Today the point for discussion was not whether it was going to rain, but when. Opinions, based on various sources of weather forecast, ranged between 1200, 1400, 1600 or 1800. So the conclusion was to go for it, as soon as possible, however not before changing ends since, despite the fact that all weather forecasts gave the wind as southerly, the evidence of the windsock ‘before your very eyes’ was that there was an easterly element which would mean launching from the east end would give a downwind component: not recommended!
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| Jerry Wellington first time solo in the tractor |
Thankfully a strong team got the winch and launch point swapped within 30 minutes and we were flying by a little after 1030. And with a Flying List of at least 6 trainees and 6 Introductory Flights to cope with, plus the usual solo pilots, that was not a moment too late!
With Jerry Wellington being signed off by Winch Captain Rick Wiles to drive the Guslaunch, he was rewarded for his first appearance on site since getting married with a wedding present of a full 3 hours on the winch! We’re all heart, here art Dartmoor! Thankfully he was then relieved by Roger Applepip and promptly got into the K-8, where he experienced a launch failure – our generosity knows no bounds!
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| Visitor Claire waiting to fly with Rick in K7m G-DCLT |
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| A thumbs up from Gemma |
On the two-seater side, today saw the inauguration of Rick Wiles as an Introductory Flight Pilot, having successfully his completed training with CFI Don Puttock; for which he was rewarded with an all female list comprising Mary Roberts, Gemma Burbridge and friends Claire and Shelly (the mad trio...) and Vanessa Allen.
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| Mary Roberts looks calm and collect while waiting to fly |
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| Shelly wait for her Introductory Flight |
Rick will hopefully be joined by Mike Jardine in the near future on the list of Introductory Flight Pilots, as we seek to expand our two-seater P1 base, with others in the pipeline. (Rick also achieved his Silver Distance yesterday, thus making him as fully fledged Silver C pilot – congratulations Rick!)
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| Jerry Wellington launching in the K8. Is that wave on the right? |
Unfortunately we experienced a couple of showers around lunchtime which, coinciding with a cable break/drogue parachute over the fence incident lost us around 30-45 minutes, however by limiting trainee flights to 2 each, it was possible to get through the Flying List before the end of the day.
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| Introductory Flight Visitor Vanessa Allen flew in the K13 with Martin |
By 1745 the threat of rain really looked precipitous, however all we had to do was re-rig the Pirat (which had landed out on Saturday, part of Rick’s 50km flight) before putting the gliders away. Today was the first Sunday for some time when we operated both K-7/13s, and we really felt the benefit of being able to do so.
Martin Cropper
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