Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 12th July 2023

Whatever the forecasts predicted today it was worse in real life.  Approaching the club I could see that Brentor Church was lost in the clouds which extended down into the valley blanketing Mary Tavy et al. Stepping out of the car at the club it was immediately clear that a thick shirt and fleece today were not enough -  it was decidedly chilly.  Has winter arrived in July?  Then the rain started.

So tea first and then members attended various jobs around the club. 

Steve Fletcher flashed up the generator so that he could use the simulator to practice aero towing from the rear seat prior to his forthcoming Introductory Flight Pilot assessment at North Hill (Ed: That's Devon and Somerset Gliding Club to you Andrew.  Andrew observed that glider pilots have an annoying habit of referring to the airfield location rather than the club operating there.  It could be worse; "I refer you to the honourable gliding club of Torridge and West Devon", aka Brentor!).  Steve also reread the guidance on aero towing in the Student Pilot's Manual and Bronze and Beyond (Ed: Now at the 30th edition).

"What? The tug released me!" (Ed: Question for our pre-solo pilots: Why couldn't Steve be flying like this in real life?)

Mike Bennett headed off to exchange our empty Calor gas and Flo-Gas bottles, sadly without success.

Warning! DGS Tea making is at risk. We are down to one method of boiling a kettle.

The new supply of  soaring hats, despite the inclement weather, were flying off the shelves with Mike Jardine and Dave Archer purchasing one a piece (Ed: Members can pay by BACS or on a flying fees envelope indicating that you want the £9 price to be charged to your flying account).

In the Motor Transport Hangar work was under way on the new winch.  The refurbished gearbox had been fitted previously.  This was the opportunity to fit the modified gear selector fork and button up the gearbox.  The specially made spacer wasnt required but it was good to be prepared.  Then the mechanical team (Phil, Peter and Richard) turned their attention to the commissioning of the brakes.  They had success with the brakes for the left and right cable drums but the prop shaft brake proved to be more of a challenge.

(Ed: Despite searching likely places we couldn't find the Sky Launch Assistant which is the display that indicates the launching glider's speed for better winch speed control. It had been removed from the Gus launch.  If you know, please tell the new winch team of its whereabouts.)

Not two "Jags Prescott" but "Three winches DGS"!

A withering look from Phil! "Have you got anything constructive to say Peter?"

Richard concentrating harder than in a Bidford regional gliding competition on bleeding the brakes

"This winch business requires a lot of thought"

In the main hangar I carefully applied fresh perspex glue to the canopy crack by the rear DV (Direct Vision) panel in K-13, FGR.  Later Colin added a small piece of  an old canopy to strengthen the repair so this crack, which was made before DGS owned the glider, won't open up again.

David Bourchier started preparing the new winch drogue chutes that Scratch had delivered earlier in the week whilst in his self-imposed period of purdah (Ed: Scratch, get well soon).  Following discussions and inspections by Colin, FXB now has a battery installation with XLR connectors.  That's four out of five in the hangar that have been so converted.  CCY was also to have been converted today but on closer inspection the cable run from the front instrument panel to the battery could do with replacing so the work was postponed.  More connectors and fittings are on order so that the remaining batteries in the Tech Office can also be converted.

The tenth club glider battery, that has been missing for a long, long time, was found today (Ed: It's amazing what you find when conducting an annual inspection of a private glider).

The rain has stopped.  A gas less Mike Bennett considers his new trailer and the need for some strimming at the east east trailer park to allow for the repositioning of glider trailers from the west end glider rack.

Steve Lewis and Mike Jardine kick off the Zugvogel IIIB's Annual Airworthiness Review with a spot of cleaning  (Ed:  The Zug needs to get out of its trailer more often as "Sunlight is the best disinfectant", with acknowledgement to Louis Brandeis, 1913).

The Zug's annual inspection gets serious as Colin inspects the tailplane after completing the first wing (Ed: The 17 metre wings are a tad heavy).

Dave Archer started an investigation into a suspected defective battery in one of the air band radios but was then seduced by the prospect of flying to go and clock up his 31st and 32nd solo flights (Ed: Bravo!).

The Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, coerced enough bodies to take a K-13 and a K-8 out of the hangar and go flying, with pilots weathering continuing sprinkles of rain.  Mike had a relatively light loading today; no trainees, one prospective IFP to fly, and one solo pilot to supervise.  So Mike had a chance to make a solo flight in FSD.  Hugh, today's duty IFP had an even lighter load as our three visitors, two after consultation, cancelled due to the weather.  They will rebook when the outlook is fairer (Ed:  How much fairer do you expect it to get? We are in July).

The rain showers held off long enough to conduct a daily inspection on K-8, FXB before proceeding to the launch point at the east end

Mike Jardine and Steve Fletcher prepare for their third IFP training flight of the day

Steve Fletcher, IFP trainee, launches Duty Instructor Mike Jardine into a soggy sky (Ed: It can never be said that DGS pilots aren't determined to fly)

Later Richard demonstrates to Steve Fletcher how to soar from the back seat

This being July in the West Country you have to be able to soar in the rain too.

Its amazing what you can see amongst the green Devon fields

Dave Archer offers a cable to John Smith in FXB

And up he goes into an unpromising sky that would produce 13 minutes of flight

Following another shower John Smith squeegees the wings prior to Martin Broadway taking FXB aloft

The sheer delight of the Duty Instructor as he gets to fly solo in K-13, FSD

Despite no visitor flights today the duty IFP, Hugh Gascoyne still gets to fly

Summary:  DGS members made the best of the day whether constrained by the weather earlier in the day or whether keeping a lookout for weathers at the launch point later in the day. In this part of the world the lead wether often isn't equipped with a bellwether "so when flying its important to keep a good lookout!"  Overall today, I feel that we weathered the cold and inclement July weather which showed that the Wednesday Wavers aren't just fair-weather friends!

Flying summary: Thirteen flights included four IFP training flights of which one was a practice launch failure. There were five soaring flights and John Smith was "Man of the match in first place (14 minutes) and in second place (13 minutes).  Special mention should go to Richard for soaring the K-13 the longest (12 minutes) in spite of the talking ballast in the front seat.

Gavin Short