually snuck in
and out. The band of cu and reasonable conditions extended to Oxford, which
was just enough to get round Abingdon, though now too late to complete the
whole flight. |
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27-Jul |
511 |
Steve |
A Paul |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Bicester-Chedworth-Shepton
Mallett |
11:39 |
15:56 |
4:17 |
311 |
Remote start at
Bicester got us away from the grunge at DUN. Initially nice run to Chedworth,
small cu to c 4k, improving for a while heading SW until the Bath area where
it got tricky and lower cloudbase. At Shepton Mallett, the cu and the lift
stopped, presumably sea air, not forecast in my reading of Topmeteo - I need
to understand this better. |
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28-Jul |
512 |
Rob |
J Jeffries |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Whiddon Down
O/R |
10:35 |
17:14 |
6:39 |
528 |
Easy enough
until reaching the Mendips, then crossed the levels with a climb overhead
Yeovilton. Very good to Northill then overcast and grey into turn. Tiptoed in
and out and not very high. The good area remained good though somewhat
overdeveloped. Spent a long time finding cloudbase ahead of a long glide from
Yeovil to Frome, after that excellent. |
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29-Jul |
513 |
Steve |
M Vowles |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Little
Rissington-Corby |
09:22 |
12:20 |
2:58 |
266 |
First of the
well publicized line of showers sat stubbornly over NLE, so turned LRI. Then
spent much of the time picking routes through the increasing rain activity.
Was about to abandon again at Northampton but found a cracking line alongside
a line of showers. Great run in and out, then long glide with one save at
Olney to get home. Then the heavens opened. Nice clean 13!! |
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30-Jul |
514 |
Ed |
M Jenkins |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Hay-Welshpool-Talgarth-Telford |
11:07 |
18:38 |
7:31 |
569 |
Not too bad on
the run out, with base up to 4,500' from the Severn Valley onwards. Big
showers over Talgarth so couldn't quite make it. Went on to do the rest of
the task (Talgarth was OK 2nd time round), then got greedy for a bit of OLC
up to Telford. Spent absolutely ages getting glide as no lift on a direct
track to LGC, wandered around going backwards and forwards, eventually got
THE thermal off Towcester. |
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09-Aug |
515 |
Rob |
A May |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Didcot-Chatteris-Hereford |
11:24 |
17:27 |
6:03 |
533 |
First hour was
quite slow then things were great until we crossed the Malverns on the way to
Hereford when all went rather soft. No real problems but took a lot out of
the speed. |
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10-Aug |
516 |
Steve |
E Bittenbender |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Sackville-Rougham-Hay-Bozeat |
10:53 |
17:16 |
6:23 |
608 |
Air to the east
was moister but ok. Good run back west after NMT, never blue as expected. At
the Malverns a bit more tricky, but improved from Hereford on the way back
for a really nice run with clouds lined up back to BOZ. A good fun day, maybe
could have done another 50k. |
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31-Aug |
517 |
Steve |
T Rose |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Didcot-St
Catherine's Point-Oxford-Long Sutton |
10:45 |
17:47 |
7:02 |
554 |
Slow til
Portsmouth, lovely run over the island & back, then some improving
conditions heading north til Peterborough where encroaching top cover from
the NW dampened it down. But there were still climbs to be had. Last save at
Wyton at about 5pm, when I thought it was over. Well done Trevor for
arranging the day & all LGC pilots await their stick of rock. Tom Rose
nagged me incessantly from the back to get on with it! |
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05-Sep |
518 |
Ed |
Rob |
Dunstable |
Dunstable |
Boroughbridge
O/R |
11:29 |
17:21 |
5:52 |
507 |
Looked like it
was going to be mostly blue down south, so declared a remote start at Lyveden
to Catterick and back. Was OK after launching so just set off anyway - got
more difficult N of Corby in the blue but improved beyond Grantham with
4-5kts to 5,000'. Not quite as good running into the turn, so abandoned. Not
bad running home until Saltby, then picking up scraps. Last climb to make
sure of glide surprisingly good. Glad we went north as we had 100Km of really
nice conditions in both directions |
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04-Nov |
519 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Reheboth-Maltahohe-Mariental |
13:19 |
18:01 |
4:42 |
612 |
Late start after
an overcast morning. Then a brilliant 2 hours of great climbs to 16,000'.
