On reflection, my "up and at 'em" rallying call via the blog for an early start today should have been "all hands to the pumps" due to the appalling weather which, I must confess, was as forecast. Still, eight members plus four visitors did turn up and enjoy themselves, proving yet again that - rain or shine - DGS is an enthusiastic, energetic and friendly club.
I managed to arrive respectably early (by my standards) in fog and steady rain, only to find that Steve Raine had beaten me to it, having already opened up the facilities and got the generator and simulator fired up. Meanwhile our one day course candidate Kim Metcalfe (aged 14), from Bristol, and his grandfather, Cliff McFarlane, from Teignmouth, were waiting patiently in the rain at the gate - probably wondering what they had let themselves in for.
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| Bob with Cliff and Kim |
Getting our priorities right, introductions and tea were made, the log fire ignited and Kim became the focus of attention, with various briefings and some initial training via the simulator - the first 'launch' being just before 10.00hrs, which was somewhat earlier than last Wednesday. He showed great enthusiasm, and I expect by the time you read this, he will have been in touch with Mike Keller to arrange an alternative date for his flights.
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| Andrew enjoying the simulator |
The simulator really does prove its worth on days like this. Once Kim had finished, Andrew Beaumont leapt in to make a 70km cross country 'flight' to North Hill, during which a phone call was received from Gill Stewart who glides at the Bidford Gliding and Flying Cub in the Cotswolds, and her husband Clive (both ex-Lasham many years ago). Visiting Plymouth to attend the potentially moist World Fireworks Championship, they wondered if they could come up to the club and give the simulator a go. Naturally we made them welcome, and before the seat cushion had had a chance to cool down from Andrew's occupancy, the Stewarts were at 4,000 feet, with P1 Gill mumbling about the simulator's 'character-building' characteristics. But they seemed to enjoy themselves.
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| Clive and Gill Stewart with club member Steve Raine |
As usual on days like this, plenty of time was spent drinking tea and engaging in friendly banter, while John Bolt and helpers put finishing touches to the renovated K8, and Alan Holland wielded an angle grinder against a large component for the winch engine which he and others are currently rebuilding.
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| More tea? |
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| John working on the K8 |
To end on an upbeat note, John reckons the 'new' K8 is nearly ready to fly, and will be even better than its popular predecessor.
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| Andrew giving the K8 the "once over" |
Bob Pirie
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