Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 3rd November 2024

Driving to the airfield I was expecting a busy day. With no flying yesterday, I thought some of the Saturday trainees may choose to come out today. But, as it happened the weather must have deterred them and some of the Sunday soarers.

Early low cloud was forecast to gradually lift to at least become flyable, so we set about getting things ready at a leisurely pace.

A quick weather check flight saw a 1000ft cloud base, but visibility was generally poor, but good enough for some circuits with the two attending trainees.

Trevor Ashbolt ready to fly with me.

Trevor Ashbolt flew with me on the weather check flight and later had three training flights where he started getting used to turning using all three coordinated controls. David Osment also few with me and continued progress where he is now doing the whole flight.

With no visitors due to the low cloud, duty BI Richard Roberts took turns with IFP Steve Fletcher to fly as P1 in the Puchacz.

Richard and Steve keen to fly.

And enjoying some mutual flying.

Their view of Brentor.

And Mary Tavy.

Recently re-soloed John Osment added to his solos with a couple of circuits in the K8.

John waiting for a cable.

After an extended stint on the winch, Sean Westrope took the Astir for a flight.

Sean waiting in the Astir.

John Smith and Malcolm WJ also had flights in the K8. Some flights managed extended circuits with flight of the day going to Malcolm with19 minutes. After some time on the winch Ed Borlase had a couple of flights in the Puchacz ready for conversion to the Astir in the near future.

Last flight of the day was Steve Fletcher taking Ray Boundy for a quick flight in the K13.

Steve and Ray.

Only a few of us at the club today, but an enjoyable relaxing day was had by all.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 27th October 2024

A similar forecast to yesterday gave optimism that some soaring may be possible. A K13, Puchacz and Astir were DI'd and taken to the east end launch point.

First to fly with me was Geoff Cooper. Geoff is progressing well and is flying most of the launch. He is also starting approaches and landings.

Geoff doing his pre-flight checks.

Duty BI Gavin Short had three visitors today. First up was Julie Baughan. Julie and her husband arrived early to take her flight.  They had visited us before and were suitably equipped with a picnic. She enjoyed the early developing thermals to prolong her second flight, indicating how the day might develop. They stayed to enjoy the beautifully warm sunshine and watch the proceedings.

Julie all smiles and ready to fly.

Next up was Trevor Ashbolt who had come from Newquay with his partner, also called Julie.  Gavin had met him in September and told him about gliding.  As a result, Trevor booked a two-flight voucher as a taster.  Determined to fly with us, this was his third attempt as previous Sundays were blighted by the poor weather we have experienced recently.  The two flights were both soaring flights with the second climbing up to 1,700 feet in 2 knot thermals in the late October sunshine.  Feedback received when Trevor got back to Newquay: "Many thanks Gavin. First class experience today. Already looking forward to return trips."

Trevor receiving his certificate from Gavin.

Next trainee with me was David Osment. His flying is progressing and he is starting to fly the launch. After David, it was dad John's turn. After a quick check flight he added to his recent re-solo with another couple of flights.

John with son David.

Other solo pilots lined up ready to fly. Sean Westrope (Astir), Andy Davey (Libelle), Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus) and Ed Borlase (K6). Longest flight of the day was Andy with 1 hour 15 minutes. Not bad for the first day of winter.

Sean waiting in the Astir.

K6 waiting in the launch queue.

Andy returns after his flight.

Our last visitor arrived to fly with Gavin. Beki Richards who hails from Okehampton and was accompanied by her husband and two children.  The flight voucher was to celebrate her birthday. She had tried skydiving previously.  She should have been accompanied by her father, Robert Sargent, who had subsequently booked a flight on the same day to keep Beki company.  Unfortunately, we received a call early this morning that Robert had been running in the woods (he is training for a marathon) and had fallen and broken his ankle and was on his way to A&E in Exeter.  We wish him a speedy recovery. He told Beki to carry on with her flight booking which she did.  Beki enjoyed her flights although there was little thermic activity remaining the views, calmness, and serenity of our smooth flights were thoroughly enjoyed.

