Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 17th November 2024

After an exciting couple of days with aerotows on Friday and Jamie going solo on Saturday it was a bit of a surprise of a low turn out today. The forecast of a light westerly breeze and 1500ft cloudbase would allow flying until late afternoon. The field was set up to fly from the east end and the aircraft towed down ready to start.

First to fly with me was Julia Old. Three flights including her first launch failure practice sees her well on the way to maybe going solo again.

Julia off on another flight.

Next in the front seat was Viktor Skochko. After his first flight, the second was a launch failure practice which was well flown.

Viktor with dark clouds behind.

As our only visitor arrived, we had to stop flying for an unforecast shower to pass by. Once cleared the wind had increased slightly, but flying could continue. Max Doble was briefed and taken for his flights by BI Phil Hardwick.

Max and Phil getting ready.

Max happy with his certificate.

Viktor completed his three flights and made way for junior trainee Toby Irons. Three flight including another practice launch failure sees him back up to speed after a couple of weeks away.

With only a few members here today, I stopped for a bit of lunch whilst solo pilots Sean Westrope and Ed Borlase enjoyed a couple of flights each in the Astir and K8 respectively.

An Autumnal Blackdown.

Brentor and view towards Cornwall.

With lunch eaten, solo pilots satisfied it was time to give each of the trainees a couple more flights.

K13 returns on a normal approach.

Toby was all set up ready for the last flight of the day for a modified circuit and hangar landing. He was surprised to get a land ahead launch failure which was well handled and left his dad Howard gasping at the launch point.

Thank you to those who attended today, Particularly Sean who did a large part of the winching today.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Friday 15th November 2024 - Aerotow day

Today was our second aerotow day held in conjunction with our sister organisation, Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC).  This followed the success of the first aerotow day, held on Friday 30 August, as part of DSGC's annual long-weekend expedition to Dartmoor.

It was a cool, early-morning start to ensure that we were all ready for the arrival of the Eurofox tug from North Hill.  As I left home there was mist in the valleys.  Then there were SNOWFLAKES!  Well actually one, on the dashboard, showing that the temperature had dropped to 2C at New Bridge at Gunnislake, while I crossed the River Tamar to enter Devon.

Geoff, Phil, Andy and I were the first to arrive at 0730 and we got the gear out.  Soon we were joined by Mike Bennett and DB, and others, who made short work of the field preparations.  The privateers were helped to rig.  It all went very smoothly and CNN, my Standard Cirrus was rigged and at the launch point by 0900.

It was an early start and the dew thick on the grass. 
Thank goodness I packed my welly boots.

All clear here.  Looking towards the north east

All the gear is out and has been inspected. 
Just waiting for some instructors to show up!

CNN rigged and at the launch point. 
However, I would have to wait some time before the condensation
cleared from the canopy and the dew stopped forming on the cold wings.

Today, at the brief, we welcomed three pilots from North Hill; David Perriam, Nick Harrison, and Shaun Dayman, who were keen to fly from a hill top site.  We were also joined during the day by DSGC instructors Mark Courtney, Mike Sloggett, Peter Smith, and second tug driver Robert Lee.

Setting up for the combined DSGC and DGS morning brief

The arrival of the tug from North Hill was delayed by the mist and fog.  It was worse to the east of Dartmoor, especially the radiation fog in the Exe valley.  The higher ground was clear especially at Crediton as the tug pilots leapfrogged from clear ground to clear ground to get to Brentor.

The tug arrived; resplendent in red in the crisp morning sunshine!

Aerotow operations today would repeat what had been established in August.  We were again launching from the west in light airs.  Wind forecast varied greatly and although the west end is not our preferred end it matched the majority of the wind direction forecasts.  The tug-glider combinations would take off from the North side.  The tug would land on the north side then taxi back to the launch point at the west end.

Gliders would land on the north side and clear to the south of the centre track.  Winch operations, including the cables, would be on the south side.

So we would use our elderly and rather dilapidated control tower on its trailer.  Its due for replacement and the project to replace it has been kicked off by one of our 14yro trainee pilots, Zack Smith.  He has set up an inspirational Go Fund Me page: Zack's Campaign   Check it out.  Its all his own words and sentiment.  The replacement would benefit our visitors as well as members and protect our equipment that we use during the flying day, such as the club parachutes and personal rucksacks.

First aerotow of the day.  DSGC leads the way in a DGS glider.

...with Mike Sloggett and Robert Lee aboard

Richard, although not booked in for an aerotow, came up to help.  Apparently fresh air on Dartmoor after a rubbish day at work yesterday was just the tonic he needed.  Dartmoor Gliding improves one's mental health. Who knew?  As the first aerotow launched Richard dispatched me to drive the winch.

