Dartmoor Glidng News-Wednesday 24th July 2019

With low cloud over the airfield there was to be no flying until late morning if the forecast improvement occurred. Anticipating this with a forecast southerly/ south-south westerly we set up the airfield accordingly. K13 HXP and K8 FXB were also prepared ready for flying. Phil Hardwick took the opportunity of no flying to jump into the tractor and mow parts of the airfield.

Phil at home in the tractor.

Eventually the cloudbase started to lift and it looked like we were going to be able to fly. But as the wind had not read the forecast, and with a definite easterly component, it was all hands to change ends ready to fly. The K13 and K8 were brought to the launch point.

Our one day course Peter Mountfield had arrived and was briefed by Richard. First to fly with me was John O’Connell who had a couple of circuits. The K8 was also flown by Martin Broadway and Phil Hardwick. The K13 achieved full launches of around 1100ft just below cloudbase.

Peter and Richard were next in the K13. Their first launch resulted in a launch failure, but by the time we had reset and were ready to fly again, it was obvious the cloudbase was already a lot lower. We decided to pack everthing away as the forecast was for conditions to further deteriorate. Peter will return for his full course at a later date. His wife Mary will also be booking some trial flights, hopefully on the same day.

Peter ready to fly.

Only five flights, but thank you to all who turned up helped but didn’t fly. Better weather soon please.

Peter Howarth