Blue South of Maltahohe, suggested we return North and by now that area was
filling with showers, found a way through towards Mariental the
straightforward run home. |
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05-Nov |
520 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Botswana-Haribes
Dam Strip |
12:35 |
18:51 |
6:16 |
768 |
Weather looked
best to the NE and E, at least to start with. Crossed the border, it’s easy
to see with a fence and track running endlessly North and South, conditions
were good and I’m sure with more experience we’d go further. Southern part of
Namibia was blue today, so ran the very tasty cumulus that sat just North of
the blue area. Cloud base again reached 16000′. |
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06-Nov |
521 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gamsberg-Wohlzufrieden |
13:07 |
18:08 |
5:01 |
536 |
We decided to
focus on sightseeing today. The weather suggested a run out to the Gamsberg
which sits on the edge of the Namibian plateau and then run along the edge to
the South. In the event, it was blue all day but quite good, we reached
17,000′ about 30k before Gamsberg, but then lost 5,000′ before
finding the next thermal, clearly Gamsberg itself was not a good area today,
spectacular though the scenery was. So we scuttled off SE where we then ran
back into better convection. This eventually gave us a relaxed 130km glide
for an early finish. Rupert did most of today’s flight. |
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07-Nov |
522 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
SW
Knee-Georga-Gobabis SW |
13:23 |
18:52 |
5:29 |
699 |
Today the
temperature reached 38, it’s been going up 2 degrees a day since we arrived,
but it was blue and rather slow to go. We set off at 1320, and it took ages
to grind up, but it was worth the effort as we reached cloud some 75k to the
NE. Here we had a 10.3 average climb for 5000′ with the average
reaching 16.5 kts for awhile. It also took us to 18,800′ (-5 outside)
our highest cloud base so far. We flew to the Botswana border, some 250k from
Kiripotib but we were not inclined to go further since the cumulus was
getting rather congested so we did a couple of doglegs in the small good area
in the NE before embarking on a 140km glide home. |
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08-Nov |
523 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Karakobis, BW
O/R with zigzag |
12:12 |
18:45 |
6:33 |
815 |
It was blue in
the Kiripotib area, but the forecast suggested good conditions in Botswana
and the NE corner of the Namibian gliding area. After an hour of creeping
through the blue we reached cumulus and climbs were now going to
15,000′ with 7 kts or so. The further we went NE the stronger
conditions got especially after crossing into Botswana with cloud base here
nearly 19,000′ and strong climbs to match. No problems apart from not
getting the last rapid climb onto final glide, the chosen cloud collapsed as
we reached it and so did several others as Namibia began to switch off with
us still needing another 2000′ to get back. We got there but it
probably cost us 20 minutes and a little unwanted stress. |
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09-Nov |
524 |
Rob |
M Haas |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Local |
16:25 |
17:15 |
0:50 |
72 |
Local flight for
Maika |
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10-Nov |
525 |
Rob |
R Puritz |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Spatzenfeld-Morester-Bitterwasser |
13:07 |
18:33 |
5:26 |
689 |
NE again where
the weather was, 50k to first cu, then good cu field towards Botswana, basess
upto 17500', followed a good line into Botswana for a few mlles then ran to
end of cu which by now was near Aranos then turned NW towards Reheboth. Last
climb to 17500' over Bitterwasser, then dog leg final glide. |
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11-Nov |
526 |
Rob |
G Shrenk |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Pokweni-Reheboth-Blumfeld |
14:32 |
17:03 |
2:31 |
311 |
Showers E and N,
cirrus above, but got to sun W of Pokweni and climbed to 17500', ran edge of
cb and cloud line past Reheboth and back. Short for flight for Ginny. |
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12-Nov |
527 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
