Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 14th February 2015

The day started dry with a 12 knot northerly wind, i.e. dead across the runway. Again!! The wind was due to reduce later in the afternoon as the low, which brought so much rain yesterday, moves away slowly to the east filling in (pressure increasing) as it goes.

With CFI Don Puttock on duty again today the flying was soon underway. Rick Wiles was first and used today to fly HXP for the first time before disappearing to the hangar for more work on the GusLaunch winch. Today involved refitting the adjusted differential unit into the axel. The cab is to be refitted next. While on the subject of work in the hangar, our thanks should go the Colin Boyd who spent his day there working on a new canopy for the K8.

Today's small grid. K13 G-CHXP and Zugvogel 3A G-CHXV

 Next up for Don’s ministrations in the K13 was Adrian Irwin just sharpening his skills further while waiting for the wind strength to reduce before taking his first flight in the Zugvogel. Today also saw the return of Andrew Beaumont back with us after overwintering in Mauritius; he wasted no time in getting some check flights and practice cable breaks done with Don ready for some flying in his own glider when conditions permit.

Andrew with Don in HXP

Step forward Fred Marks, who used today to take his first flights in a K13 flying from the back seat working towards permission to fly friends and family.

Startring his back seat flying - Fred Marks

As the cross wind abated, Field Treasurer Robin Wilson took the Zugvogel for a couple of circuits. It was nice to see this aircraft flying again. Adrian Irwin has waited patiently all day for his first flights in this aircraft but unfortunately only managed an aborted launch before canopy misting stopped play.

So from an unpromising sort of a day, today became a day of firsts. Rick had his first flight in HXP. Fred had his first flight from the back seat of a 2 seater. Andrew had his first flight of the year. The Zugvogel flew for the first time this year and Adrian had his first flight in the Zugvogel (almost).

A day of firsts.

Steve