Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 14th October 2026

Well, we are halfway through October already, but the autumnal feel didn't deter the Wednesday Wavers.  Unfortunately, the forecast of a gusty, full crosswind and low cloud base throughout much of the day curtained any hope of flying.  As the Duty Basic Instructor, I had to phone today's visitor, Michael Tappenden, who was ready for his One Day Course and let him down gently.  He hails from Sparkwell in Plymouth, and we hope to see him soon when he rebooks.

Skysight nailed today's forecast but omitted the heavy rain just before lunch. 

The real weather was worse than forecast.  When we arrived, we were in fog.  Then there were some tantalising glimpses of blue sky, then the low cloud base materialised.  Then to reinforce the decision not to fly, there were some heavy, prolonged showers between 1100 and 1200.

So it was going to be a day of jobs around the club.  But John Allan had some gliding-related activity.  A while back, Steve Lesson had noticed on Flightradar24 a power plane landing on a farm strip some miles to the north of the club.  Using the simulator, he found the landing strip had a steep slope and that it was not viable to land in the Duo Discus that he was "flying".  He concluded that it would have been possible to land in his own glider, a Mini-Nimbus.  He continued to investigate other fields as possible landing options in the vicinity.

The simulator was put to good use with the Chairman tackling the local task in a Duo Discus. Yes, in real life the Duo's cockpit is slightly different. 

John Osment had produced a pair of exquisite main wheel axle end caps for Twin Astir, DSL on his lathe at home.  Peter and Steve Lewis fitted them, and John checked the dimensions on the other Twin Astir, HBK, so he could make a second set.

Val should be happy with the results of her efforts.  Two sparklingly clean DGS vehicles.  Bravo.

Earlier, I investigated the front instrument panel in DSL for several things that had been bugging me.  The Turn and Slip switch was poorly labelled, and there was a mystery broken switch.  I discovered that the Turn and Slip didn't work, nor was it fused.  However, getting access proved a challenge, so Steve and Peter took over.  As ever, a simple job on a glider took four times as long as you think.  The errant switches and the defective Turn and Slip were removed.  We await the delivery of an 80 mm blanking plate and suitable fasteners from Navboys to make the panel look smart again.

The heat-reflective canopy covers were removed from the Twin Astirs, aired and put away for the winter.  They won't be needed again until the spring.

Colin turned his hand to K-13, CCY's wing in his glider workshop.  

Colin meticulously scarfs in, glues, and clamps the new trailing edge in CCY's port wing. 

The plan is to retain the AMF trailer that we had previously earmarked to accommodate the Puchacz.  As regular readers will recall, we handed back the Puchacz to the Royal Navy so that conversion work stopped.  It was decided that the AMF trailer would make a much better trailer for our K-13 than the original trailer that came with CCY from Mendip GC.  So the team, led by John Smith, set about the task of preparing it.

Peter and John Smith offer up the new floor panel to the AMF trailer in preparation for it accommodating a K-13 securely.

New floor, ramp, and dolly tracks in the correct position. 

Next, the wing spar supports/clamps, visible in the photo above, need improving.  That will mean welding.  Let's not forget a welding sentry this time for the sake of both the trailer and the welder! 

In the clubhouse, the Duty Instructor, Mike, delivered some training lectures for Jamie McCullum.  Jamie worked through some of his glider training card, and John Osment and Scratch led him through his club orientation card.

During the day, support frames for the solar panels received some more creosote.  Earlier in the week, our new solar system received some tweaks, and now the generator will charge the 5 kW battery at a decent rate when the generator is running rather than providing just a trickle charge.  We are learning all the time, but the indications are that it will be a good system.

Then there was some serious engineering underway in the hangar.  At the Astir CS77's last Airworthiness Review Check (ARC), it was discovered that some of the threads on the tailplane locking bolt showed evidence of some minor stretching.  This is a typical area of wear in GROB gliders.  Although serviceable, it was decided to replace the tailplane locking bolt and fittings to ensure the glider enjoyed a long service life in our hands.  I had received a replacement from LTB-Linder in Germany.

