Day 7- Friday 17 July

Up bright and early before 11, and we all look up with anticipation at Gary's 300k day. Unfortunately it seems Gary failed to check the predicted wind strength, as Tome Deane's tent has collapsed in a heap and the wind sock is blowing horizontal from it's pole. Gary scratches his head and goes inside for his daily egg/orange juice/milk concoction, whilst everyone's hopes begin to fade. Claire and Conor arrive back, looking (to our envy) impressively clean and well groomed, but are disappointed to see a lack of flying, and start to plan a mission to Gowran Grange the next day. The tuggie is not due to arrive until after 12.30, so we wait optimistically for the wind to die down. Gary wipes the 300k task, but writes up a smaller one, convincing everyone that 230k is completely doable. As the gusting gets stronger, he becomes less and less optimistic, and the task is shrunk to a mild 100k, but by then we are coming to terms with the fact that there will be no launching in this ferocious crosswind. Ormond Flying Club member Fergus pops by, and the crosswind doesn't seem to phase him as he pushes out his Pipistrel motor glider. Everyone looks on longingly- one man shall fly today! Sticking his head round the corner of the clubhouse, Fergus asks if anyone wants to come along with him for a flight, and Abi jumps at the chance. As she follows him round to the hangar, David Lisk, self appointed Safety Manager, jumps onto the club computer and starts to check the crosswind component operational limitations for the motor glider. As Fergus taxis off to the launch point, David finds that it is operating within one knot of its limit, so Abi may have a chance of surviving her flight. Just in case, Matthew gets outside to film the take-off in case of any subsequent AAIB investigation. But she makes it off! With only a bit of shakiness on lift off, the glider is in the air, and makes a trip down through Roscrea to the Galty Mountains, where Fergus plays at terrifying sheep who obviously are unused to any ridge soaring aircraft on their hills. After several hours, their time is up, and they arrive back at the field and make a successful landing in the still raging crosswind. Abi's adventure is over, and is pleased to have seen some of the countryside, while Gary is bitter that he didn't get the best flight of the day for once.

Dublin declare a premature finish to the Birr Safari due to the impending rain over the weekend, so everyone sets to derigging. In the time that Owen, Gary and Rick have derigged each of their gliders, the Dublin K-21 is still sat outside its trailer as everyone tries to work out the dolly system, and it's thought to be the longest derig in history when it takes almost three hours. As there is no record to suggest otherwise the DGC can quite possibly keep this claim to fame. Next is the K-13. Do any of us ever want to see this aircraft taken apart again after this week?! Well, we're getting good at it at least. With Tim being the dedicated driver for the K-13, and him by now lying up in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, the K-13 is packed into the Birr hangar on its trailer for the foreseeable future, until some kindly soul offers to make the final retrieve. Owen heads off to Slane to make some music, and the Dubliners all retreat after being fed with a military operation pasta creation, where Matthew threw in all the food left on the table, including vegetable soup, apples, tinned peas and some salvaged turkey. A fine meal it was, washed down with a thimbleful each of Walt's first solo champagne. With the Dubliners gone, Gary, Abi, Matthew and Rick are left to their devices, and start the demanding task of finishing all the leftover alcohol. Aided by a funnel, the task is almost completed, and the foursome decide to investigate the bright lights of Birr. After a combination of running and walking, they reach Birr town and find themselves in the smallest bar in history, complete with a band in the corner. They don't integrate especially well with the locals, but thoroughly enjoy the local scene and fortunately got back to the airfield alive after a short diversion on the children's play area. Having packed up his tent Gary kips in the back seat of his car, parked ready to shoot off at first light. But what mess awaits us in the clubhouse in the morning, and how will the four rowdy northerners ever get Birr airfield back to its original state?!