Well, ...... only one flight but very interesting ! Your blogger and Barry Lytollis decided to have a mutual flight in the Ka21 as we were not sure if it was going to be worth getting our gliders out. There was some wavey looking cloud between the Tors & Cheviot so we asked George to tow us to the Tors. At the mouth of the valley I commented to Barry that, even with the little Pawnee, we were climbing quite fast and, in what seemed to be very smooth air. I spoke too soon because the climb rate decreased then became negative for a while. As we progressed up the valley it became increasing rough - with a capital R and we were both feeling sorry for George. The climb rate improved as we approached the Tors so we pulled off at 2000' and flew around the end of some cloud which seemed to project from the E end of the Tors. The vario flickered around zero but, as we moved further up the valley started to show a better rate of climb. Approaching the triangular wood the vario moved smoothly up until it was hard against the top stop and the altimeter was winding steadily upwards ! Wow !! We topped out at 5000' which was interesting because the Met had shown an inversion at that level. We explored out over Morebattle, we considered dropping downwind to S of Wooler but thought better of it because we had had calls from the site saying the wind was increasing and they had put the tug away ! Eventually we came back down the valley and then found a weak line of lift from Kilham nearly to Yetholm. Having tried that we decided to return to the site. Things looked OK from 1500' but, as we got lower, it became obvious that the wind had really picked up and the circuit and approach were wild. When we came to a stop Barry got out and suggested, because of the gusty wind, that I should stay in the glider. The gusts were so strong I felt the glider was almost lifting off so opened the airbrakes. The result was the wind blew the glider backwards over the ground !!!! Luckily the tractor was on hand and we made a hasty retrieve back to the hanger. Quite a flight.
On my way home I stopped to take the photo below. This was taken from near Bamburgh golf course and doesn't do justice to the spectaular sight of the clouds spilling over Cheviot & Hedgehope. Several people had stopped to look or photograph the scene.
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| Cheviot and Hedgehope wreathed in wave cloud |