Colin invited Jamie to witness and participate.  Perhaps there were too many spectators and differing opinions... too many cooks etc.  Despite that, the parts were changed over, and Jamie was introduced to thread mechanisms, the correct use of circlips, washers, stress indicators, the use of non-freezing aviation grease, and the correct assembly of L'hotellier control fittings.  All good stuff for a young glider pilot.  After several trial fittings, everything was lined up and went together and came apart as designed.  Happy that threadlock and witness mark paint had been correctly applied; duplicate checks were conducted and the tailplane taped ready for a test flight. Whoahh!  The job is not done until the Fleet Manager writes the Form 205, a rectification sheet, and attaches the EASA Form 1.  Tomorrow's task then...

The Astir CS77 looks resplendent with its new tailplane locking bolt, which of course you can't see now that it is fitted!  The Wavers can attest that the new locking bolt is very shiny under that white GRP. 

With the main jobs done, I could turn to my own instrument panel and indulge in a bit of fettling.  I mounted and threaded a longer lead (USB A  to USB A socket) to allow the download of flight traces and the upload of firmware to the newly fitted Power Flarm Core.  The Wavers were in an advisory mood following the work in the hangar, with lots of vocal ideas on how a rectangular slot should be best made in an instrument hole blanking plate.  I ignored their helpful advice, got the job done in half the time, and put my tools away.  During this, Scratch was able to update us on the work in the Motor Transport hangar, preparing the manual winch for the long-awaited automatic control.

Hangar doors shut, calm returns to the fleet after a myriad of activities during the day.

For those Wavers who had travelled from Plymouth and negotiated the extensive diversions due to Goosey Fair in Tavistock, as well as those Wavers from other directions, it had been a productive non-flying day.  As we relaxed in the clubhouse, the banter flowed.  Try as we might, we couldn't convince Dave to rig his K-6, Debbie, and attempt to make use of the very dark cloud street running directly across the airfield at an estimated height of just 850 feet above the airfield!  Maybe another day.

Saturday and Sunday are likely to be high-pressure days with a cold northerly wind.  Winter is coming!  Wrap up warm.

Gavin Short 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 3rd October 2026

 The weather today presented quite a forecasting challenge. We have a slow moving front overhead. To the south it is shown as a warm front and to the North it is show as a cold front .We are exactly at the join ( at least on the forecast map ). Does this make it an occluded front locally?

The day started with low cloud and drizzle but this started to clear and the cloud base to rise so the club aircraft ( a K13, a Twin Astir, K8 and Astir CS77) were taken to the East end launch point. where we were joined by a solitary K6 privateer. The wind was light and variable with perhaps a little west in it.

Sometimes the day was like this and ---

... sometimes more like this

The day proceeded with the usual training efforts. There was a solitary soaring flight of 24minutes in the K8 by Jamie Young who found a little converge as it passed by. At 2pm we had an hour break in proceedings as a band of drizzle and low cloud went through.

Jamie launching into the convergence

We welcomed 2 visitors for Air Experience flights; Anna Tissandier and Charles Holme. Both were flown successfully. 

Anna with Steve Moore

Charles with Gavin and Lance

Fliyng was completed at 5.30pm to give the club enough time to put everything away before the start of the end of season BBQ. The meats were sourced and cooked by Mike Bennett as usual. There was salads and Couscous provided by members. 

A great evening was had with good food and plenty of catching up with friends old and new.

Notice the lowering cloud base in the background

A good club day

Steve 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 4th October 2026

After last nights successsful barbeque, and seeing only a few of the Saturday trainees around, I was expecting another busy Sunday. Fortunately it turned out the usual number of trainees arrived so my fears were allayed. The forecast was for a light breeze all day and some possible soaring during the afternoon. A couple of K6's were rigged, so only the K13, Twin Astir and Astir 77 were required from the club fleet.

