Dartmoor Gliding News- Sunday 21st December 2014

It was never going to be a record breaker today, but at least RASP showed only 50% probability of the rain until 4pm.  The problem being on which side of 50% would Brentor fall? On the precipitation side, of course, which was a shame since there was plenty of talent on hand ready to make the most of the opportunity. 
As it turned out, the brightest moment of the day came at about 11, when the sun just sneaked under the clouds for about 30 mins, (see photo) and you could almost see the tops of the moor (1,200ft above airfield height).  Not long after, however, the church (200ft above airfield height) disappeared again into the cloud and resolutely stayed there.  So what to do? 

 And that's as bright as it got (and that includes the pilots!) Taken around 11, when aviation might have been a possibility (briefly).

Well with David Bourchier on site there’s no shortage of suggestions, so whilst Adrian Irwin and David went to change the battery in the launch point, Jerry Wellington and myself (after suitable instructions from David) formed a cable cutting party to reduce the redundant cable on the north side into manageable lengths of 150ft each, which after 20 or so lengths each did become a little ‘repetitive’, so we were grateful to see the cavalry - in the shape of Pete and Paula Howarth, fresh from ground school with Don (winch launching) - hove into view for the final few stages (see photo).  So how to get 45 odd lengths of cable up to the scrapyard?

The cable cutting team in action.

Pete Howarth displays coiling skills he didn't know he possessed - or needed!

Heeding David Bourchier’s advice that it had to be in a covered container, what better than one of the 40 gallon drums beside of the hangar? At which point it was time for me to earn my angle grinding badge (see photo), suitably equipped with eye protection, of course, but negative ear defenders, which – in retrospect - are definitely recommended..!

Martin Cropper earning his ‘angle grinder badge’ – with Adrian Irwin on hand in case of fire.

In the afternoon we were teased by Don to convert the theory of Macready into practical science by flying the club’s set task in a Discus at different Macready settings.   The task is almost 15nm: can it be done in a Discus without turning in thermal?  Our photo shows Jerry (what long arms you have) Wellington having set off at 2,500ft agl at a Macready setting of zero, just about to land 4.8nm short of the goal.   Adrian Irwin showed that – with a start height of 2,500ft and a Macready setting of 1 – the answer was ‘no’ – but then he’s an ex Boeing 747 driver used to big engines and lots of fuel.  So then out of the shadows emerged Roger Appleweiss who, as a businessman used to living life on the edge, and with just 300ft added to the start height, proved that, provided you were prepared to catch a couple of squirrels when lowering the undercarriage, it can be done with a Macready setting of zero.  The sense of achievement was palpable – there’s nothing better than leaving with a big smile of achievement – and some of Pauline Puttock’s delicious mince pies in your tummy!

 'Oh, what long arms you've got, Jerry!' But they weren't long enough to prevent him stoofing in 4 miles short of the goal..!

So from cutting it fine with the cable to sneaking in as the applause rings out from the ‘crowd’ as the ground completes on the finish line proves that it doesn’t have to be all 5hr days and 6kt thermals – sometimes the simulator can (almost) provide the next best thing.

Martin Cropper