Mike Jardine and Viktor in the Puchacz wait for the tug to land

Mike takes Victor aloft in the Puchacz for some more spin training

With all the punters taking aerotows initially it was quiet at the winch.  Which left me with my thoughts and to watch the tug-gliders launch into a fabulously clear and bright sky.  So I make no apologies for sharing many of these glorious scenes with our readers.

The tug and the Puchacz climbing hard, as seen from the winch

Viktor and Mike.  Sorry Viktor, I got the azure blue in the shot
but couldn't find any yellow. Slava Ukraini!

The rate of climb when viewed from the winch is impressive.  Normally the winch driver is looking at the faces of the pilots in the tug and glider as they are coming straight at him.  Looking up to see the tug and glider combination was a new sensation for me.

And away they go.

Building on our experience with the Eurofox tug in August the noise abatement procedures were improved.  Today the tug-glider combinations climbed to the right to circle to the south of the airfield, or on occasion head east over the moors, away from Mary Tavy and to keep to the north of the metropolis of Tavistock.  It seemed to work.  Once clear of the runway the tug engine was very quiet.  Indeed, I had to concentrate to hear it.

 

Third up was Mike Bennett with DSGC instructor Peter Smith for their journey into the blue.

The climb rate of the K-13 and tug seems greater than the Puchacz

Ever upwards

The tug-glider combination turns right,away from Mary Tavy,
to adhere to the noise abatement rules

As we thought. Scratch talking is louder than the tug on approach

Then came Geoff Cooper with Peter Howarth; Geoff's first aerotow experience. They were followed by DSGC's David Perriam for an aerotow in DGS's Astir CS77 to 3,000 feet.  I had no complaints to the Fleet Manager so he must have been happy with the improved operation of the aerotow release mechanism.

Peter and Geoff fly past the winch

One for your photo album Geoff

Mike Jardine and Neal's view of the airfield whilst on tow

Some mist remained throughout most of the day towards
Lydford and further north west

Mike Slogettt observes Steve checking the location of the airfield as the head towards Blackdown

Then they turn for the downwind leg and leave Mary Tavy behind

Then there was a short pause in tug operations as Mark Courtney handed the controls to Robert Lee while the Eurofox enjoyed a parsimonious sip of fuel.  Andy and Phil took the opportunity to squeeze in a quick winch-launch circuit to get their hand in.

Then a brace of 3,000 feet aerotows followed with Peter Smith and Shaun Dayman in the K-13 and John Allan in the Astir CS77.  In between, Scratch and DB went aloft in the Puchacz for a normal 2,000 feet aerotow.

By now the aerotow queue was lengthening across the south side of the launch point and Phil aerotowed to 2,000 feet in his DG300.  I joined the queue.

Peter runs the wing for two DSGC pilots in DGS's K-13 FGR

Mike Sloggett and Nick Harrison lift off in FGR

At 1300 there was a tempting cloud street forming over the moors.  I was keen to get going and connect with it.  However Mark was wary of the sheet of cloud approaching from the west and sensibly made the decision that this would be the last aerotow of the day (No.13!).  The tug would head back to North Hill in the remaining good weather.  Despite a sense of urgency North Hill pilots wouldn't be North Hill pilots if they didn't stop for lunch.  One of their members brought lunch supplies from Tavistock for the tuggies before their departure.

My view of the tug drivers as they consume their pasties for lunch

Then we are ready to go.  "NHL, CNN take up slack"

The ground roll and take off distance of CNN was a little longer
with two pilots, and pasties, aboard the tug.

I had opted to go to 3,000 feet but the tug waved me off at 2,000 feet as they had reached cloud base.  The tempting street was decaying and so after a few attempts I returned to the airfield.  Not a memorable flight but currency, or is it recency now, on aerotow launching was maintained?

With that operations shifted to the winch with Geoff flying with Mike Jardine in the Puchacz this time. Andy, denied an aerotow, took a launch on the wire and achieved "Man of the Match" with a flight of 29 minutes.  Trevor had come to the club today to learn about ground operations with aerotows.  He was rewarded with a flight in K-13, FSD with Peter.  This was followed by a rear seat training flight for John Allan in the Puchacz, with Mike Jardine.

We managed thirteen power movements and 19 glider flights today, which totaled 32 launches.

 

We received several pieces of feedback on the day:

"A great day today, thanks to all from DGS for the teamwork!"

 

"I would like to say a personal thank you to Peter Howarth, Mike Jardine and Mark Courtney and all at the field today for what I believe was a very safe and successful days tugging."

 "Yes, many thanks for a fantastic day."