Trainees today included Jess Nicholson, Aiden Hughes, Eleanor Hattersly and Richard Hattersly. First today was Jess. After her three flights she had flown her first complete flight from take-off to landing.

Jess ready for her first complete flight.

Next trainee was Aiden Hughes. One of his flights included five practice launch failure recoveries. This is a good way of doing many recovery practices without causing too much disruption to general flying.

Aiden prepares to fly.

It was time for me to swap gliders. Eleanor and Richard Hattersley are getting to grips with the Twin Astir and are starting to do coordinated turns.

Eleanor looking forward to another flight.

Richard off on another flight.

Today's Introductory Flight Pilot was Steve Fletcher. Steve would welcome and fly with three visitors today. First to arrive was Rhiannon Daniels.

Steve settling Rhiannon into the Twin Astir.

Off they go.

The second visitor was Nick Palmer.

Nick and Steve after his flight.

As the Twin Astir was being used for training, Steve's last visitor Paul Elms was flown in the K13.

Paul and Steve after his flight.

The solo pilots either flew their K6's or the Astir 77. There had been a couple of extended circuits, but it was Ed Borlase who struck it lucky to claim flight of the day with 38 minutes.

Viktor glad to be flying DKG again.

Sean launching in the Astir 77.

Air Cadet instructors Harley Brockhouse and Grace Cartwright returned to have a couple of flights with us after a period away flying with the Cadets.

Thanks to all at the airfield today. 31 flights and some good progress with training.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 7th October 2026

In East Cornwall, there was rain overnight and a fresh northerly breeze whilst driving to the club.  No visitors today.  Time to have a look at the main wheel of the Twin Astir, DSL, to find out why it's making graunching sounds.

With the other Twin Astir, HBK offline while we source a replacement brake master cylinder, a K-13, FGR was available if the Wavers went flying.  Aircraft availability isn't as bad as it might at first seem, as K-13, FSD has a fresh ARC and can be rigged if required.

However, Andy's forecast, didn't hold out much hope of us flying today:

Wednesday Weather

High pressure is pushing in from the SW with a weak cold front clearing the field sometime in the morning; the actual weather will depend on the timing of the front.

Wind initially north but going NW as the day progresses, speed 16kts with some lively gusts. Once the low cloud and rain clears, there may be some weak thermal activity, but it won’t be usable due to the wind strength.

The midday synoptic chart from the Met Office

Skysight's Windgram showed a clearer picture of what to expect.  Note the strong northerly wind, that would be full cross on our runway.

And indeed it was raining when I arrived and continued to do so through most of the morning.  The wood burner had been lit, the first time this autumn, and the tea made.  Although initially the wind wasn't that strong, there was little hope of the hangar doors being opened in earnest as it strengthened during the day.

No morning brief, but the Wavers swung into action on the many tasks to be accomplished to keep the club operating smoothly of which I observed but some.

Peter, Phil and I opened the hangar doors to let some light in and move the Astir CS77 out just enough to allow access to Twin Astir DSL.  Phil and Peter got the glider up on the hangar dolly on the second attempt.  The Twin Astir is a lot heavier than the Puchacz that the hangar dolly was originally made for.  With that, the dynamic duo set to work dropping the main wheel and stripping things down to investigate a noisy wheel brake. 

Scratch was busy in his workshop and the Motor Transport hangar making improvements to both the automatic and the manual winch.  Occasionally a winch engine would rev up to "max chat" during the day while testing.

We welcomed some visitors, old friends Heather Horswill and Barry Green, who came to see how the club had been getting on.  Heather was pleased to be back, and despite the Wavers trying to hold her back she got her hands in the sink and on the cleaning materials.  Some things never change!  Barry was given the grand tour to show off the new fleet and describe the many developments.  

The warmth of our new wood burner being much appreciated by the Wavers as the northerly wind freshened, leading the Chairman to declare, "Its getting nautical out there".

