Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 22nd February 2014

The forecast was suggesting a gap in the storms with fairly good conditions deteriorating towards the end of the day.

So gliders out and on with the fun. The members took the muddy conditions with typical good humour. The K13 was busy throughout the day. Training highlight today was junior member Michael Larkin’s first unprompted flight; CFI Don was in the rear seat but said nothing. This is an important milestone. Very well done Michael.

The winch driver's view of an interesting sky

The solo pilots were all desperate to fly. The K8 was busy as usual and the Zugvogel was on line for the first time in several months allowing some pilots the chance to convert to it and the more experienced to reacquaint themselves with it’s delightful handling.

Andrew Swann in the K8 made a good attempt at the longest soaring flight
but was eventually beaten by Allan Holland in the Zugvogel

 The air was interesting. The strong southerly crosswind was lifting little bubbles off the southern side of the airfield. These could be used to sustain flights up to about 15 minutes with some low level soaring. The K13 managed to find a thermal to the dizzy heights of 1400 feet. Great fun.

Ray Swinfield had his first flight in a Zugvogel

As the afternoon wore on the cross wind got stronger and stronger as the temperature dropped dramatically. With typical DGS grit and determination we stuck to the task in hand to make sure that everyone who wanted to fly had done so. In fact it was 6:45 by the time we had washed the gliders and repacked the hangar.

Rick Wiles was one of several experienced pilots queuing to reacquaint themselves with the Zugvogel

The warm clubhouse and a cold beer was a great way to finish a satisfying day.

Steve