Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 21st June 2026

The summer solstice started with another Sunday and various forecasts all giving different wind directions. The winch had been left at the west end from yesterday, but the forecasts gave a slight preference to fly from the west end. So the winch was moved to the east end to start the day.

All aircraft were removed from the hangar as the K13 was at the back and was still required for training. Only the Twin Astir and K13 were initially taken to the launch point, but would be joined later in the day by the K8. Two K6's and a Libelle were also rigged ready to fly.

I would start flying with Ed Nicholson and Rowan Guest in the Twin Astir. Both are getting to grips with this new to them aircraft and were handling it well doing the whole flight. Aiden Hughes and Misha Skochko also had their first flights in the Twin Astir getting them used to it ready for some advanced training in the near future hopefully.

Rowan settling into the Twin Astir.

Duty BI Phil Hardwick welcomed One Day Course student Laurie Rippin to the club. They started the course in the K13, but swapped to the Twin Astir later in the day when the K13 was needed by me for training. Laurie enjoyed the experience of flying different aircraft and left saying he would return to make use of his three month membership.

Phil showing Laurie around the K13.

After Laurie's first flights, Phil turned his attention to our new junior pilot. Thirteen year old Jess Nicholson, Ed's younger sister receiver her introductory flights and some basic control lessons. Welcome Jess at the start of your journey with us.

Jess receiving information from Phil.

Off she goes.

Watched by parents.

The sky started to look a little better which tempted Andy Davey to take a launch in his Libelle. He managed to find some lift and could be seen slowly climbing away. Ed Borlase (K6) and Sean Westrope (K8) were also tempted, but unable to find anything were soon back on the ground. Training flights continued in a similar fashion for the rest of the afternoon. Andy returned after 2 hours 29 minutes when the conditions to the north deteriorated to claim flight of the day.

Andy returns.

Whilst Phil and Laurie swapped to the Twin Astir, I took over the back seat of the K13 to fly with Aiden Hughes and Misha Skochko. Three flights for Aiden including an awkward height launch failure sees him progressing well with his training.

Aiden's hat makes me thirsty on this hot day.

Misha launched and we found some weak lift and steadily climbed to wards 2000ft. When we thought it was time to return, Misha asked if he could practice some stalls to lose height. After three or four stalls, Misha asked "Peter, we are still at 1800ft, how do we get down?" After a little discussion, Misha realised he could use the airbrakes to lose height and they were not just for the approach. We landed after 47 minutes.

Misha's more sober hat.

Whilst we were soaring Ed Borlase was spotted above us in his K6. Ed finally landed after 1 hour 29 minutes.

Ed's view of Brent Tor church.

And to the north.

Ed looking forward to his flight.

A hot busy day at the club today. Thank you to all at the club today. Some good flying and progrees made with one new junior member joining.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding Society - Wednesday 17 June 2026

It rained heavily overnight, and cloud base was low when I left my village. Up on to the A390, and I was then into the cloud.  No view of the Hamoaze or Plymouth this morning.  On the back roads to the club the cloud/fog got thicker and thicker and then the rain started.

This is the road to the club.  You can't see, but there is a tractor coming!

When Ollie Riggs, today's One Day Course candidate, phoned in from Plymouth he was not surprised when I told him we wouldn't be flying.

So much for a flaming June.

Resigned, the Wednesday Wavers started to work down the to-do list.

One of the ground radios was not transmitting.  I suspected a setting, one of 42, had been changed.  After a half hour stepping through and comparing the suspect radio with a good one and my own radio the job was done.

The Twin Astir 1, DSL, needed its wing tape renewed, and we took the opportunity also to tape the tailplane and put fresh a fresh yaw string on the front canopy.  Phil adjusted the wheel brake.

Dave Archer investigated the quiet radio transmission from the Astir CS77. 

Cattle and countryside noises were eerily loud in the fog.

It was still drizzling, and foggy of course, so we had to wait to be able to commence outside jobs.  A few tried the simulator whilst others debated the social media ban for under sixteen-year-olds.  The weather clearance never came. 

