Dartmoor Gliding News–Wednesday 20th August 2014

Suffering rapidly-developing cold symptoms, my personal variometer was stuck on 'sink' to such an extent that by mid-afternoon, having completed a series of ab initio training flights, I handed over to Ged Nevisky for the last couple of refresher flights and slunk off homeward.

A nice view of Roadford Lake taken by Mike Gadd from the Open Cirrus

In contrast, the weather provided a far more cheerful picture, with conditions improving in the afternoon providing plenty of well-formed thermals and some classic cloud streets. These conditions continued well into the evening. Several of the usual suspects were unable to take advantage of these superb conditions in our own gliders, because Steve Lewis had a full training programme with two one-day courses to deliver, Mike Gadd and Ged were engaged in weighing the Open Cirrus, and I was in no state to do justice to the ASW when it (and I) became available.

Weighing the Open Cirrus

One Day Course candidate Malcolm Gibb

Grania Phillips enjoyed her One Day Course

So it was down to my syndicate partner, Martin Broadway, to disappear upwind, returning with a big smile after 1 hour 48 minutes. This was narrowly eclipsed by a later flight by Mike Gadd in the Open Cirrus who flew after finishing the reweighing and managed 1 hour 55 minutes. Other notable flights were Phil Hardwick 1 hr38 in Astir G- CFCJ and Colin Boyd 1:36 in his beautiful K6CR G-DFUB.

Part of today's crowd at the launchpoint 

Other highlights of the day were some great launches (apart from a 'lost half hour' during the afternoon) and a launch point crowded with gliders, club members and visitors. Even with the lost time we still achieved 40 launches

A health looking launch queue.

Always room for some banter.
Here Treasurer Steve Raine is extolling the advantages of using red wing tape.
 "Nobody ever asks to borrow some" he said

It was disappointing that yet again two of our three single-seaters remained in the hangar while there were experienced but disappointed solo pilots at the launch point waiting to fly. If you are in that category and have any concerns about upgrading to one of our 'hotter ships', talk to an instructor and we'll do our best to help you.

Let's get 'em flying!

Bob Pirie