Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 4 March 2026

The first day of flying in March and the Wednesday Wavers were the lucky ones.

Forecast; fair weather and some thermals.  Has Spring finally sprung?  I'd been having dreams of leaving the circuit and heading cross-country.  What had triggered these thoughts?  A memory from March 2012 while competing in Germany, from Grefrath-Niershorst airfield, north of Mönchengladbach.  The task for the club class sent us due south into the Eifel region.  After some 50 km the conditions got difficult.  The "save" was the cooling towers at the Weisweiler power station at the town of Eschweiler.  I found myself climbing nicely in a gaggle, but the smell of the dirty lignite coal was truly gross.

After a top-up in height was achieved we headed south into the sweeter smelling air.  It was slow-going in the freshening southerly breeze.  Things weren't working as the gaggle were scratching for lift that seemed to be fighting the effects of the southerly down wave from the Eifel mountains.  And so it was, over a fifteen-minute period five of us landed out in a suitable field.  We dragged the gliders up to the access road and waited for our retrieve drivers.  In true German gliding style the first retrieve driver had his trailer quickly unhitched and was dispatched to the nearest village to collect a crate of ice-cold beer for the pilots and crews!

Five thirsty competitors in their field

Time to stop dreaming of conditions past and come back to the present.  The field was dry enough to operate from the west end, launching into a light easterly airflow.  K-13, FSD, K-8, GDK, and the Astir CS77 were inspected and taken to the launch point.  That wasn't all.  The hangar was emptied completely.  The Puchacz was brought out into the sunlight and inspected ready for a check flight if the runway proved firm enough later.

The sky was blue, the wind was down the runway, it was a great flying day.  So has Spring sprung?  The Duty Instructor started recency and training flights.

Christopher Morris, Seahawk Gliding Club, handles the controls in FSD

Mike Jardine observes the hazy view to the southwest of the airfield while Christopher is busy

Mary Tavy and orographic cloud over the Tors, that persisted all day

Back at the clubhouse maintenance almost ceased. The tea ran out. The Chief Flying Instructor's tea swindle had failed.  Instant coffee didn't quite cut it.  How would we make it through the day?

What of K-13, FGR that was at the back of the hangar and last to see the daylight?  On its last outing the variometer system wasn't working and needed investigation.  A crack team was put on the case.  After pneumatic tube tracing the solution was embarrassingly simple.  Despite the "foolproof" five-way connectors fitted in our club gliders two tubes from the instruments had been reversed during FGR's recent maintenance.

John Allan enjoyed the delights of the Astir CS77 while training continued in K-13, FSD

The Wavers found that the wind veered to the South East at height. The launch point was busy with three club gliders and two privateers; a DG300 and a Libelle.  Initially there was little thermal lift to be found.  Maybe a hint of gentle wave.

The wind strengthened and veered more southerly during the day.  Approaches became turbulent, even "character forming", on occasion.

In the glorious sunshine Colin continued repairs to CCY's wing by remounting the aileron hinges.  Later he amused himself working out how to mount an oxygen bottle in my Standard Cirrus.  Not an easy task as the original fittings for a bottle proved to be unworkable (out of reach).

Colin check fits the aileron on CCY's wing to check the position of the newly mounted aileron hinges

Colin ponders oxygen bottles for a Standard Cirrus while enjoying the sunshine

Unhelpfully Schempp-Hirth mounted the belly band for the oxygen cylinder about two and a half-arm lengths back, deep into the fuselage.  Do we have any juniors to assist fitting, please?

The day was warm.  Spring had indeed sprung.  Some soaring was had by Malcolm (19 mins and 10 mins), Steve Fletcher (16 mins in weak wave), David Osment (11 mins, with Mike Jardine observing from the back seat), and Andy (9 mins and 9 mins).   The warmth and sunshine enticed Colin to the launch point for a well deserved flight.  When the Wavers had had their fill the air temperature started dropping.  With the hangar packed and doors shut the Wavers departed, satisfied with the day's flying in glorious sunshine.

32 flights in total.  Much more respectable than the previous two months.  As the weather warms the wind should dry the field quite quickly.  The Wavers had welcomed in the gliding season.

Gavin Short 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 25 February 2026

Three degrees.  Just three degrees.  No, not a Royal love interest from when he was a prince, but today's maximum forecast separation of air temperature and the dew point.  Meteorologists will know that means a low cloud base.  Glider pilots use a rule of thumb, 400ft per degree Centigrade, giving the cloud base height.  Today was all about those three degrees (on a nice summer's day the separation should be at least ten degrees).

