Latest power news is in the power section; its rather important; available for everyone to read.

Saturday had a storming start with good lift right from first thing.

Trouble is, once we had flown the booked trial lesson pupils, the lift petered out and the rest of the day was grey.

Sunday was better, with the CFI showing us how to use our Southery wave to climb to 6,000'.  A nice day.

Wednesday was nice: lots of sun, lots of thermals - which got stronger and stronger throughout the afternoon - and enough tantalising hints of wave to keep us all guessing.

... and looking ahead:

Full 'normal' weekend coming up (22nd/23rd), and after that ....

Saturday 5th will be 'normal', but Sunday 6th is another motor racing day at Keevil.

While we have been enjoying ourselves with the Interservices competition ....

Good News

Al S took the final flight test for his PPL.  Power flying is a step down for any glider pilot, of course, but Al passed with flying colours.  His results, both in the air and on the ground, were all to a very high standard.  In the full meaning of the word: exceptional.

We had a wonderful time hosting the Interservices; competitors enjoyed some wonderful flying, and everyone seemed to enjoy the social scene.

Our very own Jon A was the individual champion - not because of home advantage, but simply because he is a damn fine pilot.

It is back to normal now & we have some news to catch up with.  Do watch this space.

A late report, sorry, but it really was not the most thrilling of weekends.

Saturday's weather was supeb, after countless days of rain.  While our competition pilots, Bob B at Husbands Bosworth and Gaz B at Bicester both romped around huge tasks, what was happening at Keevil? A wretched motor race, all day.  The race organisers helped us as much as they could, so we could get access and so some good work done, but the sole entertainment was from a passing glider pilot who landed, perfectly sensibly, on part of the runway not being used for the race.

Sunday was back to the incessant rain, and more preparations for the Interservices.  We are getting into super shape.

Club flying will be constrained from 1st to 9th August, but there will be plenty to watch and some good parties.  News here: http://bannerdown.co.uk/isrgc2009/ 

Challenging weather: wind & rain & sun & cloud, but still we managed some very important flying.

Major John Sim, of the 12 Battalion, The Parachute Regiment visited us on Saturday.  The last time he flew from Keevil was to parachute behind enemy lines & secure the left flank of the invasion beaches during the night before the D day landings.  We owe so much to him and his comrades: it was an honour to host him.  This time, of course, we made sure he flew and landed back, all in daylight.

Saturday was important for the next generation, too:

Will B. flew his first solo!

It is ominous when our Tugmaster appears wearing a tie: it means he has picked up his clipboard and changed to examiner mode.  Yesterday, it was for Al S's NPPL Navigation Skill Test.

The weather didn't help, extensive showers and dark, threatening, clouds added to the gloom.  It was an hour and a half before they reappeared: Al had passed.

Of course.

Well, we bit our nails, not knowing if we even had an airfield to use.  Eventually, on Friday evening, permission came through.

Well done to everyone who hung on - it was a worthwhile weekend.

With only 3 weeks to go to the start of the Interservices the work tempo is increasing: kitchen gutted and refitted; showers and loos almost finished and workshops transformed into temporary offices.  This is the first time we have hosted a competition at Keevil.  The work involved is now obvious, once it starts there should be lots of fun for everyone.

Normal club activity continues, of course, with plenty of training; Andy S finished his Cross Country Endorsement & Gaz managed an impressive trip to get himself ready for the Bicester competition.

Back on the ground, Al S has now passed all the ground exams for his PPL.  Not just passed, but achieved remarkably high scores.  He is surprised, but no one else who knows him will find this at all unusual.

Let's make maximum use of it.