Les Sharp. 2006

Sunday 5th March 2006

The Flight (fright)

The weather at Stratford was fine with light and variable winds at ground level but an obvious Westerly above. I had taken three passengers for flights and had managed to give them some soaring under cloud streets in anything from 8 knots up to 8 down. I then took Mike Bellomo for some soaring combined with training. We got off tow at 3500’ to the East of the airfield and spent some time working the leading edge of a cloud street. That dissipated and we found more lift in the vicinity of the power station that got us back to 3000’. As that also dissipated we flew a wide circle to the left with Mike in control and came back over the centre of the field in sink at 2200’. I lowered the undercarriage and as I ran through rest of the prelanding checks we hit turbulence that threw the microphone off its clip and rolled the glider through about 45 degrees going nose up at the same time. I caught the microphone with my right hand, took control with the other and turned 180 degrees left intending to be on an abbreviated crosswind leg for landing onto 09. I had started the turn at about 1800’ and as I straightened out we were already down to 1500’. I checked the windsock at the threshold of 09, still less than 5 knots there, then realised that the sink was continuing so declared a left hand circuit for 16. I turned onto base leg at 60 knots and then aimed for the threshold of 16, considered the paddocks between us and 27/09, but dismissed them as an option at that point, turned in still at 60 knots and very low, lined up and as the speed washed off commenced the flare only to be caught by a gust that put us at least 10’ higher and rolling left with drift developing towards the electric fence at the side of the runway, recovered that and landed. From 800’ AGL this had taken about 10 to 15 seconds. On the ground the wind was then a South Westerly of around 25 to 30 knots for about the next 10 minutes. Peter Williams arrived and promptly swung the glider into wind, we left Mike in the cockpit to help keep it on the ground and Peter sat on the wing until the wind subsided.
This was my 863rd glider flight and while I had heard and read the experiences of others who have been dumped by turbulence, it was only the culmination of experience, putting training rules into practice, and some rapid decision making that got us on the ground without bending an aircraft or its occupants.

What can we learn from this:

Firstly: When the wind is a strong Westerly above, the conditions around Stratford airfield can be extremely variable. Days like this are not ones for solo flights by inexperienced pilots.
Secondly: When it really turns to custard, you will return to your basic training, whether you are conscious of it or not. Make sure that you have the basics right because when the pressure goes on there isn’t time for procrastination or mistakes.

Les Sharp.