But in the morning, we hadn't got to that temperature separation yet.  So the cloud base was too low to go flying.  Indeed, the forecasts, except for Skysight, weren't very optimistic so it was a slow start while we waited.  This gave the management team a chance to discuss insurance renewal premiums and a plan for the fleet to reduce costs.  It's amazing how the warmth of the wood burner and a hot cup of tea can improve one's cognitive abilities.

The Chairman gets stuck in to the Daily Inspection of the Volvo
 (yes, it was a late start for the Wednesday Wavers!)

Hangar doors open.  The gliders emerge.

David Osment manoeuvres K-13, FSD on the apron. 
 Don't forget to check the Total Energy probe during the Daily Inspection.

The Chairman and DCFI get stuck in moving the glider up the slope.

Despite the Waver's keenness to fly, it wasn't going to be a great day for visitors.  So, after discussing the prospects with the duty Basic Instructor, me, John cancelled his Friends and Family flight.  Hopefully his daughter, Jane, can come back when the weather is better.

Time to remove the Swiss competition letters and put the correct trigraph on the fin of Phil's DG300

A "Swedish" trailer.  Everything organised and engineered to perfection. 
 Perhaps this is the SAAB of glider trailers.  Does that make farmer Phil an architect?

The final result, nicely split across the fin and the rudder.  Phil surveys the results.

The cloud base was lifting slowly.  Time to go flying, but notice how moist everything is.

The Duty Instructor ready for a weather check to establish
whether the cloud base is high enough for us to go flying

Andy, ready to take the second launch of the day at 1232 (yes it was a late start)

Meanwhile, in the hangar, CCY's fuselage is moved into the daylight and
 K-13, FSD's wings are laid out for inspection as part of its annual.

Mike Bennett rises of a nose wheel after a field change
on the K-13, FSD, prior to inspection and repair

 

Mike and Lance return. The approach made challenging by the increasing southerly cross wind

As the flying ceased and the toys were packed away, the separation of the air temperature and the dew point steadily reduced and lowered the cloud base to the deck. 

 

At the end of the day, the "Three Degrees" become zero
 According to the flight log, John Allan achieved the flight of the day with a circuit.  The suspicion was that the log keeper was tardy in recording his landing time.

 

A late start for the Wavers but recency flights and Pilot Annual Reviews for those who needed it, and currency flights for others in the K-8.

 

A dreary looking day but successful on the flying front with 15 flights made. Also, a successful day on the maintenance front with K-13, FGR ready for some final small jobs and rigging on Saturday when we expect to see it returned to service.  Thank you to Colin and all those who assisted him today.

 

Gavin Short 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 14th February 2026

 Waking up this morning, I thought that I must have slipped into a parallel universe. Gone is the Uniform grey sky with very flat lighting and endless rain. This universe has a bright blue sky and a very bright yellow light in one place in the sky; there are very dark shadows. Amazing. 

Rushing to the airfield there were a lot of members along with a sprinkling of  Seahawk members. Forecast weather was for very light winds initially from the north swinging through east to end up southerly. The blue sky was forecast to get gradually hazy ending with 8/8th's cloud by mid afternoon.

A peaceful sky over Dartmoor

We flew from the west end utilising the track as much as possible to limit the damage to the still very wet grass. This worked well.

K13 ready to go

The flying was a mix of training, instructor training using K13 G-CFSD and solos in the K8. Early on saw Zack with a K8 flight of 28 minutes which he thought was unbeatable. Step up Seahawk CFI Chris Bryning who promptly stayed airborne for 31 minutes for the longest flight of the day. It was definately a question of being in the right place at the right time.

K8 on approach

K8 passing over the launchpoint

As the day wore on the haziness thickened as forecast but flying was able to continue to 5pm.

The haziness of mid afternoon.

A good day to maintain recency.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 18 February 2026

Forecast: Met Office Yellow warning for rain.  Dartmoor reality: Low cloud and some showery periods. So no flying for the Wavers. The wind was strong producing a significant wind chill. Outside was not a pleasant place to be. 

With no Duty Instructor due to family commitments, Peter had advertised a help session for members who wished to take advantage of the club's electronic logbook that has just gone live.  This is the end result of a British-Ukrainian collaboration (Rick and Viktor) to export the flying day logs to individual's electronic log books.  It is not compulsory but an alternative to the conventional written log book.  The Field Treasurer intends running the script weekly to automatically update our log books from the previous week's DGS flight logs.  Twelve members created and had their logbooks populated today.

