Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 8th July 2023

Today we thought we'd mix it up a bit.  The Duty Instructor would be Mike Jardine (normally Wednesday's Duty Instructor) as Rick, our CFI, was away and with Scratch "Hors de combat" Steve Lewis and I picked up his duty as Basic Instructor.

Skysight and RASP were optimistic but in reality the rain didn't clear until well after 0800 and the day was less than forecast.  Our two One Day Course candidates, Janina Biggs and Peter Pedrick arrived early from St.Austell and sat in on Mike's daily brief. Following my brief to our visitors I took Janina and Peter to the launch point. After unloading the Jeep of the parachutes and other flying paraphernalia, I introduced them to the K-13 that they would be flying in later.

The "flat" sky to the east seen just before flying commenced

After the second K-13 arrived at the launch point Steve took Janina aloft. Then I flew Peter for an introductory flight too. Although they both enjoyed their flights they decided to go away and think about what they had experienced before coming back for the remainder of their courses.  Janina and Peter, we hope to be able to welcome you back very soon.

Visitor Janina Biggs looks relaxed in the front of K-13, FSD

And now with instructor Steve conducting their pre-flight checks

Low cloudbase but the sun was trying to break through on occasions

Janina receives her certificate, recording that she flew with us, from Steve

Happy people!  Gavin hands Peter his certificate.  (Ed: A veritable milestone as Peter last flew in a K-13 50 years ago, launched by an aerotow)

Steve Fletcher had brought his Open Cirrus, and Phil Hardwick his DG300, to the launch point.  That didn't mean that the weather was now playing ball. It wasn't and there were drops of rain in the air. It also looked wet over the moors to the north east. Milosz Wysocki and Steve Fletcher took the opportunity to use Mike Jardine for some stall and "stall with wing drop" training, and IFP back seat training, respectively.

Duty Instructor Mike Jardine quietly checks out CCY whilst deciding the paces that he is going to put Milosz through (Ed: Milosz these instructors are sneaky people - be alert!)

Milosz ready for some stall practice

Steve Fletcher continues his IFP training

After a spot of lunch I flew in FSD with Mike Bennett and we enjoyed some soaring on the second flight; a 21 minute flight which matched that of Mike Jardine who flew CCY solo at the same time.

Mike Bennett and Gavin take a launch (Ed: This one was for their five-minute circuit)

After Mike Bennett and Malcolm had finished their stints at the other end of the airfield I took over in the winch and launched Malcolm in the Twin Astir.

Even though the day was warming and some sun was shining on the ground the conditions weren't great. Then Phil took to the sky in his DG 300 to show how it was done.  Whilst visiting the hangar Heather whipped into shape (Ed: I think you mean that she convinced) Adam and David Bourchier, that it was time to fly.  Adam duly reported to the launch point and flew CCY solo for 21 minutes (Ed: Heather the Treasurer is proud of you for increasing the club income with extra flying fees).

Phil contemplates the myriad of buttons in front of him before going soaring for 57 minutes

Dave Archer clocked up a very respectable 25 minutes in the K-8, GDK.  Steve Lewis also decided to check out GDK, which has recently returned to service, and to find out what the fuss was about regarding the new seat harness.

Steve Lewis's view of the airfield from the north in the recently returned to service K-8, GDK (Ed: The weather is finally starting to improve)

Steve Fletcher decided that the conditions were good enough and took his Open Cirrus aloft for 54 minutes (Ed: So Phil just pipped you as today's "Man of the Match" then).

Steve Fletcher at 2,500 feet QFE (above the airfield) climbs at 2 knots into a grey sky (Ed: So what does the mnemonic "U/C S L" mean?)

The airfield from the north showing that the cloud base wasn't that high

Buoyed up by his soaring flight Dave Archer had another launch with me driving the winch only to  experience a real launch failure (a cable break).  He landed ahead very successfully in text-book fashion (Ed: Don't forget to get the Duty Instructor to countersign it in your pilot's log book).  He then walked the glider back to the hangar.  His lead was followed by Adam in CCY, and then Steve Lewis and Heather in FSD who all conducted "hangar landings"

The last flight was launched at 1636 (Ed: the Twin Astir inevitably!) and although an early end to flying we reluctantly put the toys, including the privateers, the DG300 and the Open Cirrus, away as the weather continued to brighten.  

Back at the club house the "Night Owl" delivered ten new soaring hats recently purchased from the BGA.  These are now available again for the princely sum of £9 a piece. Apparently the BGA are low on stock so don't lose them!

A review of the contents of the "Lost and Found" box revealed two soaring hats. Are there any claimants? (Ed:  The New York Yankees baseball cap is definitely not a soaring hat as it has a large peak - Maintaining a good lookout is essential)

So it was a quiet day with just enough people on the field to allow us to fly (Ed: Either members had seen a more accurate forecast than us or they are closet tennis fans). Twenty one flights of which surprisingly nine were soaring flights under a leaden and unpromising sky.

Gavin Short

 

(Ed: I see you mixed up your blog writing day too after you missed writing the blog for three consecutive Wednesdays.  Still Mark Courtney will be pleased that he has had less to read recently😁).