Dartmoor Gliding News - Tuesday 14 November 2023 - The Puchacz arrives

What, a blog on a Tuesday?  Alas, we didn't go flying but I went on a very special aviation roadtrip to LTB Glider and Motor Glider Services, better known as Les Clark's, which is at Ogbourne St. George, near Swindon, to pick up a Royal Navy two-seat glider that has been loaned to Dartmoor Gliding Society.

Heron Gliding Club which operated at RNAS Yeovilton was put into hibernation in 2020 for a number of defence reorganisational and other reasons.  However, the need for naval personnel to fly gliders, which is a recognised Adventurous Training activity has not diminished.  Andy Farr the former Chief Flying Instructor at HGC has been appointed as the Chief Flying Instructor at the Park (which is the home of the Bath, Wiltshire, and North Dorset Gliding Club).  He is encouraging naval personnel who would have flown at Yeovilton to fly at the Park.

This triggered an idea to encourage naval flying by personnel serving in the Plymouth/Devonport area at Dartmoor Gliding Society and build on the navy flying we have been conducting with courses from HMS Raleigh this year.  The quid pro quo is that we operate a navy glider at DGS.  I am pleased to report that after almost four months of negotiations and preparations I went on a road trip today to collect G-EHCC which is a Puchacz two-seat training aircraft.  HCC was built in 1992 for those who like these details:

Manufacturer: PZL-BIELSKO

Type: SZD-50-3

Serial no.: B-2048

Specifications (SZD-50-3)

SZD-50-3 G-CJRJ at the Vintage Glider Rally, Camphill in June 2011

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 16.67 m (54 ft 8 in)
• Height: 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 18.16 m² (195.5 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 15.3
• Airfoil: NN-8
• Empty weight: 370 kg (816 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 570 kg (1,257 lb)

Performance

• Stall speed: 60 km/h (37 mph, 32 kn)
• Never exceed speed: 215 km/h (134 mph, 116 kn) in smooth air

160 km/h (86 kn) in rough air

150 km/h (81 kn) on aero-tow

110 km/h (59 kn) on winch launch

• g limits: +5.3 -2.65
• Maximum glide ratio: 32
• Best glide speed: 85 km/h (46 kn; 53 mph)
• Rate of sink: 0.7 m/s (140 ft/min) *Minimum sink speed: 75 km/h (40 kn; 47 mph)
• Wing loading: 31.4 kg/m² (6.4 lb/sq ft)

There are previous connections between DGS and this Puchacz.

Puchacz HCC ready to go flying at RAF Bicester

The author under instruction at Bicester airfield in September 2002

Those fateful words "Would you like to try that again, on your own?"

And off he goes!

Any landing that you can walk away from is a good one

Soled! Smiles all round!

My log book recorded: 13 September 2002.  Flight No. 46.  Puchacz SZD-50-3.  G-EHCC. Aero tow. P1.  15 minutes.  First solo.  2,000 ft aerotow.  Thermalled 100' in weak lift.  Circuit modified to turn inside another glider in circuit.  Good approach/control. Landed close to other glider.

And here is HCC in its previous natural habitat at RNAS Yeovilton, flown by our very own Martin Cropper.

Martin ready for a check flight (Ed: Look at that rear harness. Tscch!)

Pre-flight checks

No, he's not going to land on the Harrier jump-jet ski ramp!

Rounding out

Touch down

And stop!

And to whet DGS instructor's appetites.  Here was my view from the back seat during the weekend at RNAS Yeovilton.

Enjoying the ride after an autotow (i.e launched behind a big V8 engined truck)

Approaching low key

Martin Cropper's and my Standard Cirrus, CNN, keeping some good company at RNAS Yeovilton.

Now that HCC is at DGS. The plan is to take one of the K-13s off line, rig HCC, and put it in the hangar. We can't keep the trailer it arrived in so we will take measurements and photos and kit out our refurbished AMF twin-axle trailer to accommodate the Puchacz.   For future developments the committee is exploring the option of building a T-hangar to accommodate the Puchacz.

The journey to Brentor:

Taking a break at Taunton Deane services

The Puchacz combo just fits an HGV parking slot!

Reversing the twin-axle trailer into position

Trailer secured

So a long day on the road for me, mostly in torrential rain (hence no photos at Les Clark's), but an exciting day for DGS as we "dip our toes" into the world of glass.  What will Wednesday bring?

Gavin Short