David d'Arcy

Saturday 12/09/2020

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Sep 132020
 

I think the Mynd gliders must have thought it was task week as almost all were in the air; 3*LS4, 2*Pegase, DG300, Nimbus2, Std Cirrus, Arcus & JS1-21, plus K23 & K21, needless to say it was a good soaring day. Two new members, James & Vernon, also took to the air and had a good day. 291 visited Bromsgrove, Ledbury & Hereford. The Nimbus did Tims and TL & DZ junior both had wave flights, even though it evaded the rest of us so l’d say it was a successful day. More please 🙂

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TL in wave near Newtown.

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TL evidence if logger failure!

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Mac in DZ in wave

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EFT breezes Tims

Thursday 25th June

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Jun 262020
 

Well you could argue today was a better day with 4kt thermals a higher cloudbase and cumulus, although initially very short lived but later in the afternoon large cells formed and sometimes even worked! So a successful day for some while another had success with a field landing close to Leebotwood and the first for a few years. A good field although the landing run of 170yards made it feel smaller! And the socially distanced retrieve worked perfectly!

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Paul, note the lack of cu!

Darce.

Monday 15th June

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Jun 162020
 

Well, as predicted Monday was a flying day and turned out to be quite a good day after applying a little patience waiting for the hill to clear and then for sufficient energy in the sky for soaring as the air was still quite wet. I think 9 single seaters took to the air and then there were the three two seaters of 291, KA & the T21, who were solo, solo almost solo! So a good showing for the Mynd all in all. On average the BGA ladder did 200-300km flights and a few of our pilots achieved something close. One did Timms twice and had three loggers with him but no trace to show for it, definitely a ‘Golden Shovel’ moment for Walt if not gliding related. Orch also had some moments, three if i recall, reuniting himself with the retrieve winch as Pete ‘The Winch’ Salisbury was the far end of the field. Big thanks to both for providing the launch facility. Julian Fack found some convergence out between Church Stoke and Welshpool with the K23 along with a few others, which then materialised north of the Mynd later in the day (see pic). The ‘Mynd Witch’ was also hard at work on the K21 so members will have something nice to sit on when it returns to service sometime soon. Thanks to all for making it a good day out. (Darce)

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Saturday 13th June

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Jun 132020
 
On the subject of flying, today didn’t turn out as forecast either with gorgeous cumulus, no rain showers and the wind didn’t get up till mid afternoon either. Fingers crossed for tomorrow….
Darce.

Walkmill bridge

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Jun 022020
 

For anyone travelling from Norbury direction to Ratchup (Ratlinghope) with a trailer – DON’T, as the road is shut for three weeks at the narrow bridge below Wentnor, south of The Inn on the Green. (slightly clearer now) Cars shouldn’t have a problem making the detour, an 18ft trailer would be trickier. Suggest if approaching Ratlinghope from the south with a glider trailer in tow, using Wentnor as the go round.

darce.

Sunday 15th March 2020

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Mar 152020
 

Patience was required after a wet start but once that was through soaring was available till late late afternoon when squall of showers saw us finish for the day. Initially steady ridge lift that softened, and then went thermic to about 3K5 QNH, although i wouldn’t know because i had no beep beep beeps in the cockpit, and therefore couldn’t soar! Good to finally get some proper thermals in plus soaring. Thanks to the duty team for making it happen.

Darce.

Monday 30th December 2019

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Dec 302019
 

Well as predicted another very nice day at the Mynd, with gentle wave at the end of the wire for most not going to great heights but keeping people in the air none the less. A little training was undertaken also and i think all had a good day out. Thanks to Simon & Liz for winching and everyone else for helping out and making it a great day.

Darce.

Saturday 19/05/2018

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May 202018
 

Another fantastic day at the Mynd. Not too hot, not too windy, not too wet, not too busy! Robert (and Lassetter) wanted to go to Barnsley I think RASP had something to do with this, however, he wasn’t on his own as the big EB28 also went there. 494 got within spitting distance but turned back in favour of getting home for tea. And got the virtual ‘Plate’ back off of Camphill having turned the club (low). Darce, Mikee, Liz, Simon, Clive & Roger Ellis in LUV all left site and had good flights. Not quite as good as that super ‘Aim higher’ Thursday which is still missing a number of BGA ladder entries, btw. Amongst other things donated by Den, a new grass cutting machine (shiny & red) was put to work and seemed to make easy work of the caravan site and lawn (thank you). Next weekend we are away Rockpolishing at Aston Down.

Darce.

