If it is – then it was a good one to finish on. A stunning day with the Sedbergh soaring to cloud base from the first launch of the day. The Swallow and Venture were also soaring. Sadly the MK3 and Prefect were unable to join them as they were due a C of A.
The airfield is due to be sold in the very near future.
The day started with a flypast by the Red Arrows. Due to pass close to Hullavington, and with an ex 621 staff member flying Red 4 they were only to happy to pass over us.
The weather didn’t play ball all day though and we had to take shelter as a Thunderstorm passed the airfield. After it passed the aircraft returned to the field. With a social planned for the evening there were lots of people about.
Some great soaring today starting with the Sedbergh soaring away from the first launch. We even had aircraft sharing thermals today as well.
They are further away from each other than they look from this picture!
We carry out a series of checks before each launch following the mnemonic CBSIFTCBE. Controls, Ballast, Straps, Instruments, Flaps, Trim, Canopies, Eventualities (although not all our aircraft have all of these of course). The last of these, Eventualities, is where we plan for what could happen during the launch – as sometimes it does happen. It’s not often captured in a photo though.
You can see the cable has gone slack. The glider released the cable and landing straight ahead. It’s something we learn as a student to deal with and regularly practice.
Today we had visitors from 618 VGS (Odiham). A nice sunny day with some soaring as well.
After a week at RIAT watching the noisy new stuff flying, the Historic Flight was back operating at Hullavington. With the airfield due to be sold soon every opportunity has to be taken. The Historic Flight flew on the 17th before a special treat on the 24th July – a Tiger Moth and Chipmunk joining in the fun (or adding to it).
The aircraft flew in from Compton Abbas and spent the day flying members of the Flight. Lots of very happy people on the airfield! Many Thanks to those that made this happen.
We also had a visitor from 631 VGS who brought with him some parts he found in a cupboard. Thanks Gary! I think he found his way into everything and I think he enjoyed it!
And another Venture ZA634 popped in to say hello to ours.
What a day!
The 621 VGS Historic Flight joined up with the VGS to display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2016. The Sedbergh, Primary and MKIII were loaded into trailers along with a VGS Viking, and the Venture prepped for it’s transit flight. A Vigilant from 612 VGS would also form part of the display.
A great deal of work had been done by a number of people to get the trailers ready for their trip. Darren Melling-Poyser spent a lot of hours on Sedbergh trailer, along with others, as Al Stacey repaired his.
The finishing touches to the trailers were being made as we de-rigged the aircraft and loaded them into the trailers during Tuesday and we were ready to depart to Fairford early on Wednesday.
The rest of Wednesday was spent rigging the aircraft at Fairford. You don’t usually rig so many at once, but we had lots of people so that wasn’t the problem. What made it harder was the Typhoons, F16’s, F35 and others doing there display practice – which if not being very noisy – would distract several which had bought big cameras.
In order to keep the aircraft safe during bad weather and for overnight shelter, a marquee was ordered as a temporary hanger. In order to keep the costs down it was ordered to size. The aircraft were rolled in on trolleys sideways. This often drew a small crowd of those on site early or still there at the end of the day. With some big thunderstorms looking like they would pass over the site on Sunday, it was good to know we had somewhere to run to.
On Thursday we did the final setup and polish of our static display before the first round of judging. The Sedbergh and the Grasshopper were entered into the Concourse D’Elegance and the judges kept coming back – what did that mean?
The display also included the VGS equipment. Slightly more modern than the Historic Flights. A brand new Winch, a brand new Tractor, a brand new Ford Ranger, a new (ish) Glider Trailer and a Launch Point Caravan.
On the Friday night RIAT holds a Gala Dinner, a chance for VIP’s including the Chief of Staff’s from several Air Forces and government ministers to Aircrew and Ground Crew that have taken part in the Crew Challenge event. It is also the night the Concourse D’Elegance awards are presented. We knew from the Judges visits that one of the aircraft had done well. There was strong competition with aircraft such as the Blackburn B2 from the Shuttleworth collection being displayed as well as the excellent Chipmunks we were parked next too. It was only right that Flt Lt Adam Clarke went up to the podium to collect the award for the Best Civilian Aircraft in show!
Saturday and Sunday were full public display days. It was great to hear so many stories from people who’d first solo’s had been in the different aircraft types we had taken. We even had a couple who’s first solo had been in those exact aircraft!
We spend Sunday evening and Monday returning the aircraft back to Hullavington and re-rigging them. It was a long hard but successful week.
A less than ideal flying day, however the Swallow and the Venture were out and flying. Work well underway repairing the trailers for the coming expedition to the Royal International Air Tattoo.
A gray day but pleasantly warm making T-shirts the dress code for the day. The Prefect made what has become rare appearance from the confines of the hangar. 66 years old and great to fly.
A busy day on the airfield today with staff from 637 VGS coming to visit. Both the Sedbergh and the MKIII were flying and the Swallow soaring.
Even the Venture was soaring today! Fantastic visibility and great thermals today – however you will still always have to land at some point.