West-East-West-East |
12:20 |
17:50 |
5:30 |
513 |
Weather here
cycles like most places. After the overcast day of yesterday, temperatures
were a little down and the thermal activity a bit slow to go and the usable
area a bit limited. The next 2 days at least should benefit from higher
temperatures and larger flying area. The 2 photos show the sky at 3pm where
the local cumulus finally developed with a base around 14000′ – very
nice, but 2 hours later the sky shows overdevelopment, behind was blue so
there was only a relatively narrow band of good weather. |
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14-Nov |
528 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gobabis-Aranos
Pan-Witboois-Lekkewater-Intu Africa |
11:17 |
19:09 |
7:52 |
982 |
We did actually
fly well over 1000k today, but not within the rules of the OLC that measures
such things. The good area was about 100k wide ahead of an unforecast shower
line orientated NW/SE. Our flight took us behind the developing shower line
and gave us the added problem of crossing through it. On the East side base
was 13000′ – not bad, but on the West side it was over 18000′
with some excellent long runs. We stopped briefly on one of these runs to
climb at 16.2kts for a thousand feet. The best rate we’ve seen so far. |
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15-Nov |
529 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Koes-Cowdray-Witboois-Gravenstein |
11:23 |
18:57 |
7:34 |
1119 |
I learnt a few
lessons from yesterday and managed to exploit the subtle dry/wet line across
Namibia. It was obvious yesterday because of the line of showers that
developed, today no showers but a slightly higher cloud base on one side than
the other. Several hours of flying 90-100kts, stopping only when the averager
was above 10kts. Stunning stuff and the best day here so far. Managed a
wapping 1119 km at 154 kph, the speed was up to 165 kph until we traded speed
for kilometres at the end.
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16-Nov |
530 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Buitepos O/R |
11:53 |
16:57 |
5:04 |
538 |
There was
supposed to be cu in the NE of the gliding area today. In the event it was
blue right up to the Botswana border where a dramatic line of showers ran
from horizon to horizon. We just went far enough to get the glider wet and
run the front edge for 30 minutes or so and then run back the 250km back to
Kiripotib. A short task after yesterday and Al did most of the flying. |
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17-Nov |
531 |
Rob |
A Ishkanian |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gobabis -
Aminuis area |
13:22 |
18:39 |
5:17 |
706 |
A bit of
lethargy crept in with the assembled pilots, with another blue day expected.
So lunch was taken by all. As it was Al’s last day we were going fly
whatever. You could just see cu about 75k from here, and after a number of
blue thermals we reached the cu, and very good too, taking us straight to
15,000′ and later 17,000′. Managed to find a couple of excellent
runs, one down to Aminuis and back and another to Great Ums and back. |
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18-Nov |
532 |
Rob |
J Bridge |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
SW Knee -
Border - Klein Aub - Bitterwasser |
11:19 |
18:30 |
7:11 |
915 |
We were
expecting only cu in the NE again, but although there was a few km in the
blue to start, the whole sky then blossomed with good cu. Then having flown
to and along the Botswana/Namibia border we headed West and found cu right up
to the edge of the plateau. Excellent day. We did 915k before landing early.
So 1000k was there for the taking and some did. |
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19-Nov |
533 |
Rob |
J Bridge |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Intu
Africa-Barrow-Border-Reheboth-Stampriet |
11:29 |
19:04 |
7:35 |
1010 |
There was not
much enthusiasm today, with lots of cirrus and strong winds forecast.
However, John Bally was keen and left rather early in the blue, we followed
about 40 minutes later. We both struggled a bit in the blue particularly
around Bitterwasser. We decided to head NE towards some cu, this developed
into a marvellous pair of streets taking us to the Botswana border and back.
