Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 29 November 2023

Today, I think November wanted to make amends and prove that it wasn't as wet as October.  Whatever the reason the Wednesday Wavers took advantage of the calm conditions and went flying.

A number of other activities were underway. Firstly, I addressed the inevitable snag list for the two new GRP gliders. Nothing major, just things to be worked through such as producing a weight and balance chart in kilograms for those members who have left the counting schemes of the last Millennium behind them.

Secondly, Scratch was rebuilding the yellow cable pull-out trailer after it sustained some damage on the potholed track recently (Ed: Yes, folks its getting near to track repair time again).

Thirdly, Phil got both winches out so that he could continue trials on the manual Supacat winch.

With that the gliders were pulled out of the hangar, inspected and taken to the launch point except the Puchacz (Ed: Miłosz told me that I have got the Polish pronunciation of the glider all wrong - Its pronounced as two syllables but the "c" is silent.  On further investigation I discovered that I have been pronouncing his name wrong as well. The Polish ł is a "w" sound. On behalf of the club Miłosz please accept our most profound apologies). 

So with this we segue into a fourthly.  Eagle-eyed Peter (Ed: Did you see what I did there with our "Eagle Owl" glider?) noticed during his daily inspection of the Puchacz that only one of the elevator trim tabs was moving.  A small team quickly identified an improbable problem. Under Colin's supervision normal operation of the trim tabs were restored and the glider was taken to the launch point. That allowed Colin to resume his work on CCY's starboard wing rectifying items identified in the annual inspection.

The maintenance team deal with an improbable problem

Fifthly, David Archer was fettling.  He was replacing the non-operational wind-powered ventilator with the latest Flettner ventilator in his new (Ed: New to him!) trailer.

The forecast was for light airs which normally means that we would fly from the east end. However, a few forecasts had the wind filling in from the east.  So reluctantly we flew from the west end and tolerated the associated slower launch rate.

First to fly was John Smith with the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine.  Mike initiated a practice launch failure. John managed it well and was cleared to fly the K-8.

Next up was our only trial flight of the day; Dane Williams who is in the process of relocating to Harrowbarrow, Cornwall from Wiltshire.  His sister had bought him the voucher as an encouragement to return to gliding. He had been a junior glider pilot many years ago (Ed: As ever adult life gets in the way of having fun).  He very much enjoyed his flights and is determined to return to the fold once he has completed his move (Ed: We look forward to seeing you back in the air soon).

Hugh and his trial flight candidate, Dane Williams, getting ready for his flight

And off they go

With that Hugh was dragged away to fly with the Duty Instructor to test the manual winch. Two aborted take offs later Phil had proved that the manual winch's fuel system needed some more work and Hugh was current on launch failure practice (Ed: I always maintain that the instructors are devious souls).

Then our only trainee of the day, David Moult, enjoyed Mike's undivided attention as David made three flights, with little input from Mike, as they enjoyed the silky smooth conditions of the day.

David Moult, almost unrecognisable with out his bright orange toweling soaring hat, shares a joke with Malcolm W-J prior to his third flight.

David Moult correctly trimmed and ready to practice his scan cycle (Ed: Ignore the confusing blue hat!)

An interesting sky

A watery winter sun in a west country sky photographed while wafting under a wall of cloud (Ed:  I know Mike didn't provide a caption for this photo but that is completely over the top)

Hugh and Peter returning in the Puchacz after a conversion flight

With that the solo pilots enjoyed flights in the K-8 (Ed: It was obviously a K-8 day as the Astir CS77 was left basking in the sunshine after the Fleet Manager had completed his snagging).  Mike Bennett, John Allan, Malcolm W-J, Martin Broadway, John Smith, and David Archer (Ed: Having completed his fettling) all tried their hand. Man of the Match was John Allan with 8 minutes.

Old and new; wood and glass

Meanwhile, Hugh was getting the Lion's share of the flying today by taking a set of three type conversion flights in the Puchacz with the Deputy CFI, Peter, finishing with a fourth flight which was an inevitable launch failure. Hugh obviously acquitted himself well as he was cleared to fly the Puchacz.

 

Phil and Hugh (hidden behind the starboard wing) manoeuvering the Puchacz around the puddles and the boggy bits at the launch point

Having made two flights in the front seat Hugh is delighted to be in the back seat

Even the Eagle Owl logo wasn't spared some mud splatter when retrieving the Puchacz back to the launch point

Mike Bennett prepares a strop with a red weak link to launch Hugh and Peter in the Puchacz

After flying David Bourchier, Mike Jardine strapped himself in the Puchacz for his conversion flights.  As they were preparing I noticed condensation forming on the wings. The air temperature was dropping as the afternoon progressed. Sure enough when they were ready to launch and closed the canopy it started misting up. So with that the day's flying ended after a modest 20 flights.

The conditions were calm (Ed: See the windsock) so what was causing this cloud formation?

Back at the apron glider wheel boxes were washed out to clear accumulated grass and mud before we packed the hangar.  We were impressed by the determination of our very own "All-Weather Biker" to get soaked while lying on the wet apron.  Hugh justified his keenness by stating that since he had the most flying today, nine flights, (Ed: That was true. The Duty Instructor had only managed a paltry six flights today) he must have produced most of the mud in the wheel boxes.

The hangar was quickly packed, members getting used to the new packing scheme.  They managed to avoid the wet paint on the tail and wing tip dollies of the Astir CS77 sat on the bench which received their first coat of red paint today (Ed: For better visibility and safety for items that must be removed before flight).

Hangar packed including the original trailer and the CFI's new tyre trailer (Just like a Betterware catalogue.  This you never knew you needed in life until you saw it in the catalogue)

With the hangar door shut, the ground equipment and flying gear put away members, dispersed into the night.

So had November redeemed itself by not being as wet as October?  We weren't convinced but will admit we did enjoy the summer's day conditions today (Ed: You mean apart from the temperature difference!).  We await the Met Office rainfall figures for the month.

As we move into December it will be colder which may help the still damp airfield. To get our pilots in to a festive mood there may be some snow too.

 

Eurasian eagle-owls are frequently at home in harsh wintry areas.  (Ed: Maybe a taste of the winter weather to come?)

Gavin Short