Saturday 20/01/2018

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Jan 202018
 

Well I must be the only one to have believed the Thursday / Friday weather forecast for today, and well there was the fact that I was on duty also, but sadly it was another non-flyable day. (sad face) Good exercise walking up the ill though.

Darce. P.S. Happy Birthdays to Den & Cole’y (22nd)

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2192 ATC visit the Mynd again – Sat 05/08/2017

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Aug 062017
 

Another great day at the Mynd to follow on from a great Friday where 494 & KA visited the Welsh coast and Cadair Idris. Saturdays start was delayed by a couple of hours rain but once this passed the skies opened up and soaring was had till 19:00hrs. Paul Fowler, Matthew Cook, Guy Heartland & No.1 Mike Witton all helped out to give 2192 squadron from the north of England two flights each with some managing 8kts thermals and many 4-6kts ones. We were quite fortunate though as QueNim after QueNim lined up to our north running through a line of Shrewsbury – Kiderminster. Orch who likes storm chasing, visited Shrewsbury and reported lots of rain. Below are some pics and a vid from Sam of his flight with Guy.

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TwinAstir+5kts (See the TwinAstir can do +5kts too)

And now the video (if it will load – which it won’t so will have to YouTube it somehow.)

Darce.

 

View from a Hus Bos cockpit

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Aug 032017
 
A few pics of my landout field on Sunday, showing a lovely blue sky one way and a passed CuNb the other that did actually thunder, but no lightning. And before you ask, in the meantime i dried off the glider with a canopy cloth.
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Darce.

1 2 3 at Hus Bos regionals

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Jul 292017
 

The Mynd get podiums 1st, 2nd & 3rd at the Hus Bos Regionals on day 2(today). Way to go Mynd! Fran & Jonny Roberts came in a close 4th. JF (Julian Fack) was 1st followed by Mike Witton and yours truly 3rd.  All Mynd gliders got safely back although conditions were so dire KA decided on making use of the turbo, Simon even managed to do the 3rd leg twice! This leaves Mike Witton in overall 3rd place, a fantastic result for Mikee. Unfortunately there are no pictures due to poor light and rain, although Fran did record their final glide in today – so I’ll ask after a UTube link.

Darce.

Crewing(?)

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Jul 072017
 

Following on from Simon’s Cross Country week, seven Mynd gliders are attending the Husbands Bosworth regionals (22-30th July) competition and this would be an ideal time to come over and have a look to see how it is actually done, and maybe if you can spare the time to also help out with a bit of crewing, as I for one would definitely appreciate it (beer & food tokens available).

Darce.

Saturday 10th June 2017

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Jun 122017
 

Mynd members turned out in force again to help with the road re-surfacing works Friday 9th- Sunday 11th June. Tim Mason, Charles Carter and Howard Bradley lead the operations helped by many a member and should be thanked by all. The chairman was even seen with a camera in his hand and I’m sure has better pictures than me.DSC00017 DSC00018 DSC00023 The weather wasn’t as bad as the camera makes out, but it was close!

I also found Mark’s pet sheep in the new MT shed!

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Darce.

Sunday 14th May 2017

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May 152017
 

An interesting day in many guises. For those committed and early up and away a great time was had in north Wales. See Paul Shuttleworth’s day pics at;

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6tb06cv157n0mdm/AAC6y-utOEnmZyqse-ryPu92a?dl=0

Yes that really is the wind farm off of Rhyl. Apparently there was an unrefusable cloud street, however, on turning around and poking back into wind landing on the beach was a distinct possibility. Sadly, on returning back to the shire they found their passage blocked by a wall of showers and dead air which also brought down Rob Hanks who also tried out the Clwydian ridge flanked by the gliding clubs Lleweni Parc and Llantysilio. Others; Mac, SAdlard, Dave Rance tried the south and again were met with showers, but strangely none actually made it to the Mynd although threated many a time. And I out climbed a K8 Harris! (will probably never happen again 🙂 ) A strange strange day.

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Darce.

Saturday 06-05-2017

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May 072017
 

An unbelievably miserable day with low cloud and mist / rain till mid afternoon (and it was cold to boot) – however, that did not stop those present from getting MGC jobs done most notably working on the K23 trailer. Even though lots of good progress has been made Rob reckons there is still a good couple of weeks left still to do. So Silver distance pilots looks like its the K8 (a man’s glider) for you in the meantime.

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I was forced to take the picture of Cole’ly, as they said it was his first bit of work all day – how unfair.

Darce.

Cross Country refresher week

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Apr 162017
 

Looks epic for a few days. BBC are predicting a temperature difference of -7 to +16  on Thursday!! Which buy the old rule of thumb should give almost 8,000ft! But well see. Good luck all.

Darce.

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