Aboyne Day 3

Below: The view from 775 at around 5,000ft on the home wave bar at Aboyne, looking towards the North Sea – you can just make out a cloud shadow on the water in the far distance (Pic: Helen Evans)

We can’t believe how warm it’s been on the ground at Aboyne this week – although that may be about to change... This morning was sunny with a wave system shifting as the wind changed. The afternoon was cloudier, but with good gaps much of the time. At one point this morning, at least ten gliders were sharing the home wave bar at between 4,000ft and 6,000ft – the only short beat available at the time. Reminded John and Helen of a hill site on a ridge day!

Lasham’s Duo took the first flight of the day, at 0830hrs: 775 was fully utilised, with David and Kevin going first, followed by John and Helen, who wave soared about 20k NW along the bars, and then David and Geoff, whose scenic tour of the Scottish Highlands took them to Loch Muick, before John flew Kevin again. Kevin and Helen have both been cleared to fly solo at Aboyne in suitable conditions.

Dave went soaring twice in SH9: his first flight was marred by technical gremlins but he went up to a pleasurable 7,000ft on his second. Everything worked, he had the sky virtually to himself and great views of the sunset. Meanwhile, Darren launched in the morning and showed immense patience working the wave slowly up from a low point of 2,800ft to 14,600ft. Sounds like the Gold height he was cheated of yesterday! Well done, Darren.

Lasham visitor Tim Lean, after previous Diamond height gains without logger or barograph, went to 20,700ft near Loch Muick today to claim the height, subject to ratification. He was flying DG-300 950 on his last day here this year. Congratulations!

As well as the Lasham expedition and one from Booker, Aboyne is hosting visitors from various other clubs, including two gentlemen, Morten Norgaard and Morten Olsen, from Kolding Flyveklub in Denmark. After a morning spent wave soaring in Deeside’s ASW19, GCA, Morten Norgaard told us that the highest hill in his home country is 147 metres (just under 500ft) high. It’s called Himmelbjerget – “Heaven’s Mountain”.

Helen Evans

Above: Lasham’s Duo was first at the launchpoint and first to launch today (Pic: Helen Evans)

Above: The Duo photographed from Aboyne’s ASW19, GCA, by a Danish visitor to the club (Pic: Morten Norgaard)

Above: Kevin Wood on the first of his two wave soaring flights today (Pic: David Williams)

Above: Loch Muick from 7,500ft, with David Williams instructing in the Duo (Pic: Geoff Martin)

Above: Darren took this shot at around 14,000ft on his Gold height, almost overhead the airfield (Pic: Darren Smith)

Above: Looking down from 14,000ft (Pic: Darren Smith)

Above: A happy Darren after landing back at Aboyne (Pic: Helen Evans)

Above: Lasham member Tim Lean in the clubhouse at Deeside GC after his Diamond height near Loch Muick (Pic: Helen Evans)

Above: Part of the upper wave system in which Tim got his Diamond height, photographed from 18,000ft (Pic: Nicki Marchant)