Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 20th June 2021

Gliding, like life, is a matter of priorities.  And today’s top priority was a choice between getting the Atom ( see note 1) mast fitted to the clubhouse, or to fly.  Clearly, in the view of former Chairman Rich Roberts, having made the tea and asking if anyone had a drill, it was going to be the Atom.  Flying could wait: at least until the cloudbase lifted.  So off we went (like a bunch of hi-hos) with drill, clamps and pole in hand to assist.  Rich, who is clearly a member of the Worshipful Company of Eyeball, Drill and That’ll Do It Craftsmen, had come unusually ill prepared for the task and, by the time we had worked our way through various wrong-sized clamps, screws (second-hand) and donated drill bits (blunt) the cloudbase (not clubhouse) had indeed lifted by a significant margin. That said, the mast is now fixed above the ‘back door’ of the clubhouse (which is now a hard hat zone).  

Rich Roberts drills the clubhouse gable in readiness for the Atom mast.

On RASP, the ‘window of opportunity’ was brief and so, in view of the predicted light S/SE’ly, we quickly got the airfield ready to launch from the west end.  Returning trainee Paddy Cosgrave, (class of 2004) was then able to exploit two brace of cables to practice stalling, trimming, slip and skid before spit-spots of rain deemed it prudent to return the K-13 to the hangar.  With other priorities, including Father’s Day, beginning to take precedence it was time to make tracks for home.

Trainee Paddy Cosgrave prepares for flight with instructor Martin Cropper.

 K-13 G-DCCY on approach from the west end.

None of today’s flying would have been possible, however, without the willing participation of Rich Roberts (winch), Andy Davies (on wingtip) and Peter Howarth (on drums…well, comms!)  Thank you all.

Martin Cropper

Note1  Atom: a station to re-transmit FLARM and ADS-B signals received from aircraft within range to aid electronic conspicuity and coverage provided by various apps such as ‘Glider Finder’ etc.