Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 3rd May 2015

Although today became a no fly day, that was not for want of trying from the ground upwards. With One Day Course student Alex Payne and 6 Introductory Flights scheduled, there was a lot to do.

And so, led more by optimism than common sense, and the knowledge that there was a weather window between 1100, when the cloudbase was due to lift, and 1pm, when the wind was forecast to increase to 33kts from the south-west, we got the gliders up to the launch point. Only for them (and us) to be drenched by a heavy rain shower even before we got to the starting line..!

'Chaingang' members Jerry Wellington and Peter Howarth set on the track waiting for cloudbase to lift.

A triumph of optimism over commonsense as the K-13 is
swallowed by a rain shower on is way to the launchpoint.

 Three quarters of an hour later, with the weather station alarm sounding almost constantly, we decided that discretion was better than valour and, with due regard to the wind (which was not SW at all, but due South), we gingerly took the gliders all the way back to the hangar.

"Take up Slack!" Jerry and the K-8 ready to go back to the hangar.

That did not stop the fun, however, for in the afternoon IFP pilot Pete Howarth enjoyed instructing One Day Course student Alex Payne in flying the simulator, leading the way for all if us to give it a go.

One Day Course student Alex Payne enjoyed his instruction with Pete Howarth on the simulator.

Returning member Richard Roberts was particularly impressed with the simulator as he contemplates restarting his flying, having already bought a K-6 (the fourth on site - fifth including the K-10). So, although we left early, leaving Dave Bourchier completing maintenance in the hangar, and largely as a result of the simulator it was launch rate: nil; smiling faces: 6!


Martin Cropper