Dartmoor Gliding News-Wednesday 30th July 2014

Nobody likes broken promises - but just once in a while they can deliver an unexpected benefit. Take today as an example.

The promise of a super cross country day persuaded a strong contingent of private owners, plenty of trainees and a few solo pilots wishing to fly club single seaters to get on the road to Brentor earlier than usual. Mike Gadd led the charge with his Open Cirrus rigged and ready for a 300km attempt while Phil Hardwick and helpers had also got the winch and launch point set up by the time the majority of members were arriving.
The day was characterised by good humour and teamwork, with everyone chipping in to help each other and sharing all the tasks associated with getting - and staying - airborne with great energy and enthusiasm. (Might this have had something to do with some boxes of delicious cakes which awaited us in the clubhouse, thanks to an anonymous benefactor?)

Some of the the DGS grid today

But before the first launch was allowed to happen, a 'shuffling of the pack' of K13M wings took place between hangar and workshop, to enable our glider inspector and senior engineer John Bolt to continue with this renovation efforts.

Bob, in instructor mode, with returning member Dick Masters before exploring the spinning capabilities of the K13

 The broken promise? Well, the cloud over-developed with just enough hints of potentially productive cumulus remaining to persuade us that launching... and landing... and launching etc. etc.  might be worthwhile.. But it wasn't until late afternoon that some enjoyable if modest local soaring flights were achieved; the longest being just 37 minutes each by Bob Sansom (K8) and your truly (ASW20F).

The Guslaunch winch in the hands of a whole succession of experienced winch drivers - propelled most gliders to heights of 1,300 feet or more to the delight of instructors, trainees, solo thermal-hunters and circuit-bashers.

Bob Sansom with his K8 routinely launched to 1700+ feet today.

In addition to all the regulars, without whose presence Wednesdays at Brentor would never be the same, we welcomed several visitors who received a VIP welcome from vice-chairman Colin Boyd and trial lesson instructor Steve Lewis. Today Steve ran a one day course for George Dexter  while I flew with the other trainees and solo pilots seeking to regain currency.

Mike Gadd practicing flying the K13 from the back seat.

It was good to see two of our potential future instructors, Mike and Phil, honing their back-seat flying skills. Phil, in the Twin Astir, bore a particularly heavy responsibility as he took to the air with two generations of Hardwicks - his mother Janette and son Mark, of whom we seem to seeing a lot more these days now that he is well into his teens.

Three generations of Hardwick

I end this report by acknowledging the amazing service to the club provided by John Bolt, supported by Dave Bourchier and Alan Holland.

Politely declining an invitation to come and fly, John spent yet another day in the workshop, assisted by David Bourchier, repairing the remaining historic damage which had been discovered within recently-acquired K7M CLT's wings. Completing a hangar flight in the ASW, I was greeted by a happy but exhausted John, who reported that not only had he completed the internal work, but that he had re-covered and re-painted the access holes.  Therefore  it seems to be a case of 'job done' as far as that much-missed two-seater is concerned, and it should be on-line again either this weekend or shortly thereafter.

But that's not the end of the 'service above and beyond the call' story. In recent weeks, as the sole two-seater, K13 DMX has worked long and hard for the club, but the rocky and rutted ground (despite levelling efforts by members last winter) had taken their toll on this glider's tail wheel and tyre. Once we had put all the other gliders and vehicles away and were heading homeward, Alan and David - in the manner of an F1 crew (or maybe Santa's Helpers?) - were last seen hard at work on the offending component in order to ensure serviceability for this weekend. While they managed to repair the wheel, a new tyre and tube has been ordered to ensure a long life once more.

What more can one say but a big 'thank you' to you three, Colin Boyd ( who put in a lot of work into K7m G-DCLT ) and all the others who work behind the scenes to keep us flying

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 28th July 2014

Any day when members on site manage to recruit three new members has got to be a good one.

With top level cover preventing the sun from getting through, but some dark energy rich clouds below, the day was never going to be the soaring success that was yesterday.

However, first flight of the day for Trial Lesson student Ron Hooton showed that it was possible to thermal and to maintain height in straight lines under the dark stuff, which made for a much more stable camera platform. Showing interest and aptitude, Ron's Trial Lesson culminated in a 'declaration of interest' in the Fixed Price to Solo Scheme.

