Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 26th August 2023

Early in the day the Tors were shrouded in low clouds; there was drizzle in the air; there was a threat of thunderstorms later. So a non flying day then? Well no. There was an air of optimism around the club that there would be a flyable window providing the showers left us alone. The stiff breeze was from the WNW ie straight down the runway.

K8 FXB ready to launch.

We cancelled our One Day Course today as the late start would not have allowed time to give it the time these courses deserve. We did fly a couple of Air Experience visitors though. Ray Remon and Hazel Hunt were both lucky with the weather and completed their flights.

Ray ready to go flying with me

The weather did play ball and by 11.30am the cloudbase had risen enough to allow full height launches. Thermals were few a far between and were unusually tight. The trick was to find a climb to cloudbase ( 2000ft QFE at best) and stay there. With the breezy conditions and weak thermals it would be all yoo easy to end up back on the ground. Best flight of the day was John Allan flying the K8 for a creditable 38 minutes. Also of note were the 3 soaring flights by Mike Jardine in K13-DCCY. 

CCY launches again

Robin Wilson had a soaring flight with Mike. Climbing at 2 knots

John Allan's view of the airfield from 2000ft overhead Mary Tavy

The airfield was a popular photo target today. 
This view was taken by Mike Jardine from the SE corner

The weather was definitely better than forecast. The threatened thunderstorms did not materialise. Most of the showers passed us by requiring us to dry the gliders only a couple of times. All too soon it was time to return the kit to the hangar.

The early evening the filled with much hot air from the clubhouse as the Committee sorted out club business.

Steve