Dartmoor Gliding News - Monday 29th August 2022

With Richard Roberts sending out Skysight predictions of wave, although he was unable to attend himself, would it or wouldn't it? Early arrivals were keen and started rigging. Duty instructor Rick looked after setting the field up and getting aircraft ready. In the morning briefing there was more talk of wave which could be disturbed late morning unless you managed to get high enough to be above the thermal activity. With a One Day Course booked in and 4 trainees the day would be not too frantic.

During the brief the ODC arrived. On introduction the name did not match the calendar. Some head scratching and further checking of the calendar did not clear the situation. Meanwhile another face appeared, a second ODC candidate. So in the space of 15 minutes or so, a relatively casual day turned a little more frantic. But Dartmoor Gliding would rise to the challenge look after both candidates.

First to fly was Rick with trainee Steve Lesson. Frome the top of the launch they were soon seen climbing away obviously in wave. Having climbed to 4000ft Steve Spent some time trying to stay with the lift and learning about wave flying.

K13 climbing up past cloud.

Approaching a half hour flight it was time to descend. At one stage during the descent Rick and Steve found that although they were using full airbrake they were still climbing at 4 to 6 knots indicated.

Duty BI Scratch (Dene Hitchin) started flying with the ODC students. First up was Graham Johnson who had a 38 minute introduction to wave flying and use of the controls.

Graham ready with Scratch.

Next to fly wit Scratch was second ODC student Johnathan Hearn. A 15 minute flight followed by a 8 minute flight introduced Johnathan to the wonders of flight.

Johnathan keen to get going.

During the rest of their day with us, the pattern was repeated. Graham always seemed to get the longer flight, but Johnathan ended with more take-offs and landings. They both enjoyed their day and were often comparing notes as to how well they were doing.

Graham on a soaring flight.

Training continued with Dave Bouchier flying with Rick. During the flight Dave did have some stick time to maintain some flying skills.

Next to fly with Rick was Paddy Cosgrave. During a mostly thermal flight, Paddy goy plenty of stick time to hone his general flying skills. He also covered slowly flying at about 36knts, mushing stall, changing effect of the rudder and stall with wing drop.

Recently soloed pilot Mark Elliott had a soaring flight of 21 minutes. Only conditions prevented him adding to his solo record.

Mark keeping a good lookout.

Last to fly with Rick was Dave Archer. A short first flight was followed by a 31 minute soaring flight. Maintaining a good lookout and improvements to circuit planning saw him complete the whole flight coping with the difficult conditions.

What about those private pilots? I had taken the fourth launch in the Kestrel. A launch to 1400ft allowed me to push out over the valley to the east climbing slowly and then head south towards Tavistock. Contacting better lift I was soon climbing past 4000ft. Flying back north I climbed towards 4500ft which seemed to be the top of the lift. This gave me time to explore the area and just north of Mary Tavy I found sone stronger lift, although much lore rougher than wave, so I thermalled in this lift topping out at 5400ft.

K13 view of Plymouth

Kestrel view of Yelverton and Plymouth

View across Dartmoor. Fernworthy just visible in the trees.

Roadford and A30

A flight of 2 hour 13 minutes claimed flight of the day. Other solo pilots had good flights. Adam Hoskin managed 1 hour 54 minutes in his K6. Mike Bennett managed 30 minutes, his first solo wave flight. A radio call was heard, "you should have turned right not left". Reply " But I'm climbing in 8 to 10 knots". "OK then". After his flight he said he really enjoyed it although his description of flying through rotor is not fit for this blog. After a struggle for 22 minutes in rotor earlier in the day, Phil Hardwick took another launch for a flight of 1 hour 16 minutes in more traditional thermic conditions.

A good day flying which proved Richard Roberts predictions do sometimes work. Thank you to all at the field and new winch drivers, Mark and Steve for keeping a steady launch rate.

Peter Howarth