 

Shortly afterwards the Friday Flyers called a halt to the proceedings as all had had their fill.  Also we didn't want to encounter canopy misting problems as the air temperature dropped to the dew point.  A few remained at the clubhouse discussing glider electronics and how to enable a digital task declaration from an Oudie to a Red Box FLARM.  A plan was evolving for implementation in CNN in the near future.

So an another successful aerotow day.  Thanks to all who made it happen and facilitated good inter-club cooperation.  Let's do it again soon and hopefully the organsier on the DGS side, Rick, will be able to take a day off work and take part.  It's simple Rick; just say that you are WFH (Working From Height!).

 

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 16th November 2024

 Today was a cloudy day with light breezes initially from the south moving around to the west later. Although this would not excite the solo pilots it was a good training day.

A grey day

Instruction today was spearheaded by CFI Rick who had a short(ish) list for a change. First up was 14 year old Jamie Young who, after a successful circuit and practice cable break was sent solo for the first time. This is an big step for any trainee pilot which he will remember forever. The solo flight look perfect from our vantage point on the runway.

Jamie ready...

...and off he goes

A well controlled take off

And into the climb

Jamie receives his wings from CFI Rick.

We welcomed David Bishop for a One Day Course who enjoyed exploring gliding both on the ground and in the air.

David Bishop

The flying day finished a little early as we sought to avoid the on coming drizzle. The extra time was put to good use as the Puchacz was derigged ready for it's annual inspection and some planned upgrades.

Puchacz ready for it's annual.

There was another visitor today. A tawny owl had made itself at home in the launch hut tower where it spent the day asleep completely ignoring us. At the end of the day it just flew away.

Tawny Owl asleep in the control tower.

A great day with a first solo.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 13th November 2024

"Dunkelflaute" be gone. The weather is a changing at long last.  The Wednesday Wavers were gathered in force today.  What would the day bring?

On arrival at the club there was sunshine, blue sky, and a cornucopia of different cloud;  altostratus, a mackerel sky, roll cloud over the moors, and tantalisingly a hint of lenticular.

Those who check these things early found that there was a block of Class D that had been imposed over the site, running East-West.  Cue much pawing on phone screens and laptops to discover that this was a for a royal flight in and out of Newquay airport.  A call to Newquay air traffic control confirmed and helpfully detailed the timings of what we were piecing together using NATS, NATS Info, and the clubhouse chart.  Surely it shouldn't be that difficult a process in the 21st Century for such important safety information? But it is.

The early bird gets the wave.  Andy rigs his Libelle having seen the lenticular behind

A cornucopia of cloud types

Hugh happy that his Club Libelle is rigged

Is there wave in that sky?

Another privateer rigs

Phil fits the tail plane to his DG300

Dave Bourchier's new taxi arrives from Plymouth

The morning brief was held early and it introduced airspace consideration to the trainee pilots.  A real consideration today rather than just academic bronze theory exercise.  The bottom line was that the class D airspace extended from 4,000 ft AMSL to Flight Level 110 (11,000 feet effectively) but only for an hour or so in the morning and and again in late afternoon.  So unless the early birds contacted wave straight away and powered through 4,000 feet AMSL there wouldn't be any limitations on our flying.

The summary of the class D airspace for the royal flights

Early birds Andy and Phil launched and contacted the wave just off the winch.  Phil reported that he enjoyed the most serene, calm flight of 2 hours 59 minutes, that he had ever experienced.  Andy won the "flight of the day" with 3 hours 58 minutes.

Andy's view of another fine wave day at Brentor

It just gets better as you climb

Andy's view from "the Office" at over 7,000 feet.

Next up was Steve Fletcher in his Open Cirrus.  Taking slightly longer, than the early birds, he too connected with the wave.

Steve Fletcher puts on his "wave hunting face" and readies himself for a launch

Steve enjoying the November sunshine at 4,700 feet QFE whilst barely climbing

Are these wave bars or thermal streets forming across Blackdown and the moors?

Steve's Open Cirrus, captured in a "Brocken spectre" (the phenomenon was first observed in the Harz Mountains in Germany in 1780)

Beyond the Hamoaze the English Channel turns into an orange sea

Then the training started with Geoff Cooper taking instructor Mike Jardine aloft.  A ten minute flight followed by a further 14 minutes must have been so frustrating as they experienced snippets of the wave but never quite connecting. Then John Allan took a launch in his Mini Nimbus.

This is his story:

I took off and flew to the closest looking wave cloud.  It was quite struggle at first, some circling in wave and rotor, and the some figure eights. I worked up from around 1,100 feet. It then got easier and I entered into glassy smooth lift around 1,500 feet.  I jumped forward to where Andy and Phil had found a primary wave bar.

