Dartmoor Gliding News-Thursday 4th August 2022

It's Thursday so it must mean by I am writing the blog (Ed: I notice that if you try and step down from this duty the instructors on the field will inevitable stiff you, so why are you trying to resist the inevitable).

When I arrived at I was ribbed that I had scared the trainees away by sending an email highlighting that we needed to get all the club gliders out of the hangar, wash them, vacuum them out, and clean the canopies ready for the forthcoming BGA audit.  My mistake was mentioning the word "work".  Apparently the turnout would have been different if I had mentioned "Free tea and doughnuts"

After the privateers' gliders were rigged there were enough bodies to get all the club gliders out.  Three of five gliders were washed and hoovered before taking two K-13s to the launch point.  Objective partially achieved.  The hangar was swept, tidied, and some other tidying conducted.  Another objective achieved.  Colin, aided by John Smith, set about tidying the glider workshop and giving it a good spring clean.

And so to the flying.  Launching at midday Richard found lift in his Discus and was soon followed “up the wire” by Phil in his DG 300.  Then Steve Fletcher proved that we were all dreaming of soaring rather than doing it by promptly landed after five minutes (Ed: I see that this was the pattern for Steve throughout the day).  Maybe Peter would have more luck in the Kestrel.

"Lucky" Pete sets off in his Kestrel.

By now two trainees had arrived: Andrew Downing and Mark Elliott (Ed: Would today be the day?).  Meanwhile Richard and Phil had been aloft for half an hour.  Alternately there was blue, then promising cumulus over the airfield, but an ominous milky top cover to south was reducing the strength of the sun.

Then "unlucky" Peter landed his big wings after a five minute circuit.

It was getting near the witching hour.  Hugh, the duty Introductory Flight Pilot, took the Jeep down to the entrance to meet his first visitor to fly and of course attend the arrival of the Duty Instructor, following checking of the tyre pressures on the K-13s.

Steve Fletcher had another circuit followed by the Two Malcolms (Ed: Are they like the Two Ronnies but older?) who launched in the Twin Astir but not before there was some "Bambi time" as the retrieve driver had to herd two deer off the field.  Meanwhile Rick, the Duty Instructor, and Mike Jardine, another instructor, arrived at the launch point.

The milky top cover blocked out the sun shining on the “Two Malcolms”.

So instruction could now begin.  Andrew Downing was first up with Rick for a set of three circuits.  Andrew is now flying the winch launch after the first 300 to 400 feet, concentrating on his circuits, and flying the final approach down to the last 100 feet.  At height he also attempted a “mushing” stall and a “nose drop” stall (Ed: Great progress Andrew!).

Unfortunately the first visitors were a no show but serendipitously Brent Nicholson arrived early for his flights scheduled for 1500.  Hugh took him for the first flight and then Rick told me to strap into the back seat and earn my keep as a Basic Instructor.

Brent Nicholson raring to fly with IFP Hugh Gascoyne

The view from the tower of Helen Nicholson looking on
as husband Brent and Hugh Gascoyne prepare to aviate

Brent and his wife Helen hail from near Holsworthy.  Brent was due to fly back to Singapore presently and was thankful to be able to squeeze his flights in prior to heading back to the Far East.  This time Helen would not be accompanying him as they are renovating a house (Ed: So I see who has the better deal here, and not just on the airfield!).

Brent ready to go up for a second flight, this time with Gavin

Brent and I managed to find a good climb to 3,000 feet QFE and quickly established ourselves in a working height band of 3,200 – 2,500 feet.  Just perfect for me to deliver the full set of Basic Instruction lessons; lookout and the primary effects of the elevator, ailerons and the rudder for the first time for real (Ed: When you can get height delivering the patter is so much easier and relaxed).  Brent tried flying each of the demonstrations himself and soon after was flying contentedly with me on the rudder pedals to coordinate his movements on the stick.  It was a glorious flight and hugely enjoyable to be implementing all that Basic Instructor training.  After a contented Brent had his fill I started making preparations to return to the airfield.  At that moment we were recalled by Rick, so out with the airbrakes to descend to “high key” and into the circuit.  Brent observed the greater angle into wind required to maintain a true track down the airfield due to the increased crosswind, compared to when we took off.  Helen stated that she had never seen Husband Brent smiling so much (Ed: So all good then).

