The first day of the camp came with some of the best flying conditions seen in Taranaki, allowing the students to experience good introductory flights around Mount Taranaki and farther east along a booming convergence. Day two was another great soaring day with a focus on pre-solo training for all six students, some even managing to find and stay in some of Stratford’s difficult thermals. Day three saw more circuit training in the morning but deteriorating weather meant no flying that afternoon. Sadly, Day’s four and five met a similar fate. Due to this poor weather, the camp was extended to a sixth day on Saturday but a low cloud base meant only short circuits were possible.
While Saturday marked the end of the camp its-self, five of the six students came back the following weekend to continue their training and there had been a continued interest from all of them in the past few weeks. This is very promising for the club and plans are underway for the camp to continue next year!
Thanks are needed for the parents and club members who collectively provided food for the camp, to the Stratford Holiday Park for providing cheap accommodation and allowing us exclusive use of their backpackers’ facility, and to the TSB Community Trust for funding a majority of the flying for the week.
Sam Tullett