Dartmoor Gliding News - Bank Holiday Monday 29th May 2023

Bank Holiday Monday (Ed: Another one!). The airfield was open today but it was NRI (No Rated Instructor) so only licensed pilots could fly.  Perhaps due to the recent expeditions, extensive soaring at DGS, and the plethora of Bank Holidays in May almost all DGS pilots stayed away.

Could the Fleet Manager's car be a clue as why DGS pilots were a tad Bank Holiday weary today?

Adam and Andrew, the "Night Owl", were at the club today.  On Sunday afternoon we had removed the fuselage of the SF-27A, FLZ, from its trailer so that Adam could start the annual inspection and the additional work required. This includes changing the rudder cables to ensure that the swages are "BGA correct".  When Colin, our BGA inspector, returns he will check Adam's work before issuing the Airworthiness Renewal Certificate.

So Adam's switching of targets indicates that our second K-8 is finally ready to be rigged and put back into service.  So on a Saturday a small work party will be required to rig it and then Adam and I will conduct the control deflection checks.

Adam starts work on the SF-27A. Note the BGA inspector's trademark head torch
(Ed: I see Colin has taught you well)

Apart from providing moral support for Adam in his work Andrew set about making sure that the club was ready for the forthcoming Expedition to Brentor from the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club.  This has has proved to be very popular and the North Hillites now plan to visit us on three days; Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  DSGC are bringing their own instructors, including Mark Courtney, our old CFI (Ed: Surely he's not that old is he?), who have flown from Brentor before so that they can introduce their colleagues to the site.

So the club house was tidied.  Visiting pilot forms printed and a modified flying list, to include the details of the visiting gliders, prepared.  The "Tea Swindle" has been restocked with supplies including soft drinks and water as it looks as if the weather is set fair for next weekend.  Two strops with black weak links have been built up and spare black links  placed in the weak link box (Ed: North Hill's K-21 uses a black weak link whereas our K-13s use brown links).  Andrew also checked the launch point computer and had a run through of the logging of multiple visiting pilots and handling the associated billing arrangements for our visitors for which we have reciprocal membership arrangements.

Although we have a further chance for preparations on Wednesday we do need to have some more DGS volunteers to help run the field on Friday.  Saturday and Sunday should not be a problem as they are normal DGS flying days.  So even if you are available for just half a day on Friday please step forward and to help DGS give our gliding colleagues from DSGC a warm Dartmoor welcome.  (Ed: And here is the carrot) DGS members will have a chance to fly in a K-21 as DSGC have very kindly offered us the opportunity of some flights in their K-21 that they are bringing (Ed:  Hands up who hasn't got a K-21 flight in their log book.  Here's your chance).  DGS club aircraft, and of course privateers' gliders, will also be available to be flown.

This could be you!

Despite having a long chat about the preparations for the DSGC Expedition there is one item I haven't raised with Andrew yet; that is where is the nearest Costa Coffee outlet, or would it be possible to get a mobile unit on site, to satisfy the caffeine pangs of our former CFI so that the DSGC Expedition goes well?

So no flying today but definite steps towards more more flying in the near future.

Gavin Short