QXC
Thanks Mazzy.
I had all the plane booked out every day this week, and still couldn't get the QXC done!! The frustration has now subsided, and I'm happily resigned to waiting for the right weather. This week, I really thought I'd cracked it on Wednesday - the early TAF's looked fine, so I headed off to the school, arriving about 09.00. Checked out the plane, did the full plot, and was in the middle of the briefing when the school boss came in with a long face. The 10/19 TAFs had just arrived, and everywhere was peppered with snow showers and CB's! It was a no go for QXC, so we went for a quick landaway at Nottingham airfield, cup of tea and a sticky bun and straight back again! At least I'm landaway current for the next three weeks.
Yesterday was also canned 'cos of forecast snow (and it arrived here with a vengence) - our house is directly on the flight path from EMA to Turweston, and I can always see if the wife's got any "visitors" cars on the drive as I pass over - keeps her on her toes!
Today looked very promising, light winds, scattered clouds at 3500' and plenty of sunshine once the fog had lifted (early forecasts said by 10.00am). I arrived at the school early again, and got the 3000' winds (020 @ 5kts), and once again plotted averything. Sadly, it was not to happen - at the 10.30 departure time, viz at EMA was still only about 6km, and Cambridge (second port of call) was 0200 in freezing fog"" and VV///. I hung around for a while, but basically ran out of time, the conditions still way below limits by the latest time of departure.
I'm away next week in sunny Spain, and back on Thursday, so I've booked again for Friday (with a possible on Wednesday if I can get away early). So, if any of you are waiting for the weather to improve for a solo landaway, QXC or similar, book it for next Mon/Tues/Weds - I can guarantee it will be spot on!!