Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 26 April 2023

So as not to jinx it there will be no mention of weather forecasts today as the last five Wednesdays have been wash outs (Ed: Do we need to change Wednesday's Duty Instructor from Mike "Jonah" Jardine?).

I was first at the club today and put he kettle on (Ed: "First things first").  Scratch arrived and continued his work in the AMF trailer. I provided him with another tin of Hammerite paint (Ed: Well, one has to support the workers!).  Peter and helpers empted his trailer of its long wings and arranged them on trestles on the hangar apron. This was in anticipation of visiting BGA inspector, Ian Mitchell, arriving to conduct an annual inspection and Airworthiness Review Check of the mighty Kestrel.

Golly, those wings are long! (Ed: Peter does the BGA Inspector charge more for having to inspect more real estate than us mere mortals with our piddly 15 metre wingspans?)

All the pieces are arranged for inspection (Ed: Is that a shy K-8 hiding at the back embarrassed with this ostentatious display of shapely GRP?)

The trainees today were David Moorley and Valerie Kiely.  Steve Lesson, although post solo, was due some refresher flights.  Nobly, he volunteered to be the first winch driver.

The wind was from the South East and necessitated the winch to set wind vectors of 6, and later, 9 knots (Ed: This is the component of the wind down the runway to allow the computer-controlled Supacat winch to deliver the right speed on the ground run and the start of the launch). Mike Jardine and Hugh Gascoyne took a launch in CCY and found some rotor and climbed to 1,300 ft at the leading edge of a cloud whose cloud base was at 1,150 ft.  The conditions were deemed OK for the K-8 and the trial flight at 1300 to fly.

Privateers started to rig their gliders. Phil and Robin brought their Twin Astir to the launch point.  By then we had two aircraft (CCY and GDK) enjoying the wave for extended flights. Steve Fletcher changed his plans and rigged his Open Cirrus too.

John Allan was the first pilot in the K-8 and flew for 38 minutes achieving a maximum height 4,333 ft above the airfield.

Having returned from their weather check flight Mike and Hugh get John Allan ready to launch in the K-8, FXB.

John's view of Mary Tavy through the direct vision panel of the K-8

If you didn't have a moving map in your glider the broken nature of the wave meant one had to have one's wits about your to ensure your location.  Here is John's, no doubt, reassuring sight of the east end of the airfield.

John climbing at over four knots up the face of the cloud (Ed: The wind is from the left to right in this shot)

John spies trainee David Moorley and Mike Jardine in the K-13 well below him. David enjoyed his longest flight to date (28 minutes) during the early stages of his flight training.

And here is Mike's proof that it was David climbing in the wave  (Ed: Its "Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey" when you are flying in wave).

While David was busy concentrating on climbing Mike contemplated the view of Tavistock and the very non-standard wave picture before him

David's workload was high as he traversed the front of the wave bar, to exploit the rising air, as it included some navigation; "Where am I with relation to the airfield?"  (Ed:  In the bottom left of the picture is the launch bus at the east end of the runway.  Phew!)

John's view was that it wasn't your classical wave also - But wave is wave!

After David Moorley's training flight Valerie flew with Mike for 18 minutes and she experienced the strange sensation of flying in wave and being near large clouds for the first time (Ed: This can be unsettling for some.  But as long as you remember that it is only water vapour (just a damp squib really!) it then seems less intimidating).

 

I'd been feeling a bit "Meh" and didn't think that I would fly today.  However, after a drink of water and an egg mayo roll (Ed: And the prospect of  wave) I felt ready to fly the K-8.  A smooth launch took me just to the start of some rotor cloud. I released the cable and was then in clear air and after turning north I was climbing nicely.  I am not sure if was proper wave or benign rotor (Ed: Perhaps it was the fabled orographic lift interacting with the hydraulic jump caused by the Mavy Tavy valley) but it was definitely working.

Whatever it was, the front of each cloud worked handsomely (Ed: A good naval expression there) and I was able to work the lift between 1,900 ft and 2,300 ft.  Often, I saw Phil and Robin below me.  I topped out at 2,750 ft QFE and I saw in the distance the Twin Astir had finally climbed higher than me (Ed: Well done chaps but where were you with respect to Willswothy range as you were a long way upwind?).  I headed north to the end of the wave clouds and turned west making use of the expected sink to traverse the length of Blackdown before heading home and joining the circuit.  What a great flight of 1 hour 4 minutes.