For me the most useful part is the automatic checking of gliding recency in terms of being a licensed pilot, passenger carrying, and a Basic Instructor.  A Green, Amber, Red indication of recency status and a daily countdown will ensure that I, and other DGS members, don't inadvertently fall foul of the government mandated Sailplane Flight Crew Licensing rules. 

So where were all our juniors?  Half-term activities must have included getting away to sunnier climes, or perhaps skiing, but not travelling to a damp and windswept airfield.  Perhaps the more culturally inclined were visiting the Box in Plymouth to view the Beryl Cook exhibition 'Pride and Joy', the most extensive display of her work with more than 80 works on display and celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Activities in the DGS clubhouse today courtesy of Beryl Cook

With the wood burner going, members planned the next stages of bringing the Astir Twin Trainer into service, designed the tail lifting arm and tow out gear for the glider, and considered the outcome of our recent consultations on marketing and security.  Meanwhile, Colin made a run to the scrapyard and then Screwfix, and applied paint stripper to FSD's tailplane prior to its planned repaint.  The conclusion was that paint strippers on the market today are rubbish and probably fall foul of the Trades' Description Act.  Colin will check the efficacy of the paint stripper on Thursday because nothing much was happening on the tailplane today.

We welcomed visitors Mark Courtney (former DGS Chief Flying Instructor) and Steve Westlake from Devon and Somerset Gliding Club.  In the non-flying weather, they were taking a car on a test drive.  They stopped at DGS for a cup of tea, admired Chris Wool's handiwork in the new billboard on the side of the hangar, and the high definition large format screens in our simulator which is now running Condor III.  Mark and Phil took the opportunity to discuss Flight Instructor training opportunities.

Then there were six Wavers remaining.  Time to draw stumps and head off into the wet, approaching dusk, perhaps dreaming of when the weather will break and we can soar again. 

From my archives 20 years ago.  Koninklijke Aeroclub Keiheuvel (Flemish) and LSV Viersen (German) prepare for a day's gliding at Keiheuvel airfield in northeast Belgium

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 11 Febraury 2026

The day was better than forecast, but with rain due to set in at 1400.  Promising perhaps, but the pitch not so much.  So a decision was made by the Duty Instructor to cancel the trial flight and concentrate on the fleet.  

The Wednesday Wavers made short shrift of derigging K-13, FGR, ready for its annual inspection by Colin.  Colin sadly could come to the club today, which prompted some teaching by our resident physician, Robin, on how it's possible for vegetarians to get food poisoning.  Who knew? 

The apron and hangar were a hive of activity

After the K-13 derigging the Puchacz was assembled following its annual inspection.  The main wheel access panels were refitted, a fresh ARC certificate mounted in the cockpit, wings and tailplane taped and washed.  The need for a test flight remains before our Polish beauty can be released to service. 

Neal Oxley directs rigging operations under the watchful eye of DCFI, Peter Howarth 

The rain thankfully held off during the Puchacz rigging so team Brentor stayed dry.

Now the Wavers are ready for the better weather.  Elsewhere, DB finally finished his Opus Magnum, the battery shelf modifications and installation in the Twin Astir Trainer, HBK.  This is very good news because you shouldn't have to read about it ever again. 

The simulator was put to good use and was observed by peripatetic glider pilot Nigel Bray who called in en route from Camborne before heading further up country.  Despite his best attempts, he couldn't convince the Treasurer to part with yet more cash on the Mini-LAK FES that he was breaking for parts.  The Fleet Manager was told firmly that two TOST Releases (hooks) and a Schroth four-point harness were quite sufficient purchases for one week.

Discussions and updates were conducted in the clubhouse and around the site on the outcome, and how to implement some of the recommendations, following our recent marketing and security consultations.

Before the rain set in, later than expected, the "Butcher of Brentor" made partial amends by fitting a new door sill to the bottom of the clubhouse door.  He later recognised that he needed to cover up his sins on the inside of the door too.  On the plus side today, he added guttering on the hangar to protect our new billboard.  Thank you, John.

Since this photo was taken, the juniors have been busy power washing the side of the hangar
and John Smith added some strategically placed guttering to keep our new billboard clean.

The Wavers departed slightly earlier than normal after a productive day. John Allan brought up the rear as he wanted to complete a flight to North Hill in the simulator before he, too, headed for home in the rain.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 8th February 2026

Leaving Plymouth in the rain and driving across Roborough Down with the tors in cloud, things were not hopeful for any flying today. When I arrived at the club, things were a little brighter. After a quick coffee, a pitch inspection was carried out. It was decided with some careful use we would be able to do a limited amount of flying.

