Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 15th February 2015

 

In order to get things off to a ‘flying‘ start, and ensure that solo pilots get some launches before becoming ‘welded’ to the winch, I have recently taken the first turn winching on a few occasions (particularly having ended up there having towed out/DI’ed the cables). Climbing into the cab today I was encouraged to see that the Launch Assistant (a cunning little gizmo that shows what speed the glider is flying at up the wire) had been refitted, following repairs (see photo of Scratch in winch - it’s the black box attached to windscreen). At the first ‘All Out!’, and appearance of the glider in view, I was not too worried when the display remained at “---“, since this was our newly acquired K-13 HXP, in which the connections had been giving some ‘teething problems’. At the second launch, however, imagine my surprise when the display sprang into life to show “59”, followed by 09”, and then “55”, followed by “05”!!! Concentrating solely on the glider, it slowly began to dawn on me - the box had been installed upside down, even though the maker’s name ‘Skylaunch’ was the right way up! Turning the box around allowed normal service to be resumed..!

The day dawned with the prospect of wave - any day at Dartmoor with the wind between NE-SE has potential for wave - and the cap cloud over the tors raised our hopes (see photo). It was not to be, however, as humidity and sun pretty soon mixed to form low cumulus which gradually spread across the sky (see photo) - although conditions did improve in the afternoon, as we shall see.

Early morning scene with cap cloud visible over Dartmoor - would that mean wave later..?

…Unfortunately not – as low cumulus developed from mid-morning.

Dispensing with any dalliance with wave was probably a good thing, for today the focus was to be on Don and the two Rogers, Appleboom and Green, who were scheduled to complete the practical phase of their Introductory Flight Pilot training. And which, after 7 flights apiece (mostly ending at less explored parts of the airfield) they duly did. So congratulations, then , to Roger Appleboom and Roger Green - well done, both!!

Did you get my best side?"
Port and starboard views of IFP trainee Roger Appleboom as he briefs 'Bloggs', CFI Don Puttock.

IFP trainee Roger Green gets K-13 HXP balanced on the main wheel as part of his IFP training.

But that activity did not prevent the club from undertaking normal operations, with Chris Owen, Elliot and Chris Acton taking the hot seat in K-13 DMX, whilst Adrian Irwin, Jerry Wellington and Allan Holland slugged it out in ‘hot ship’ Zugvogel HKV. It was good to see Dene ‘Scratch’ Hitchen today, keen as ever to maintain currency, both on the winch and in the back seat of the K-13. On leaving the club today Scratch - courtesy of one of Her Majesty’s steamers of the ‘grey funnel line’ - departs for 9 months’ operational deployment on the seven seas - well, the Med and the Gulf to be precise…

Twelve year old Elliot Acton's photo of Chris Owen landing K-13 DMX.

As the afternoon wore on some breaks in the cloud eventually allowed the sun to penetrate. Adrian Irwin having consolidated his conversion to the Zugvogel - it was time for Jerry Wellington to get a feel for the glider, taking a launch which, opportunist that he is, he converted into a 18 minute soaring flight - not bad for first flight on type! The day completed with Scratch returning to the launchpoint to give Elliot a couple of free flights in the K-13 as ‘ballast’.

'Scratch' Hitchen taking up slack in the ML winch.

So in the final analysis it was 33 launches, 6 simulated launch failures, two qualifications to IFP, one conversion to new type and an 18 minute Flight of the Day on a pretty wobbly mid February thermal - so 50 achievements in all, then - or should that read 05..?

Martin Cropper