Wednesday 10th August 2011 – 4th competition day, finally flying!
Sun was shining and it was a flying day finally! Towings started at 12:00 and start line for club class opened 13:08 and for Standard class one hour later at 14:03. At that time we followed the sky of course and it became clear to us that it might be not very easy for the pilots. And it wasn’t. Clouds were quite low in the morning but in the afternoon clouds were disappearing and weather was getting warmer and some high cirrus clouds was appearing to east and west. Too soon we received first outlanding reports, followed by several others. Even some of the Standard class pilots landed back to Musbach, it wasn’t because they would have finished the task but because they had a retrieval tow instead. Some pilots had to wait for their crew quite a long time and I guess they learned that they should have a book or some other entertainment with them in the plane.
In the evening there was the first international evening, German night with title “Handkäs mit musik”, I think you could translate like “hand cheese with music”. We were confused what that might mean, hand shaped cheeses and music will be played when you have a bite? Or cheese which you will eat from your hand with some music on the background? It was much more: take a slice of bread, spread butter on it, put a special small round cheese on it, and pour chopped onion with vinegar and oil on top of everything. Eat with knife and fork and music is played (by pianist) on the background. I think I would have enjoyed it if I could taste something – now I can’t because I have a cold.
Because of the outlandings some of the pilots were still “out there” late in the evening, and one crew experienced what it feels like when the mobile phone wouldn’t work, it’s dark, and you don’t know where the pilot is. The story ended well, so don’t worry.
To summarize this day, it was really for everyone that it was a flying day, that is the reason why we all are here after all. It wasn’t easy for the pilots, but most of them enjoyed it anyway. And I think we all are ready for some more.