Dartmoor Gliding News - Basic Instructor Course at Nympsfield and Aston Down 20 & 21 July 2022

It has been a long, long, time coming.  Last year we were training to be Introductory Flight Pilots (IFP).  That training seemed to go on for ever but we qualified in August and started earning our keep for the club.

Dartmoor Gliding IFPs earning their keep

The next step was to train as Basic Instructors (BI).  The key word being instructor.  A BI is allowed to teach four things: the lookout; the primary effect of the three controls - the elevator, the ailerons, and the rudder.  The rest of the syllabus is almost identical to that for an IFP.  So after learning the dreaded patter, we tried it out in the simulator, in the air with Rick, and with each other, many, many, times.  InMarch we went to North Hill to demonstrate our patter in a motor glider and in a K-21 to seasoned instructors.  The CFI deemed us ready.

That's when the waiting started.  Tying down a Regional Examiner to check us out.  Who?  Where?  On each occasion the options seemed to peter as soon as there was light at the end of the tunnel.  In addition, when the British Gliding Association introduced the IFP qualification it was intended to be the stepping stone to the new rating of Flight Instructor under the forthcoming new licensing arrangements.

Alas the change in licencing has stalled several times with the CAA apparently considering more studies and more proposals for an ever increasing scope of aviation licencing arrangements.  (Ed: Why all this dull history lesson?)

The end result is that currently there are four qualifications: The new IFP and the existing BI, Assistant Category, and Full Category Instructor ratings.  But, and this is the kicker, there is no recognised route from IFP to BI.  Whilst the CFI fondly thought that, as we in date for all the exercises, we would just need an abbreviated check, focusing on our ability to teach those four basic lessons.

Not so.  Which leads us to travel to Gloucester: Day One was to fly at Nympsfield in Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Club's DG-505.  Importantly this glider can take water ballast in the tail which would allow us to stall and spin.  But, this would be over an airfield that none of us had flown from and in a glider none of us had flown before.  Day Two of our BI course would be at Aston Down with which we were familiar with following expeditions there earlier in the year, but again in a different glider that none of us had flown before.

We opted for a range of accommodation options: Farmer Phil in a field (camping in his tent!), Scratch in his salubrious caravan, and I chose the comforts of the Amberley Inn conveniently located between the two airfields; 3.8 miles to either- perfect!

All set then.  Not quite, the Met Office was forecasting a heatwave of Armageddon-like consequences accompanied by fire, plague, and pestilence (Ed: So the forecast was for warm weather as experienced each summer by continental gliding clubs).

MGC GT taking a break during the outbound journey
at Cullompton Services in “air con” mode with
the front and rear quarter lights open

When we arrived at Aston Down we got a message from Phil that he was unable to join us.  So then there were two!

That meant that we could relax that evening.  Not quite.  There was some “simple addition” to complete, and lots of it.  The BI course record requires flying totals in various categories for the last 12 months and overall.  However, they don't tie in with the layout of either the old style glider pilot log book or the new format one... As I had accumulated over a 1,000 flights and Scratch over 2,000 feet addition of the number of flights and hours could no longer be categorised as "simple addition"

Suitably fortified by a great breakfast at the Amberley Inn I headed to Nympsfield airfield.  Rain and risk of thunderstorms were forecast in the afternoon.  We met Tony Parker, the Regional Examiner, and carried out some ground school work. We were duly quizzed on our gliding experience but more significantly on our IFP qualification as he had not examined any IFPs before to take the step to BI.  Then, when there a clearance in the light rain we got into the DG-505, an advanced trainer which was fitted with winglets that took the wingspan to 20m (Ed: so it’s a DG‑500/20 then).  The tail water ballast tank was filled as a tail-heavy glider spins more readily.

Our rendezvous with the Regional Examiner was at the Nympsfield clubhouse. 
The weather was considerably warmer than this!

Scratch was towed by the Pawnee tug to 4,000 feet in a convenient hole in the cloud.  After one attempt at a nose drop stall he was encouraged to be bolder.  Well, the DG-505/20 can be aerobatic as the spectators on the ground were treated to what looked like a Hammerhead Stall followed by vertical dive.  (Ed: The DG will "tuck in" during a spin to give one a great view of the ground below while you hang from your shoulder straps).

After the spinning syllabus was complete, Scratch landed.  I was next up but the tug was only able find a gap in the clouds to take us up to 3,000ft but nevertheless we managed to finish everything by 2,000 feet.  The glider was that slippery.  It also has "long legs" with a glide ratio of 40:1.

Back down on earth the Regional Examiner asked us whether "A 500 feet final turn was a Dartmoor thing?"  Not really; but we both thought it was an appropriate height to conduct the final turn to land on an airfield that is completely surrounded by trees, with a ridge on one side, and hence the potential for curl over, and one that we had not flown from before or had a site check from (Ed: Or even had a brief!).

