With so much going on at Brentor - even when we’re faced with poor weather and inevitable technical problems - finding something positive and interesting to report via the DGS Blog is seldom a problem.
However, I thought Wednesday was going to be an exception when I arrived to find that following a technical inspection a few days earlier, ‘BVB’ - one of the two pillars of our training fleet - had been pulled offline for essential maintenance.
This definitely set some challenges for today, but in true DGS style everyone rallied to ensure that the maximum use was made of our other 2 seater DMX.
One-day course student Bob Andrews of Hexworthy, Devon) was straining at the leash, as well as several other members requiring pre-solo training or post-solo Ged and I - supported by CFI Don - embarked on a full schedule of training flights using our other two-seater, ‘DMX’, and by late afternoon not only had all of the day’s training objectives been achieved, but several people had been soaring as well.
The Zugvogel - such a splendid soaring glider, but so often the Cinderella of our single-seater fleet due to its position at the back of the hangar - once again came to the fore and was enjoyed by several of our solo pilots. One of them even surprised himself (fortunately while thermalling at height) by discovering that the Zug can actually spin. But remembering what he had been taught, he recovered promptly - and returned to base somewhat wiser.
In total - and after a latish start - we achieved a respectable 35 high and hassle-free launches, so a big ‘thank you’ to the dedicated team who made them all happen.
Around the launch point and back in the clubhouse, the main topics for discussion were the forthcoming Talgarth expedition and the club’s glider fleet development programme. Although as duty instructor, my focus was on activities of a more immediate nature, I get the feeling that the acquisition of a third two-seater is high on the agenda, with the possibility of bringing another Ka6CR on-line also on the cards.
Looking ahead to next Wednesday, due to the Talgarth expedition we’ll be a bit short of instructors. But come along and we’ll do our best to get you flown. In particular, I urge all those solo pilots who are (a) not current, or (b) working through the Bronze C flying syllabus (or both!) to come along and get back into the swing of things.
Bob Pirie
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