Steve Fletcher's view of the Twin Astir in the wave. "I did wave to you chaps, but I didn’t see you wave back!" (Ed: Groan)

Steve Fletcher proved to be "Man of the Match" today.  I'll let him describe his adventure:

"Having decided I was going to do some back seat flying in preparation for IFP training my plans changed when both the K-13 and K-8 took off straight into wave. I then managed to persuade Hugh to help me rig my glider but it wasn’t until 1200 that I managed to get airborne by which time the wave had changed. Thanks to my new TOST hook I got a great launch to 1,350 feet. I then struggled in 1/2 a knot up but after 15 minutes I managed to scrabble up to 1, 500 feet but things improved and once past 2,000 feet it was so much easier. For most of the flight the wave topped out at around 3,200 feet QFE but later I did manage 3,450 feet. The wave continued throughout the flight but towards the end it was breaking up with thermals here and there. A great flight in the sun frequently watching Phil and Robin in the Twin Astir and from time to time seeing Gavin in the K-8. Unfortunately some of the best wave was towards the North and over Willsworthy range, which was active, so I couldn’t go there. A nice flight of 2 hrs 36 mins according to my logger."

And then the lift stopped! Steve Fletcher tops out at 3,200 ft QFE  (Ed: Note the vario is reading zero - so the glider is still in rising air but its not strong enough to lift the Open Cirrus any higher). 

Steve  returns to the airfield in his Open Cirrus

Back at the clubhouse the team inspecting Peter's Kestrel broke for lunch.  Richard turned up having been to Dunkerswell to collect a trailer full of spares for our Supacat winches (Ed; So your SUV earned it keep then?  Thanks for the trip).  I offered him a flight in the K-8 as a reward but sadly he declined. 

I then drove the winch and observed the K-13 thermalling conventionally where the lift was expected.  The conditions had changed. There was a steady cloud base with sunlight coming through the gaps in the clouds in the east.  The cap clouds over the moors were still present but had risen since the morning. However, (Ed: You were going to start the sentence with "But" weren't you? Your English teacher would have been ashamed of you!) the accompanying blue hole in the cloud cover stayed resolutely in position tempting the pilots yet to fly to give it a go and try and connect with the wave. 

The blue hole marking "down wave" before the "up wave" cloud at the top of the picture occurring over the site

This is the view looking up the field moments later. The uniform grey sheet of cloud seems to promise very little

Today's visitor was Kate Gasior, who few with Hugh, the Duty Introductory Flight pilot.  Kate is from Poland and is a fitness instructor based in Plymouth for the summer.  Kate had a circuit, a cable break, and then a second flight with Hugh.  She told us that she enjoyed both flights - especially the launch failure! Although they didn't connect with the wave, judging by the beaming smile it looks like she took it all in her stride.  Following her experience she hopes to bring her dad to the club at a later date (Ed:Witaj, ojcze).

Hats and Shades.  Visitor Kate Gasior and IFP Hugh Gascoyne ready for their first flight together#

Kate is certified, after two flights and a cable break!

Steve Lesson, flying the K-13 solo, on approach

After a prolonged delay, due to sorting cables on the south drum of the winch, we resumed flying with John Allan taking a few short flights in the K-8 and Mike putting Steve Lesson through some re-familarisation flights concluding (Ed: Of course) with a practice launch failure at 500 feet causing Steve to go around and make a modified circuit (Ed: I thought that the winch driver judged that perfectly).  Then Mike sent Steve solo for two flights.  In one Steve managed to soar for ten minutes (Ed:  So you haven't forgotten everything over the winter then!)

Mike took a solo flight in CCY at the end of the day (Ed:  Instructors have to maintain their solo hours) and showed Steve how its done with a 12 minute flight at 1630.

So a great day's flying and unexpected conditions (Mrs Ed:  "So do you really need to pay those subscriptions to those gliding weather sites then?")  Eighteen flights and 8 hours 23 minutes of flying.   Currency restored for some including Robin who flew for 2 hours 10 minutes with Phil, but Robin did most of the flying.  Not bad for a grey overcast day when people expected the day to be "Meh"  (Ed:  Well done. You didn't mention the weather forecast once and so the conditions turned out alright).

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 23rd April 2023

Leaving home in thick fog I thought we would be having a slow start. The forecast gave an early clearance, light westerly wind and possible light showers arriving during the afternoon. Driving to the club it was obvious that the fog was only in the Tamar valley and the higher ground was in clear air. When I arrived, Richard was already there and we set about getting the ground equipment out.