Trial Lesson Candidate Ron Hooton with Martin Cropper in the K13

Another two 'walk-ins' showed definite interest: one, Shane, who is Chair of the model flying club at Lynch Common near Cadover Bridge,  was still interested after the full Colin Boyd 'step right this way' treatment whilst another, whose name escapes me, was drawn to the club on the strength of his sons having been taught physics by Jeff Cragg (who was, unusually, absent with no sick note...)

And despite this frenetic sales talk we still found time to chuck Chris Owen into the sky 5 times, where his turn co-ordination is showing definite improvement, and for Dave Parker to ascend twice, the second for a creditably well handled simulated cable break, his first 'in ages'.  So despite a low turnout and a less than inspiring sky, it was a 'useful' day.

Oh, and we did the monthly maintenance on the K-13, because it would have been out if date by Wednesday.

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 26 July 2014

With the need to ensure that we do not over use our instructors, today was designated as solo pilots only giving the instructors a chance to fly their own aircraft.

The warm weather continues with a change in wind direction to westerly. There was to be some high cirrus cloud to complicate things but with a bullish soaring forecast plenty of pilots turned up to fly. 

We owe special thanks today to Mike Gadd who turned up solely to enable others to fly by driving the winch. Thanks also to David Bourchier who spent his day dividing his time between helping out John Bolt with the maintenance on CLT and driving the cable retrieve.

We welcomed back ex RN helicopter pilot Dick Masters who will be returning to Brentor to fly after a couple of years absence. I am sure he will regain his solo status soon.

Bob Pirie keeping fit while waiting to fly the ASW20

And the flying? Well, initially, even though there were clouds within gliding range there was little or no lift to be found. So we did what glider pilots always do in this position and waited for things to change. By about 2pm the sun had warmed the hills sufficiently and the game was on.

Pilot Rick Wiles in the Zugvogel

Gibbet Hill, just to the north of the east end of the airfield started to give off thermals. These were narrow and tight but we were up to the challenge and soon several gliders were climbing in the same thermal. Notable flights were an hour from Allan Holland flying the club K8 and an hour from Bob Pirie flying his ASW20.  Longest flight today was me flying the Jantar1 for and hour and a half.

Allan Holland is a picture of concentration in the K8

The blue thermal conditions were fun and, with climbs topping out at 3500 feet, Bob and I were able to escape from the airfield area to explore the fabulous soaring along the western face of Dartmoor. Great fun.

A view of Tavistock from the Jantar cockpit with the Tamar Estuary at Saltash top right.

Thanks to everyone who turned up and made today the fun day it was.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News–Wednesday 23rd July 2014

Today was the day of the BGA technical audit, and by 0900 hrs with the a clear blue sky, the heat building, the wind light and variable from the east, and the prospect of thermic activity later, the club was humming, with members old and new focusing on getting the day’s show on the road.

By that time, Steve Raine and Phil Hardwick had already set up the winch and launch point; changing ends in the process. This gave us the convenience of conducting flying operations only a few steps away from the clubhouse; ideal for access to loos, cold drinks and, later in the day, a snap ‘in situ’ inspection of the K13 between training flights. (Talking of loos, full marks to Colin Boyd and Ged Nevisky who started their day by having to repair a water leak in the gents’.)

Once the club’s operational needs had been fulfilled, and with ‘audit co-ordinators’ Ged and Colin  satisfied that they had all the tools they needed to help their awaited visitor, the emphasis switched to getting the private gliders (Astirs x 2, Jantar, Open Cirrus, K8 and K6) rigged and ready to go. All in all great teamwork, and the making of a super - if sweaty - day’s gliding.

The airfield from 2500 feet looking south

As the morning progressed, the cumulus started to brew and there were also signs of embryonic wave activity, with soaring occurring right from the first launch of a heavy and hot day’s training programme.
Having run out of my supply of bottled water by late afternoon, I was most grateful to Steve Lewis and Ged for taking over for a couple of K13 sessions. One of these was for trial lesson candidate John Patterson from Newton Abbott, who enjoyed a couple of short soaring flights.

Trial lesson Candidate John Patterson

 I think all of us were delighted that Steve, who spends so much time flying visitors, managed to rig and fly the Jantar. Not the hoped-for 300k which he has aspired to for so long, but ........ hours of extended local soaring which brought a smile to his face and, in the intense heat, was probably long enough. Because of all the soaring, our launch score wasn’t high, and the most impressive flight was a 100k Holsworthy-Crediton-Brentor by Mike Gadd in the Open Cirrus.