On the return we managed a glide of 168km at 181kph losing no height. This
meant that a 1000k was possible. The only problem was that all before us was
turning to showers, we managed to work the showers to our advantage now out
to the West near Reheboth before a nice developing run SE again gave us the
height to achieve another 1000k. |
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22-Nov |
534 |
Rob |
J Bridge |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
NE-Gerbaud-Derm-Cowdray |
12:17 |
18:07 |
5:50 |
526 |
The skies were
very cloudy over Namibia again today. However, there were enough gaps to
produce blue thermals and we had a reasonable flight(526k). The picture shows
how the sky looked, the cloud (altocu) was around 16,000′ and produced
no lift whilst the thermals topped out around 13,000′, but we did find
the odd good thermal that just made it to the cloud layer. Quite unusual |
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23-Nov |
535 |
Rob |
J Bridge |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gravenstein O/R |
12:23 |
13:45 |
1:22 |
140 |
The run of poor
days continues. We did fly today but with showers and thunderstorms right on
the doorstep of Kiripotib, we decided to land early and watch the flashes and
bangs from the ground. |
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24-Nov |
536 |
Rob |
J Bridge |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gravenstein-Bush
Break-Nossab S-Kentucky-Onderompapa |
10:58 |
18:51 |
7:53 |
891 |
Had a nice day
today in the company of John Bally in another EB28. The weather threw some
problems at us, like a large shower area that required circumnavigating a
couple of times. Cloud base was low by Namibian standards generally around
12,000′. |
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25-Nov |
537 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Julia-Bitterwasser-Gravenstein |
14:16 |
17:28 |
3:12 |
278 |
The troublesome
weather of the last few days has disappeared, and with it any clouds at all.
It was completely blue over the whole of the gliding area. Most people chose
not to fly, so John Thompson and myself had a pleasant afternoon doing a
short task with John getting to grips with the EB28. There were plenty of
3-4kts to over 10,000′ so not bad really. |
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26-Nov |
538 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gamsberg and
Namib |
12:17 |
17:28 |
5:11 |
631 |
The only cu in
the Namibian gliding area today was right up in the NW corner, near the
Gamsberg. Beyond there was cu to die for, 18,000′ base stretching out
over the Namib Desert to the NW. The problem is that outside the gliding area
you are restricted to 14,500′. We followed a cloud street over the
Namib Desert towards the coast and only turned back as the Walvis Bay TMA
became an obstacle. The ensuing glide keeping below 14,500′ in stonking
conditions took us 233km without circling and at 190kph. No one here can
remember being able to fly in this area before – extraordinary. |
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27-Nov |
539 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gamsberg-Sossuvlei-Solitaire |
12:44 |
17:54 |
5:10 |
662 |
Having said how
rare it is to fly over the Namib Desert. The weather today was a repeat of
yesterday, totally blue over the gliding area but with fabulous cu over the
Namib Desert (that’s the bit between the sea and the Namibian plateau) and we
had a second flight over it! |
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28-Nov |
540 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Aus-Gamsberg+OLC |
10:06 |
19:12 |
9:06 |
1302 |
Another good
day, long and with cu allowed us to make a massive flight from one end of the
gliding area to other, routing 370km along the Namib escarpment and back.
Knocked up 1300km at 145kph, so not a bad day though I am knackered. |
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30-Nov |
541 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Helmeringhausen-Kalkrand
Pan (L/O) |
10:08 |
16:30 |
6:22 |
744 |
We set off early
on an adventurous task to the SW, but we soon found cloud base to be low and
reluctant to rise, also the cu that formed just kept growing until we were
slowly surrounded by showers and thunderstorms. In the build up we had
travelled nearly 300km to the SW. The gaps to cross on the way back were
enormous and for the first time we had to start the engine. We did this over
Kalkrand Pan, somewhere we could have landed if the engine didn’t start for
some reason, it did and a few minutes later we were back in strong lift. The
picture shows us skirting round a boiling thunderstorm near Helmeringhausen.
