What did you do last Saturday ( 19/06/2018 ). The weather was nice so perhaps you cut the grass, went shopping or even washed the car. For Dartmoor Gliding Chairman Richard Roberts these prospects sounded a bit tame so he planned some cross country flying in his Discus, a beautiful standard class glider.
The planned route was to be Brentor ( BRT ) to Avebury ( AVE ) and back for a total distance of 368.8 km. So off to the airfield and with his father acting as crew ( and retrieve driver if things didn't work out ) the Discus was soon rigged and ready.
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The direct route out over Dartmoor looks a little uncomfortable
but the sky looks great |
After a patient wait for some cumulus cloud ( and the soaring K13 ) to indicate the day had indeed started Richard launched at 12pm. After a quick first climb and exporation of the local thermals, 30 minutes later it was off on task. To save time Richard decided to route directly across Dartmoor which always gets your attention; the landout options are not good. From the air Dartmoor looks like the straw coloured wilderness it really is. From the ground it always looks much greener.
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| On the southern edge of Bristol airspace |
The flight progressed well until Richard approached the Bristol Airspace. On track was a large blue hole indicating an area with little or no lift. The only reliable looking cumulus were inside the airspace so would not be available. Avebury was still 50km away but, with no real way to get there ( and back ), Richard's decision was to modify the turnpoint to Wells to enable a fighting chance of getting home.
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On final glide over Meldon reservoir.
The sky looks poor but he's 1500 feet above the glideslope |
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The return flight went well and Richard landed at 15.35. So the flight was Brentor to Wells and back for a total distance of 253km with 3hours and 5 minutes on task ( total flight time 3 hours 35 minutes ). Great effort- well done.
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| Landing back at Brentor |
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| Tired but happy. Richard finishes putting the glider away. |
What will you do next Saturday?
Steve
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