Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 25th February 2023

Today was a day of broken promises. Looking out early this morning at the blue sky and bright sunshine promised a warm, spring day. Wrong, the temperature was about 4C, with the wind chill from the very brisk northerly cross wind made this feel more like -4C. Artic survival gear was the order of the day. Promise 2 came in the form of a forecast NE wind. Surely this would give a well set wave pattern. Wrong, there was some evidence of wave effects, turbulent conditions in the air and on the approach with a few patches of persistent sink. wind on the ground was almost directly accross the runway but showed much more easterly content at flying heights. RASP was promising workable soaring conditions in the middle of the day with a 3 star rating. Hopelessly optimistic. 

Early morning approaching the airfield

So did we just turn around and go home early. Not a bit of it. Conditions such as these provide excellent training opportunities for low hours pilots. Duty Instructor Peter Howarth  was soon in the air with trainees and low hours pilots alike, Well done Peter.

Mackenzie getting ready to fly with Peter

Looking east from the north ridge

K13 overflying on approach

We welcomed Junior One day Course Candidate Joseph Wake from Tavistock. We started today with some time in the Simulator while waiting for the worst of the turbulence to blow through. This turned out to be a good move as on our first flight we found that the wave was enhancing the northly ridge and we could find reduced sink at 1200ft while we waited for a thermal bubble to carry us skyward. The trick was to centre quickly as we drifted to the SW in the strong wind and to head back to the ridge after reaching the 1900ft cloudbase or loosing the bubble. The thermals were only lifting from one spot on the ridge or in an area between the airfield and Brentor church but using this system we managed to stay aloft for a day topping 31 minutes before we elected to airbrake down to the circuit for a well earned rest before flying again.

Joseph waiting for his first flight

CCY launches again

The RASP promise has encouraged some members to rig their single seaters, All managed extended circuits the best of these was Andy in his Libelle with 21 minutes. There was also a 20 minute flight by Malcolm and Scratch in a K13 who only returned to the airfield because Joseph and I were ready for the glider.

Malcolm climbing well

Early afternoon we were also visited by Mike Morrison who enjoyed a couple of flights with Scratch. Mike's son and daughter both completed One Day Courses with us a few weeks ago.

Mike Morrison

After the flying had finished the Committee assembled in the clubhouse for a meeting in front of the log burner (where would we be without that?)

Today ultimately delivered some great flying and training.

Steve