However, other jobs were underway including on private gliders.  Viktor came up to say hello and work on Red Bear.  The weather in Launceston was nice, but not so at Brentor so he left.  If anything the fog was getting thicker.

Three pundits standing away from the noise of Mike and John cleaning the patio
with shovels and a leaf blower

Club planning continued into the afternoon.  Then we received some great news.  One of our parachutes had a damaged thigh strap safety clip.  I sent it back to Thomas Defence Systems yesterday.  It arrived in Bridlington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, before midday.  They finished the repair work in three hours and its on way back to us. That's outstanding customer service.  Thank you.

The last of the Wavers left the site and disappeared into the fog.

Saturday looks much better!

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 14th June 2026

Who would be a Duty Instructor? No matter which forecast I looked at, everything looked different, and the wind could be anything from North easterly right around to South Westerly, even the wind sock was not much help, just hanging limp and pointing nowhere. So the choice was the safe one with more options for eventualities, and we would fly from the east end. Five privateers would rig and after a general leisurely start, the first launch was at 10:54.

After only three launches, it was obvious the forecast that turned up was not the one I used and the tailwind forced a change of ends. This presented trainee Aiden Hughes with the problem of launching in one direction and landing the other way at the opposite end of the airfield.

K13 waiting for a clear airfield.

With only two trainees today, Aiden had five flights and managed to nail the circuits and approaches in the benign conditions.

Looking down on the launch point.

Duty BI Phil Hardwick had two visitors today. First to arrive was Andrew Simmonds. Andrew had last flown in a glider back in 1992 and was visiting his son in Yelverton. He enjoyed two flights with Phil, one an extended soaring flight.

Andrew and family with Phil.

The second visitor was Anita English from Plymouth and also enjoyed her two flights with Phil.

Anita waiting with Phil.

The Twin Astir returns.

Whilst I stopped for a bit of lunch the five privateers started flying. Scratch decided not to fly and allowed Viktor (K6), John Osment (Cirrus), Sean Westrope (Libelle), and Ed Borlase (K6) to have their turns to fly. Viktor thought his 30 minutes would earn him flight of the day, but he was topped by Ed Borlase with 50 minutes. The second trainee Ray Staines had three flights with me getting back into the swing of things after being away for 12 months with a 26 minute soaring flight.

K6 thermaling with the K13.

And seen from the ground.

I took the last flight of the day and Aiden decided to sit in the back seat of the K13 to get a different view of things.

 

Aiden watching over my shoulder.

Only a small crowd at the airfield today, but everybody got something from the day. Thanks to all.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 10th June 2026

The mission for today was to get K-13, CCY into its trailer ready for collection by Devon and Somerset Gliding Club which is going to rent it to allow their members to fly some "Wood". 

Although we bought CCY from Mendip GC there is a symmetry to this arrangement as Mendip GC had previously bought it from Devon and Somerset GC.   "What goes around comes around".

Forecast:  Pity we didn't fly on Monday.  A showery, windy day with gusty lift in the afternoon.

The morning focus on CCY inevitably took a number of attempts to get the glider loaded into its trailer and everything prepared.  The morning brief was early and then my One Day Course Candidate, Alan Cracknell, arrived and received a brief.

Privateers rigged and made their way to the east end under a less than promising sky.

New member Harley brought his sister, Hollie, for a Friends and Family flight.  Hollie was first up with the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, and they went soaring.  "It's booming" was the statement when Mike handed over the K-13 to me so that I could start Alan's One Day Course.

Hollie, "This is a bit different to an ATC Viking glider that my brother normally flies"

Grob Viking T.1s in the 626 Volunteer Gliding Squadron hangar (how, the other half live!)

The pin on Google Earth is wrong.  It's RNAS Predannack!  Look at the size, length, and number of runway options to land on even before you consider the grass.  Amazing.  Has a DGS instructor introduced Hollie's elder brother Harley to our stub runway yet?

