Dartmoor Glding News - Wednesday 10 May 2023

Ok! I'll put my hands up. I peeked; low cloudbase until the afternoon with an increasingly strong Westerly or NorthWesterly. So there would be a chance....to get our gear ready for the DGS expedition to Aston Down on Sunday (Ed: I hear that some early birds are departing on Saturday).

After consulting said weather forecasts I enjoyed my cup of tea this morning at home with the sun streaming in the window.  I was expecting great things in spite of the pessimistic forecasts (Ed: As you should. It's May for heaven's sake).  However, when I went out to my car it was drizzling.  Then, as I headed to the club it was raining.  So a damp start for the Wednesday Wavers.

The weather precluded getting the gliders out (Ed: Low cloud base) for a while.  Meanwhile privateers packed and readied their trailers for their departure on Sunday morning for the DGS expedition to Aston Down (Cotswold Gliding Club) (Ed: As predicted).

I had a chance to check on how Adam is getting on with GDK's wings (Ed: The paint should be dry by now) and observe, or rather listen to, Dave Bourchier's "silent castors" project to quieten the main wheel dollies when they transit the hangar and the apron.

After a number of jobs around the site and a lecture on circuit planning for Guy Balmer we got the toys out.  With just nine members on site, of whom two were trainees (Ed: Plus a late arrival - see later), and only two visitors expected we fielded one K-13 and one K-8.

Guy Balmer  receives instruction on conducting a Daily Inspection from the Duty Instructor

First up for a pair of launches was Guy Balmer with the Duty instructor, Mike Jardine.  The cloud base was high enough for flight operations and the wind blowing straight down the airfield made for launches to a good height.

Is the cloud base high enough yet for flight operations?

Guy carries out his checks prior to his second flight

Our first visitor for a trial flight was Edward Checkley who hails from Topsham.  He flew with Phil today (Ed: Full marks Edward for waiting out the poor weather and finally being able to fly with us on your fifth attempt).

Edward Checkley and Phil ready to aviate

Edward and Phil, canopy down, ready to launch

And they are "up and away" watched closely by the Duty Instructor

The end result; smiles all round

Then Mike took Steve Lesson aloft.  They were quickly followed by Malcolm in the K-8 (Ed: Malcolm had spotted the lightening of the clouds as the sun tried to breakthrough and spotted some definite texture to them).  Malcolm managed the longest flight of the day to date at a giddying ten minutes.  Peter saw that as a challenge a virtual "Throwing down the gauntlet". He accepted Malcolm's challenge and achieved 18 minutes aloft.

Malcolm readies FXB for his (first) soaring flight

Brentor church with Roadford reservoir in the distance

I flew the K-8 and disappointedly managed to find sink all the way around the circuit after a 1,450 ft launch. My second flight later in the day wasn't much better.  John then had a go and found lift and gained height and managed to soar for 18 minutes equalling Peter Howarth's earlier flight. Meanwhile there were more training flights under way for Guy and Steve.

John in a strange looking Mini-Nimbus

Phil's next visitor was another Phil, Phil Bindon, who had travelled with his wife from Weston Super Mare.  The flight was a 60th birthday present but due to "you know what" he was taking it in 2023, the year that he would be 64 years old! (Ed: DGS will honour your flight vouchers if you are so affected) Philip enjoyed his flights which were a far cry from his passion of cycling.  By now people were having second flights in the K-8. 

Hugh appears "seriously ready" for his flight

Phil briefs visitor Philip Bindon prior to his flight

Meanwhile Mike was enjoying a view of the Hamoaze to the south

Phil and Phil ready to fly

The vista to the south west and Kit Hill

The day was pressing on as our night owl, Andrew, appeared at the launch point blinking and squinting in the daylight, to take some training flights with Mike.

Night Flight (by Led Zeppelin)?  (Ed: If so, then what is Andrew trying to evade?  He is surely too young for the US Army draft.)

In the end, and inevitably, Malcolm took flight of the day, 38 minutes while Andrew and Mike managed to soar with him for 15 minutes (Ed: OK, Malcolm you have won! Peter concedes defeat).  After a spot landing Malcolm taxied up to the launch point to let John hangar fly FXB (Ed: Showing off?  Surely not? We don't do that at DGS).

An empty field; how long can Malcolm stay up for?

Malcolm spot lands FXB and taxies to the launch point ready for John to take the final flight (Ed: Very smooth)

Putting FXB in the hangar this afternoon was a near silent procedure due to the new castors that David Bourchier has fitted to the main wheel dolly.  Most of the main wheel dollies have now been fitted. I believe there is one more to do. Bravo Zulu DB.

Today was a  day that promised little but managed to allow us to make 24 flights, of which 12 flights were made by today's three trainees.  Five of the 24 were soaring flights, which included one of 15 minutes by the "Night Owl".

Gavin Short