Beki and Gavin ready to go.

Last two trainees Freddie Purkiss and David Moorley were ready to fly with me. Both are progressing well and David finished his flying day with a good hangar landing. A late visitor arrived, a friend and family of Phil Hardwick. Phil took Josh Taylor for a last flight in the Puchacz to land at the west end ready to put the glider away.

Thank you to all at the field today with some good flying all around.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 30th October 2024

Last Wednesday's blog introduced Keat's "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness..." which proved apt this morning too.  It dawned with some local mist but was forecast to clear to be a lovely autumn day with a light easterly wind.  Great for our visitors and trainees and with some gentle thermic activity too, peaking at 1.6 knots; just enough to hold a well handled glider at "zero sink" or at least to slow the rate of descent back to mother earth.

Skysight has a new feature; a Point Windgram, which displays the day's weather in an interesting and digestible format showing wind direction and strength, thermal activity, condensation level, boundary layer, and cloud.  A good summary.

Skysight's new Point Windgram overview shows how the day might shape up

As mentioned the wind was forecast from the east but light.  So conventional wisdom expected no indications of wave in the forecasts.  However, I have noticed an interesting feature in Skysight's predictions of convergence this year.  Often we experience wave that the forecasts didn't predict.  Brentor pundits attribute this to the "Hydraulic jump" caused by the local topography when the air comes down off the moors into the Mary Tavy valley and then pushes the air upwards towards the airfield.  The convergence forecast seems to indicate when this will happen.  Skysight describes this chart as showing the "Maximum up/down motion within the Thermal Layer, as created by horizontal wind movement" which is just what we are interested in.  Empirical testing is the order of the day so we better go and test it!

Is this caused by wave or a hydraulic jump?  Let's go and find out. (Blue shows sinking air and light green shows air rising at 0.2 knots). 

Some schools had their half term last week, where we welcomed Matthew and younger brother Hugo last Wednesday.  However, this week is half term for most of the schools in the local area.  So the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, girded his loins ready for a welcome onslaught of Juniors wanting to make the best use of the autumn day.  Phil Hardwick as the Duty Basic Instructor had three visitors scheduled (two trial flights and a One Day Course) so he would be busy too.  We also welcomed Trevor "Treasure" Ashbolt who thoroughly enjoyed his trial flights on Sunday and came back today to make the most of his temporary membership.  Welcome Trevor or should that be "Treasure"?

Whist the hangar was being unpacked my thoughts on "Mellow fruitfulness" brought a recollection of the Halloween pumpkin competition held at Cotehele Mill on Monday.  It might have been raining and a bit miserable all day but it attracted many half-term visitors eager to cast their votes for the inventive creations on display.

Pumpkins ripe for the judging at Cotehele Mill

My musings continued through the morning brief where the weather and RASP predictions aligned with Skysight.  Apart from the Okehampton firing range being active there was nothing to be concerned about.

The competition winner.  I think it depicts an Eagle Owl just like our Puchacz!

A more earthy creation. Perhaps one that DGS pilots associate with?

My reverie was interrupted by the Duty Instructor giving a lecture to the assembled trainees on Airmanship which went down well.  David Baker arrived for his One Day Course and Phil briefed him.  Trevor AKA "Treasure" sat in on the brief as it was useful to a newcomer.  Then I gave a lecture on the primary effects of the controls which David sat in on too.  Then it was time to flying.

Although the winds were very light they were forecast to freshen later from the east so we set up at the west end end.  Mike Jardine took Geoff up for a pair of flights to continue his training.

Gosh! These pre-flight checks require a lot of concentration

John Osmet took a pair of solo flights in a K-13 to get his eye in at the start of the day whilst Mike Bennett, John Allan, and Peter warmed up the K-8 for him.  There were soaring flights from all three pilots, and in particular 22 minutes by Peter, which ensured that it was working perfectly.  The Astir CS77 was also in use today by Hugh and with Sean (11 minutes) and John Allan (30 minutes) managing to soar.

Total cloud cover summed up the day but belied the very pleasant and benign conditions

Phil started David Baker's One Day Course with a pair of introductory flights.

