DGS News – Sunday 2nd June 2013

After yesterday's wind it was a relief to discover on arrival at the airfield that the wind had moderated. Still almost 90 degrees across the runway but that reductions in strength and few degrees further west at least allowed us to operate.  

Which was just as well as with an on-line calendar chock full of trial lesson bookings and the solo membership behaving like sharks with blood in the water there was a lot to do.  With David Jesty taking charge of club trainees Jerry Wellington and Jeff Cragg, and two K-6s looking to make the most of the expected thermals, it fell to me to fly with an extremely varied flock of trial students.
 

Tony Dean & Martin Cropper in the Bocian with Thomas Dean standing by

 For instance number 1 was Tony Dean, with in excess of 1,000 launches courtesy of the Air Cadets, seeking to transfer and accredit his experience into BGA recognisable terms, but who hadn't flown since 2005. Tony was accompanied by son Thomas, who looks likely to go the powered route at Bodmin (he's a city investor so days spent at Brentor don't quite fit into his busy agenda).

Colin Boyd briefing Junior member Andrew Swann on cable attachment.

Number 2 trial lesson was Richard Bennett, a joiner from Plymouth who I managed to soar with to 1200ft whilst Number 3 was twelve year old Andrew Swann who already has 3 flights with us and who I managed to get to cloudbase and spend 25 minutes taking him through primary and secondary effects of the controls.  Andrew was closely followed by James McInnes-Slece, also 12 and who has the benefit of flying in his Dad's Rallye.  Both Andrew and James will be occasional visitors with us until they can properly start down the road to solo at 15 and on to licence.

Club Secretary Sandra Buttery had a one hour very useful instructional soaring flight with David Jesty, reaching a height of 3,200 ft  and a few stalls and spins thrown in for good measure she took over the winch driving from Nigel Williamson for the afternoon into the evening.

Meanwhile, as clouds formed, over developed and recycled, returning glider pilot Roger Appleboom was doing his level best to rustle up some lift, which, upon arrival of returning cricket spectator Robin Wilson made use of to take K-6 FUB to 3,600ft in over half an hour, and the pass the what little was left to Colin Boyd, who was only able to manage the odd couple of 10 minute flights.  

Sam Tallwin

Marie Crosby

As the afternoon progressed I flew with Sam Tallwin, for whom gliding made a fitting big tick on his 'bucket list' of life, whilst David flew with Marie Crosby.  Later still Dawn Philpott and her friend Rebecca from the Control Room at Crownhill Police Station were able to fly for 20 and 21 minutes respectively in the two-seaters.  With final flights for Jerry Wellington in the K-13 and Tony Dean and Jeff Cragg in the Bocian, it was a busy and demanding day

Dawn Philpott

Martin Cropper