The forecasts are quite sophisticated and detailed, however, the underlying
data is often poor which gives rise to some surprises, like today. |
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01-Dec |
542 |
Rob |
J Thompson |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Auob Lodge O/R |
10:58 |
15:11 |
4:13 |
434 |
The sky at 10am
was full of large cu, a sure sign that the day was going to overdevelop. We
launched at 1010 with JT flying we drifted down to Auob Lodge around 190 to
the SE. I flew Northwards, flying 168k without throwing a circle. By which
time showers and thunderstorms were developing around us. After crossing a
line which doused us in heavy rain accompanied by a several flashes, we chose
to return early and celebrate John’s week of gliding with a few beers. |
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02-Dec |
543 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Triple yoyo SE |
10:14 |
18:38 |
8:24 |
1010 |
After
yesterday’s sky full of cumulus by 10am, everyone launched around 10am today,
unfortunately there was no cu at all, the weak thermals not going
particularly high, anyway we drifted off to the SE helped by a 20kt tailwind.
2 hours later we were still sweating in broken blue thermals miles from home
over some random dunes. Then finally some cu appeared about 30k to the NE,
once we reached the cu a great day began with a very good energy line along
the border between the blue and cu area. In spite of the slow start we just
managed a 1000km. Trevor’s first flight in Namibia. |
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03-Dec |
544 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gamsberg-Pokweni |
13:35 |
18:02 |
4:27 |
428 |
Today was blue
and very hot, most elected not to fly. However, it was a good day for Trevor
to practice handling the EB28. We made our way out to the Gamsberg, at
8000′ the highest mountain in the gliding area. It is situated right up
in the NW corner and on the edge of the escarpment. |
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04-Dec |
545 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Abm
Gibeon-Keitzaub-Judea |
10:35 |
18:26 |
7:51 |
828 |
Today, the
general recommendation was to fly West then South along the escarpment and
return the same way. In the event we did, but found only really scrappy
broken thermals in a very strong wind. We battled with these for some hours
before deciding to run for home. Only then did we find a strong cumulus field
extending from Bitterwasser to the NE. Anyone flying just in this area will
have done rather well. Anyway it went some way to making up for the sweat
we’d had earlier. |
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05-Dec |
546 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Botswana-Gochas-Lekkewater-Mariental |
11:29 |
18:58 |
7:29 |
1040 |
A big triangle
into Botswana and the South was planned. Although conditions were good going
to Botswana, they soon weakened and cloud base dropped in Botswana. We
abandoned the set task and flew SWestwards, this was a good line and after a
while the clouds parallel and to our NW started showering. Trevor took a
climb before the shower line and I took it through a gap in the showers, this
worked well allowing us to climb to 16500′ from 13000′ in a
straight line until we reached the sunny West side. Here was an incredible
shelf of cloud about 5km wide giving lift from Windhoek for at least 200km to
the South. Some stats for the day; Best climb 7,700′ at 8.2 kts, best
glide 429km at 195kph, taking 2 hours and 13 minutes, from Trevor’s thermal
until we landed in fact. A remarkable flight and another 1000km flight. |
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07-Dec |
547 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Abm
Gibeon-Isabis-Keetmanshoop-Gerbaud |
10:16 |
19:13 |
8:57 |
1236 |
Having had a day
off when someone managed 1400km we thought we’d better make of an effort
today. So an early start and a long leg to the South to start then a return
to the NW, hoping that a good energy line would develop along the escarpment.
