Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 19th June 2021

 Members responded to a “call to arms” from one of the duty instructors (Ed: can an email really be a “call to arms”?)  and by 0900 all the equipment was out on the field or arranged, daily inspections completed, ready to go up to the start point.  Today the start point was at the western end for a forecast southerly wind.  This included all four of the club aircraft, more of that later.

One Day Course Candidates Bob and Geof

Shortly afterwards we welcomed our two one-day course candidates; Robert Hone and Geoffrey Fairmiloe.  Bob and Geoff live in the same street in Wembury and conspired to undertake the challenge together.  Rick Willes promptly took them into the club house for an introductory briefing as the final arrangements on the field were being made.  Both seemed to thoroughly enjoy their flights with Rick in K-13 CCY, of which most soaring flights.  In the end Geoffrey (27 mins) pipped Bob (18 mins).  Both took part in launch operations and observed retrieve and winch operations at the other end of the field; mostly in the pleasant sunshine.

I started the day as the Duty Pilot (to coordinate launch operations) as we thought it was going to be busy.  But after the club soaring week DGS members had melded into a well-oiled machine with members ready with the quad bikes to bring the gliders back to the launch point.  So I stepped down from Duty Pilot duty and the various duty positions were filled and rotated in an almost symbiotic way.  The launch point chalk board was hardly needed… much to the chagrin of some.

Later in the day Ed Borlase brought Barnaby, his 16 year old cousin, up to the site for “friends a family” flight; Barnaby had two circuits with Rick in CCY.  Then Rick then flew twice with pre-solo member David Archer (9 and 10 mins).

Barrnaby and Rick

In the other K-13, DMX, Mike continued training our pre-solo members throughout the day with several flights a piece.  All had soaring flights; Mark Elliott (33 mins), Simon Vallance (26 mins), John Allan (23 mins), Paddy Cosgrave (9 mins), and John Smith (15 mins).

Mark Elliott taking the thermal to over 2,000 feet at the star of the day,

The view of the airfield from 2,200 feet from the east

While all this was going on Richard, in his Discus, managed 1hr 34 mins (the flight of the day) by going cross country to Yelverton, then to Hatherleigh where the cloud base was at 2,800ft, and back to Brentor  where we experienced a 1,200ft cloud base several times during the day.  After landing he did his stint in the winch.

Paddy running the wing of DMX

And Safely on it's way

Mike Bennett made four flights in the K-8, FXB, frustratingly picking when the weather had “cycled” each time and so these flights were just circuits.  However, he was awarded the best “Spot landing of the day” with a 10/10 score.  Today we had taken down the hurdle fence, as there was no stock in the top field, which made spot landings an impressive sight for our one-day course candidates.  Mike then went on to make an even better spot landing and later managed a short soaring flight of 8 mins.

The SF27 on final approach

I managed a meagre 7 mins in the K-8 whereas the other solo pilots fared much better; Steve Fletcher clocked up 23 minutes, Adam Hoskins 31 minutes, and “K-8 King of the Day” was Malcom Wilton-Jones with 1hr and 2 minutes.  Malcolm and I had re-plumbed the instrument panel on Friday to cure a case “stick lift” on the mechanical variometer.  However, why he needed more than an hour to test the instruments is a mystery to me!

CCY takes off again

Such was the soaring to be had that all four club aircraft and Richard’s Discus were airborne simultaneously for quite a period at one time which let the ground crew have a leisurely lunch!

And back again

Meanwhile at the hangar, the Colin, our resident BGA glider inspector was conducting an annual inspection and Airworthiness Review Check of the Twin Astir with syndicate members Ged, Phil, and Robin.  The inspection was observed by Dave Bouchier who was beavering away on all things mechanical in the hangar to keep the flying operations going - thanks Dave.  Also, Scratch was using the repaired strimmer to good effect but was shut down twice at the western end to allow gliders to launch in peace.  Heather, kept the launch rate up with sterling service on the retrieve.  Thank you Heather.

John Smith finding strong thermals late afternoon

Throughout the day the weather cycled several times and then the overdevelopment became permanent, but the expected lunchtime showers didn’t materialise.  Higher cloud reduced the heating of the ground in the afternoon but thermal conditions continued until the end of the day.  In the mid-afternoon our one-day course candidates were treated to a display of wave clouds, lenticulars, across the south-eastern sky.  Sadly, they were transitory and didn’t establish themselves close enough to the field to allow us to have some fun.

In all, it was a remarkable day as although some pilots had some circuits every pilot that flew, who was a member or on a course, had at least one soaring flight.

By 1700, the wind at the winch had backed and was almost straight down the runway which made for some easy launches (I was winching by then).  But then it veered to the south and was totally cross.  After some careful consideration of the conditions by Mike and Rick, the air mass was considered too bumpy to continue. 

Meanwhile, the rain cloud from the moors was approaching and just made itself known as we were leaving the site having packed all the toys away.

So, 36 flights in a day that covered two one-day courses, friends and family flights, pre-solo flying training, solo flying, and competition training.  Total flight time was 9 hours 14 minutes.  Not bad for a “so, so” forecast and one which made Robin very happy, even though he didn’t fly; he is our Field Treasurer!

Gavin Short