The One Day Course starts with David Baker and Phil

Sean laughing at his own jokes before enjoying a pair of short soaring flights

Then Phil took our first trial flight visitor aloft.  William Stevens was staying with his grandfather during half term.  Although his grandfather lives very close to the airfield Steven hails from Barnet, North London.  A quick peruse of the British Gliding Associations "club finder" page reveals a choice of three gliding clubs; London, Chilterns, Booker, and Surrey Hills within 25 miles, and as a bonus all but Surrey Hills are a Junior gliding centre.  Take your pick Steven!

Following his trial flight junior William Stevens receives his certificate from Phil

Mean while the Duty Instructor shifted targets to Osmet jr, AKA David, to continue his training. I flew a set of three flights with "Treasure" to start his training after his introduction to gliding last Sunday; lookout, elevator, ailerons, and rudder.  At the end of the set he was reinforcing his control of the glider in roll and pitch and gaining confidence.  A great start.

Anyone for a stub landing? The Duty Instructor's view of the airfield from the south

Junior Jamie then flew with Mike on a pair of flights that would stretch his abilities.  This included a challenging launch failure exercise which Jamie executed flawlessly.  Those pilots who weren't training were all enjoying extended flights under the almost 100% cloud cover.  Throughout out the day there were tantalising glimpses of blue sky but no sunshine was to be had.  Despite that it was surprising mild in the almost calm conditions.

Whilst Mike moved on to take David Moorley for a pair of flights Peter was busy with a type conversion brief for John Osmet in the K-8.  Over thirty years ago John had flown K-8s regularly but a briefing on its handling with a high power winch, from a hill top site, was required before letting him go!

CB SIFT BEC done John Osmet is ready for his first launch in K-8, GDK

John landed 12 minutes later demonstrating that he found some gentle rising air and that indeed he hadn't forgotten how to soar.  A second flight confirmed that he hadn't lost this valuable skill.

John Osmet returns from his second soaring flight in GDK

Mike then continued members' training with a pair of flights with Neal.  David Bourchier came up from the hangar wanting to fly. I obliged him with two flights in K-13, FSD where David kept his hand in with some upper air work.  Time was moving on now that we are in a new time zone; GMT or Zulu time, so Phil asked me to fly his second visitor while he finished off David's One Day Course.

The Puchacz on the downwind leg spotted in the distance

Ian Hutchinson was given a trial flight voucher by his wife for his birthday who came with him to the airfield to spectate.  Proceedings delayed his flight time a little but that didn't stop Ian thoroughly enjoying his flight and having a go at using the controls.  Ian is a musician (a drummer, who might be useful addition to Colin's band).  A recent BGA club development seminar revealed that statistically musicians are more likely to become glider pilots than other groups in society.  So who knows, we may see Ian back?  He will of course be most welcome.

Ian Hutchinson and Gavin ready to launch in K-13, FSD

The smiling face says it all.  Ian receives his post flight certificate from Gavin

The Duty Instructor conducted his final pair of flights with Junior Toby who has been away for a while.  Mum, Sarah, also came up to the launch point to watch him fly after spending most of the day in the clubhouse making use of the Wi-Fi on her day job i.e. the thing that pays for Toby's flying!

Well back Toby!  Mum, Sarah, observes in the background

At the end of the day Dave Archer came up to the launch point having been busy with Colin conducting the annual inspection of his K-6 CR, G-DHEB (Debbie to her friends!).  The glider passed its inspection but with some paint needed here and there.  DHEB is turning out to be a good investment (the glider and trailer were purchased last year for just £2,500.  What a bargain and a lot of smiles and fun per £).

Dave enjoyed a circuit in K-8, GDK to keep his hand in before handing the glider to John Allan for the final flight of the day.  John Allan managed to soar for 10 minutes, under a completely overcast sky, and he landed at 1657, two minutes after sunset.  So what force was keep him and others a loft today?

Phil and David Osmet manoeuvre the Puchacz before taking it back to the hangar.

