Saturday's Gliding Club News - 20th May 2023

The day started with an endless blue sky. The wind was strong and somewhat gusty from slightly east of north which is going to make approaches a bit turbulent. Launching was from the west end but we were unable to remove the fence as there were cattle in the top field. That meant that each landing would be long so the launch rate would not be up to the usual Saturday level.

An endless blue sky

It was a frustrating day for our early solo pilots. It was definitely not a K8 day, so they were confined to the K13 with today's instructor Rick. Not ideal but a least a chance to experience the circuit and approach in these conditions.

Early flights seemed to encounter sink but, initially, careful loitering near the south boundary would  be rewarded with some weak thermals coming off the north ridge. This strengthened as the morning wore on and it was not long before the K13s were managing regular soaring flights. In the middle of the afternoon the airmass changed and the wind veered further to the east making approaches a little easier. This change of air also brought some cloud with it which made finding thermals much easier. Cloud bases steadily rose until it was at 5500ft above the airfield (6300ft above sea level). Amazing for Dartmoor.

The view was a bit hazy today.
Here from 2500ft with Daniel Scholes in the front seat

And even hazier from 4000ft

We had several visitors today. Air Experience flights were had by Michael Gould, Philip Cockran,  Graham Bassett, Evan Train and 35 year lapsed glider pilot Tony Gent. We also flew 2 young naval officers Daniel Scholes and Kaymen Lewis-Johnson as part of the naval flying initiative arranged by Gavin Short. 

Lapsed glider pilot Tony Gent

Phil Cockran with Scratch

Evan Train

Scratch with our Navy visitors Kaymen and Daniel

Michael Gould

The private glider flying efforts today were limited to a couple of soaring flights by Ged and Malcolm in the Twin Astir and a day topping 1hour 45 mins by Adam Hoskin in his bright yellow K6CR who made the best of the much improved late afternoon conditions.

Instructor Rick Wiles needed to leave the airfield early so flying finish early at 5.15 after just 28 launches.

A day that was challenging on several levels but fun for those of us who flew.

Steve