We had another visitor; Jamie McCullum, a Kiwi currently living near Truro.  He is an 18yro Cornish Air Cadet who came up to see us as he is interested in learning to glide.  To date he had two launches with the Air Cadets and an aerotow flight at Seahawk Gliding Club which lasted almost an hour.  Additionally, he had some powered air experience.

Ironic, that yet another Junior comes to Dartmoor Gliding Society to learn to fly.  Maybe we should arrange a direct liaison or offer glider flights to the air cadets.

Jamie spent most of the he day with CFI, Rick, with training lectures,  filling out a training card, and several simulator sessions.  He left in the afternoon seemingly enthusiastic to continue.  We look forward to seeing him return.

When not teaching Jamie, Rick spent time with members to get to grips with the Glider Pilot logbook which is a development of the earlier glider log book spreadsheet.  The Glider Pilot Logbook is a web application for glider pilots.  It helps pilots record flights, manage their digital logbook.  Take a look.  It is designed to be used by any glider pilot nit just DGS members.

The Glider Pilot Logbook

Clubhouse tidying up was under way;  sorting Seahawk supplies which included very useful winch launching cable fittings.   DB was in his element.  Outside the former and current site managers were reviewing the contents of the green container and discussing the potential build of a new log store.

I continued with more panel diagnostics inside and then went outside with Mike Bennett to load up firmware to his Red Box Flarm and see that his glider's were correctly shown on Glide and Seek.

Phil and Peter identified the problem with DSL  The anchor bolt in the anchor plate had moved inwards allowing the brake shoes to twist under braking and cause metal to metal contact.  Hence the graunching.  The bolt was pressed back into the plate using the workbench vice and a permanent solution planned.

The maintenance team discussed the various options that GROB (LTB- Linder) and TOST had offered as a solution to the obsolete and defective brake master cylinder in the Twin Astir Trainer, HBK which had sprung a hydraulic leak.

A 1974-1980 R-Series BMW motorcycle brake master cylinder.  Anyone got one handy?

Fitting a TOST universal brake master cylinder looked to be the preferred option. The downside is the need to make a dedicated bracket and adjuster to make it work.

Pretty young thing seeks master for an arresting performance

DGS has a wealth of talent.  Scratch looked up classic BMW motor parts on the "Bay of Eels" and found a second hand brake master cylinder.  He offered to research some more and contact the classic BMW owners club to find a service kit or better still a reconditioned master cylinder.  As a classic car owner I should have know better that there would be spares out there.

Jobs complete, the Wavers opted for an early stack and departed into the pleasant afternoon sunshine, that is, if you managed to keep out of the chilling wind.  Roll on Saturday for a chance to go flying.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 30th September 2026

The Equilux (equal day and night) happened last Friday, so I shouldn't have been surprised that it was still dark when the alarm clock went off, and I let "Mackle" the cat out into the rain.  He's got such a thick coat that he doesn't care about the rain.  Mere mortals not so much.

Weather: I could just say see above. But it was a bit more nuanced than that.  The front had passed through during the night, leaving low cloud and a strong blustery southerly wind, i.e. full cross on the runway.  Not very conducive to flying or indeed pleasant.  Many Wednesday Wavers thought so, and so the turnout today was low.  Fortunately, as the Duty Basic Instructor, I didn't have any visitors to cancel.

So it was a day for rigging the Astir CS77 after its annual inspection.  The battery installation needed to be completed before fitting the repaired seat and side panels, with their covers now properly stuck down.  The glider was rigged and taped following a little instruction on the operation of the GROB Astir rotating collar sleeves.  This design needs a little bit of thought as to how they work, as it does away with a conventional main pin, or pins, to secure the wings to the glider.  The canopy was not fitted to allow maximum time for any residual fumes from the seat upholstery repairs to dissipate.

