Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 7th September 2013

The negative sounding weather forecast, possible heavy showers, localised flooding etc. etc., obviously put off lots of our members and lead to a quiet day on the airfield.

This photo of the "quiet " launch point was taken by Steve Raine from the front seat of the K13 

This is a pity because very often these conditions can, and do, provide lots of interesting soaring opportunities. Soaring the front edges of showers can be an absolute hoot. Often as the air rises over Brentor and onward to the higher ground of the main moorland to the east, a line of rising air is formed and seems to operate like a convergence. We had one of these today.

The veiw from the rear seat of the K13 flying under the "convergence" flying south west.
The estuary on the left is the river Tavy  leading to the main Tamar estury and onwarsds to the bridges at Saltash and the Hamoaze beyond

 Those members and visitors who did turn up today were treated to some very nice conditions. The only shower lasted less than 5 minutes, the wind was nicely down the runway, the sun shone for most of the day. A “convergence?” formed at the east end of the airfield providing great soaring opportunities. The longest flight was 48 minutes. This flight was only terminated as the pilot returned to the airfield to let other members fly the "new" K8.

We welcomed One Day Course candidate Alan Hunt who flew with instructor Sean Paramore, and Air Experience visitors Edward Lloyd, and husband and wife team Paul and Marion Balsdon all of whom enjoyed their flights who were flown by me. Also visiting was experienced glider pilot David Bamber who had a site check with CFI Don Puttock.

Pictures of our visitors can be found by following this link

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.658983707459866.1073741837.196569323701309&type=1

Elsewhere on the site, a group comprising Rick Wiles, Mike Vosper, Colin Boyd, Mike Stacey, Ged Nevisky and David Bourchier spent the whole day working on the new engine for the GusLaunch winch. Mike Stacey is in fact not a club member but was one of the founder members of the club and lives just across the road. His sons run the farm next to the airfield and Mike borrowed a front loader to help lift the engine in place. Many thanks Mike. By the end of the day, the engine had been fitted to it’s mount and the prop shaft aligned. Great work. It still remains to fit the radiator, electrics and fuel lines but today was a major step forward.

Today's winch work in pictures

A productive day.

Steve Lewis