Dartmoor Gliding News- Wednesday 11th June 2014

Having driven through low cloud and rain on my way in from North Cornwall, it was a relief to find Brentor 'as forecast' enjoying a pleasant summer's day, with some productive cumulus developing.

With light wind conditions, our original intention had been to move the winch into the top field. However, the prospect of incursions into our space by both cows and sheep convinced us that it would be better to leave the fence up and the winch in its usual spot. On such occasions as this, it is important that all pilots be reminded to  'think fence - and think livestock beyond' when considering their launch failure options.

Mike Gadd returning from the ICL with his Open Cirrus

Over the last couple of years, many of our solo pilots have become private owners, and today we had about seven private 'pride and joys' being flown, fettled, tinkered with and caressed by their proud owners. This, combined with a current lack solo pilots interested in flying club gliders, meant that a particularly heavy workload fell upon 'the few', including some of our relatively inexperienced - but enthusiastic - new members.

Air experience visitor Ray Howard

With one trial lesson scheduled initially... then three... then several flights with early ab initio trainees, Steve Lewis really worked his socks off. Meanwhile apart from few training flights, I spent most of the time running things on the ground - while also sneaking off for a quiet half hour in the ASW.

Our other two Air Experience visitors friends and neighbours Martin Williams and (in the glider) Roger Fordham who has been blind since birth and was making his second flying visit to Brentor, was an inspiration to all who met him

As so often happens, the day was good in parts, with many people achieving flights of an hour or more, while others just seemed to get their timing wrong.

Today we achieved 36 launches - with most of them to a decent height, despite not having the extra length provided by the top field. As ever, thank are due to several people. Firstly Phil Hardwick for getting the winching going, followed by  Steve Raine and then John Howe who both worked tremendously hard winch driving, assisted by trainee John Rogers. John became so engrossed that he missed out on his own flying. Jorg Beasley was glued to cable retrieve duties till mid-afternoon, followed by Bob Sansom. Today - and recent Wednesdays - just would not have happened without the dedication of newcomers like Chris Jones, who is proving to be a competent control tower operator, and Peter Lillywhite and Tom Mitchell, who seemed to be everywhere at once, pushing and pulling, handling cables, running wings - and remaining cheerful. Also, a big thank you to whoever repaired the cable retrieve trailer. It started the day with a puncture and a sheered wheel bolt, but appeared to have been returned to good health by the evening.
Everyone who flew today owes a big vote of thanks to you all. Without your help we would have achieved far fewer launches. (As it was it was 1900 hrs or later before the last private glider was de-rigged and the last club glider returned to the hangar.)

My memorable moment of the day? Watching the club's own Wyatt Earp (a.k.a. hon. treasurer Steve Raine) and Doc Holliday (a.k.a. field treasurer Robin Wilson) pacing the OK Corral (DGS trailer line), brandishing clipboards and cursing devious or absent-minded private owners who (allegedly!) had failed to pay their trailer parking fees

Bob Pirie