Hello, this morning I checked the Astir in Bicester hanger, got the battery and the parachute and loaded with my cushions. Then got somebody to help me to take it to the launch point, which today was the nearest runway, so was not far. I asked if Mike would brief me, he pointed out to David, who in turn pointed out to poor John. He came to me and said, that he and David tossed a coin and he lost, so he will briefe me! Ok, John, I lost, too!!! John, I know you have sense of humor! I had 3 winch launces, the weather was not exactly booming, after my second flight the big boys took off from the aerotow site, bit further from us. Some big boys who took a winch launch landed back, so it was just not me.
I did not remember how brilliant the Astir is. It has got a main wheel, which comes in for the flight - the idea is to remember to put it out before joining the circuit. John said that if I forged and realize on the final, I should leave and not to mess up the landing. Somebody, a lady instructor had stalled the glider from the considerable height and hurt her spine very badly. I looked under the belly, and yes, it had lots of deep scratches! We have a grass field, so it should not be that bad outcome. Of course lots of beer in a bar for everybody!
Then I really got worried, when John started telling me how easily it goes into a spin. And specially with a light weight pilots, it turns upside down, very nasty. And I am not sure how to recover from that! John said, that the pilot will not be able to see the horizon. I got really worried and considered running away and hiding under the bus. I have always thought that Astir is a pussy cat. I have flown at least 2 different ones. And never ever thought anything about the spinning, perhaps the Astir Jeans was a bit different cup of tea, I dunno. So, after briefing I got somebody to help me to put on line and off I went with the winch. It behaved beautifly, was pleasure to fly it. The only thermal was top of the winch so I could not stay there and then I did not met any lifts at all. So I went to land, as I had had no time to put the under carriage down, so did not need to worry about that. Landing was fine, I did not remember how nose up it swims in the air. I went up more times and then took it to the hanger. There were nobody else to fly it.
Then I went to the launch point to thank Alan and John for briefing, John was not there, so John, thank you for the briefing!
Astir have got a GPS and a Flarm! I must learn to use the GPS. It will be very helpfull when flying bit further from the airfield.
This morning I looked at the yesterday's log sheets and my fourth flight had been 3hrs and 50 minutes!
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