It did but not a classic, we did have a pretty good run down to near
Keetmanshoop and North again. We passed the Brukeros Crater which you can see
on our picture. |
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08-Dec |
548 |
Rob |
T Mills |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Moscow-Isabis-Esc-Isabis |
11:30 |
18:54 |
7:24 |
1029 |
This was a day
for Trevor really, and he flew a very nice 200km first leg to a delightfully
named TP of Moscow (an isolated Farm in the dunes), a good run opened up to
the NW which we followed and it seemed possible that we could post another
1000km flight. We used a good line on the edge of the escarpment for 150k or
so and this did indeed produce our 8th 1000+ flight of the trip and Trevor
has had 4 this week! |
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09-Dec |
549 |
Rob |
Steve |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gobabis-Bullsprit-Gerbaud-Kentani |
12:27 |
18:24 |
5:57 |
786 |
Overcast skies
greeted Steve’s first day at Kiripotib, but by midday cu began to appear and
we launched for a short flight. We took in Gobabis and then flew to the
escarpment, by which time we had a cloud base over 16,000′ and
Steve was in ecstasy with the fantastic fat juicy Namibian thermals. I sense
another photofest about to occur! |
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10-Dec |
550 |
Steve |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Wilkskrand-Ncojane-Lekkewater |
10:38 |
17:32 |
6:54 |
778 |
Set a 1000k with
a promising forecast, but after 2 hours of flying NE it was still blue, we
kept expecting cu to pop around us at any moment. However, we had to go some
way in to Botswana to reach cu (about 250km in total). Turning S we finally
had a nice run along a line of good cu. Turning back in to Namibia with a
promising line of high based cu, it started fine but it soon became apparent
that it was going blue and weakening and the wind was also increasing.
However, it continued to work in the blue and we made it back without too
much effort. Steve did all the hard work and I just barracked from the rear
seat for a change. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12-Dec |
551 |
Steve |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Isabis-Sossusvlei-Klein
Aub |
11:50 |
16:40 |
4:50 |
602 |
Steve writes
(Rob edits) “We took off into a sky that would have suited the UK, struggling
initially up to 3000′ above inhospitable terrain. After a while of
getting no higher, my comment to Rob was ‘this is not good’, and then I got a
climb. Conditions improved slowly as we flew with Bandar and John to the
West, and joined a convergence which provided a fantastic run for me, a new
experience guided by Rob, over terrain which became increasingly fantastic.
Brilliant mountains below and the Namib desert to the west, I was just
gobsmacked! I took a few snaps while Rob took us down and back around our
southernmost TP near Sossusvlei. Coming back the showers became more of an
issue, and once again, my personal training captain guided me through walls
of cloud onto a flat 200k final glide back to Kiripotib, which was thankfully
clear of rain. He tells me we had a glide angle of 1:86. It looked like it!
Not the big number yet, but brilliant entertainment!” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13-Dec |
552 |
Steve |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Abm
Gibeon-Tsumis-Julia |
10:38 |
17:32 |
6:54 |
762 |
Yesterday
Namibia, unusually, found itself in the centre of a low pressure which
produced some heavy showers. We still managed a great flight as you have
read, but it flooded the pan at Pokweni and made the pan at Bitterwasser very
sticky. No such problems at Kiripotib but the morning cu were extremely low
(around 3000′agl) and that is very low for Namibia. We tiptoed
Southbound over some inhospitable terrain. It took 3 hours before normal
service was resumed with cloud base rising to 12,000′ and soon after
16,000′. Steve did 750km in this which was quite respectable. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14-Dec |
553 |
Steve |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Guamus-Gravenstein-Kamelduin-Gravenstein-Jenas |
10:58 |
19:09 |
8:11 |
1012 |
Reasonable
forecast albeit over a narrow area, running N/S. A strong Northerly meant
towing all the gliders 2 miles to the end of 36 and a late start. Anyway, we
had decided to do a couple of runs in the better conditions which we did and
it provided Steve with the magic number. His first 1000km flight. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15-Dec |
554 |
Rob |
Steve |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Bush
Breaks-Julia-Antares |
11:08 |