So with the day darkening it was time to pack up after 39 flights conducted in Zulu time.  I am sure glider pilots would prefer that we stayed in BST all year round. The temperature was dropping and it was time for coats and woolly hats.  All had had their fill, thanks to the stalwart winch drivers, albeit the number of trainees had been limited to training sets of two vice three flights.  Note to self; must grow some more instructors!

So was Skysight's forecast correct with light rising air forecast on its "convergence" page?  Studying the average time in the flight log of what should have been straight circuits, the extended reduced sink that Ian Hutchinson and I enjoyed during our flight, and John Allan's night time soaring, I would say Yes!  Mother nature never ceases to amaze.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 26th October 2024

Today is the last day of British Summer Time 2024. Time goes quickly when you are having fun.

The weather forecast was suggesting clear skies, a light to moderate breeze initially from the SE veering S then SW. This would lead to a possible change of ends sometime in the afternoon. The wind actually stayed SE throughout the flying day. RASP was forecasting a little soaring in the middle of the day. 

Early on - Blue sky over the launchpoint

Another launchpoint view

2 seaters sharing a thermal - note the wispy cloud above.

With the launch point at the west end flying was soon underway. Approaches were a little bit lively at times which is usual for this wind direction. Early on soaring was challenging. At times the air seemed to be full of extremely small thermal bubbles so that better progress was made flying wings level and pulling into the lift rather than the more traditional circling technique.

K13 off into a nice loking sky

Followed by the Puchacz

K13 on approach

The thermals did eventually improve and there were even some scrappy cumulus clouds the mark their presence. By the middle of the afternoon there was even some streeting to amuse the pilots. Longest flight was Malcolm Wilton-Jones in the K8 at 1hr 5min closely followed by John Allan flying the Astir for exactly 1hr. During his flight John was spotted flying along a street over a rugby pitch in Tavistock. Honourable mentions to both Scratch and Steve who managed half hour flights while delivering their Air Experience and One Day Courses respectively.

Malcolm's view of the airfield from the east end

This photo was sent from a rugby spectator where the Astir was spotted.
I cannot find the glider in this photo though

Visitors today were Mike Peck ( One Day Course ) and Caron George,  Colin Woodgates and Joanne Schofield ( Air experience flights ). All seemed to enjoy themselves and left with smiles on their faces.

Mike Peck

Johanne Schofield

Colin Woodgates

Caron George

Often club blogs concentrate on the flying but that is just the cream on the top of the activities. We could not fly without all the support given by the club members who are not flying. The winch drivers need a special mention today having coped with the crosswind throughout the whole day. The other sincere thankyou must go to Alison and Nicky, the mothers of two of our junior members. They drove the retrieve the whole day between them.

It was dark by the time the hangar was repacked.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 23rd October 2024

As the seasons change from summer to autumn, my mind turned to John Keats (1795 –1821) and his poem "To Autumn".

 "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,   Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;"

Which summed up the weather this morning as I drove from Cornwall to Devon after taking a diversion to avoid the broken down school bus at the exit of my village. On the vantage point of the A390 at St. Ann's Chapel I was greeted by a watery sun peeping through the mist on the higher ground whilst the Tamar Valley was shrouded in cloud.  Skysight 's forecast predicted a low cloud base all day, too low for flying, so I was surprised to see the winch out of the hangar ready to be deployed to the east end when I arrived.

However, despite the keenness of the Wednesday Wavers the gliders remained in the hangar as the two flight instructors inspected the field and ruminated on the weather.  It was just us today, as strangely there were no visitor flights booked, so there were no phone calls to the clubhouse to field.

It's school half-term, so we were joined by Juniors Matthew and his younger brother Hugo who were eager to fly.  In the clubhouse, I filed the paperwork documenting the recent fitting of new brake shoes to K-13s FSD and FGR.  I also unpacked a parcel from Navboys which contained the components needed to improve the FLARM installation and display in the Puchacz.  Basically, we will match the installation of the other club gliders by mounting a simple FLARM LED displays for both the front and rear pilots.