The conditions were challenging with gusty thermals but Alan and I enjoyed some soaring flights.  He tried the controls but was actually happier being flown and taking in the fantastic scenes and sensations.  He was fascinated with how the approaching rain showers appeared from the air and how they engulfed Kit Hill, over the border in Cornwall.

With his first flight under his belt Alan looks forward to a soaring flight with Gavin

Lance was the first trainee of the day with a set of three flights in the Twin Astir.  The third flight included some soaring which allowed Lance the chance to get to grips with a Twin Astir after most of his training has been in a K-13.

Today was the first outing of the CFI-inspired and recently purchased steps to aid access to the Twin Astir that sits considerably higher off the ground than a K-13. I saw 76-yro Alan eyeing them enviously as he clambered into our K-13.  That said, getting in and out of a glider sounds positively routine than Alan's recent experiences of getting in and out the basket of a hot air balloon.  Landing in a glider sounds benign compared with "brace for impact" when you land in a hot air balloon in case the basket topples over.  I had naively thought that ballooning was a gentle pastime.

Standard Cirrus, FCN, had its ARC on Tuesday and was test flown today by Scratch and Rick.  The work on the release and cable paid appeared to pay dividends as they now were achieving 1,250 foot launches consistently.  With that out of the way Scratch did some soaring proving that all was well with their glider.  Rick followed suit later in the day.

Alan and I took a break for lunch which allowed Dave Osment to have some check flights and a practice launch failure, with Peter, before being cleared solo in the K-13 in blustery conditions. 

Phil Hardwick readies his DG300 for launch, and a bit of soaring, while Phil Hayward looks on (well it makes a change from everyone at DGS being called Steve!)

Andy and Steve Fletcher launched into promising skies and earned a joint "men of the match" with 48 and 47 minutes apiece.  Steve managed to get to 2,700 ft QFE but had to air brake down before the heavy rain set in from the west.  After his flight Andy spent a while on the winch and introduced visitor Alan to the "Power and the Glory" of winch launching.

Steve Fletcher's rare view today of Plymouth Sound not wreathed in rain showers.

Ian King was the next trainee, but his set of flights were cut short by the next rain shower.  This one was particularly heavy which saw all the Wednesday Wavers and visitors sheltering in the launch bus for 10 minutes while it passed.

It was good to see Robin Wilson back in the saddle (the Twin Astir).  He also took the opportunity to show Harley our defibrillator and conduct the quarterly checks.  All was well.

Harley continued his conversion to gliding the BGA way with a set of circuits as another shower had damped down the thermal activity.  CFI, Rick is keen to get Harley out of his comfort zone of a Twin Astir (Viking in ATC speak) and into a K-13 to start challenging him. 

This morning we welcomed back a lapsed member, Ray Staines, who now sports an impressive white beard.  Ray paid his annual membership fee and got stuck into launching gliders as if he had never left.  He commented on several changes since he was last at the club, especially in terms of standardisation which was music to the Fleet Manager's ears.  He enjoyed a number of extended circuits, with perhaps a smidgen of soaring, with Mike.  Ray we look forward to seeing you more often.

The DCFI, Peter Howarth, moves into the modern age
with a "digital" photo of Ray Staines and Instructor Mike.

The K-8 was enjoyed by John Smith and Peter with the latter making two soaring flights. We have done a considerable amount of work on FXB after its test flight recently.  The radio now works well and the instrumentation, including the Total Energy system appears to be OK.  Peter and I have a cunning plan to improve the effectiveness of the trim. Like all good "Blue Peter" plans it involves the extensive use of sticky tape.

As you heard the main effort has been getting CCY ready to go to North Hill.  But there were some other maintenance developments during the week.  I received three sets of brake pads for Twin Astir Trainer, HBK, from Saftek Friction that they made for us.  I also had the news from Navboys that the Twin Astir tow out gear that the club has ordered should be with us next week.

The "top cover" persisted throughout the day.  Without it conditions could have been great.

