dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 9th July 2022

The forecast gaves a long hot day with high pressure and a light(ish) northerly breeze. RASP was suggesting fair soaring potential and a blue day. Odd that as the forecast atmospheric sounding was showing cloud potential with bases at 3000ft. As always the only way to know for sure is to go flying. A hard life but someone's got to do it. 

The 3 K13s fielded by the club were joined a veritable smorgasburg of private aircraft including the Twin Astir, a Standard Cirrus, a Libelle, and a brace of K6s. 

From early on it was apparently not going to be the blue sky day of the forecast but instead we were treated to, what I usually refer to as a "Simpson's" sky with lots of individual clouds marking thermals. Excellent.

Preparing for the day

K13 GDCCY launches into a "Simpson" sky

The enthusiasm today was well founded and repayed in spades. The longest flight today was Adam Hoskin in his bright yellow K6 at 2hr10 closely followed by Phil and Malcolm in the Twin Astir at 2:01. The were several flights in the 1 hour + category. Even K13 G-CFSD soared for more than an hour with One Day Course candidate Tim Sheppard and myself. Cloud base was never particularly high topping out at about 3000ft above the airfield.

Looking south over Tavistock to the Tamar Estuary beyond

If you look very carefully Adam in the bright yellow K6 
is below at the start of his day topping flight

Visibility today was stunning with views to the north and south coasts. As the day wore on the view to the north deteriorated at little as the sea air moved inland in the northerly breeze.

Training today was operated on a shared basis between Rick and Mike which gave both of them the opportunity to fly their Std Cirrus when not required in the K13. Good plan. The training seems to be progressing well.

Trainee pilot Steve Inglefield climbing well at 2550 ft

Another view of Tavistock

CCY on approach

We have several visitors today. As mentioned previously Tim Sheppard was our One Day Course who enjoyed lots of soaring with me. Other visitors today included voucher holders Philip Gordon  ( flown by Scratch), Robert Kennington ( flown by Gavin ) and Mark Lines ( flown by me). Scratch also flew our friends and family visitors Isobel Boulte and  Claire Elliot while Gavin flew Brian Rodda.

Tim Sheppard ready for his One Day Course

Mark Lines and myself

Gavin presents Robert Kennington with his certificate

Brian Rodda with Gavin

Claire Elliot with Scratch

The heat was very tiring today and by 5.30pm we had really had enough and returned the toys to the hangar and the members to the somewhat cooler clubhouse.

An impromptu instructor meeting? 

A great club flying day with lots of local soaring and a total of 38 flights.

Steve Lewis