Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 5th February 2022

The RASP forecast didn’t predict rain but that’s how the morning started. A number of our weather Guru’s referenced their various weather apps to predict the weather would clear and by midday and it did.

Mike Bennett started the day with a nice flight in the K8. Second up was a first for both Mark Elliott and myself in FSD. Following up on previous weeks 1G stall symptom training.

The K8 having just touched down

Mark and Mike in K13 G-CFSD. "Take Up Slack"

Our friends and family flight with Scratch was a friend of Heather , Kate Walters who  enjoyed two flights with Scratch in CCY and went on to accompany Heather in the retrieve.

Kate and Scratch waiting to launch

"All Out"

Lift off

And into the full climb

Andy Davey was next in the K8 and it was decided on a hangar landing as wind conditions were beginning to increase. Time to put the K8 away.

Further 1G stall symptoms with Dave Archer at 1400 feet but with increasing winds and turbulence the day was going to be cut short.

My view of CCY at the launch point as Mark was
keeping us in zero sink and dealing with some strong drift.

Visibility was changing through the day.

Rick was busy with both Phil and Scratch in CCY with BI patter practice and Steve Fletcher to continuing his rear seat practice which for all involved went very well.

Good launch heights of 1400 feet were being achieved so the winch was working well. Some good experience of handling the aircraft in strong winds was gained by trainees, drift compensation and speed control.

The "Wicker Man"? No just Scratch retrieving a wayward drogue.

The conditions required us to finish the days flying mid afternoon with a nice 1750 foot launch with John Allen and hangar landing. A good cleaning of the glider’s especially the wheel box was required before packing the kit away.

Thanks to all for a great day

Mike Jardine