As the day's flying came to a close glider pilots were instructed to make their last flights hangar landings.  This included Dave Archer in the Twin Astir and Rick in the Astir CS77.  Rick reported that the trimming system needs adjustment.  There's no rest for the maintenance team at DGS.

After observing the winch launches I had a cup of tea with Alan in the clubhouse.  I handed over his certificate and temporary membership card.  He was keen to start his 2 1/2-hour drive back to Chipping Norton which is just south of Bath.  As I bade him farewell I noticed something different near the clubhouse before getting roped into packing the Twin Astir in the hangar, which Alan witnessed.

"There is a disturbance in the Force".  Farewell CCY. Your departure leaves a gap in our lives!

The winch returns to the Motor Transport hangar as the sky finally brightens. Typical!

So a day that didn't follow the forecast and where the showers persisted all day.  When the sun was allowed to work its magic there was some soaring to be had in the strong wind.

36 flights, a One Day Course and normal training delivered, and a young air cadet introduced to real flying.  Not a bad achievement by the Wavers on a very showery day. 

Gavin Short 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 31st May 2026

A light westerly breeze and dry conditions greeted the Sunday Soarers. The assembled pilots removed a K13 and Twin Astir from the hangar. These were the only club aircraft required today as privateers Andy Davey (Libelle), Sean Westrope (Libelle), Ed Borlase (K6), Viktor Skochko (K6) and Phil Hardwick (DG300) set about rigging their aircraft.

First two flights of the day before things got busy were ultra-low failure demonstrations for Misha Skochko and Aiden Hughes.

All Out and All Stop.

After these launches, eagle eyed Viktor noticed a mark on the front wheel. Inspection found a bubble in the wall of the tyre which caused a delay in proceedings whilst a replacement was sourced and refitted. Throughout the day Aiden received five further training flights and Misha another four (one was a soaring flight). Each also received a demonstration of how to cope with a balooned landing. Some good progress for both.

Aiden and me discussing the next flight.

Today duty IFP Steve Fletcher would have three air experience visitors. First to arrive was Rachel Hirsch from Okehampton who arrived with her partner. Rachel really enjoyed her flights including a slightly extended flight on the second.

Rachel with Steve.

The next to arrive were Sophia Harris-Aldrid and James McInnes-Slegg who were part of an extended family and friends who came to watch. Both enjoyed a couple of flights with Steve.

James and Steve waiting to launch.

Sophia waiting for Steve.

After the Red Arrows passed by yesterday we witnessed our own Red Arrows.

Our very own Red Arrows Viktor & Ed.

Red One waiting to launch.

The other privateers enjoyed flights of various times. Sean Westrope (Libelle) 10 minutes and Phil Hardwick (DG300) 41 minutes to claim flight of the day.

Sean discussing tactics with Phil.

One name missing from above is Andy Davey who realised he had left batteries and Oudie at home so didn't fly. As a self imposed punishment he spent a large part of the day on the winch. Thanks Andy.

Thank you to all at the airfield today A 'wheelie' good day overall.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 3 June 2026

Some things in life are inevitable.  After the sunshine and the heat comes the rain and cooler temperatures.  Well, it is the start of June, so what were you expecting; a blazing start to meteorological summer?

Andy's take on today's weather:

Wednesday Weather.
With low pressure centred off the north coast of Ireland we will be in an unstable air mass with some quite gusty winds.
Wind initially SSW at 15kts then going SW and increasing slightly to 17kts, once the front has passed. There should be some thermal activity going to 2,000ft from about 1300, but it will be very broken in the strong and gusty wind.

Today's synoptic chart courtesy of the Met Office. In sum; Messy!

There was a tiny weather window that Andy mentioned but not long enough to get the toys out.

The greenery says its summer but the amount of water coming off the airfield
 into the culverts says its winter.

Despite the gloom the inside of the clubhouse was looking sparkling thanks to John Smith, and others, for their efforts over the last few days with the paint brush.  Soon we be able to hang the large model glider from the eaves again.

