Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 28th December 2014

It’s tempting to let the photos speak for themselves (there are more available on application..!)  Or the stats: 17 flights, start time 1030, finish 1616 (local sunset 1618), total flight time 11hrs 36 mins (40 mins average per flight), at least 6 equivalent Silver Heights (one claimed), 13 members flew.  But that would be doing an injustice to a. the weather and b. the banter. 

Brentor from the south at 8:00am with rotor cloud in evidence

 The weather was interesting: yes, it was a ‘wave day’ and yes the lift was strong (10 up in the lower strata – see photo) but it was not classic wave i.e.. it was not ‘easy’.  Rotor cloud, which was in evidence from prior to 0800, appeared and disappeared in varying places around the site whilst the wave formation, at once aligned N-S in the valley to the west of Blackdown, then became strongest E-W south of Blackdown and then south of the site in general, with sharp contrasts between lift and sink, before it decayed to an area just west of Mary Tavy as the sun began to set.

Ten Up – now that’s what I call a ‘good day at the office’!

View of Plymouth Sound through rotor cloud (these came and went all day).

When asked by Robin Wilson where the primary wave was formed I was less than helpful in my reply.  Looking at the OS map after the event it is not obvious or easy to estimate.  With the wind over the site being due north (90 degrees cross runway),  and the Met Office giving a 2,000ft wind of 060 at 20-25kts I would guess that the primary wave was caused either by Sourton Down, on the NW corner of the moor, or by Blackdown itself (there being no clouds upwind of Lydford).

Kit Smith at the helm passing 3,500ft (eventually reaching 5,600ft).

Paula Howarth at 2,500ft heading south.

If it was Blackdown then the effects were very local and spectacular: Fred Marks topped the list with 7,000ft in the club K-8, with a gaggle of other solo pilots (led by Jerry Wellington, plus Leith Whittington, Chris Jones and Adrian Irwin) arguing their positions in the 5,000s below him. (Leith W also achieved his sought after 2 hours soaring flight). Trainees Kit Smith, Paula Howarth and Chris Owen (who was having his first flight in wave) also achieved soaring flights, whilst Pete Harvey concentrated on his crosswind circuits.

Chris Jones is overflown by Jerry Wellington in K-6CR FUB (well Chris was on his way down..)
Tyre’s looking a bit flat, Jerry!  

Faced with an empty grid upon his arrival in the afternoon, Allan Holland had no choice but to get the ‘hangar queen’ Zugvogel out, for a quick 90 minutes promenade before concerns over safety (i.e.. canopy misting) began to creep in. But not before Pete Howarth managed his first back seat flight for a (large) number of years in which, for over 10 minutes, he kept the K-13 pegged between 900-950ft agl between the winch and Blackdown.
 

Peter Howarth driving from the back seat on the last flight of the day.

Our visitor today was Jacqueline Horton, whose name will be known to members as Mum of Fraser and Kiyomi Hanson, whose Dad flies for Emirates; Jacqui was able to enjoy a couple of  flights with us before departing for a lunch date in Exeter – we look forward to the promised return of Fraser and Kiyomi in the summer (now that seems like ages away!)

Today’s visitor was Jacqui Hanson, who pronounced the views as ‘quite stunning’.

Bouquet of the day undoubtedly goes to Robin Wilson who, attending with the intention of just helping out due to expected low numbers, asked for a check flight but didn’t manage it, preferring to drive the winch instead; many thanks, Robin (or as ‘Wallis‘ would put it) many thanks, indeed, old chum.  

So a successful day? Not of Olympian proportions, but Yes.  But an enjoyable one?  Most Certainly; the pictures tell the story of what wind and nature can deliver, so long as the critical pre-requisite mix of motivation and co-operation is achieved on the ground, which today it was – soundly

Martin Cropper