Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 17th January 2016

With a complex whorl of fronts on the Met Office chart, rain predicted from 3pm and the wind forecast to be from the SE, there was everything to play for today, and so, what with changing ends and dismantling the hurdle fence, getting the first launch away by 1020 was quite an achievement.

Once in the air the conditions were smooth, allowing currency to be regained in a relatively benign environment, even though patchy cloud sometimes meant we were above cloud on release of the cable. With no trial lessons or introductory flights booked, Peter Howarth flew with as many members as possible to get them reacquainted with the view from 1,000ft, whilst Adrian Irwin and Roger Appleboom (post winching) took the (loaned) K-8 for a spin (metaphorically, of course…)

Ex ATC-gliding instructor Jayne Marsh prepares to aviate with Martin Cropper.

 We were joined by returning temporary members Jayne Marsh and her partner Dave: Jayne (see photo), an ex-ATC gliding instructor from Upavon (and who also happens to be Paula Howarth’s boss) and Dave are prospective full flying members, and very welcome they will be.

Just as were getting into the groove, however, Adrian Irwin’s rain radar began alarming and it was not long before Pete Harvey really was facing the ‘final curtain’, as an impenetrable wall of rain swept in from the south (see photos) – but the time was only a quarter to two!! The only silver lining to this early arrival of cloud was that it at least gave us the change to give the gliders a good hose and wipe down before we shut the hangar doors…

Does Pete Harvey face the final curtain?

Yes he does!
An impenetrable curtain of rain signals the end of play mid afternoon.

Now it is accepted as ‘bad form’ to apologise, but today there were quite a number of people who put in the effort without receiving the reward and to those who didn’t manage to fly (you know who you are) we offer an unreserved ‘sorry’. Still, 15 launches in 3 hours on a muddy pitch is not all that bad and, with high pressure set to build over the next few days (and the wind returning to the SE), the portents for Wednesday look good.

Martin Cropper