Interestingly the wind direction was clearly marked by the cloud streets today, but the wave bars were mostly blue, after the initial one above the airfield.  Wave bars, or bands of lift, often only giving 0.5-1.0 Knots were blue, and mostly at right angles to the streets and following the contours of the lee of Dartmoor. 

My maximum height was 6,165ft QFE, which was just under 7,000ft ASML.  My flight time matched Steve's at 2 hours 39 minutes.

John's view climbing up above the cloud. Note another Brocken Spectre which is a type of "glory"

John's view of the orange sea to the south

Cloud streets at right angles to the wave bars

Descending to the cumulus caused by thermals that killed the wave as the day drew on. Presumably because the strength of the wave wind was relatively light as its normally the other way round.

Time to come down

It wasn't all instant wave.  Peter took two launches (10 minutes and 9 minutes) in the mighty Kestrel and struggled to climb in the rotor.  I think that handling those big wings must have been challenging in the turbulent conditions.   John Osmet took a gentle warm up flight in the K-8 for 9 minutes, followed by a circuit, as  preparation for the main event later in the afternoon.

Much as I would have liked to rig and get into the wave my Fleet Manager duties were a calling.  The cable release on the club's Astir CS77 wasn't allowing the nose release jaws to shut after release.  I had a theory and prepared for a fix by sourcing some stronger springs.  My investigations confirmed my theory and the weak return spring for the nose hook was replaced.  That was relatively straight forward.  But I had a suspicion that a washer may have rolled under the seat pan.  So Malcolm and I started disassembling the labyrinthine construction that is the Astir CS 77 seat, battery shelf and hidden DZUS connectors under the seat fabric and safety cushion material.  We couldn't find anything so we took the opportunity to give the fuselage  a good hoover before putting it all back together again.  Correction operation was proved and the glider was returned to service.  Time to go flying.

Very shiny new springs to choose from. Zebedee eat your heart out!

The finished article.  The new nose hook return spring in place

Our first visitor today was Ray Bird, a farming contractor from Holsworthy. His voucher was a birthday gift from partner Kate. He enjoyed short flights with Hugh. Ray will likely be back to get on the controls! So when he returns Mr Bird will be learning to fly with us (Groan!).

Hugh and Ray ready to aviate

A happy Ray receives his certificate from Hugh

David Osmet took a couple of circuits with Mike in the K-13 and he was replaced by "Treasure" for another pair of circuits with Duty Instructor.

The training continues for Trevor AKA "Treasure"; now the use of the trimmer.

Great to see K6, FUB taking to the air again!

Type conversion brief from Hugh complete.  Its all up to John now

John Osment taking his first launch in his newly acquired K-6

And into the climb he goes

My work done the K-8 was ready for me.

My launch was delayed by the arrival of the Puchacz followed by a K-13

I enjoyed 13 minutes in the air experiencing weak wave, followed by ridge lift on the north side of the airfield that lifted me sufficiently to contact with a thermal in the valley.  All that in one relatively short flight.  When I landed I met up with Steph who had visited before to see the lay of the land.  I handed the K-8 to John Smith. Then Steph and I enjoyed a limited, but satisfying time in the air.  Steph relished trying the controls and finding how sensitive they were compared with her previous hang gliding experience.  This is one of may challenges she is trying following a significant birthday.

Steph and Gavin ready in the Puchacz

Steph receives her certificate. Would she like to fly the Astir CS77 in the future?

The training continued with Mike flying with David Bourchier, Robin Wilson and David Osmet.  Meanwhile Dad John made an second and third launch in his K-6.

The view to the south in the late afternoon

A fiery orb lowers into the west

At the clubhouse we welcomed back Sean after bringing his glider back to Devon after its annual inspection.

A very happy Sean after his Libelle received a clean bill of health

And then it was time to start packing the toys away.

A sturdy workhorse returns to the hangar

The Club Libelle derigging team

At the end of the day, the sun sets and the moon rises

With the hangar doors closed, log sheets filed or noted, the Wednesday Wavers set off for home.

The gate illuminated by car headlights but the sunset is evident beyond

Heading home into the sunset

So a terrific day for the Wednesday Wavers both for those who contacted the wave and those flying more closer to earth, in the very pleasant sunshine.  Both our visitors had a great time and John Osmet flew his new acquisition K-6, FUB (David your time will come).  The Astir CS77 cable release mechanism was sorted and it is ready for the Aerotow day on Friday.

Totals for the day: 30 flights, 15 hours 7 minutes, and an average flight time of 30 minutes.  Terrific for mid November.  The Wednesday Wavers rock!

Gavin Short