Dartmoor Gliding Society Club News: Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 14th May 2022

With a reasonable looking forecast today was always going to be busy. The day started early with an absolute fleet of private gliders being rigged along side the club gliders which were emerging from the hangar under a less than encouraging sky. It definitely looked like it could be showery but the forecast was correct on this point and there was no rain all day. The wind was going to be light(ish) and southerly. The launch point was set up at the east end.

The rigging area was busy

This was also a busy day for visitors. Steve Lewis was expecting a "flying visit" from a couple of glider pilots from Lasham who flew in in a Robin single engine powered aircraft.

Steve's visitors arriving in the Robin

IFP Scratch (Dene Hitchen) had a full diary, Lily and Lola O'Flaherty, Peter Lewin, Liz Beckett (flown by Gavin) and Lawrence Barnes ( also flown by Gavin). Club member Mark Elliot had several friends visiting, one of whom, Katlin Hellier had a couple of flights with Scratch towards the end of the day.

Gavin with Liz sharing a joke

Scratch with Katlin

Gavin presents the certificate to Lawrence

The solo pilots really made the most of the soaring opportunities. As is often the case the challenge was finding and using the initial climb. Once above about 2000ft the soaring was a lot easier leading to Andy Davey (Libelle) disappearing for a day topping 4 hrs 5 mins. Other notable flights were Rick Wiles (Std Cirrus) 1hr 43, Hugh Gascoyne ( K6 FUB ) 1hr 56, Phil Hardwick ( DG300) 2hr 47, Malcolm Roberts and Robin Wilson ( Twin Astir) 1hr 12, Steve Fletcher ( Open Cirrus ) 2hours, Mike Jardine ( Std Cirrus) 1her 34, and Adam Hoskin ( K6 "Woody") 1hr 57. There were quite a few soaring flights in the up to 1 hour group.