Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 3 May 2023

An early start for the Wednesday Wavers with a weather check flight at 0927 by K-13, FGR.  It was obviously going to be a serious check as both Assistant Category Instructors Mike Jardine and Peter Howarth took the flight.

Whether DGS members would be able to fly was in the balance due to the strength of the wind today.  At the east end, where we had set up the winch, the wind was starting to howl in the Mary Tavy valley; a sure sign of interesting things to come.  What wasn't in the balance were the trial flights.  The conditions were obviously not suitable today so the 1100 and 1400 flights were sadly cancelled.

The hangar was emptied early and two K-13s were taken to the launch point at the west end (Ed: It was deemed too windy for the K-8 to come and play so he sunbathed all day)

The wind was by now a strong south easterly as we watched Mike and Peter launch to a good height and see whether they connected with any lift.  The privateers watched as well with bated breath (Ed: I am surprised that they had any breath left at all with the strength of the wind on the ground).

Our intrepid meteorologists were back on the ground after just six minutes. They had enjoyed a 1,600 ft launch.  Although they didn't find any lift they encountered rotor at 1,000 ft on the downwind leg.  We were cleared to get another K-13 on line so that mutual flying as well as the normal training could take place.

Members eagerly await the readout of the weather check flight

First up in CCY, the second K-13, was Peter with John Allan so that John could see what the conditions were like before, potentially, rigging his Mini Nimbus.

In the morning there was some cloud cover and poor visibility

Indications of wave starting to develop on the moors beyond Mary Tavy

Steve Lesson coming in to land after an early ten minute sortie

And Steve rounds out nicely in the gusty conditions (Ed: Note the antics of the windsock)

After Steve's early flight Mike turned his attentions to trainees David Morley and Guy Balmer for a pair of flights a piece.  After lunch Guy took a third flight with Mike and they enjoyed 28 minutes in the wave.

Hugh and Gavin took a pair of flights in CCY to acquaint themselves with the conditions and planning of much higher circuits and final turns accordingly.

A strange looking cloud to the north (Ed: Cumulus with a top suppressed by wave perhaps?)

CCY sharing the wave with FGR at 3,000 feet QFE

Mid morning, we welcomed visiting pilot, Paul Davie, who is a Basic Instructor at London Gliding Club.  He last flew with us in December 2019 so I brought him up to speed with the club developments and acquisitions since then, which included all three K-13s (Ed: We have been busy).  He had a chance to fly with Mike Jardine, the Duty Instructor.

Visiting Pilot Paul Davie took two flights with Mike, but sadly they didn't connect with the wave  (Ed:  Hats and gloves: Despite the sunshine it was cold in the easterly wind)

Canopy down; Paul and Mike keenly anticpating the wave

Recently-joined member Valerie Kiely came to the field but opted not to fly so that she could learn how to drive the retrieve and handle the cables under the expert tutelage of Phil and later Richard (Ed: Thanks Valerie.  It was a smart move as its warmer in the pick-up's cab than standing on a blustery and windswept airfield.  It's got a surprisingly good heater!).

Blackdown and the airfield beyond (Ed: Top left) seen from 3,500 feet QFE as Steve Lesson continues his climb to 4,500 feet.

Steve Lesson continues his climb, currently at 3,600 feet QFE

Looking back to the airfield again, now at 4,000 feet QFE

And looking out the other side to the moors and Princetown, in the far distance

For most of the day we enjoyed glorious sunshine (Ed: The sun halo is caused by ice crystals in high-altitude cirrus clouds and is a sign of poor weather, normally rain, approaching in the next 24-48 hours)

While Malcolm was busy climbing in the wave Peter's attention was also caught by that "strange looking" cloud to the north

Peter observes Malcolm climbing through 3,000 feet at a steady 1.5 knots up (Ed: That's 150 feet per minute)

Malcolm watches Mike Jardine and John Allan in FGR, far above him, heading south towards Plymouth

Mike Jardine, ready for another flight in the wave, waits for Steve Lesson to complete his checks

Phil steadies the canopy in the increasing wind prior to he and Gavin taking a soaring flight to 4,500 feet QFE

Burrator reservoir as seen from over the golf course at Tavistock

Phil and Gavin at 4,500 feet QFE.  "We're lovin' it!"

The view from the south of Tavistock. From left to right: The Plym estuary, Cattewater, Plymouth Sound, St.John's lake, the Tavy estuary, the Lynher estuary, Kingsmill lake, and the Tamar estuary

Yelverton roundabout and the remnants of Harrowbeer WWII airfield and aircraft aprons (Ed: In the centre of the picture)

Richard flew (his Discus). Then, after most had had a chance to experience the wave, Mike had to call time on the day's flying.  The rotor on the launch and the turbulence on the approach were getting worse due to the increasing wind speed.  So we started to pack up.

At the east end Peter reels in the unused cables while John gets ready to move the tractor and winch back to the MT hangar

The retrieve driver's view of the wave bars still present, downwind of the site

Back in the clubhouse Colin engaged with Paul Davie on a range of BGA inspector topics that were of mutual interest.  Paul settled his account and teas were offered to those that needed them (Ed: You didn't think you would read a DGS blog that didn't mention tea did you?).

Colin had popped to the club briefly to deliver the Airworthiness Review Certificate and accompanying payment for K-8, GDK after its protracted maintenance.  We look forward to rigging it and then flying it again.

In summary:  Sunshine. Wave to 4,500ft QFE. 19 flights. Seven flights in the wave totalling 4 hours 44 minutes. A good day.

Gavin Short