Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 12th April 2015

With the wind attempting to blow the windsock above the horizontal (20 gusting 29 knots) and due south (i.e.. 90º across the runway) it was an unpalatable but not difficult decision not to fly today (see photo). Which - as ever - was a shame, particularly when members travel for hours to get to the airfield, however safety first.

“Hooray, Up She Rises!”  20kt, 90 degree crosswinds attempt to lift the windsock above the horizontal.

So how to divert the interests of 8 highly motivated and skilled would be aviators? Step forward the ‘To Do’ list, from which we managed to remove a significant number of tasks, plus some that didn’t even get on the list, as the photos here describe.

“Hi, Ho!” Rich Roberts sports a pair of ‘knocking sticks’ in order to set about the old caravan.

At the top of the list was ‘Dismantle one caravan’ to which, at the risk of becoming typecast, Richard Roberts and myself were assigned to see if we could break our 3 hour record (we failed – the second caravan was a much better crafted construction than the first). Remaining with the caravan theme, the second task was to pressure wash the club’s caravan, for which Heather Horsewill was a willing volunteer, ably assisted by Barry Green and Adrian Irwin. Two hours later, the removal of mould and mildew complete, it was transformed into an almost desirable looking mobile residence. Next job will be the internals…

Heather Horsewill places the club caravan ‘under pressure'.

Anyone recognise this?  The club caravan post Heather’s attentions.

Not content to rest on her pressure washer laurels, Heather then turned her attention to the apron outside the clubhouse, which was treated to a similar facelift by removal of mud and nut cases (not Heather!). Rick Wiles (our Introductory Flight Pilot for the day) was keen to make use of the non-flying opportunity to repair the shock absorbers on the red Discovery following which, assisted by Dave Bourchier, he turned his grinder and welder to the Zetor tractor, where the seat had parted from the chassis, making for an ‘interesting’ ride (now welded back in place), and the metal ‘sunroof’ was leaking (holes now patched over).

“There’s Murder of the Dancefloor!”
The closest Rick Wiles has got to a disco in 15 years – thank goodness…

“The club is well equipped with PSE (PPE?)…” (…it’s just that some choose to leave it on the workbench..!)
Rick grinds away the seat of the Zetor prior to welding it back in place. 

Meanwhile, in expletive deleted corner, Mike Keller and Barry were trying to replace the water pump in the gold Disco. A simple task to describe but, in the ‘tradition’ of British car manufacture from the nineteen eighties, a complete and utter pig to execute. Just gaining access to the pump took 3 hours and which, with an aluminium bolt looking more like a boxer’s ear, will be a job for completion another day.

Mike Keller boxing the Disco's ears.

So six jobs (almost) completed that won’t intrude into a flying day, and it was well worth the chat at elevenses and lunch time. Thanks go to all those named; let’s hope we are rewarded with better weather next Sunday

Martin Cropper