17:40 |
6:32 |
752 |
A good forecast,
but the weather took a long time to shape up today. It took 2 hours before
any cu appeared, then in certain areas great cu and cloud base that reached
15,000′. Still a nice flight for Steve to end on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16-Dec |
555 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Helmingerhausen-Gerbaud-Robin |
10:27 |
19:05 |
8:38 |
1168 |
Today was Ed’s
first day and conditions were pretty good. Cloud base soon reached
13,000′ and the escarpment produced a little of it’s magic. We flew a
total of 1168kms by using the good runs along the escarpment a couple of
times. On the second trip southbound we encountered a couple of large showers
and today’s picture shows the first of these. The Namib desert is visible to
the right. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18-Dec |
556 |
Ed |
J Bally |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Klipdrif |
11:25 |
18:04 |
6:39 |
961 |
I managed to put
my back out yesterday helping John Bally derig his gliders. So Ed flew
without me and John took the rear seat for a change. They had a good flight,
though they were dodging showers on the escarpment, but there were also good
climbs to compensate. We had a big thunderstorm just to the North of
Kiripotib, it’s still flashing and rumbling as I type this, so they cut short
their flight a bit and posted just under a 1000k. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19-Dec |
557 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gams
Farm-Bethanien-Tivoli-Kub |
10:39 |
18:30 |
7:51 |
1103 |
Only a few
showers forecast for late on. We set off towards the Gamsburg fairly early
and for a change the early thermals took us to 13,000′ – it was going
to be a good day. We planned and flew from Gamsburg to Bethanian (NW corner
of the soaring area to the SW corner, more or less, and a distance of 380km)
this route follows the escarpment and will often produce an energy line, not
today though. However, the 10kt climbs and 16,000′ cloud base made up
for that. More showers than expected formed in the North and we got back in
to Kiripotib with a thunderstorm going off a few miles to the North, but no
problems. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20-Dec |
558 |
Ed |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Bethanien-Maltahohe-Derm |
10:43 |
18:42 |
7:59 |
1001 |
For the third
day in a row we were faced with a similar forecast, the only difference was
that the Escarpment convergence should work today and the eastern side was to
go to shower with low cloud base. We planned accordingly and went the full
length of the gliding area from North to South looking vainly for the elusive
convergence – it didn’t happen. There were good climbs and cloud base around
15,000′ so it was still a good run. Then turning northbound the sky
filled with showers, which we managed to negotiate only to hear that the
Kiripotib had thunderstorms and showers all around. Squeaked another 1000k..
just. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21-Dec |
559 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Mata
Mata-Morester-Gravenstein-Judea |
10:53 |
18:45 |
7:52 |
1032 |
We set out on an
FAI 1000km triangle, the first leg was great and we turned a random point
380kms from Kiripotib. Our Northbound leg started well, with a TP in
Botswana, but after a 100km or so, conditions weakened and with some large
showers that cleared lift out of large areas our 2nd TP was not possible. We
returned to Kiripotib early and, yes, we clocked up another 1000kms. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23-Dec |
560 |
Ed |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Helmeringhausen-Reheboth-Witbooisvlei |
10:53 |
17:58 |
7:05 |
1024 |
We headed SW,
with a strong tailwind and low cloud base (by Namibian standards) and were
rewarded by a long cloud street of large clouds that were on their way being
showers. But getting under them at the right moment gave us a very fast first
leg of 300kms at 175kph. Heavy showers persuaded us to head North, and we had
a pretty good leg to Reheboth. It was all about seeking out lines of energy
today, as the day collapsed fairly early with huge dead areas caused by the
massive showers. So it was particularly pleasing to get such a long flight in
(1024k at 149kph). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25-Dec |
561 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Great
Ums-Reheboth-Witbooisvlei-Reheboth-Haribes Dam strip |
10:35 |
19:03 |
8:28 |
1042 |
A soft start,
but the showers and thunderstorms have moved East and a nice Namibian day
ensued. A couple of long runs helped us to a reasonably quick 1000k flight.
