For once conditions were benign today: a pinkish-bluish sky with a light south-easterly greeted us on arrival at the airfield, whilst the last few days without rain had allowed the field to dry out. Our visitors were father and son team Ian and Ben Mansfield, who flew with Gavin Short. Son Ben, a Stage Lighting Director from south-east London, was first to make use of our two-flight voucher option, followed by Dad Ian, who spends his time (whilst not flying with us) looking after wooden flooring in the South Hams. They both pronounced their flights a great success, as our photos reveal.
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| Visitor Ben Mansfield, from London, is ready to fly with Gavin Short. |
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| Ben’s Dad Ian, who live in the South Hams, also looks happy to get airborne. |
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| And looking even happier on their return having earned their certificates! |
We then welcomed our first ‘walk-in’ of the year – a what a walk-in: three generations of the Stacey family – Mike being grand-dad, our neighbouring farmer and great friend of the club, with son, and grandson William, whose 15th birthday was today! So what else to do but give William a happy birthday flight, duly delivered by Gavin Short in today’s beautifully clear skies.
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Local farmer and friend of the club Mike Stacey’s 15 year old grandson
William about to be given a happy birthday flight by Gavin. |
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| And away they go, into a beautifully clear Dartmoor sky. |
Today’s trainees were Freddie Colton and Ray Boundy (yes, opposite ends of the age spectrum): Freddie making great strides: firstly flying with Peter Howarth in the early morning ‘red-eye’ snifter flight, then with Martin Cropper exploring how not to fly the K-13 in slip and skid exercises, before returning to fly with Peter Howarth in final approach rate of descent exercises which, strangely, culminated in him actually landing the glider (cunning foxes these instructors!) Soloists Andy Davey, Phil Hardwick and Peter Howarth made use of the K-8 to keep their hands in; longest flight of the day being Rich Roberts with a well-earned 18 minutes. As the afternoon drew on, and the dew point flirted with the surface temperature, one moment producing lowish cumulus (which proved highly entertaining for Ray Boundy), the next clear blue skies, and with all pilots having flown, we decided to call it a day: 16 launches within 4 hours – not bad!
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| Richard Roberts decides to give it a go – winning FOTD (Flight of the Day) |
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| Busy launch point mid-afternoon. |
Meanwhile, at North Hill, two of our full pilot’s licence candidates – Mike Bennett and Ed Borlase – were hoping to make use of the touring motor glider to receive cross-country navigation and field landing training from CFI Mark Courtney. Sadly, however, low cloud prevented them from flying so it was ground school only – but nonetheless beneficial for that. Whilst there Ed spotted a fantastic photo of the K-6CR – G-CEWO – he now owns at Dartmoor.
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Whilst at North Hill Ed Borlase spotted this
stunning portrait of the K-6CR, G-CEWO, the glider he now owns! |
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Now there’s economy: one chart does for both of our prospective
licence pilots to make their Navex plans. |
Overall, a very productive and enjoyable day – let’s have more of these, please.
Martin Cropper
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