Just One Of Those Days By: Joe Williams Posted: March 21 2004
What I really like about gliding is it’s totally unpredictable. You ever know what’s going to happen, however carefully you plan. My object on this particular day was to have a gentle half an hour in the air, not leaving the airfield, with the intention of getting up to speed after the winter lay off. The weather didn’t seem that promising and anyway I wasn’t in the mood to put myself under any pressure.
I left home with the cheery “I’ll be back by mid afternoon”. I don’t what the reply was but I can guess. I’ve “wasted” enough of my spare time standing around the airfield for my wife to know that once there I’m always reluctant to come home. Just in case it turns good.
I launched my Discus late morning, taking the tow plane up to 2000ft. The sky was indifferent - a little cumulus was building but not enough to look promising. In fact it looked just right for the 30 minutes I decided to stay airborne.
I pulled sank a bit and then headed for the first sign of life.
But even before I got half way there I ran through some amazing lift that I was able to work up to 3000ft. I won’t bore you with all the detail, but suffice to say I connected well and good. My thoughts of 30 minutes dissolved and before I knew it I was on the club’s 200km milk run, and the speed was looking good.
It was quite a day. No I didn’t get home by mid afternoon but I ended up at the airfield, very much satisfied with the flight and topped up in that special way gliding has when you achieve far more than your expectations. That evening I relived that flight while the family wallowed in television, a silly smile on my face and the enthusiasm to be back at the launch point next weekend, whatever the weather.
I’ve learned now that whatever the weather forecast you can never really tell what bonus gliding will bring.
