Most gliding clubs adapt and print their pre-solo training cards to meet
their own needs. They all containing a list of exercises that must be completed
before the trainee can be considered ready for solo flight, and most call them
to have flown a ‘Crosswind Circuit’. I don’t know on which club’s cards our
training cards were based, but it strikes me that a lot of time, ink, dating and
signatures could have been saved if we’d had them printed with a ‘√’ in the
‘Crosswind Circuit’ box, as crosswinds seem to be the norm at Brentor. Today was
a case in point, with the wind blowing up from the south across our W-E runway
all day (well, until early evening when it mysteriously backed to the east…).
Blowing at strengths between 12-18kts., the wind provided an interesting
challenge, particularly on the downwind leg and final approach, that fully met
the ‘Crosswind Circuit’ criteria.
We were very pleased to welcome the White family as our visitors this
morning: the Whites (Paul, Beth and Dad Ken) from Saltash, flew with Roger
Appleboom in K-13 HXP (see photos). In the afternoon we were joined by Matthew
Ash (however sadly no photo to record the event).
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| Visitor Paul White, from Saltash, who flew with Roger Appleboom in K-13 HXP. |
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| Paul’s sister Beth, from Plympton, also flew with Roger. |
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| Paul’s father, Ken, completed the White trio. |
The air was surprisingly buoyant from early on, allowing trainee David
Westcott to get to 2,300ft and experience two demonstration spins, in less than
17 mins – now that’s good value! And, as the afternoon progressed, well defined
streets of cumulus established themselves in a SE-NW orientation, one starting
from well beyond Dartmoor, possibly Kingsbridge or Start Point. Step up Allan
Holland who, alone among our solo pilot cadre, was up to handling the K-8 in the
crosswind, and managed a cool 1 hr 17 mins (or more according to Allan’s watch)
using the streets upwind of the site.
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| Allan Holland about to set off on a 1hr+ saunter in the K-8. |
Other trainees included Tony Dean (check flights ticked ‘C’…), Chris Owen (on
top form since deciding to leave the ‘Sunday Times at home..!), Joe Nobbs (20
mins two-seat soaring, well done Joe), Phil Selwood (welcome to the world of
launch failures) and ex-Bush pilot John Knight, who happily continues his
transition from power to wood, today with two soaring flights, one of 21 mins.
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| Tony Dean checks K-13 DMX under a promising sky |
As the afternoon drew on the wind, as mentioned above, developed a more
easterly tinge and, as the cloud streets began to decay, the lift remained
strong at certain geographical points (as John Knight will tell you) as in the
K-13 the audio varios screeched to be set free from their instrument panels as
we turned onto base leg… Could that have been wave? A couple of decent
single-seaters could have helped pursue some interesting investigations.
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| New trainee John Knight soaring (for 21 mins) in K-13 DMX. |
Thanks most sincerely go to Dave Downton for winching, skilfully, almost all
day, and to Allan Holland for relieving him, to the retrieve crew and to those
on the quad bikes who arrived within seconds of each landing to tow the gliders
back to the launchpoint.
A testing, tantalising, and rewarding day.
Martin Cropper
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