An interesting way to spend Christmas day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26-Dec |
562 |
Ed |
Rob |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Onderompapa-Haribes
Dam strip-Reheboth |
12:36 |
18:38 |
6:02 |
759 |
The cu was
limited to Botswana and the Northern part of the gliding area. So we managed
a 750km triangle just keeping in the cumulus. Having been told two days ago
that the thunderstorms had retreated Eastwards to their proper place, we were
surprised as a line developed with a spectacular display of lightning just a
few kms to the NE of us. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27-Dec |
563 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Karakobis,
BW-Morester |
11:12 |
19:27 |
8:15 |
943 |
Most of the
gliding area was blue today, in spite of the record temperatures (38.5 at
Kiripotib). After 2 hours grinding in very high cockpit temperatures and not
above 3500′agl, we finally reached cu in the NorthEast. Then some good
climbs and a nice cool cloud base of 13,000′. No real problems after
that apart from a limited area to fly in. Clocked just over 900k even so. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29-Dec |
564 |
Rob |
Ed |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Otjimbingwe-Kante |
11:09 |
19:04 |
7:55 |
1113 |
There was a
possibility of flying a convergence along the escarpment, which is always
exciting and stunning with scenery. So we contrived a flight to make the most
of it. It involved flying West of Windhoek and crossing an airway, with my
best R/T we achieved all this and ended up with a flight over 1100km over
some amazing scenery. Also a cloud base of 18,000′ made it all the more
interesting. Ed’s last flight here and a great one. He’s had 10 flights and
averaged over 1000km for each of them – not bad. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31-Dec |
565 |
Rob |
R Colbeck |
Kiripotib |
Kiripotib |
Gerbaud-Kamelduin-Reheboth-Witbooisvlei-Gravenstein |
10:57 |
19:07 |
8:10 |
1062 |
A lot of shower
acitivity forecast to the North West, so we headed there first and had good
climbs to 13,000′ and 100kms of convergence, but each time you looked
around it felt like the door was closing behind you, you certainly couldn’t
reverse your course. What made a long flight possible was a narrow band,
maybe only 20km wide that remained well proportioned and gave good
climbs between Kiripotib and Mariental. To the West, showers, to the
East almost blue. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
567:18 |
59016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 |
|
Rob |
434:03 |
73 |
47869 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
130:32 |
26 |
11664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
191:22 |
26 |
21810 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
567:18 |
100 |
59016 |
Engine TT (hr) |
13:00 |
|
E/G |
2.29 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 |
|
Rob |
281:21 |
54 |
22723 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
156:52 |
36 |
11568 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
200:32 |
39 |
17289 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
465:00 |
97 |
36434 |
Engine TT (hr) |
24:03 |
|
E/G |
5.17 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
|
Rob |
233:29 |
45 |
20458 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
175:17 |
39 |
13160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
199:56 |
35 |
19107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
436:33 |
89 |
36422 |
Engine TT (hr) |
12:40 |
|
E/G |
2.90 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
Rob |
228:20 |
58 |
17252 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
184:01 |
42 |
13508 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
200:43 |
38 |
16994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
442:45 |
104 |
33463 |
Engine TT (hr) |
24:00 |
|
E/G |
5.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
No Flying in 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
Rob |
239:18 |
46 |
18007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
144:18 |
32 |
10904 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
217:23 |
37 |
17038 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
437:50 |
86 |
33174 |
Engine TT (hr) |
18.09 |
|
E/G |
4.06 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob |
196:51 |
52 |
15525 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
147:23 |
38 |
10678 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
146:49 |
27 |
12279 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
356:32 |
89 |
27606 |
Engine TT (hr) |
16.29 |
|
E/G |
4.52 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Time |
Flts |
Km |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob |
1179:19 |
255 |
93965 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve |
807:51 |
187 |
59818 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed |
965:23 |
176 |
82707 |
|
#1 |
#2 |
#3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
2705:58 |
565 |
226115 |
Engine TT (hr) |
34.38 |
9:54 |
63:49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro 2007 |
|
50:02 |
9 |
3326 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rieti 2007 |
|
46:07 |
9 |
4092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro 2009 |
|
62:40 |
15 |
5398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro 2010 |
|
61:04 |
12 |
6104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro 2011 |
|
70:05 |
12 |
6360 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Namibia 2012 |
|
330:31 |
51 |
41241 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|