Dartmoor Gliding News-Aston Down Expedition 2022 Part 2

June 7th 2022

After being suitably fed and watered, briefed, and Scratch's "pack-up" materials turned into lunch time sandwiches, we got the five private gliders and the steeds of some local pundits gridded on the runway. These included a Mosquito, ASW 19B, Ventus 2CxJ (J for jet!) In 15m configuration in anticipation of the competition at the end of the week, and a Ventus 3 FES (Front Electric Sustainer).

Two Ventii getting ready

Mike Jardine joined us in the morning so now we were not seven but nine!

The promising forecast hadn't raised the cloud base beyond 1,200 feet, by 1100, and the wind was from the south east vice the forecast southerly or even south westerly. So cables were moved to the other side of the runway and we waited and we waited. Strenuous stuff this gliding malarkey. Comfortably waiting, though. The Aston Down double-decker bus it a great place. Note to Richard can our next Citibus purchase be a double-decker please?

All five DGS privateer gliders are gridded here on runway 21 waiting for the off.

At 1130 the grid started launching. At midday I was aloft too. After 2hrs 43m, and having investigated the local area extensively, I came back to earth to find that all the DGS pilots had flown either their own or syndicate gliders. Almost all had a hour or more, except for Rick who made up for the shortfall by managing three hours in the retrieve lorry.

Standard Cirrus Launches

K6 launches into the murk as rain showers march up the Severn Estuary

Their experiences were similar and now the sky was overdevloping which killed some the lift. As always DGS members got stuck in helping to run the airfield. The rain showers that I saw in the Severn estuary fortunately mostly passed us by but the sky became very dark.

Aston Down airfield from the North at 2,700 feet.

Cotswold villages with the meandering river Severn in the distance.

After his flight Mike Jardine departed for home (Ed: Has he ever been on the airfield all day?). So now we were eight.

Gliders in pyjamas ready for bed under a leaden sky.
What's under the covers? A Ventus 3 of course

Nimbus 3DT being retrieved in style

Not much space for tow out gear

MG. Glider pilot's conveyance of choice

Those DGS gliders without covers were derigged and put back in their trailers just as some showers came through.

We didn't have to put the gliders and kit away as there was evening flying for the local scouts so we retired to the clubhouse for some "hangar flying" whilst awaiting a lovely Sheppard's Pie for dinner.

Gavin Short