Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 2nd August 2014

I think that our members sometimes look at the national weather forecast and abandon their hope of flying. Today’s national forecast was full of dire warnings of gale force winds and torrential rain. A little careful searching of the local forecast revealed that most of today would be perfectly flyable.

Today's tempting sky
But the national forecast had done it’s damage; the club was quiet with just a small band of experienced members in attendance. Although there was enough of us to start flying immediately we decided to complete some jobs first.

Not exactly an F1 style wheel change. It took 3 of us an embarrassingly long time.
The first task was to replace the K13 rear wheel tube and tyre with brand new parts. This simple sounding jobs required quite a bit of wrestling with such a stiff tyre on the one piece rim. But we were up to the task.

After a much needed tea break, which was encouraged by a torrential shower, it was on with the main job. K7M G-DCLT had it’s maintenance completed and the aircraft assembled ready for a test flight prior to returning to the club fleet.

Finishing off CLT
The arrival of Paula Howarth, today’s Air Experience Candidate,  prompted us to get on with flying. Paula enjoyed a couple flights in K13 GDDMX with me during which we soaring easily in the windy but very buoyant conditions.

Today's visitor Paula
By the time we landed, K7M G-DCLT was ready to go and Instructor Ged Nevisky put it through it’s paces with a test flight that seemed to include every aspect of it’s flight envelope after which it was pronounced ready for club service. Wasting no time, Mike Jardine jumped in a took it soaring.

CLT after it's successful test flight
Mike Jardine ready to go soaring in CLT 
Elsewhere, Allan Holland completed the minor repairs to Pirat tailplane, which, once signed off by John Bolt, was reassembled ready for club use.

We achieved a lot today.

Steve

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