This large area of brown fields with it's attendant cloud gave an easy 6 knot thermal

Approaching the turnpoint at West Crediton 

The day ended with Fred Marks, an experienced North Hill pilot (and a nice guy who always chips in to help when he visits us) re-soloing and soaring in the K8 after a break of several months, having been checked out by Martin Cropper last weekend.

Fred seems happy with his endeavors.

The prospect of the BGA audit got us off our backsides and working as a team earlier than usual, and I hope everyone found the whole day fun and rewarding, as a day’s gliding at Brentor should always be. There was just one slight cause for regret, however, in that we were unable to accommodate Frazer and Kiyomi – our newest Junior Temporary Members – on this occasion due to a (hopefully
temporarily) administrative issue.

Finally, what about the audit? Well, Ged, Colin (later assisted by our senior engineer John Bolt) found the auditor, Keith Morgan, to be thorough and constructive. Any areas where improvement is needed were explained informally, and no doubt the formal report when it arrives will provide us with an opportunity to improve our performance.

So it’s ‘onward and upward’ for the club, as we all say so often. Finally, from a duty instructor standpoint, may I just thank and congratulate every single club member who contributed to such a productive and enjoyable day. Also, I must say that using the car park and keeping the airfield free of private cars made a big difference in terms of appearance and, more important, safety around the clubhouse and at the launch point.

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News–Sunday 20th July 2014

With NRI on the calendar the normal crowd of 'Need to be briefed' or needing lessons Pilots didn't turn up.

I cooked my self a lovely "solo" breakfast, cleaned the kitchen then sat down to read an Instructors manual under the trees at the front of the club house in lovely garden lazy day conditions.

A beautiful soaring sky

Dave Bouchier turned up mid morning and cleaned out the new Suzuki Jimmy visitor vehicle

Two prospect-full air experience people turned up at around 12. Dave showed them the kit and field  and then they were regretfully asked to come back.

Difficult to launch with two..

And sad that a possible five hour soaring flight got missed!

shame really...  nuff said

Tony Dean

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 19th July 2014

Today 3 factors seem to have conspired to make this a non flying day.

1. The weather forecast included yellow warnings for floods, torrential rain and thunderstorms.

2. This was planned to be a club flying day i.e. no duty instructor and

3. Several of the normal Saturday pilots were planning to be away at the Interclub Competition at the Mendip Gliding Club.

The weather was actually beautiful, warm with about 1/8th  cloud, gentle winds and signs of thermal activity for the whole day.

The competition was cancelled on the strength of the forecast so the team members spent their day on our airfield but had already planned tasks such as trailer and winch fettling so were not keen to make up the numbers so that we could fly.

Better luck next time

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News- Wednesday 16th July 2014

Overnight rain followed by low cloud provided a pretty miserable backdrop for the arrival of members and visitors alike, but such was their faith that things would improve that it was soon a case of ‘out with the kit and on with the day’ – albeit an hour or more later than usual.

But before getting the show on the road, we all adjourned to the clubhouse for introductions and paperwork (there being several new faces present), a briefing, and a discussion about the British Gliding Association Technical Audit which will take place at the club next Wednesday.

In order to clear the decks (around hangar and clubhouse) to allow space for the auditor (accompanied by Ged Nevisky and Colin Boyd) to do whatever auditors do, I am asking all members who want to fly that day to get to the club by 0900 hrs. for a short briefing. If the audit team needs any assistance, we’ll provide it. But otherwise, it will be onward and upward with the day’s flying programme.

As ever, we’ll need everyone to contribute to the operation of the airfield, but for starters, Steve Lewis and I will share instructing and duty pilot duties, Phil Hardwick and Steve Raine will drive the winch and cable retrieve, and Chris Jones and Ian Osbourne will operate the tower.

Now back to today…

One Day Course Candidate Marilyn 

Accepting a crosswind from the southwest (nothing like last Wednesday’s northerly) we got the K13 out, with Steve Lewis achieving the longest flight of the day with one day course candidate Marilyn Sheppard-Vine. His next students were enthusiastic brother and sister Fraser and Kiyomi Hanson. These new Junior Temporary Members live with their parents in Dubai, but have a family home locally where they are spending their summer holidays.

Kymomi

Fraser

 Then I took over flying with Ian Osbourne, John Rogers, Chris Jones, Jorg Beasley and finally a spot landing hangar flight with John Bolt. If the K13 felt lonely at the start of the day, it soon gained some companions in the form of the Twin Astir (with various syndicate members generating lots of launching revenue for the club), our ASW20F flown by Martin Broadway, and the K8 flown by Jeff Cragg, Alan Holland, and Bob Sansom.