Brentor under a overcast sky.

With trainees conspicuous by their absence, one K13 and the K8 were taken from the hangar to the east end launch point.

First to fly with me was Sean Westrope. The conditions were perfect for him to consolidate flying the whole flight. Three good flights boosted his confidence no end. Well done.

Sean getting reeady.

And on approach.

We welcomed one day course candidate, David Miles. After the relevant paperwork, briefings etc, it was time to start flying with Richard.

David and Richard.

And off they go.

After their second flight it was obvious that some heavier rain was on its way. Plans were made to fly the aircraft back towards the hangar before the rain arrived. We were not quick enough and the rain arrived, so the gliders were towed back, dried off and put in the hangar.

The only other flight before the rain arrived was John Smith in the K8 to maintain recency. John was at the club to fix a leak in the bus roof.

The rain lingered a lot longer than the forecast showers, so a very short days flying. Thank you to those who were at the club and did not fly. At least there was some flying.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 19 April 2023

Well, it all went wrong. The weather forecast that is. The wind was from the east. Skysight was forecasting wave over the site in the morning and then later in afternoon.  It all sounded good and so the privateers gathered, ready to rig.

At times it looked promising

Meanwhile on planet reality the ground truth was rotor, rain, low cloud leading to multiple cups of tea and members peeling off to work on various jobs: winch drogue chutes, tail wheel tyre and inners, flying accounts, and probably much more behind the scenes that I didn't see.

The retrieve vehicle lies idle while waiting for the conditions to improve

The Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, decided to get the laptop and projector flashed up to show various RASP pages.  The simulator was in use. Scratch worked on the AMF trailer and I ordered more Hammerite paint. More tea was drunk.  It turned very cold outside and the site wasn't an inviting page to be.

CCY, the one glider we got out, was held down and picketed nose and tail with tyres (Ed: Well at least it had a wash from the rain showers)

At the East end the wind was howling, but the persistent low cloud base and poor visibility in the valleys meant that flying was cancelled.  The winch was brought back from the East end.

The sun came out (Ed: The reality was that the wind was howling)

Despite the sun coming out and much upbeat discussion the Wednesday Wavers decided to call it quits and head home.

The Wednesday Wavers' forlorn attempts at talking up the weather to flying conditions

As several of us were heading out the gate Colin arrived and co-opted John Smith to help him with the inspection of K-8, GDK's wings.  We look forward to having GDK back on line soon.

Summary: Much "hangar flying" but no real flying.

Here's hoping for something better on Saturday.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 15th April 2023

Thee forecast was looking good. Light(ish) northerly breeze with lots of sunshine. The only fly in the ointment maybe the timing of the arrival the next frontal system due sometime late afternoon early evening. 

Early morning over the launchpoint

Early on it looked like the day might over develop but this was ultimately not an issue and the cloudbase steadily rose to over 4000 ft above the airfield ( about 5000ft above sea level ). Dartmoor pilots are not slow to exploit these conditions and the fleet were soon soaring. One of the most notable flights of the day was by Richard Roberts in his Discus who used these conditions the fly to North Hill ( Dunkeswell ) returning to Brentor via Buckfastleigh a total of 151km. His total flight time was 2 hours 43 minutes. I am unsure how long he was actually on task; I think he made a couple of starts after his initial climb.

Passing over Castle Drogo on the way to North hill

Richard's view of Teignmouth

Richard back safely

Another good flight today was from early solo pilot Mark Elliot. He used today's conditions and the K8  to score a double personal best; longest solo flight - 49 minutes and highest solo flight - just over 4000ft QFE ( above the airfield ).

Mark looking pleased with his efforts ...

... from 4000ft

By far the most pleasing flight today however was by Alasdair Barclay who made a significant step in his training by flying his first solo flight, Congratulations Alasdair

A very relaxed looking Alasdair ---

--- received his wings from CFI Rick Wiles

There were several visitors today. Quin Rothwell had an introductory flight with me while the friends and family of our newest member, Rachael Dewsbury,  Lauren and Shea Dewbury and Jessica Kneebone flew with Scratch.

Rachael Dewsbury's family group

Quin Rothwell

What a day. A first solo; A successful cross country; A couple of personal bests; and a new member all against the backdrop of some beautiful views.

The view towards Plymouth from overhead the airfield at 4000ft

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 16th April 2023

After yesterday's tales of 100km+, possible silver height, first solo and other soaring flights, what would be in store for the Sunday soarers. The forecast for a light southerly breeze, overcast and cloud base lowering as the day went on inevitably meant no soaring today. Arriving at the club the cloud base was just above the church, so initially no flying unless things improved.