In the mode of spring-cleaning Mike Bennett, aided by DB, set about washing his trailer.  I normally take mine to the hangar apron and use a hose, but the sky was easily provided that level of service for them. 

It was very wet most of the day

The gliders needed some TLC too and this was definitely the day to undertake it.  John Allan investigated the perplexing electrical gremlins in K-8, FXB.  Peter and I looked at the wiring for the Tasman variometer in the Twin Astir 1, DSL and discovered why the rear variometer repeater was intermittent.  Ty-wrapping is good but over ty-wrapping and placing strain of electrical connectors is not a good thing.

John took the K-8 instrument panel out and tracked down the source of its electrical woes.  He also stripped down and repaired the XK10 variometer that had stopped singing its song, caused by a loose connector on the motherboard.

John Allan reinstalling the K-8's instrument panel after repairs

The Chairman and I took the Astir CS77 seat out to reveal a jack plug connection in the cable to the loudspeaker.  Seat removal is never my favourite task in an Astir.  The loudspeaker connection was intermittent hence the fault-finding. The solution was to replace both the 3.5mm jack plug and the 3.5mm socket.  

To keep in our BGA Inspector's good books we hoovered under the cockpit before we started work.  In the workshop Colin was beavering away with the aileron repair on CCY's wing.  He applied Ceconite fabric after the woodworking was complete.  It now needs ironing, dope, undercoat and then topcoat.  The next few days will involve the production of the ARC paperwork and to chronicle what has been done.

The Astir CS77 during the lunch break.  Calm before the seat was removed and loudspeaker wiring connectors repaired.

After the K-8 instrument panel was reinstalled and tested it was Dave Archer's turn to work on FXB.  He replaced the co-axial connector on the radio antenna which was damaged.

Meanwhile, Peter and Steve, during a lull in the rain got the fuselage of the Twin Astir Trainer out of its trailer and refitted the seat side panels and seat supports.  Then Colin and Peter remade the brake cable that needed to be longer to allow full air brake travel. We will have to wait for the arrival of the new brake pads from Saftek Friction to complete the brake system work, but the reupholstered side panels can now be stuck in the cockpits.  Unfortunately rain stopped play.  But there was enough time for Peter to check the main wheel brake disc and clean off any surface rust ready for imminent use.

Some took an early lunch before the event of the day.  A special review meeting to elect our new treasurer, David Osment, as a Director.  The meeting was quick and David was unanimously voted in with no objections or abstentions. Welcome, David.

There was other non-maintenance effort going on.  Returning One Day Course candidate Phil Hayward worked with the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, to review Phil's newly issued training card to map his path from PPL (Private Pilot's Licence) to SPL (Sailplane Pilot Licence).  After that he made progress with this ground training card getting to understand how the club works and runs.

The furniture in the clubhouse kept on moving around throughout the day as John Smith, assisted by father and son team Osment, continued painting the interior of the clubhouse.

John Smith has been working his way to the back of the clubhouse. Here he is painting the parachute storage room.

What was the hardest job today?  The smallest of course.  The clip on the radio microphone in the K-8 wasn't working correctly.  It took the combined efforts of three glider pilots to work out what was wrong and rectify it.  Someone, its always him, isn't it?  Someone had resembled the spring clip incorrectly which of course is a much easier task than reassembling the clip correctly.

Concentration, frustration, determination, and then finally, success!

Before the Wavers dispersed we shared a moment of contemplation and remembrance for the three Royal Navy crew members of a Merlin Mk4 helicopter who sadly lost their lives early this morning when their aircraft crashed near Sourton, which is less than ten miles north of the airfield.  Our deepest sympathy to the families of the crew and members of the Fleet Air Arm.  Military flying is never routine.  May they rest in peace. 

So no flying today due to the poor weather conditions but much was achieved despite the sombre atmosphere.  Foolishly before I left the site I checked the forecast for Saturday.  I wish I hadn't!

Skysight's windgram for Saturday.  Oooh!

 Gavin Short