Dartmoor Gliding News – Wednesday 4th June 2014

Dartmoor was probably the last part of the SW peninsula to endure the heavy overnight rain. With a sodden airfield, continuing showers and 20 kts + of wind (albeit straight down the runway) for the first half of the day we didn't venture far from the clubhouse and hangar, apart from Steve Raine on mowing duties, Phil Hardwick giving Peter Lillywhite a lesson in setting up the winch, and Vice Chairman Colin Boyd leading the charge to assemble a commercially-viable skip full of scrap metal.

 With the 70th anniversary of D-day approaching, I delivered a short talk and showed a video of the flypast of 36 gliders and tugs which I was privileged to initiate and lead over Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent to commemorate the 50th anniversary in 1994. Then Ged Nevisky brought us bang up-to-date (and down-to-earth!)  by explaining what will be required of all of us (every member, in fact) when the BGA conducts a quality audit of our club later this summer. The big clean up is now underway and if you need some guidance as to how you can help, ask Ged, David Bourchier, John Bolt or Colin Boyd.

Watching Bob's video

Back in the hangar, having been taken home on Sunday and repaired by Alan Holland, the ailing K13 cockpit canopy was collected, refitted and the glider was ready for action.  With the sun breaking through and some violent-looking cloud streets starting to form - but the wind still blowing hard - a small group of us made the decision proceed with caution and 'go gliding' - which, after all, is what our club is all about.
Ged and I accompanied a small group of enthusiasts who achieved some pretty impressive launches in the K13, in the process encountering strong lift and sink in equal measures, and battling with that strong wind.  Everyone coped very well with the challenging conditions, and there was no shame attached to the occasional 'expletives deleted' and cries of 'I have control' from the back seat.

Strong winds and a very active sky made for challenging conditions

Time for the sixth launch arrived with one final member to be flown, and wall-to-wall rain about three miles away to the west. So we achieved a quick turnaround followed by a hangar landing just as the rain arrived.
Back in the clubhouse we found Alan Holland continuing with his K8 fettling, while David Bourchier and John Bolt had cleared a lifetime of junk from the Technical Office cupboard.

About the only planned task we failed to fulfil today was delivering a one-day-course to visitor Paul Bringel, from Plymouth, because the conditions were just too exciting. However, Steve Lewis took him under his wing; introducing him to some of the 'basics' of our sport, and then entertaining him in the simulator. We look forward to having Paul back with us once the weather improves.

The day ended in pouring rain with us all reviving the lost art of installing the metal fence which runs across the full width of the west end of the airfield in order to prevent an invasion of cows. The occasional sheep we can cope with - but cows and gliders just don't mix

Fencing for beginners ( no not the sword fighting type) 

Bob Pirie