A view of Nympsfield airfield from the west. 
It is completely surrounded by trees so there is
a risk of curl over from any wind direction. 
There was no fog when we were there but there was plenty of rain!

The Nympsfield DG-505 with its 20m wingleted tips. 
Sadly the weather was nothing like this when we flew.

Stock photo of the DG-505/20 n approach over the trees at Nympsfield

On completion of Day One our course forms were duly signed and the Regional Examiner told us that on Day Two we would cover; winch launch failures, patter demonstration and trial lessons.

Unsurprisingly we were too busy to take photos
so here is another stock photo of the DG-505/20 coming in to land

With that the rain started to set in and the Nympsfield instructors declared the bar open and we enjoyed very convivial pint before heading back to our accommodation (Ed: Interestingly the Nympsfield instructors had not heard of the IFP qualification, let alone met some).

Day Two saw us at Aston Down helping to get the gliders out and inspected before the Regional Examiner arrived.  We would be operating on Runway 03 a direction that neither of us had flown from.  We were flying a DG-500/18 (very similar to yesterday's glider but you can't add water ballast to improve the stall and spin characteristics).

Aston Down airfield on a competition day

After a late start by the host club I was first to go.  A 1,700 ft winch launch (Ed: I am green with envy!) allowed me to deliver the patter for all four exercises.  Then there were two flights where I attempted to demonstrate the further stalling exercises.

A busy Aston Down start point (Ed: Note the double-decker launch bus)

The custom retrieve vehicle developed an engine fault and became a smoky old beast

Next, was a launch failure where I had to go around to simulate not being able to land ahead.  It turned out to be pretty low level go around with those long wings.  Regrettably, I let the approach speed of 60 knots (it’s a heavy glider) decay and the Regional Examiner took control.  After giving myself a good talking to, we did the exercise again and I gave a perfect demonstration.  Phew!

Mr. Regional Examiner please, please, please will you give me
my Basic Instructor qualification?

Time was running on.  Scratch was next up and completed all the exercises including the most important bit; the two demonstration trial flights.  He finished off with a launch failure where he had to land ahead.  After getting out he held the nose down to allow the Regional Examiner to clamber out from the recumbent seating in the front seat.  As he exited the glider as gracefully as he could (Ed: That is very difficult from the front seat of a Glaser-Dirks glider) he held out his hand to congratulate Scratch on passing the course (Ed: Well done Scratch).

“If I have to listen to another CB SIFT BEC pre-flight check I will scream!”

The Regional Examiner briefing Scratch on his next exercise

Scratch turning the tail-heavy DG-500/18 around ready to go again

And then easing it back into position ready for another 1,500 ft plus winch launch. 
Yeh!

“Bloggs the Student” looks happy as Scratch prepares to take him on his first trial flight

I got back in the glider to deliver my two trial lessons.  I delivered the patter on the demonstration of the elevator and ailerons and then allowed "Bloggs the Student" to try flying the glider himself.  The student flew most of the second flight after the winch launch with me offering guidance and, as necessary, getting us back in position.  Bloggs will always find ways to try and ruin your day!  On landing I received the keenly anticipated handshake. 

“Bloggs the Student” about to receive his first trial lesson with Gavin

However, there was no resting our laurels (Ed: I think you mean no rest for the wicked).  Sam, the Duty Instructor, co-opted us to help with the evening flying which had 20 Scout Explorers clamouring to fly.  So with some of the club instructors we flew them with our IFP hats on.  I flew three explorers in the DG‑500/18 and Scratch did the same in the Cotswolds Gliding Club's K-13.  Scratch flew his fourth Explorer in the DG-500/18 so that he could enter a well-deserved "Pilot in Command" of a DG-500/18 in his log book.  It was getting pretty dark and car headlights on the nearby road were clearly visible during the final flights.  It was totally dark by the time we had finished packing the hangar and retired to the clubhouse.

Sam, the Duty Instructor, ready to hook on so that Gavin could fly a Scout Explorer

We will admit to beers being taken in the Clubhouse.  Frozen pizza was placed in the oven as the Amberley Inn had stopped serving food at 2115.  Dry roasted peanuts were supplemented by a great selection of cheese and biscuits from Scratch's Caravan.  Thanks!  It felt like a wondrous feast as we were both still on "Cloud Nine" after flying ten flights each during a challenging day.

We reconvened the next morning with the Regional Examiner for the course debrief, to sign off the paperwork, and to countersign our log books.  We had clearly entered the elite world of glider instructors as the Regional Examiner made the teas!

After settling our flying accounts we headed home, ready to avoid the fuel protesters rolling roadblocks on the M5.  In addition to that malarkey there were the normal snarl ups going past Bristol and some very heavy rain (two speed wipers required).  As we approached the West Country the sun came out and the weather became glorious.  It was a wonderful welcome home for the new Dartmoor Gliding Basic Instructors.

The final step is for the Chief Flying Instructor to check us out (Ed: Hopefully soon) and then give his blessing before we start earning our keep as Basic Instructors. 

Gavin Short