Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 28th June 2015

We all know at least 6 symptoms of the approaching stall, and one definite indication of when the wing is actually stalled. But what of when the stall applies to a cold front, lying across the length of the SW peninsula – in which case the symptoms are members hungrily scanning the ‘To Do’ list in search of things with which to occupy themselves whilst the weather decides what it is going ‘to do’.

And so how did these symptoms manifest themselves? Well without the ability to paint, due to the precipitous weather, the members were largely forced indoors: Richard Robert to fettle (i.e.. fiddle with) the tail lifting arrangements of his newly acquired K-6CR (with the help of ex-member and father Terry), Paula Howarth to brush up her pre-solo ground school knowledge of the principles of flight, circuitry, and ‘configuring the aircraft for landing’, all of which she may need to remember for herself in the near future, and Jerry Wellington, ably assisted by Pete Howarth (and anyone else who happened to be passing with some ‘helpful’ advice) to try and re-orientate the stick position of the simulator (see photo of Jerry – with [totally unnecessary] soaring hat). The need for repositioning the stick had been discovered by Adrian Irwin when attempting to barrel roll what the glider the simulator was simulating: it just wouldn’t do it! Some improvement was obtained by placing varying thicknesses of kindling between the bungee and the computer joystick at the back of the sim (and thankfully not setting light to said kindling), but (although it was of some good) it was to little avail.

Jerry Wellington (wearing his troubleshooting hat) grapples with the trim of the simulator.

“Meddling Kids!”
Peter Howarth and Martin Cropper attempt to ‘assist’ Jerry with trimming the simulator.

And so with a definite indication that the cold front was actually stalled (i.e.. the Met Office update issued at 1300), we decided to scrub – thus allowing various key members to return to their families, and significant others. At which point some blue sky appeared (just enough to patch a Dutchman’s trousers!) but the cloudbase did not lift as well elsewhere, until about 6pm when the front finally did shift off to the west, making for a beautiful summer’s evening. Oh for a microlight (or is that sacrilege??!)

“Just enough blue to patch a Dutchman's trousers”
– the inevitable view as we decided to scrub (the cloudbase didn’t lift so well elsewhere…)

 Let’s hope the warm Continental air predicted to spread up from the south will have replaced this moist maritime stuff by Wednesday.

Martin Cropper