We would fly from the west end and the K13 and K8 were taken from the hangar, DI'd and taken to the launch point. After a quick test flight of the K13, David Moorley was the first trainee to fly with me.

David getting back into the swing of things.

After David's second flight, the cloudbase had lowered and some rain arrived. Also the wind had backed south-easterly, so we took the opportunity to swap ends.

K13 and K8 waiting to fly from the west.

In the clubhouse Don Puttock was visiting and was working with instructors in waiting, Gavin and Scratch to help prepare them for their mid course review next weekend at North Hill. They came to the launch point to do some flying exercises.

Don and Gavin preparing to fly.

Scratch joins Don to fly.

When Don had finished with the K13, Val had a couple of flights with me. The k8 was flown by Phil hardwick, Viktor Skochko, Freddie Purkiss and Malcolm W-J to maintain recency. Even Gavin and Scratch took the chance to fly the K8 before the cloudbase again lowered and more rain arrived to end the day. Scratch managed to claim flight of the day with 10 minutes. The last flight in the K13 was Sean Westrope with me getting some back seat practice.

K13 launches whilst the K8 waits.

A day which nobody thought they would fly. Recency maintained, trainees progressed and two pilots progressed towards their instructor ratings. Thanks to those at the airfield today achieving what we did.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 4th February 2026

The forecast reckoned that we could go flying; there was a window before the wind increased significantly and the rain set in.  So the Wednesday Wavers did just that.  However, despite the strong easterly breeze Skysight wasn't predicting wave...

A K-13 and a K-8 were deployed to the west end, the former to take off from the track as we have done on several days this winter.  Duty Instructor Mike Jardine took FSD for a test flight.  Ten minutes later he returned disproving Skysight's forecast concerning wave. To be fair the Mary Tavy "hydraulic jump", was probably the cause of the rising air rather than classic mountain lee wave.

The weather window allowed those who wished to fly to have a single launch each; David and John Osment, Mike Bennett, Robin, and Neal.  The K-13 was consistently achieving 1,400 foot launches. This and the snippets of wave made for extended flights throughout.

Above the cloud base looking towards Mary Tavy

Perfectly trimmed for 40 knots, John Osment keeps a good lookout.

John holds the nose of the glider steady into the easterly wind. Were Mike and John making any headway over the runway, or drifting backwards, in the strong upper wind?

Back at the hangar, Viktor arrived with his family, for a short while.  He wanted to check with Colin on a small repair they had previously made to his canopy frame, and of course to do some fettling.  His daughter Veronika was fascinated by the winch launches of the gliders.  Alas, as she is not yet two years old, so it might be a while until we can fly her.

Peter took a launch in the K-8 and found himself almost stationary over the airfield at times in the strengthening breeze.  He managed to climb several hundred feet from his low point following release from his launch.  Due to that strong wind aloft, his downwind leg and circuit were rapid, but his flight of 30 minutes earnt him the "flight of the day".

Can you see the K-8 in wave in front, and below, the K-13's starboard wing tip ?

A sparkling day to be flying

It's been a while. Neal gets ready to get back in the air by launching of the central track

Ominous, threatening clouds were approaching the airfield.  Flying was stopped, but not quick enough to return to the hangar without the heavens opening.  And open they did, and very quickly too, necessitating a copious amount of cloths to dry the gliders when the hangar was packed.  John Smith, the winch driver, got absolutely soaked in what seemed to be a monsoon.  Maybe it was divine retribution for his efforts in trimming the bottom of the clubhouse door that had been sticking earlier in the day.

After the heavy rain a rainbow appears

After the hangar was packed, we were visited by Tom Jenkins, a security consultant with Dormakaba.  We had an interesting hour with him and look forward to receiving his findings and recommendations in due course.

Meanwhile, Colin and David Osment took the time to investigate an emergent defect on FSD and plan the way ahead.

Frustratingly, the weather got better as the afternoon continued.  Should we have waited the showers out?  However, the Duty Instructor had to leave early, but Peter Howarth was on standby to run the field.  Decisions, decisions!  Agonising in retrospect.  Such is the life of a glider pilot.

Today was the first flying in February, with just seven flights in total.  The Wednesday Wavers had waved and currency was maintained. For many, the day felt better than the whole month of January.  Let's hope the improvement continues.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 28th January - Sunday 1st Feb

Three days on the trot with no flying due to the weather or a waterlogged airfield.  The last time we flew was on Sunday 18 January.  This was caused by a succession of Atlantic depressions.  Some pilots might be depressed by this state of affairs, but at Dartmoor Gliding we are able to look on the bright side (if we try hard enough). The bright side being that despite the weather, the club has flown six times in January.

