Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 28th May 2022

The soaring forecast for today looked a little challenging. The conditions would be largely blue ie. little or no clouds to guide the soaring pilot. Personally I enjoy blue thermal days; at least the thermals are where you expect them to be as there is no cloud shadow to complicate things. Wind today would be light to moderate from the north. The airfield was set with the launchpoint at the east end.

The East End Launch Point

Good visibility today

The big news today were the attendance of 2 new club members. Peter Hamilton was an early solo glider pilot 20+ years ago. He had 3 flights with Mike Jardine and a 28 minute soaring flight with me. Our other new member was Alasdair Barclay an ex power pilot who began his differences training with Mike clocking up no less than 5 flights. Welcome to DGS chaps.

Peter Hamilton looks at home in a K13 already

Other visitors today were Brett Rogers on a One Day course and voucher flights for Anna and Eddie Johnson, and Joanne Taylor.

Brett Rogers

Johanne Taylor

Anna Johnson

Eddie Johnson

The solo pilots made valliant efforts most of the day with Phil Hardwick (DG300) 1hr 27minutes, Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus) 2hrs 9, John Allan (K8) 1hr 4, Gavin Short (Std Cirrus) 1hr 29,  Malcolms Roberts and Wilton-Jones (Twin Astir) 1hr.

John Allan's View of the airfield from 3200 ft

Approaching Tavistock

Sharing a thermal with Gavin in his Std Cirrus

Many thanks to the winch drivers and especially heather for driving retrieve all day again.

Winch drivers view of a K13 on the wire.

Concentrating on the launch

Steve Lewis