Instrument panel fault-finding in the clubhouse (Club Libelle and Standard Cirus, behind)

Mike Bennett and Gavin worked on their instrument panels, fault-finding, making repairs and fettling. 

A wonky view of Gavin's panel

In the trailer park, Mike Jardine was improving his Flarm set-up by repositioning the UHF antenna and testing.  Later, there was more serious work being undertaken.

Oh No! What has happened here?

Ahh.  All is clear now. 
Dave Archer is involved in some extreme fettling,
or Pilot Owner Maintenance in technical parlance.

This work is to rectify a rudder pedal rubbing problem.

Meanwhile, in the hangar, what could be described as a "leisurely rig" was underway.  Sometimes many hands don't make for light work.

Astir CS77, DNE rigged and taped, ready to go back in the hangar

Throughout the day, there was the sound of a circular saw as John Smith continued to work on the frame for the solar panel on the roof of the glider workshop.  Although we need, at the moment, to run the generator for power tools, the solar set was generating significant power and topping up the 5 kW battery when the sun poked through the clouds.  Impressive stuff.

The Waver's work is done; the hangar doors are shut.

No flying today, but much was achieved.  Roll on Saturday.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 26th September 2026

The morning briefing outlined considerable variation in the weather forecast depending on which model it was based on. RASP was the only one with forecast winds in the north. All the others were southerly. RASP predicted a blue sky day with 8 hours of sunshine. A look out of the window proved that wrong with considerable cloud in view. 

Not exactly a blue sky day

Due to the unfavourable weather forecast for tomorrow, today we had 9 trainees on the flying list. Rick managed this with help from Chris Bryning and Steve Moore and have both a K13 and Twin Astir available all day. Lots of training progress was made.

Training flight on approach

And off again

We welcomed 2 visitors for One Day Courses Sylvia Price and Robin Lawrence. Both courses were completed using Twin Astir DSL flying circuits / extended circuits.

Robin receiving his Certificate from Scratch

Sylvia waiting to go

Try as they might both solo pilots and Instructors struggled to find lift to extend their flights. At 2.50pm Gavin Short managed to find some rising air ( possibly a convergence ) and managed 25 minutes in the K8 followed by Ed Nicholson flying solo in the K13 who launched 5 minutes later and soaring for 12 minutes. And then the lift was gone again.

K6 on approach

A mackerel sky late afternoon

Not all the best news came from our home airfield. Jamie Young was away flying at North Hill to complete his skills test for his SPL. He passed this and will shortly be the holder of a shiny new SPL ( Sailplane Pilot Licence ). Well done Jamie.

FI Mark Courtney congratulates Jamie

As the kit was put away at the end of the day the Committee started their regular meeting to review the club's progress and plan future enhancements.

A good training day.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 23rd September 2026

After several days of grey mizzle, the weather brightened up on Tuesday afternoon.   So would Wednesday be flyable? Could we finish the annual inspection of the Astir CS77 and bring it back into service?  How would the upgraded solar set perform?  Lots of questions to be answered.

It looked quite promising on the way to the club.  The murk over the moors seemed to break up, and the sun came out until the last mile.  At the club, the cloud was on the deck, and heavy drizzle interrupted getting the gliders out and their daily inspections.

In the hangar, the extant items from the annual inspection of the Atsir CS77: suspected rubbing main wheel and a less-than-optimal trim system were being investigated alongside fitting an ARC certificate and a new placard in the cockpit, and renewing some faded instrument panel labels.  

In the clubhouse, I spent hours sorting the mess that is DNE's seat and its covering, the Dynafoam cushion, and Dzus connectors.  After a considerable amount of glueing with copious amounts of Evostick, I decided that the fumes had definitely put me on the wrong side of the mnemonic IM SAFE, and so I didn't venture up to the east end to fly.  Who needs a glider to do that anyway?