After teas and coffees our attention turned to K13 FGR, which had been reported to have a click coming from the main wheel. We partially cleared the hangar to access the errant K13. The aircraft was lifted on the belly dolly to remove the wheel and strip it down. A bent axle and broken brake support lug were found. New axle and replacement hub were found. With everything cleaned and greased up the wheel was refitted.

Hangar elves working on the K13 wheel.

Whilst the K13 wheel work was being done, Richard arrived and wondered why we were not flying as unbeknown to us the cloud had lifted so flying could commence. The field was set up and K13 CCY taken to the launch point.

The top of the tors now visible.

First tp fly with me was Danny Surgeon. After a few weeks away due to the weather and other commitments, today would concentrate on getting Danny back up to speed.

Danny preparing to fly.

The trainees temporarily stepped aside for our visitor. Today Gavin flew Austin Jeffreys who came to the club with his Mum, Dad, and younger brother. Austin enjoyed the winch launch and the view of his school, Mount Kelly, on the outskirts of Tavistock.

Austin getting ready watched by mum and dad.

Off he goes.

Austin receiving his certificate from Gavin

Training resumed with Matthew Stone. Three circuits saw him honing his skills on the approach and landings.

Matthew getting ready watched by Andrew.

The last trainee to fly with me was Sean Westrope. Three flights saw Sean fly his first complete flight on the third launch. Well done Sean.

Sean all smiles ready to fly.

With the cloud base once again lowering, Adam Hoskin decided to take a quick last flight. As there wasn't going to be time for Andrew to fly, Andrew took a back seat ride with Adam.

Adam with passenger Andrew.

Thank you to those at the cub today. At least we managed some flying, when the day started looking as if no flying would be possible.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Thursday 13 April 2023

Yesterday, Wednesday, Storm Noa battered the south west.  No flying then, but activity at the gliding club continued unabated. 

I arrived late on parade due to searching high and low for replacement combination padlocks.  I finally had success in the small hardware store on Vigo bridge, Shields, in Tavistock.  After setting the combinations the club buildings are correctly secured once again.

A select work party; Peter and I, helped Colin refit the ailerons to the wings of K-8, GDK.  The new hinges had been previously bolted to the ailerons. Now the ailerons needed to be bolted to the wings.  We did the work in the hangar aided by head torches.  Locating the bolts, attaching the nuts, and tightening them up via the small access holes cut into the wings was exacting work.  But with a bit of ingenuity, the job was done.  However, more thought and dexterity were required to extricate all of Colin's tools from the wings prior to sealing the access holes.

Hangar elves hard at work reattaching the aileron to K-8, GDK' starboard wing

So today, Thursday, would be this week's Wednesday (Ed: Keep up at the back). Mike Jardine, the Duty Instructor, could recreate his pre-retirement routine by flying on a Thursday.  With the hangar doors open the result of yesterday's work could be admired.  The wings of K-8, GDK, had their ailerons again (Ed: They are looking very smart).

GDK's wings are complete once more

A small number of early potential "Thursday Triers", after tea of course, proved to be just enough bodies to try and aviate.  No visitors were booked and eventually twelve members turned up (Ed: Some considerably later than others, Andrew).  So Mike Jardine whipped us into shape for the day. 

Would you pull the gliders out the hangar with a sky to the north west like this?

The north-westerly breeze dictated that we would be launching from the east end.  The main questions were how damp would the ground be at the launch point and how long would the showers persist?

 

Ever the optimists, privateers Phil and Andy rigged their DG300 and Libelle gliders, respectively.  (Ed: The full title of the Libelle is the Glasflügel 201 Standard Libelle.  Libelle is German for Dragonfly).  For their troubles mother nature provided them with a free wash before their gliders were moved to the east end.

Phil and Andy rigging before the next shower

We waited for the showers and black clouds to pass and then we got  a K-13 out.  A shower passed. We got a K-8 put.  Another shower passed. Then another shower passed (Ed: I get it.  There was a certain Monty Pythonesque feeling to the day).  Then we sheltered in the launch bus as a longer shower passed.

 

Happy DGS campers all enjoying the protection that the launch bus provides

After 42 minutes, as predicted by Peter, the rain stopped. We dried the gliders and went flying.

