Dartmoor Gliding News–Wednesday 12th March 2014

Earlier hopes of wave-producing easterlies were thwarted, and my drive down from north Cornwall was in thick fog and near-freezing temperatures. However, I arrived to find bright sunshine, and was encouraged by the number of members who had made the effort to get there early and get the kit out (and as the day progressed, some privately-owned gliders as well).

Open Cirrus and Astir basking in the sunshine behind G-DDAK

At the airfield, this first spring-like day inspired some opening of trailers, polishing of gliders and fiddling with instruments. Meanwhile every farmer in the west country (except our own Phil the Farmer , who came gliding) seemed to be engaged in spreading a full winter's worth of cow dung across their fields. (Some of the roads got a bit slithery too.) This 'spreadathon' included the top field at Brentor, with the farmer depositing aromatic bi-product less than half a span from the west end launch point, from which we were operating. With the wind varying from zero to 'light airs' from various directions, we found ourselves downwind of the fallout for much of the day - but at least it helped to clear our sinuses.

Farmer at work

After the worst winter mud anyone can recall, we found that the airfield had started to dry out beautifully, which made life on the ground  much more bearable. But now the challenge is to start rolling and filling in the ruts and holes left over by the winter weather and the club's energetic efforts to keep the show on the road year-round. Some of the longer-serving members present today observed that whereas in the old days members all pitched in to help maintain the surface of the airfield and tracks, in 2014 this just doesn't seem to happen - and the results are there for us all to see (and sometimes feel when we land).

Vice Chairman Colin with tractor and roller.

 Phil Hardwick and Colin Boyd seem to be leading the charge to improve matters. As ever, there are plenty of bright ideas from members about what needs to be done - but what these guys need now is actual help from us all actually to get the job done.

The 3 musketeers and a K8.
Wednesday stalwarts John Howe and Steve Raine with Field Treasurer David Rippon in the Glider  

But back to today's report. The weather warmed up beautifully, to the extent that many of us were in shirt-sleeves - although no one went as far as exposing their knees. However with high pressure and an inversion, visibility remained pretty awful the whole time.

One of our Astir syndicates. Phil Hardwick attended by Andrew Beaumont

The combination of our temporary single-cable operation and no thermals or wave meant that we only had one glider in the air at a time, which worked out just fine given the weather conditions. Today we achieved 30 launches.

Today's Air Experience visitor, Bill Reade

Having only a single cable has encouraged us all to strive for greater efficiency in the way we operate, and I believe it is important that we build on this when the ML winch comes back on line, hopefully in the near future.

With the first hint of Spring, members seldom-seen during the winter start to reappear. From an instructor's perspective, today consisted of an encouraging balance of 'returnees', ab initio trainees, solo pilots of club aircraft who have strived all winter to maintain their currency, and private-owners who take the challenge of being really current in their own gliders seriously, and were getting in some launches and stick-time as they prepared for expeditions or competitions at other clubs.

But although those present today focused determinedly on their personal gliding objectives, everyone engaged in flying operations worked very hard and with good humour, and ended the day knackered, but hopefully satisfied with what the day had delivered.

Jeff Cragg back in the saddle 

Highlights? Firstly, Jeff Cragg - having ended last season with a big birthday - getting back in the saddle, with a return to solo flying surely only a few launches away. Secondly, John Howe, after a bit of a layoff, returning to solo status. And finally, Karl Andrews, who soloed the weekend before last, doing some more today in the K13 - and then progressing to the K8.

Karl looks pleased to be in the K8

Bob Pirie