The Twin Astir was busy all day. Here Vice Chairman accepts a flight from Ged.

 In all we achieved 31 launches. Once again Steve Raine chose to spend most of the day on the winch, both driving it himself and coaching John Rogers, who is now delivering some respectable launches. John Howe arrived dispensing home-grown cucumbers to the chosen few then spent the day at the launch point, but opted not to fly.

A playful Vice Chairman, Colin Boyd, discussing club policy with member John Rogers 

Having started the day supervising an inspection of our buildings by a professional electrician, Colin Boyd devoted most of the day to equipment maintenance, along with Dave Bourchier and Ged. During the morning the deceased grey Land Rover Discovery was towed to the great scrapyard in the sky, only to be replaced during the afternoon by a red one (an oldie but a goodie by all accounts – Ged having performed some welding magic on its suspension).

The "new" landrover.

Also on the vehicle front, Chris Jones, who is about to acquire a new conveyance, offered the club his neat little Suzuki Jimmy for just a nominal sum of money. Ged raided the Tea Swindle Fund and the club is now the owner of said vehicle. I understand the intention is to use it only for light duties, such as carrying visitors to and from the launch point.

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News–Sunday 13th July 2014

For the two seater at least, and hopefully for everyone else, today was an 'interesting' day.  The wind being just 20 degrees north of the runway line made for a good start, with little need to lay off the relatively high launches achieved enabled the first of our potential new instructors, Mike Jardine, to practice two spins per launch in preparation for his BI training.  He was rapidly followed by Rick Wiles, whose objective was to rehearse the notorious 'patter' whilst flying, not as easy as it sounds – since what you are saying is completely unrelated to what you are concentrating on – talking the talk whilst walking the walk. 

Natasha ready sample gliding for the first time

Next up was first time flier Natasha, a 'young Mum' from Yelverton, who surprised herself at how easily she could control the glider during her second flight.  Her seat was then taken – in turns – by twelve year old Kiyomi and fifteen year old Frazer Hanson, two new junior members from Dubai who are going to be appearing at the club on a regular basis whilst the family are in the UK over the summer. 

KIyomi wait to fly

As Tony Dean took the K-8 into the sky for a potential two hours of soaring the wind began to veer, and by 3pm was being funnelled down the valley from North Brentor to set off the north ridge with strong consistent lift at around 900-1,000ft.  Sadly Tony didn't achieve the two hours, but gave it a good stab. Nor, unfortunately, did Jerry Wellington, who will not be attending the club next week due to - getting married!  The things some people will do to get out of driving the winch..!

Elsewhere on the field Roger Applewise, assisted by Dave Parker, was getting his K-6CR CofA'ed by John Bolt – and I know that Roger would like to thank to John for his patience, help and advice whilst weighing the glider and giving its annual seal of approval.

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 12th July 2014

The weather forecast for today looked like a complete disaster and unfortunately it was correct. There was low cloud all day with increasing amounts of drizzle and some rain.

The forecast kept a lot of members at home but the several stalwarts were at the airfield ready to tackle any and every task.

The cloudbase just became lower and lower

 Our thanks especially go to Rick Wiles and David Bourchier who spent most of their day tidying up the hangar and collecting together all the scrap metal etc., reorganising the various cupboards and generally clearing up. Later Rick fixed the drivers door release mechanism on the green Discovery which has been driving all it’s users insane by sticking. It now works beautifully.

Today also saw the club blessed with 3 instructors on site. David Jesty, Ged Nevisky and myself. After I had introduced some visitors to the club and simulator we decided to tackle the poor performance of the variometer systems on the K13 G-DDMX. Eventually this was diagnosed as a leak from one of the mechanical variometers which was subsequently replaced. We expect the system to be restored to it’s best but only a test flight will confirm this.

Ged and David checking the Total Energy system for leaks

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 9th July 2014

It must have been the prospect of yet another fierce crosswind that deterred many of our Wednesday regulars, but I arrived to find a healthy band of enthusiastic newcomers present, and fortunately a few seasoned campaigners like Phil Hardwick, Steve Raine, Martin Broadway and Steve Lewis to lead them in getting the show on the road.

Strong , gusty wind from the north.

