We had another great winch day on Saturday the 21st.
I was rostered on but had organised two other instructors to assist me,
Chris Carr and Vic Hatfield. We had five of the new junior members from
my school (St Mary's College Gunnedah) and three students from BAE in
Tamworth. We also had two AEF's and Bruce Paulsen wanting to do his out
landing training. Harry Medlicott and Christian Linnet were there to fly
too. With three instructors, three two seaters, Bob Dircks on the winch
and Darion Thom flying the tug we were ready for a very active day at
Lake Keepit Soaring Club.
There was a brief interval of thermal activity
early, but then it clouded over. However what really made for a great
day was a strong steady breeze straight down the strip allowing Bob
Dircks to give us great 2000 foot winch launches from runway 14. Christian Linnet
even made it to 2200 feet in his Cirrus.
Most of the juniors had two flights on the winch
with me and some of them have had 10 flights altogether now and are
flying the take off and landing with assistance. One of the juniors
Keegan Ellis, trained two other juniors, Jacky Patrick and Dylan Garnett
on driving the retrieve buggy. Altogether they had a great day. Another
new junior member from St Mary's School, Eli Crowhurst, brought his
girlfriend out and while Eli and I were having a lesson after a great
2000 foot winch launch in the Twin Astir, Vic took his girlfriend on an
Air Experience Flight in IUR. Looking down at them flying over the lake,
with the breeze creating a spectacular sea of ripples below them, Eli
said, "isn't that beautiful!".
Vic was busy with the students from BAE, and Chris flew with Bruce and the AEF's.
Altogether it was a truly fun day with so many new and enthusiastic new junior cadet members.
Thanks especially to Bob Dircks who spent most of
his day driving the winch until he was given some relief by Harry and
Christian later in the day.
The next juniors days are August 5th and August 26th.
