Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 10th January 2016

After three of us had made a thorough check if the east end, where rainwater was lying in pools along the tracks of last Wednesday's launches and landings, we decided that, once again, it was best to call it a rest day for the airfield, since any further movements would have had a ruinous effect on the surface.

Returning to the clubhouse we were greeted by CFI Don Puttock with a wry grin: "Well, we'd best get on with some Instructor training!" he gleefully announced. And so, with trainee instructors Roger Appleboom, Adrian Irwin and putative instructor Richard Roberts they began their voyage through the new set of exercises that has been produced by the BGA.

Meanwhile, in a manner as slickly efficient as the inmates of Stalag Luft XVIII moved the stove in The Great Escape, Pete Harvey suggested we should 'go outside', for the weather was, initially, quite pleasant (until the showers built up again). Looking inside the hangar we spotted newly loaned glider FXB, Bob Sansom's K-8, appearing to cry out for attention. And so we brought it into the sunshine to give it it's first full set of DGS Monthly Maintenance: oil, water, rub down, vacuum and polish of the canopy all appearing to be gratefully received. Pete even went so far as to replace the yaw string (see photo) - well, it had been stuck on with an Elastoplast..! 

Pete Harvey re fixes the yaw string to loaned K-8 FXB
as part of its monthly maintenance.

Wash'n'brush up completed we returned to the clubhouse to join in the fun with Don and the boys - the new syllabus really is very comprehensive and will need a lot of concentrated effort for our new instructors to get through whilst Don is available to coach and mentor. It also provided a good stimulus for discussion on what, or rather how much, each of the differing levels of visitors/trainees need to know.

Meanwhile, with a cold snap in prospect, there is a possibility the field may dry sufficiently for flying to take place on Wednesday. Let's hope so...

Martin Cropper