 It was clearly going to be a day for just one well-battened-down two seater, with an instructor in the back seat the whole time. This was mostly me, but Steve and Ged kindly helped out out to ensure continuity.
Conditions were well-above limits for trial lessons, so these were cancelled. But on the plus side some healthy-looking cloud streets developed running NW-SE, and there was also some mumbling about the ridge perhaps working. (Having said that, although in my past life I have been an enthusiastic ridge runner, especially along South Downs, until today I had never achieved much more than a delayed descent when attempting to fly the gentle, north-facing slope which we describe as Brentor's ridge.

The way things turned out, this turned into a rather special day in its own modest way, because not only did most people get a chance to experience some rough and tough thermic lift, but they were then able to settle onto the ridge and gain their first experience of flying to and fro along it at low level and actually maintaining height by flying accurately and 'mapping' the narrow but powerful little areas of lift which were present today. Although not a classic ab initio training day, I think most of those who flew gained satisfaction and confidence from the exercises we attempted, and all round improvements in decision making were clearly evident, because on a day like today it is essential to keep ahead of the game. Personally, I was delighted with the way everyone coped with the conditions - with only a few instances when the cry went up from the back seat 'I have control!'

New Member Andrew Trevarton looks pleased to be flying 

After fifteen flights, everyone seemed to have had their fill, so I went off on my own for about half an hour in the K13, climbing in a straight line towards Roadford Lake up to about 1,700 feet, then circling up to 2,000 feet, by which time the glider was blown back towards Brentor by the very strong upper wind. So it was out with the airbrakes and down onto the ridge, where I spent an interesting five minutes or so at around 500 feet before calling it a day.

Bob looks pleased with his solo flight

As ever, there are loads of people to thank for all their hard work - especially Phil Hardwick for mowing the grass and winch driving, Steve Raine for winch driving for most of the day and Adrian Pike and Jorg Beasley on cable retrieve. Chris Jones and Ian Osbourne are proving themselves to be competent log keepers and control tower operators and, as usual, Peter Lillywhite was 'everywhere' helping to keep things running. It was good to have John Bolt back with us both on the ground and in the air.


The presence of Martin Broadway to mentor the newer members at the launch point was invaluable, until he absented himself to spend the rest of his time tidying up the trailer park with his strimmer.  Meanwhile back in the hangar, Ged did a superb job in exercising his welding skills to resurrect the green Land Rover Discovery, while several other of our most hard working members spent the day tidying up the hangar and carrying our essential remedial work on the K7M.

Earlier on I mentioned decision making and today's big mistake was made by Trevor Taylor who, while we were all muffled up in anoraks and sweat shirts, arrived in immaculate white shorts and a summer top, necessitating a rummage through the lost property to find extra clothes to stave off hypothermia.

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News- Sunday 6th July 2014

A lot of these reports start with a word about the weather forecast, usually accompanied by some derisory remark as to its accuracy or derogatory comment about the ability if the forecaster (to look out of the window). Today, however, the BBC forecast was absolutely right: showers by midday (there were three of them), and then they went away.

Towing out the Dart 17R under a dramatic sky

And these were indeed silver lined clouds, for they gave the Sunday Soarers time to brush out the hangar, (once the preserve of the CFI) thus entitling junior member Luke (pictured) to be renamed Luke Skysweeper. 

Luke Skysweeper training to become CFI

 And those same clouds, or rather those after midday, certainly enabled the Soarers to live up to their reputation, with Jerry Wellington effortlessly obtaining over 15 mins in the K-8, Leith Wellington 42 mins in his immaculate Dart 17R, and recently returning motorcycle tourist Roger Applebeezer 39 mins followed by a staggering 2 hrs 17 mins in his K-6.

2100 feet over Tavistock

The trial lesson scene was dominated by just one event, a family affair, in the form of Zoltan Lakatos, an apiarist who subsidises his honey making income with work for First buses, his partner Aniko Birsos, who helps out with the hives, and grand-daughter Vivien Szabo, a Financial Adviser who works in Tavistock. 

Aniko in the glider with Martin, while Vivien and Zoltan look on. 

On the club training front 11 year old Elliot Acton and Dad Chris both had 3 flights each, although regrettably not all if those on the Flying List had flown by the end of the flying day at 6pm.  With conditions providing strong smooth lift to 2,200ft it was a day to savour the unique nature of our sport and the unparalleled patchwork of green, yellow, and purple cloud shadow that is the West Country viewed from just below cloudbase.

