Dartmoor Gliding News- Sunday 12th July 2015

Have you ever been away from the club for a while – perhaps on holiday or for work related reasons – only to find that those niggling little, nail catching, time wasting, defects you noticed before your departure were still there on your return?  Well today we set about rectifying a few of them. 

First, the winch driver's seat in the GusLaunch which, balanced precariously on it's column, pitched the hapless winch person backwards midway through the launch, thus upsetting view and speed control, was stabilised by Rich Roberts by the addition of a collar (although a more permanent solution is needed). 

Second, whilst Bob Sansom and Mike Keller worked on the fin post of their (immaculate) K-8 in preparation for its CofA next Saturday (see photo).

Bob Sansome and Mike Keller at work on the fin post of their 

Roger Appleboom and Pete Howarth replaced the hardboard floor of the box on one of the quad bikes (a real nail catcher) and added cleats that will allow the tow rope to be wound around (see photos). 

Repairing the floor of the box on one of the quad bikes.

The box replaced, with cleats for the attachment of the tow rope

Both of these tasks were achieved on the morale raising prospect of custard and jam doughnuts, courtesy of Paula Howarth, the arrival of which not only inspired Roger Appleboom to paint the rear of the quad red and yellow, but also caused him to spill paint on his best summertime shorts, requiring the woodburner to be lit (mid-summer) to dry them out.

Third, the box on the retrieve tow-out trailer was re-secured to the chassis, thus preventing it from moving disconcertingly when you're attempting to unload the drogue parachutes. This provoked Rich Roberts, Pete and Paula Howarth into giving the trailer a general clean, brush-up and repaint with yellow Hammerite, thus enhancing its visibility on the airfield.
 

Rich Roberts re-secures the box on the retrieve trailer.

Giving the retrieve trailer a new coat of paint.

The retrieve trailer returns to duty on the airfield.  

As if you hadn't guessed, the weather was at its British summertime best, a cold front and associated rain being so slow moving that it didn't clear the south-west peninsula all day.

So with a few jobs done and removed from the 'To Do List' we gratefully settled down to tea, doughnuts and tall tales at other members' expense in the clubhouse. Wished you were there?  Well, at least by the time you return you will find that some of those reasons to be uncheerful
have been removed (no doubt to be replaced by others, but that's gliding...).

Martin Cropper