Squeegees to the fore and getting ready to realign the gliders for take off (Ed: They had been aligned across the wind to protect them from any squally gusts)

Phil returns from his first flight. At 3 minutes it was the shortest full flight of the day! (Ed: There was a lot of sink about).

The first trainee up was Steve Lesson who flew with Mike to get rid of some cobwebs. Steve enjoyed a further three circuits during the day (Ed: So hopefully you are back in the groove).

More work with the squeegees

The sky looked better to the south west

Then Steve Fletcher took a short flight in K-8, FXB.

Steve prepares to aviate (Ed: Watch out for the sink)

A closer look at the cumulo-nimbus cloud building to the south (Ed: Fortunately it was heading away from the airfield but its always important to monitor Cu-Nims).

Alasdair Barclay also enjoyed four flights, one soaring and one circuit, followed later by a practice cable break and a low level launch failure demonstration.

It must be getting warmer.  Soaring hats replace woolly hats (Ed: Has spring finally arrived)

After much chatter Steve Fletcher flew in the back seat with Mike Jardine, twice, as part of his training to become qualified as an Introductory flight Pilot.  And Hugh Gascoyne, who is already and IFP, also had some refreshers with Mike.

Steve Fletcher finds 4 knots of lift straight off the top of the launch (Ed: This was Mike's view from the front seat for a lot of today's flights)

A thermic sky looking south towards the Hamoaze

FXB joins CCY in a thermal

Soon Gavin, in FXB, is well positioned on the opposite side of the thermal to CCY

Having climbed to 2,000 ft Mike is ready to start some exercises in CCY

Throughout the afternoon finding the lift proved challenging with many finding sink everywhere.  Those who "got away" found that the lift was not where one expected with the strong westerly wind at height, the lift often appearing "in the blue" rather than under promising looking cumulus.

Andy's Libelle waiting for the right moment to launch (Ed: Which was obviously carefully considered and resulted in a flight of 1 Hour 24 minutes)

The two Steves help Phil move his DG300 "Supership" on line" (Ed: Nah! This is more like two schoolboys posing next to a flash sports car that they aspire to own).

Hugh in contemplative mood in the K-8 (Ed: "To break, or to not break, the weak link.  That is the question?" to paraphrase the Bard).

Two wise sages put the world to rights

"Man of the Match" was Andy Davey with 1hour 24 minutes.  Followed by me in the K-8 (1 hour 4 minutes - well it was a club aircraft so I limited the flight to an hour), and then Phil with 51 minutes.  Once you got some height there was a lot of lift.  I found some 7-8 knot climbs towards the end of my flight and earlier in the day Peter enjoyed 10 knots of lift under the cloud streets.  He reports having to  use the air brakes to avoid going into cloud.  I must admit it felt almost sacrilegious to air brake from 3,000 ft all the way down to high key at 800 ft.  To add insult to injury as soon as I shut the air brakes there was 2 knots of lift trying to take me up again, which complicated my circuit planning. 

Privateers at rest (Ed: The sky is still working)

After 1600 it was clear that we are still in April as the temperature started dropping.  Colin came up from the workshop and had a flight.  David Archer, after working on the antennas on the launch bus and fixing the radio antenna in FXB, had a flight with Mike; a go around practice cable break (Ed: What a sumptuous reward for his hard work!)

Alasdair runs through the CB SIFT BEC mnemonic pausing on "E" because you never know what is going happen with these pesky instructors.

Andrew, back from his second soaring flight at almost 1800, prepares the aircraft for Steve Fletcher to undergo some eventualities training  (Ed: A go around practice break)

And almost at the midnight hour Andrew Downing joined us (Ed:  I think you are being unduly harsh. Andrew is just spreading the training load and avoiding bottle necks as the Committee is keen that members do so!) and Mike promptly popped him in CCY for two soaring flights of 11 and 22 minutes a piece (Ed: Andrew;  Soaring.  This is what all the fuss is about.  Your winter training has been simply that - winter training.  Now the real flying starts).

Andy might have won "Man of the Match" but the "Man of the Day" was definitely Mike Jardine who called the weather window between Storm Noa and the next frontal system coming in from the Atlantic. Twenty-seven flights (pre-solo, post-solo, and instructor training, refresher flights, soaring instruction for pre-solo pilots, soaring for pundits, and lots of training and practice of eventualities   Pretty impressive since we didn't start flying until midday due to the heavy showers.

At the time of writing RASP is forecasting 4.5 stars for Saturday.  Be there or be square.

Gavin Short