A FLARM LED display

Over teas a discussion on FLARM started, and it was clear that whilst we waited for the weather it was an appropriate time to deliver the FLARM lecture.  Afterwards Mike Jardine asked me to brief on the RASP forecast which can be summed up by "the temperature difference of 2C between the air temperature and the dew point indicates that cloud base would initially be 400 feet above the airfield rising to 800 feet by mid-afternoon".  Prophetic words, but they didn't deter the Wednesday Wavers for trying.

Gavin delivers a lecture on FLARM and how to use it effectively

Stripped, battered, and bruised DMX's fuselage ready for is final flight to the scrapyard

We weren't ready to fly, so the fuselage of DMX was removed from the twin-axle AMF trailer, which was fortuitously parked alongside the clubhouse.  Almost all useful items had previously been removed, but the skid needed to come off.  A few other items, such as cable release balls, were carefully removed.  The fuselage was then taken to behind the trailer park ready for cutting up and its final disposal.  The CAA will be informed that DMX has been scrapped, and the glider will be deregistered.  The tailplane and wings have been retained as spares.

Mike and Hugh rig their Club Libelle while Phil offers sage advice

Then the starting flag was dropped by the Duty Instructor. We got the gliders out of the hangar and deployed them to the west end to accommodate the southerly, backing south-easterly, wind. The winch was set up at the east end.

John Smith conducts a Daily Inspection on an autumnal looking K-8

While the daily inspections were underway, Colin arrived and continued work on the repair to Sean Westrope's Port wing, just forward of the air brake box.  He is at the stage of applying fine surface filler prior to applying fabric.

Colin continues the repairs of Sean Westrope's K-6e wing

As there were still projects continuing in the hangar and clubhouse, a skeleton crew (are we getting near Halloween?) launched Geoff and Mike for a weather check.  After a circuit, they landed and the Duty Instructor stated that the cloud base was not high enough to operate, so the Wavers returned to the clubhouse for an early lunch.  The weather confirmed the decision by starting to drizzle, followed by light rain and then rain.

Wisely, no member got between the Duty Instructor and his (late) lunch

As we enjoyed an early lunch (which was a late lunch by the Duty Instructor's standards) I set up the projector and afterwards we enjoyed some training videos by Mike Fox (The former BGA training standards manager).  We watched a demonstration on maintaining the correct separation in thermals, then spin avoidance including why not to over-rudder the final turn to the airfield, and a general gliding video.

After lunch, it was still inclement, and so the decision was taken to pack up and put the toys away.  Meanwhile, the simulator was being worked on by John Allan as part of the improvement project.  Before that could happen, the operation of all the controls needed to be checked.

The controls of the simulator get some attention

Following on from the early FLARM discussion, Hugh registered his FLARM ID on Flarm.net and the Open Gliding Network.  Later, David registered his K-6.  This will allow their registrations, G-DDVM and G-DHEB, respectively, to be displayed on aviation Apps such as Guide and Seek, and Flight Radar 24.

Chairman, Steve Lewis, and John Allan discuss plans for the simulator refurbishment

After the simulator work, Steve and John engaged in deep discussions on what we really wanted, or needed, from the Solar set in the clubhouse.

With the gliders still wet the Duty Instructor called it a day and so we packed away the toys.

The gliders return ready for hangar packing

Although not brought to the launch point, the Puchacz need to be put back in position in hangar following investigations into battery connections and their security.

Dave Bourchier hard at work inspecting and improving the glider battery connectors.
"I love the smell of solder in the morning!"

Hangar packing can commence following checking and testing of the battery
connections in the Puchacz. 
 Note that Colin is still working on Sean's wing.

After the closing the hangar doors, members derigged privateer DVM under a glorious sky

Today, we didn't match Saturday's launch total of 50 flights but, we went through the motions; got all the kit out, flew a test flight, and put it all back again.  The Wednesday Wavers shouldn't be disappointed a lot of work was completed, or progressed, on tasks around the site that will pay dividends on a flying day.

 

With that, I'll let Keats finish off today's blog:

 

"While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, and touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;""

Gavin Short