Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 15th May 2016

With a gentle north-westerly and RASP predicting 3.5 by mid-afternoon there was everything to play for today... So it was not surprising that there was a team of ‘keenies’ early on site to get the club gliders out, all with their own agendas for progressing their flying.

One Day Course student Alison Jackson also appeared early in readiness to fly with instructor Gordon Dennis, whilst Local Firing Range Warden and Mary Tavy resident Ben Neale (see photo) turned up punctually at 1100 for his introductory flights.

Introductory Flight visitor Ben Neale.
Steve Fletcher reacquainted himself with Brentor after recently going solo at Aston Down (congratulations!) Paula Howarth consolidated her conversion to the K-8 and, in the early afternoon, Kit Smith struck a stonking thermal that took him straight up to 3,000ft over Tavistock (see photos en-route).

Kit Smith just to the north-east of Tavistock at 2,700 ft.
Sadly, problems with the winch prevented us from completing the full day’s flying programme, and hence Steve Fletcher almost (but not quite) converted onto the K-8, Alison has some launches in credit for her One Day Course and thanks must go to others, such as Dave Downton, Jorg Beasley, Josef Nobbs and Adam Fox-Edwards who didn’t manage to fly.

From left to right: the ‘Sugar Factory’,
Harford Bridge Caravan Park and
Pitt’s Cleave Quarry business park.
It was good to see returning member Tony Deane, however who, having regained his Friends and Family privileges thanks to a couple of flight with Gordon, introduced wife Anne to flying at Brentor and former Air Cadet Callum Doyle to our Fixed Price to Solo scheme – we look forward to seeing much more of you, Callum.

Martin Cropper

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