On Wednesday, we hosted Viccki Banthorpe from Momentum for Professionals to conduct a consultation on our marketing strategy.  She confirmed what we are doing was correct but added a few new ideas, and different viewpoints, to get us thinking.  The committee plans a follow-up meeting to implement some of these ideas.

New placards and weight and balance tables were installed in the Puchacz following its decennial weighing on 10 January.  John Smith busied himself with the crafting of a replacement vent deflector for the K-8, GDK. 

In the afternoon, we took delivery of a billboard from Mr Sticker (Chris Wool - a Flight Instructor Coach from our sister club at North Hill (Devon and Somerset GC)).  He kindly drove his van from his workshop in Saltish with our shiny billboard.  Chris enjoyed a hot cup of tea, an overview of our fleet modernisation plan, and a chance to put the gliding world to rights.  He also brought a set of blue DGS logo stickers for The Twin Astir 1, DSL, and The Twin Astir trainer, HBK.  To be applied soon.  Thank you, Chris.

The DCFI, Peter, contemplates the new billboard
and wonders when we will see the Dartmoor Wave this year.

Colin continued his annual inspection of the Puchacz, focusing on the wings, which were the last part to be inspected.  Now it's the paperwork to be tackled!

On Saturday, Rick summoned Scratch and I to give us an update on the programme for our Flight Instructor training.  Although I wasn't planning to come up to the club today, it gave me a chance to drop off some new precision scales to allow the maintenance team to start using the new Aerodux 185 glue and 155 powder hardener.  Colin and Adam checked the test previous test pieces and set to work on CCY's Starboard wing aileron hinge pads.  The new instrument panels for CCY are complete and the replacement air brake lever bushes have been replaced.  This work is leading up to the sale of K-13, CCY as it is surplus to requirements as we transition towards a "glass" fleet.

CCY's new front panel

And this will be the instructor's view in the back

The juniors were out in force and kept busy with tasks and work around the site.  Work continued on the Twin Astir Trainer rear shelf and battery installation.  It is nearing completion.  It is proving to be DB's Opus Magna.

John Smith led a team of helpers (Alastair Barclay and Ed Nicholson) to mount the billboard on the side of the hangar.  It looks tremendous.  Critical viewers will note that the side of the hangar lets the side down.  Although there is roof paint splatter, there are decades of algae on the side walls.  So another team experimented by pressure washing the other side of the hangar.  It looks better, but It's going to be a big project.

A wide angle view of our new billboard in place

The dry day forecast materialised as one of showers and rainbows

On Sunday it dawned bright, calm and clear.  It seemed promising for some aviation, but on approaching the club the mist rolled in, and it was evident how waterlogged everything was.  

The road to the club.  Misty at this elevation.

The adjacent fields were waterlogged

My first sight of the billboard in situ

Looking better with the inner gate open

The mist cleared and allowed a team to walk to the east end for a pitch inspection.  The news was not good; waterlogged.  I took the opportunity to open my trailer up in some bright sunshine and air my Standard Cirrus for a while.  Freddie, Aiden, and I opened up the Twin Astir Trainer trailer and Freddie led the work on reattaching the vinyl covering on the instrument panel supports.  Much sticking with Evostick and multiple clamps later, it looks to be a job well done.  Then the cloud came down, and we put the glider away before it started to drizzle, as I did with my glider.

Meanwhile, the duty instructor was working with Seahawk GC visitor Chris Morris to remove the NSF wheel from the Volvo so I could take it home and get the leaky tyre fixed.  However, the locking nut wouldn't come off.  The job was postponed until Wednesday, when we could have access to a "windy gun!"

Inside the clubhouse, Phil and David repainted canopy edges of the Twin Astir Trainer.  They discovered that two 14ml pots of Humbrol matt light grey paint don't go very far, so there will be a plan C on paint coming soon.  Ed Borlase was fettling the Ka-6CR fuselage lifting handle that Viktor made for him.  It's caught the attention of our Ka-6CR pilots.  Adam ordered one on Saturday and Chris Morris ordered one today from our friendly Ukrainian 3D-printing and joinery company.

Ka6-CR fuselage lifting handles (one for Viktor and one for Ed)

Looking back to admire the new billboard, when leaving the club

Three days in January. No flying.  But plenty of work preparing for the better weather to come. 

Gavin Short