Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 28th May 2014

Apart from only one private owner taking to the air today (Steve Raine in his Astir), today's attendance followed a similar pattern to recent Wednesdays, with a hard core of four regular pre-solo students (Andy Davey, John Rogers, Adrian Pike and Jorg Beasley) joined by an encouraging number of enthusiasts either 'coming back for more' as temporary members after trial lessons, or giving gliding a try either for the first time, or after a long lay off.

The biggest grin in the west. Chris Jones about take his first flight in 16 years

Today's welcome 'new faces' included Peter Lillywhite, Tom Mitchell and Fred Hunter, along with Chris Jones; the latter with an ear-top-ear grin when he found that he was able to operate the controls despite a serious injury sustained some years ago.

3 generations of the Pike family; Adrian, Toby and Jon

 While I focused on some of the more advanced trainees, Ged introduced  10-year-old Jack Windley to our sport via two trial lesson flights, and Steve Lewis was kept busy with some of our newer enthusiasts. In fact, today turned out to be a bit of a 'Pike family fun day', with grandad Adrian flying with me and son Jon and grandson Toby (12) flying with Steve.

Ged with young aviator Jack Windley

Today's weather was distinctly 'iffy', with just occasional hints of cloud streets amongst the 10/10ths cloud at about 1.400 feet. Ged (in the winch for most of the day until relieved by Phil Hardwick) delivered some superb launches up to cloudbase, and when his turn came around to fly with young Jack, this lightweight duo climbed through one of the rare gaps and released at 1,500 feet.

Bob waving from the back seat while Adrian continues his lesson

There was moisture in the air for most of the time and some persistent but light rain, but not enough to damp our enthusiasm. Unfortunately with only K13 G-DDMX available, there was a lot of hanging around in the increasingly chilly air for those waiting to fly, but they ran a cheerful and efficient operation and by tea time we had achieved 21 launches - with most people getting two flights each.

Gliding club life is really about people. Today's launch point was busy

While on the subject of our launching operation, I'd like to say a special 'thank you' to Malcolm Roberts who, having delivered a 'D.I. Master class' to some of our newer members, spent the whole day on cable retrieve duties, and  Chris Jones who, having shaken away the cobwebs alongside Malcolm in a rickety Range Rover, spent the rest of the day with 'L' plates on helping to man the control tower.

Was David really threatening physical violence to Allan while Martin looked on.

As ever, today wasn't all about flying. First of all Phil the Farmer spent a good deal of time in the tractor, putting the magnificent gang mower which he has acquired for the club through its paces. However, the biggest accolade of all must go to 'those who serve while others have fun'. As most members will know, there's a fairly arduous work programme underway on some of our club gliders, and while we were out flying, Martin Broadway, Alan Holland and David Bourchier - joined part time by Colin Boyd and Mike Gadd - were slaving away in the hangar on behalf of all of us. We owe them - and John Bolt - who we all too often expect to cope with such tasks single-handed - deserve a big thank you from every club member.

New man sized mower

It was a long but productive day, but even after the last hangar flight, things weren't over yet, because while everyone else's thoughts turned to beer and supper, Ged took on the task of fitting a new tyre to DMX ready for the weekend.

Ged in tyre changing mode.

Sadly, I end with the news that during the day word reached us that Mike Keller's wife had passed away after a long illness. I am sure that everyone in the club - and many of those members of the pubic who got to know Mike while booking trial lessons through him - will join me in expressing our deepest sympathy to him and his family.

Bob Pirie