Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 14th June 2014

The high pressure continues. Today was very pleasant with light northerly wind, lots of sunshine and warm conditions.

The downside of this weather is that it has encouraged a display of white legs and knees as members reach for their shorts for the first time in 364 days.  Maybe we should give a prize for the most offensive knees.

CFI Don Puttock was duty instructor today. He started the day with Leith Wittington’s General Flying test.
There followed dizzying mix of club and visitor flying with both Don and myself as we tried to maximise the use of the K13. In between there was soaring by the solo pilots in the Astir, K6 and Zugvogel.

It was a day for family groups.

Elliot Acton flew from the back seat with CFI Don. 

Air Experience Visitor Clive Stocker (left) and his family 

 Soaring conditions were never easy but remained interesting throughout the day. The North ridge was certainly playing it’s part giving both ridge lift and encouraging thermals. At times the lift was in very narrow straight lines; wave? an idea supported by the occasional large areas of sinking air. At other times there were larges areas of gentle lift; convergence?. Whatever the cause the soaring was both challenging and enjoyable.

Allan Holland made a couple of good soaring flights in the club Zugvogel

Today would not have been possible without the sacrifice of Ged Nevisky. He drove the winch all day to allow us to concentrate on the flying. Many thanks Ged.

Steve