Dartmoor Gliding News – Sunday 29th December 2013

Take two middle-aged professionals, one a retired Doctor, the other a serving naval officer, and ask them to get the winch ready for launching - you’d think that not too hard a task for them (to get right), wouldn’t you?

For example, you wouldn’t expect them to upend the bulk diesel tank just in order to fill a jerry can, would you?  Particularly when there was every possibility of there being enough fuel in the winch tank already?  And you wouldn’t expect them to chortle away that they were getting every drop out of what had been delivered, even if it did look a ‘bit iffy’, and then upend that jerry can full into the winch tank, would you?  
No, you wouldn’t.  But, armed with in excess of 30 years combined membership, that is exactly what they did.

An hour later, the completely predictable result occurred as Darren Wills converted the K-8 into the full climb when the winch engine gave a cough, a large cloud of white smoke emanated from the exhaust, and it died.  Who said you can’t have a launch failure due to fuel starvation..! (Fuel contamination more like...)

Thus what should have been the start to a very promising day, with bright sunshine and a light southerly raising the prospect of fourteen year old Andrew Swann being able to make his first solo, turned into a very slow and embarrassing beginning.

Fortunately, and thanks to the many hours of work put in by Rick Wiles and his industrious team, the Guslaunch, newly re-engined, was – as of yesterday - available as an alternative and, after 45 minutes or so of totally harmonious teamwork, was in place and ready to launch.

Andrew waiting in the K13

Thus, a simulated launch failure later (satisfactory), and only 3 hours after the first launch of the day, Andrew Swann did eventually manage to ascend into the heavens on his own, just 5 months and 61 launches after joining the club.  Well done, Andrew.

CFI Don Puttock congratulates 14 year old Andrew on his first solo

With the indications of a warm front approaching from the SW, that left a reducing ‘window of opportunity’ for the remaining club members to fly; however, thanks to Bob Pirie’s organisational skills, and alternating between K-13 and K-8, Martin Broadway, Roger Applecore, Tony Dean, Roger Green and Robin Wilson all managed to fly, however by 4 o’clock the front had manifested itself in the form of rain and it was time to head for the hangar and clubhouse to celebrate Andrew’s achievement. 

Wings make good umbrellas too 

 Sunday night saw a return to the gale force conditions that prevailed before Christmas, and with no relent in prospect between now and the New Year sadly the club flying day on Wednesday being organised by Bob will not be taking place.  Which makes our thanks to him, for getting us all ‘through the list’ today, and to Rick Wiles for having the Guslaunch back up and running, all the more pertinent - and the red-faces of two middle-aged, so called, professionals, all the redder.

Winch drivers view as the next rain storm arrives

But nothing should be allowed to detract from Andrew Swann’s achievement today – a very positive outcome that reflects his commitment, and that of driver/helper/coach Grandad Mike, to make a very uplifting end to the flying year.

Andrew and Granddad Mike

Martin Cropper