Dartmoor Gliding News-Thursday 11th August 2022

Today the "Thursday Tinkerers" emptied the hangar of all the gliders except for K-13, CCY.  Colin wanted to look at it before we de-rigged it ready for its Annual Certificate of Airworthiness Inspection and Airworthiness Review Check.  This allowed some of our new members to see what is checked on a glider and more importantly how a K‑13 is de-rigged (Ed: And thank their lucky stars that they weren't DGS members in the 80's when there wasn't a hangar.  The club gliders had to be rigged at the start of the day and de-rigged at the end of the day with no exceptions.  Richard and his Dad can tell you some tales!)

The hangar is emptied and the gliders are ranged
for their daily Inspection and the day’s activities

K-13, CCY basks in the hangar awaiting Colin’s inspection

Then it’s all hands to derigging stations

The Short weight holding the tail of CCY down

As the morning bore on a bright spark got the canopy covers out to protect
the cockpits and their instruments from the sun as it beat mercilessly down

For some this activity brought out the “Ghost in the machine”

There are canopy covers and then there are “M & S” canopy covers

While this was going one there was extensive hammering and grinding from Richard’s trailer, parked next to the clubhouse, as the rotten steel framework was cut out and prepared for new metal to be let in (Ed: So where is the Discus?).  The Roberts father and son combo continued this work for most of the day before strolling up to the launch point to say hello and a well-earned break.

DGS has resurrected the WWII meme of “Kilroy was here” with “Richard’s
angle iron was here”.  It was last seen behind the hangar door,
now it’s in the porch roof (Ed: I stand ready to see its next location)

To speed things up I texted Mike Jardine the names of today's trainees.  Accordingly, they were ready with their training cards to receive his brief when he arrived.  Muggins was the duty IFP/BI so I had to have our first visitor, of four today, briefed, strapped in and ready to go.  We would be launching from the west end due to a light breeze from the east.  However, it was unlikely to be strong enough for wave but you never know on Dartmoor.

As is becoming increasingly common the Met Office had a yellow warning in force for plagues, locusts, and pestilence (Ed: I think you mean warm weather) so sun cream and water, and plenty of it, was the order of the day.

The Tinkerers were not deterred.  Of the privateers Peter was first up in his Kestrel flying an “out and return” to Roadford Lake whilst trying to get his Oudie (Ed: A flight computer) to play ball with the task he had set.  Whilst not very successful with the operation of the Oudie he nevertheless managed 1 hour and 21 minutes to the northwest of the site. 

Peter, about to cross the A30, heads (tangentially!) to Roadford Lake

He was followed by Malcolm, solo, in the Twin Astir.  Being unencumbered by talking freight in the back seat he flew in the blue for two hours and 43 minutes.  (Ed: At this stage I would make a quip that there was still no sign of Robin to get his hours up.  However, I was informed that he did make his 150 hours and the Twin Astir syndicate will get a discount on their insurance renewal.  Well that’s cleared up, but Robin is still “Missing in Action”!).

Scratch had a couple of circuits in his Standard Cirrus but didn’t manage to get away.  Not deterred he took a spell on the winch and in the tower.  (Ed: Thanks for all your unsung efforts, they are appreciated).  Farmer Phil did manage to get away and almost beat Malcolm with a 2 hour 27 minute flight in his DG300 (Ed: Not sure where he went, perhaps more “meandering about”).

The first of our visitors was Levi Frew who is the head chef at Mount Kelly, the independent school on the outskirts of Tavistock.  His colleagues in the kitchens had bought him a flight voucher for his birthday and they accompanied him to the airfield to witness his flights.  On the second flight we achieved a good climb to a decent height and I introduced him to the effects of the elevator and the ailerons.  I also headed to Tavistock and I gave him a bird’s eye view of Mount Kelly before returning to the airfield.  A keen motorcyclist, Levi was impressed by the acceleration of the winch launches.

Mike observed that there were not many Tinkerers here today and often there was an empty launch point with all the gliders in the air despite some occasional challenging conditions.

An instructor’s delight – an empty launch point as all the gliders are in the air.

