Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 28th July 2014

Any day when members on site manage to recruit three new members has got to be a good one.

With top level cover preventing the sun from getting through, but some dark energy rich clouds below, the day was never going to be the soaring success that was yesterday.

However, first flight of the day for Trial Lesson student Ron Hooton showed that it was possible to thermal and to maintain height in straight lines under the dark stuff, which made for a much more stable camera platform. Showing interest and aptitude, Ron's Trial Lesson culminated in a 'declaration of interest' in the Fixed Price to Solo Scheme.

Trial Lesson Candidate Ron Hooton with Martin Cropper in the K13

Another two 'walk-ins' showed definite interest: one, Shane, who is Chair of the model flying club at Lynch Common near Cadover Bridge,  was still interested after the full Colin Boyd 'step right this way' treatment whilst another, whose name escapes me, was drawn to the club on the strength of his sons having been taught physics by Jeff Cragg (who was, unusually, absent with no sick note...)

And despite this frenetic sales talk we still found time to chuck Chris Owen into the sky 5 times, where his turn co-ordination is showing definite improvement, and for Dave Parker to ascend twice, the second for a creditably well handled simulated cable break, his first 'in ages'.  So despite a low turnout and a less than inspiring sky, it was a 'useful' day.

Oh, and we did the monthly maintenance on the K-13, because it would have been out if date by Wednesday.

Martin Cropper