Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 19th March 2023

A break from the recent low cloud, rain and wind gave a chance for the Sunday Soarers to fly. A light westerly breeze, cloud base up to 2500ft AGL (Above Ground Level) the early arrivals set about getting things ready. As members gradually arrived, they set about the various tasks and we achieved a very good first flight launch at 09:36.

First to fly with me was Valerie Keily returning on her 3 month membership to start learning to fly. Recent weeks have delayed this due to the weather. Three flights and two more later in the day saw her progress to start using coordinated controls to turn the glider.

Val Happy to be in a glider again.
Next to fly with me was Sean Westrope. Sean has been steadily progressing and today achieved that momentous achievement of completing his first landing. Well done Sean, keep it up.

To enable Ed Borlase to fly the K8, Richard to fly with new members Vandy & Zen Kanwar and for Phil Hardwick to be available for the imminent arrival of the first visitor today some redistributing of skills was required. This culminated in me going to the winch and doing a few launches to achieve some of the above. Ed promptly took his launch and stayed aloft for 1hour 1minute to achieve flight of the day.

Ed's view of Mary Tavy and Cornwall in the background.
Blackdown from the K8.
Richard and Zen getting ready.
Both Vandy and Zen had extended flights of 17 and 26 minutes respectively. Both gained valuable hands on the controls during their flights. First visitor Jo Curtis arrived with five members of her family. She was treated to two flights including a 26 minute soaring flight by Phil.
Jo and Phil before her first flight.
Next to fly with me was Matthew Stone. During a short soaring flight we looked at the symptoms of a stall and on another flight Matthew got a valuable lesson of what to do when running out of height in the circuit. Last flight of the day saw Matthew execute a good hangar landing without any prompts from the back seat.
Matthew getting ready.
Climbing well on the soaring flight.
Our next visitor, Emma Senior arrived with her family. Emma experienced a launch failure on her first launch. Unphased she enjoyed two further flights with Phil.
Emma excited to fly with Phil.
Off they go.
A good day flying where we all achieved something and equally chipped in with all the tasks required in keeping things moving. Thank you all at the club today.

Peter Howarth

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