Dartmoor Gliding News-Aston Down Expedition 2022 Part 1

 Day Zero

On Sunday morning five of us rendezvoused at Brentor and hooked up three trailers. It wasn't quite as slick as that for Mike Bennett and John Allen as their K6 trailer needs quite a bit preparation, and loading, before its ready to roll. Rick and Scratch smartly hitched up their Standard Cirrus trailer that they had already prepositioned by the clubhouse.

After all were hooked up there was time for a pot of tea before departing just after 1000. This was a milestone for me. it was the first time towing with my Mineral Blue "daily driver" which is three years older than my glider!  Once the LED lights on both the car and my trailer were checked Peter, Freddie and Ed (aka the Sunday Soarers) waved us farewell. 

Age matched combination

Ready for the off

Convoy on the way

Once we were on the A-road to Sourton the journey was pretty smooth although slow moving in parts due to traffic at the end of the Queen's Platinum Celebration bank holiday weekend. After a pitstop at Sedgemoor services, where inquisitive small children wondered what we had in the trailers, we arrived at Aston Down airfield (home of Cotswold Gliding Club (CGC).

Mike and John greeted us (there was a touch of "tortoise and hare" vice a "convoy of three..." going on here). Andy Davey had also arrived after picking up his Libelle at North Hill.  Later Phil arrived with his DG300. He had been holidaying in Cheddar. So we were now seven (note just seven! This is not a reference to Seven of Nine that featured in previous blog).

A very tasty Spaghetti Bolognese for supper was enjoyed by all (thanks Rachel (Mrs S) for making it on Saturday) which set us up nicely so we could open the bar... sorry, I meant we met Sam, the week's duty instructor, and complete the requisite paperwork.

The evening concluded, we departed to our rooms, or our tents, respectively.

Day One

The day dawned the same as yesterday, dull, grey and drizzly. A slow start was envisaged. Cue Mike who rustled up a delicious cooked breakfast for a selected audience. Following the morning brief for us, and then for the week's course candidates, we started to rig some of our private gliders. We opened the CGC hangar to get out a very shiny K-13 and K-21.  Progress was delayed by; a flat K-13 tail wheel, the continuing drizzle, and low cloudbase. All retired to the clubhouse for lunch and to wait. Play resumed at 1300.

A shiny K13

K21

Site acquaints were conducted for Gavin, Scratch, and Hugh, who by then had arrived on his motorbike and was ready to camp (Ed: These Brentor Introductory Flight Pilots are a hardy breed). Problems with both the winch and the retrieve lorry necessitated a change of both.  John Allan was awarded the "longest time sitting on the ground with an instructor" award. Almost an hour! Martin Cropper, your record for pre-flight briefing has been truly broken. Three training flights later John was cleared to fly. Then Mike was cleared to fly.

John Ready to fly in the K13

Hugh looks at home on a K21

After patiently waiting some of the week's course members could fly. The good news was that the 900 foot cloudbase was starting to rise. After some more flights the duty instructor switched to the K-13. Meanwhile Rick took his Standard Cirrus up for a couple of flights, and soared for 19 minutes (flight of the day), whilst Phil, Andy, and I rigged our gliders in anticipation a much better day tomorrow.

Std Cirrus ready and waiting

Dinner was provided by Scratch's mobile catering services. Very tasty it was too after the electrics had been reinstated. Who knew that warming through a quiche could be so dramatic!

Gavin Short