Dartmoor Gliding News–Sunday 23rd February 2014

With high winds and a low cloud base forecast, today was always going to be a no-fly day so Don quickly set about organising a list of things for us to do.

Top of this list was moving DMX's canopy into the safety of Roger's van ready for him to transport up the line to see about making the necessary repairs.  This was considered heavy work so obviously when we got back to the clubhouse there were plenty of sausage sandwiches waiting for us to make sure we were able to keep going.

Colin intently searching for a good field

 Don then organised a really interesting lecture on cross-country flying which everyone got very closely involved with; as you can see in the picture Colin Boyd was practising his field landing recognition skills and how to spot the difference between sheep and cows from high up.

Dave's cake

Apparently this lecture was also classed as heavy work, so thankfully Tony Dean had brought in some Cornish pasties for everyone to have at lunchtime, followed by a delicious cake made by Dave Parker, which again managed to just about keep everybody going.

Pasties for lunch

Another lecture followed lunch, and what else could the subject have been other than 'Maximum weight limits and stresses acting on a plane'.  Very appropriate considering the Sunday Soarers had turned into the Sunday eaters.

I could have been a model. Dave and Roger in flying outfits.

Roger and Dave were keen to show off their stretchy outfits, Dave looking particularly fetching in his new waterproof (and occasionally very high visibility) onesie.

Dave posing in his "onesie" 

Tony did manage some physical activity after his pasty and added a coat of paint to the inside of the Gus Launch.  The tin has been left in situ so there is no longer any reason for the winch driver to be bored between periods of activity, they can literally add the next layer and watch paint dry.

Lots of training card activities were signed off and everybody left really happy and looking forward to the days when we can regularly go flying again.

Jerry Wellington