Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 19th July 2023

The weather gods appear to be looking on the Wednesday Wavers favourably today. Rain overnight but a nice north-westerly/westerly breeze forecast with some reasonable soaring to be had.  Our privateers thought so too and fielded a DG300, a Discus, an Open Cirrus, a Std Cirrus WL, a Std Cirrus, a Mini-Nimbus, a Kestrel, a Libelle, and a K-6.

Hugh, the duty, IFP had a busy day scheduled with four visitors for trial flights.  On the other hand Mike Jardine, the Duty Instructor initially had just one trainee David Moorley to fly.  David's flying was less rusty than either David or Mike expected. 

We had a walk in from Cornwall Flying Club (power planes) who operate out of Bodmin Airfield to have a look around, prior to coming back at a later date to fly a glider.

The presence of the privateers didn't put off John Smith and David Archer taking a launch or three in the club K-8.  On John's final flight he was rewarded with 35 minutes of soaring.  By 1245 nobody, including Mike Bennett in his K-6 (Ed: Its for sale!) was staying up so I happy to continue launching gliders at the winch.

From the winch's viewpoint we seemed to operating in a big blue hole with few managing to stay up.  The sky to the north east over the moors looked glorious which was forecast to be a blue hole and not us! Later Mike Bennett relieved me on the winch while our Duty IFP continued to launch our visitors into the sky.

This is the sky that got the privateers rigging

The second wave of the privateers rigging

Pilots waiting for conditions to improve

The grid starts to form at the launch point. Andy decides to test the conditions

After lunch we welcomed Ella back after her GCSEs and a family holiday.  Despite the lay off she showed the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine that she had not lost her touch by soaring for 30 minutes on their last flight.

Ella climbing well in 2 knots to attain 1,600ft

The cloud base starting to rise as the afternoon continues

The airfield viewed from the east (Ed.  In the north-westerly breeze the hot spot seemed to be over Mary Tavy) 

An enticing cloud street but there is a K-8 and a DG300 on approach.  Can you spot them?

Mike and David Bouchier in K-13, FSD watch Gavin join them in his Standard Cirrus

What of our busy IFP today?  At his own admission Hugh's IFP duties this year have been plagued by poor weather and cancellations so it was a delight to see him flying a full day of visitors today.

First up was David Cleeve who had driven up from Cornwall with his wife.  His daughter was unable to fly so Dad took a turn.  Two turns actually.

David Cleeve receives his certificate from Duty IFP, Hugh

Hugh's second visitor was James Richmond who enjoyed a two flight voucher which included some extended soaring.

James looks delighted with his gliding experience with Hugh.

Third up was Sam Gardiner, a local lad from Plymouth, who came to Brentor with his family.  Sam enjoyed a extended soaring flight with Hugh, who had to work hard in the conditions.

Sam receives his certificate (Ed: that sky that they have just enjoyed looks lovely)

Hugh's fourth and final visitor today was Owen Roberts who had enjoyed a military career as a parachute instructor that culminated in commanding a multi-disciplinary Adventurous Training unit that included gliding.  Alas, he never got a chance to try gliding so he was finally able to do so with us today.

A relieved Hugh with Owen Roberts, that Owen didn't decide to step out and try one our our new parachutes (Ed: He said he wouldn't!).

Flying continued until 1800 with Rick flying with David Moorley for a hangar landing.  Our CFI had made a guest appearance with the Wednesday Wavers and also flew his Standard Cirrus, and conducted some IFP training with Steve Fletcher.

Forty-four flights today made by three club gliders and nine privateers. "Man of the Match" was John Allan in his Mini-Nimbus for a flight of 2 hours 19 minutes, followed by Peter in the Kestrel with 1 hour 7 minutes.  There was a very creditable 41 minutes by the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine who look off late in the day in the Standard Cirrus he shares with Rick.

It was a challenging day despite the promise of good soaring conditions.  The low cloud base over the airfield put paid to that.  However, It was good training trying to thermal in difficult conditions in the close proximity of other gliders.  FLARM in the club and private gliders emphasised the need for a good lookout by all pilots.

Gavin Short