Thanks to Dave Parker for some excellent winching, and to the lean manned ground crew, including Kit Smith and Luke Botham, for managing to put up 24 launches between 1200 and 6pm, which is more than the recently named aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently able to manage!

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 5th July 2014

The weather was set to be reasonable today. Westerly winds around 8 knots, some cloud cover with the chance of showers later. The showers never materialised and the westerly wind, assisted by the winch being positioned a couple of hundred metres into the top field, ensured good launch heights with the K13 launching to 1200 – 1400 feet all day.

New member Chris Owen

Today saw several new faces. Chris Owen, a lapsed power pilot, continued his conversion to gliding with a couple of flights in the K13 doing control coordination exercises. Amy-Jo Randalls, a visiting junior pilot from the Angus gliding club had couple of familiarisation flights in the K13. Chris Jones continues his rapid progress working on stalls toady.

Visiting Junior pilot AJ from the Angus gliding club

Club veteran and hardworking field treasurer, Robin Wilson, flew the Twin Astir solo for the first time. Well done Robin.

Robin about to so;o the Twin Astir

Conditions remained somewhat soarable throughout the day with most pilots managing some soaring. Best flight was by Mike Jardine at 1hour 34 minutes in his Astir.

Looking south towards Plymouth

The Twin Astir on the wire

Joining the Twin Astir in a thermal

The day finished with the rescheduled AGM. All the business of the AGM was completed with 4 new / re-standing directors being voted in. Of these directors Martin Cropper was re- elected as Chairman and Steve Raine was elected as Treasurer.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News–Sunday 29th June 2014

After yesterday's heavy showers had given the airfield a severe drenching, one could be forgiven if repeated weather forecasts of 'much brighter' and 'dry and sunny' had given rise to optimism among the Sunday Soarers, so much so that traditional 'sizzler' was put on the 'back burner' in favour of getting the gliders out.

So when, just as we had completed monthly maintenance on DMX, it started to rain, we were just a little disappointed - and retired to the clubhouse for tea.  Not for long though, as the arrival of Trial Lesson student Sam Bax and family had us leaping out of our wicker chairs and racing to get DMX up to the launch point - she didn't get to be Production Manager at Wrigley's without being able to inject a little 'enthusiasm' in others..!

Sam Bax ready for her trial lesson

 The rain fortunately held off from then on and, on occasion, the the lift was strong, allowing Robin Wilson to reach cloudbase at 2,100ft agl on his first flight in the back seat, and for Fred Marks (Robin could you please provide Fred Marks, an emigre from North Hill,  to reacquaint himself with total loss of propulsion at 600ft in the climb.

Trial lesson student Anne Mather arrived with so much photographic gear it was difficult to see her beneath it all! We hope she got a nice “headcammed” video of her flight.

Anne Mather equipped for some in flight photography

Final TL student was Nick Line, who had received his voucher as a 50th birthday gift from daughter Kayleigh.

Nick line ready to experience his 50th birthday present

Surprise of the day was the arrival of Hugh Gascoigne, who last flew with us as an instructor 4 years ago, before family matters took priority. A quick jog through CBSIFTCBE and he was back in the groove and, after a couple of flights showed him that gliding is like riding a bike, who knows. maybe we'll be seeing more of him in future?

A huge paean goes to Dave Parker and Jeff Cragg for winching and retrieving all day without flying, and to Fred and Robin for running the log and wing tips.

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 28th June 2014

Thunder storms were forecast, a few regular members were on holidays.

At first it was just David Bouchier and myself, a little later Martin Smith turned up to do the CofA on the K10 owned by Chris and Karen Matten who arrived 5 minutes after Martin.

So what was achieved today?

The K10 passed its CofA and is ready to go back into the air. While this was being done, David and I put the new cable on the ML winch. This took us to lunch time, which is seemed to switch on the rain. Only one person dared to go out to close the Land Rover window. When David came back he was dripping!!

The afternoon was spent swapping the green Land Rover rear broken spring with a good one that was on the old Grey Land Rover. No easy job as both vehicles would need to be kept supported at the same time.

Checking out to broken rear spring on the Green Discovery

Definitely broken

The Grey Discovery is now only used for spare parts

 The thunder was rumbling all afternoon.

While some of us played mechanic, Karen offered to clean the windows on the Tractor and ML winch, and also cleaned the guttering around the club house.

Karen Cleaning the ML winch windows - how's that dedication

Turnout may have been small, but a lot was achieved.

Rick Wiles