Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 21st October 2021

 As yet another rain shower swept across the airfield (and the cloudbase lowered, and windspeed increased, thus summing up today’s weather story).

Richard Roberts (who else?) decided that now was just the right time to hitch-up the gold Range Rover Discovery, which had been providing a perfectly adequate eyesore for newly arrived visitors for some time, in preparation for its journey to the scrapyard.  With no electrics, engine, or emergency triangle available this was a risk-ridden exercise, but with the steady hand of Peter Howarth at the wheel of the pick-up, and Ed Borlase on quick reaction alert to provide an emergency brake if necessary (in the shape of a spare tyre), all, fortunately, went well, and the Disco should be taken to its final resting place on Wednesday.  It has to be said that, unexpectedly with its automatic transmission, the gold Disco has served us well over the years, providing a stalwart tow-out service, a fearsome fan and heater for the elder brethren, and amusing gotcha for wing-walkers as the auto-tickover cut in at higher than your average walking speed.  It will be sadly missed.

Peter Howarth guides the gold Disco from its long-term resting space
towards its next (and final) horizon.

Right hand down a bit!” Rich Roberts steers the Disco
while Ed Borlase is ready – if needed - with the emergency brake (spare tyre).

And so, with the low-level alarm screaming at us from the biscuit barrel (chocolate Hob-Nobs having been consumed to extinction at an afterburning rate), we decided that this was what success would look like for us today, and turned off the lights in the hope that the PVT panels would find enough sun to enable the Wednesday folk to switch them back on.

Martin Cropper