Low cloud, mist, drizzle and increasingly strong winds seemed to suggest a no flying day, but this was to change.
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| Danger - Men at Work |
A willing group continued the work on the Pirat and by the end of the day the aircraft was nearly finished. It had been assembled ready for measuring the control deflections, fitting the canopy, instrument panel and paint the newly fitted rudder. One more good day may well see it finished.
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| By midday the conditions looked at bit more like it. |
By midday, the weather had improved to the point that those pilots that wanted to could at least get a flight in the K13 with Don, too windy for solo machines really.
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| Along Cox Tor |
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| Soaring the bowl at Standon Hill |
After playing in the locally buoyant conditions, the decision was made to continue the “Dartmoor Ridges” project. Dene Hitchen and David Parker both flew with Don crossing the valley 3 miles down wind to soar Cox Tor, jump across the gap to soar the bowl at Standon Hill where lift was an astonishing 8 knots, and to soar back to the airfield. At flying heights the WSW wind was gusting over 30 knots.
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| Soaring Cox Tor |
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| Climbing at 600 feet per minute at 1600 feet QFE ( 2400 feet Above sea level ) |
This is an important step in the project. The link from Cox Tor to Standon Hill will unlock the the rest of the ridges to allow flights north to Meldon Reservoir via Brat Tor, Great Links Tor and Corn Ridge.
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| Don's "concentration face" would scare young children |
A lot achieved on the most unlikely day.
Steve
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