Hello, all:

This morning, we flew ten CAP Cadet Glider Orientation flights.  It was a chilly morning with bright sunshine and a light 6 knot wind blowing from the southeast.  Dan P, Tom S, Bud S, Jeff F, and Frank M handled equipment set-up and flight operations for the CAP flights.  The winds gradually increased to the point where we moved to the far end of the runway, but we launched the final CAP flight before we moved.  Once the CAP flights were done, we only launched three club flights:

  • Ryan K brought a friend along and gave his first glider ride as an FAA Certificated Private Pilot.
  • Dave Leslie came out and flew a solo in the L-23.
  • Tom flew a solo in the L-23.

Dave had the longest flight of the day at approximately 20 minutes, and Tom’s flight was the hangar flight.  Bud and Jeff decided not to fly, since it had grown increasingly breezy and there were no usable thermals.

It’s been an odd year for soaring in eastern Nebraska.  The atmosphere has been so stable since early August that good thermals have rarely developed.  Since the end of July, there have been two days where decent thermals developed.  The weather has been nice, but apparently too nice for good thermals to form.  There may yet be a good soaring day ahead, but we’re running out of time for the 2024 soaring season.

Regards,

OSCI