Instructor Mike enjoyed some hazy views out to Plymouth from the back seat of K‑13 FGR

First up with Mike was Steve Lesson who manged managed to find a good thermal to take them to over 3,200 feet and conduct some stall practice.  After 29 minutes it was time to land.  John Allan was next up for a 30 minute soaring flight, and some instruction, again with Mike.

Steve Lesson thermals, to the left again, to attain 3,200 feet (Ed: He did tell me that he has been thermaling to the right recently but he’s not yet been caught on camera – there’s a challenge!)

Then I made a “Friends and Family” flight for Colin, by taking Mark Goodright up for a brace of flights (Ed: I am sure our readers are well aware that it is the glorious 12th tomorrow so there is no need to go all Scottish on us).  Mark taught at the primary school in Harrowbarrow for many years, which is the village where I live, before turning his hand to construction.  The second flight was a soaring flight of 19 minutes and an introduction of the effects of the controls.  Mark’s initial apprehension faded away quickly as he enjoyed the gliding experience greatly.

Colin, about to take a flight in the K-8 with a spiffy hat (Ed: Good thing the K-8 has a big canopy), with Gavin and a barefoot Mark Goodright after flying in K-13, FSD

The next visitor was Felicity Bryant who flew a single flight with me.  She hails from Launceston.  Felicity was accompanied by her mum, who had taken extensive glider lessons at Lasham a while back but alas never went solo (Ed: Can we temp you back?).  I recognised them as they had visited the airfield before but the conditions weren’t conducive for flying visitors then so they had to postpone.

Felicity is enjoying her summer vacation before resuming reading Sociology, in her third year, at Manchester University.  The only link I could claim was that I attended the Manchester Business School (which part of Manchester University) before retiring from the Royal Navy.  Felicity’s initial concerns about airsickness were quickly dispelled by a smooth, relaxed flight (Ed: Felicity, good luck with your finals next year).

Felicity Bryant and Gavin ready to launch (Into the blue!)

While waiting for her launch Felicity deftly sidestepped my question about her professional thoughts of our gliding club and its disparate set of pilots (Ed: I think that is a very large subject, probably worth studying at Ph.D. level)

Felicity, happy to receive her certificate from Gavin after her flight

Our final visitor today was Deborah Pitts, who works in commercial catering and was accompanied by her husband.  They had travelled from Torquay.  Although Deborah had experienced a glider flight at North Hill many, many years ago she was happy just to take in the sights and the experience of flying over Dartmoor, without touching the controls.  We enjoyed three flights and after our final flight no one else wanted FSD so we parked it up on the track leading to the hangar, and retired to the welcome shade of the clubhouse porch.

Deborah and Gavin ready to aviate
with Instructor Mike and Junior Ella Barlow pictured behind awaiting their flight.

A delighted Deborah Pitts receives her certificate after enjoying three flightswith Gavin
(Ed: Stop kidding yourself.  She is just enjoying being in the shade)

After waiting for Deborah and me, Ella Barlow enjoyed a set of three flights with Mike.  One was an extended flight of 10 minutes (Ed: She will need a Glider Pilot log book soon).  As you might have gathered, by now, the heat had killed the thermic conditions so you had to take lift wherever you found it.

Mike’s last trainee was Andrew Downing who had a pair of flights (10 minutes and 24 minutes).  Serendipitously, Andrew managed to catch the last thermal of the day at 1800 which he managed to use to climb to 1,700 feet.  He then enjoyed an extended session of practicing good co-ordinated turns (Ed: Keep it smooth Andrew).

Andrew demonstrates to Mike (actually it’s to show Steve Lesson) how to thermal to the right

So 21 flights today (seven instructional, eight IFP/BI, and seven solo) in hot conditions but all the trainees flew with Mike and our four visitors were flown, some on soaring flights.  The normal band of privateers flew at the start and left the airfield while the normal selection of winch drivers and others supported those flying (Ed: Here’s a novel idea for DGS members.  Maybe next time we could mix up those who fly and those get the gliders off the ground.  There’s a thought to ponder).

At the end of the day there were some clouds which appeared far to the west that promised stonking convergence conditions if only we could access them (Ed: Oh for a motor glider or a glider with a turbo (self-sustainer).

Well done to all for keeping the field going in the hot conditions.  Remember, if in doubt, drink more water.

Gavin Short