A delighted Brent, still up there on “Cloud Nine” receives his certificate from Gavin 

Rick wanted use the glider to conduct annual Introductory Flight Pilot revalidation check flights with Hugh, which of course included the ubiquitous simulated launch failure and the ensuring long walk back to the launch point.  He passed (Ed: Congratulations, but there is a way to avoid IFP revalidation checks by going on a Basic Instructor course at Nympsfield and Aston Down…)

Fresh from his “deerherd” duties at the winch Mike Bennet took “a set of three” in his K6 which included a tidy 15 minute soaring flight in the pleasant conditions.  Rick then flew his next “set of three” with Steve Lesson which in reality was a single soaring flight of 33 minutes where Steve progressed his upper air work.

Steve Lesson climbs strongly through 2,000 feet at 6 knots
(Ed: This is becoming a common photo.  Has anyone seen Steve thermal to the right?)

What of Richard's flight?  He managed a cool 3 hours 39 minutes.  Reportedly he went everywhere in a complicated “cat’s cradle” which encompassed Brentor, Okehampton East, Brentor, Launceston, Brentor, Okehampton East, Brentor, Yelverton, and then back to Brentor (Ed: Stop it!  I am getting dizzy) which added up to a 165 km flight.

What of Farmer Phil?  In contrast to Richard’s purposeful flight Phil, in his normal laid back fashion “meandered around the A30” for 3 hours and 3 minutes.  When pressed he did admit the conditions were good and that he could have flown home to Holsworthy (Ed: It would have saved on diesel in your van).

Richard's view of the low water level in Meldon Reservoir

What of “lucky” Peter?  He did indeed get lucky with his second launch and enjoyed a soaring flight of 2 hours 23 minutes in a triangular area bounded by the airfield, Sourton, and Roadford Reservoir

Peter heads north taking in the local landmarks; Lake Viaduct and Bearslake Inn on the A386
(Ed: The A30 is in the top left of the photo)

Looking further north Meldon reservoir is visible

Proof that Peter was at 3,400 feet as he heads towards Meldon Reservoir
(Ed: Good choice of airband radio Pete!)

What of John Allan?  John also enjoyed some local soaring with a 57 minute flight and he reports that there were some strong thermals and cloud streets once he got up high.  Overall, he had a lovely flight.

John Allan looking north east towards Meldon Reservoir and the Northwest of Dartmoor. 
At around 3500ft QFE, overhead Lydford Gorge area

What of the “Two Malcolms”.  They enjoyed one hour and 34 minutes of soaring in the local area in the “Gentlemen’s carriage” that is the Twin Astir (Ed: I note that Robin wasn’t aboard so yet more logbook hours missed).

As an observation, there seemed to be a magnetic attraction to Meldon Reservoir for our soaring pilots today.

Rick flew his last instruction flight with John Smith for a straightforward circuit.  Then Mark Elliot flew with Mike Jardine for Mike’s last trio of training flights.  On their final flight Mark managed to creep up to 1,800 feet (Ed: The cloud base was still 3,000 feet QFE – This is all you’re flying now - try harder).  Mike had a chance to admire the scenery and take some “happy snaps”,

Mark Elliott flew with Mike Jardine for 27 minutes.

Mike Jardine’s view of Tavistock, the Tamar estuary, and Plymouth in the distance.

“Spot the glider”.  Mike captures a K13 launching (Ed: It really is there)

The Kestrel, in its plus-sized belly dolly, ready for the "big wings" to come off
(Ed: I note that no one is in sight to assist at this critical juncture).

John helps Peter secure the Kestrel’s belly dolly prior to wheeling the fuselage into its trailer

So a less hectic Thursday than last week with some nice soaring flights . Thanks to all the winch drivers who doubled up on the retrieve driving too.

Finally, this carefully wrapped piece of angle iron was delivered to the club earlier in the week.  Apparently it’s to enable Richard to fly faster.  Answers on a post card, please.

Gavin Short