Sailplane & Gliding 1956 - Lakes Gliding Club

except those made from Lasham during theNational Championships from July 23rd toAugust Ist. They are mostly representedby straight lines from start to finish., t,heaclual route not being shown in detail, andthe cross-channel flight ofLame Welch andFrank Irving necessarily goes off the map.Some of the more notable flights aredescribed in the ensuing pages; accountsof some others have already been publ ishedor will be later. One notable feature is thenumber of c1ub-to-c1ub flights. Another isthe great number of flights on particulardays, notably April 9th, with two-seatergoal and speed records from the Long Myndand a feminine distance record fromLasham; and June 5th, when many experiencedpilots gave 300-kilometre goalsto the north which they were unable toreacb, only to be outdone later in the dayby two beginners owing to some inexplicablemeteorological change, and the result wasanother feminine distance record.News of CTOSS-ecuntry flights in the AirTraining Corps does not come to aviationjournals, but A.T.e. gliding news is allowedto be sent to local newspapers, so if theywere informed of cross-eountries we shouldhear of them and could include them in thenext map.Camphill ~OFerryfieldby Bernard ThomasT HE noon forecast in Saturday's Timesshowed a cold front along the Humber­Severn line with a N.N.W. wind behind.On Sunday morning, August 7th, the skywas completely covered with thin cloudwhich showed no signs of breaking up untilafter noon. The wind was almost alongBradwell Edge and machines fell out of thesky as fast as we couId launch them.The prospect improved and we rigged theSky more in desperation than hope. Ideclared Ferryfield, set my altimeter at1,250 ft .-usually a good way of ensuring aquick circuit-and was la.unched into athermal at 12.44 p.m. Having reached4,000 ft. on the altimeter I was soon atMatlock searching for lift, as usuaL Twogood thermals took me to 1,000 ft. in cloud,but from tha,l point to the Thames the liftinside cloud was not worth struggling for.The first hour seemed to indicate an 8°drift west of course so that navigation (sic)presented little or no difficulty. I reachedBedford at 3.30 p.m., an average speed of35 m.p.h.Letchworth and the Ponders End Reservoirskept me on course for crossing theThames at TiIbury at 5 p.m. The averagespeed for this section worked out at 40Bernard Thomas in the Slingsby 'Sky' sailplanein which he made this jfight.m.p.h. and for the distance thus far,31 m.p.h.Consequently I failed to reconsider theTwo years ago I crossed the Thames with situation and make the best use of the3,000 feet at 5 p.m., only to be sunk, utterly opportunities which became increasinglyand completely, at Sittingbollrne. Thls time obvious.1 intended to get to Ferryfield even if I had At 4,000 ft. the sky appeared to be seveneighthsovercast. Cloud base was 6,000 to push the Sky along the road to do it.ft.-9-