The DGS maintenance team (three in this picture)
tackles the problem of a suspected rubbing mainwheel

Despite the weather, the morning brief went ahead. Today the Wavers had two flight instructors, Peter and Rick, to accommodate the trainees and to optimise the use of the weather window that was due to emerge.

The sky over the airfield convinced me that the real action was to be had in the hangar,
 not the launch point

Stevie Lewis and DB drop the main wheel of the Astir CS77 to reprofile the brake shoes 

The gliders were launching from the east end, but there was other activity at the west end in addition to that in the hangar.  The "Night Owl" and Steve Lesson conferred and set the right settings on the 5kW battery pack so that the controller and battery could talk to each other, and we were off; charging even under a dull, drizzly sky.  Steve then fitted a junction box and, having bought more cable, wired up the second bank of eight solar panels.  Proof of concept was boiling an electric kettle for a well-earned cup of tea.

Steve Lesson is somewhere in this picture, wiring up the second bank of eight solar panels

At the East end, flying was underway. Peter kicked off with three training flights for Ray, while Phil flew his first visitor, Ian Barker, who hails from Teignmouth.  Ian had been a glider pilot in the dim and distant past, achieving solo status and a Silver C, and flying at numerous clubs around the country.  After careful consideration by the Duty Instructors, it was decided that he should fly with Phil.  Ian's wife, who had witnessed him fly at Challock (Kent Gliding Club), was adamant that she didn't want to fly in a glider.  However, by the time they left the site, she was warming to the idea of a glider flight.  Maybe we will see the Barkers again.

Rick flew a set of three with Robin, which involved stall exercises, and Peter flew a set with Neal.  The highlight for Neal was five simulated launch failures within a three-minute flight! 

The K-8, FXB, with a recently replaced tail skid rubber block, was in action with some of the usual Wednesday Wavers: Steve Fletcher, John Smith, Malcolm and John Allan.  Malcolm managed to conjure up lift where seemingly there was none, to achieve the flight of the day of 17 minutes.

Dave Osment's K-6 was in action, not only flown by him but also by Mike Bennett and Peter when Dave was converting to the Twin Astir.  Peter was keen to keep his instructor's solo hours up, even if it was just a circuit!

Phil's second visitor, Phil Askew from Looe, came to the airfield with his wife for a pair of flights.  The weather had brightened and warmed up, and pilots were now in short sleeves.   Visibility was much improved, allowing Phil a view along the South Coast.  Perhaps he could just about see Looe!  Phil's second flight was an extended one, in fact the second longest of the day, which gave him more time to admire the views of the tors.

Phil squared!  Phil Askew gets ready for his flight with BI Phil Hardwick

And the "Phil Airways" flight comes safely back to earth 

Rick continued Ivan's training in the Twin Astir HBK before flying Dave Osment to get him used to glass.  By now Peter had worked through his trainees for the day, so Steve Fletcher took Ray aloft in FGR to maintain his currency in flying from the back seat.  Rick, having flown all his trainees, flew HBK solo for a hangar landing

Back in the clubhouse, at the end of the day, with the hangar doors closed, we received some good news.  The British Gliding Association had ratified Andy Davey's 500 km Diamond Goal flight.  His flight from Brentor - Bodmin South West - Ashbury (just south of Oxford) - Brentor on Sunday 23 August covered 510 km.  This was the first 500 km flown from Brentor and completes the requirements for a Diamond Badge, Andy having previously been awarded a Diamond for height gain (5,000m) and a Diamond for a 300km Goal flight.  The  Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) should allocate a Diamond Badge number for Andy in the next few days.  Since 1949, some 7,600 glider pilots across the world have achieved this level of achievement.  Congratulations Andy in joining that elite club.

The Wednesday Wavers headed home on what had become a pleasant, almost balmy, evening after 30 flights made, encompassing two visitors, five trainees and great progress in bringing the Astir CS77 close to being back online.  A new battery box to be fitted on Saturday and a clean and polish of the fuselage should see it ready for rigging and a test flight. 

Gavin Short