Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 6 December 2023

Due to no visitors today, caused by a cancellation by naval personnel due to the exigencies of the service, and no other visitors, no trainees either, the Wednesday Wavers had the club to ourselves.

Mike Jardine gave the weather and morning brief; fairly calm, overcast with the wind from the south east building gently during the day followed rain by the time it was dark.  After a few admin notices Peter, prophetically, mentioned that the Puchacz flight manual listed crosswind limits which might curtail flying during the afternoon if the wind strengthened.

Before its daily inspection the placard in the Astir CS77 was treated to Dynotape labels with the min and max pilot loads in Kgs and the dual-knotted yaw string reduced to a more manageable (Ed: And sensitive) single length of red wool.

The Astir CS77 after its Daily Inspection (Ed: Note shiny red tail dolly)

Daily inspections completed a K-13, FGR, and the Puchacz were taken to the west end.  The field was still "moist" but flyable (Ed: To be honest it was boggy in many parts).  If the conditions were OK for solo flying the K-8 and Astir CS 77 were to follow up to the launch point.

Trailer park fettling (Ed: And boy do these K-6s need a lot of fettling!)

Up on the field the wind was freshening remarkably quickly from the south east ahead of the forecast.  Mike and Peter took the first launch of what was planned to be a series of flights to convert Mike to the Puchacz.  Inevitably these would include a practice launch failure.  The launch was surprisingly turbulent and continued up to two-thirds of launch height when our first red link broke with the Puchacz (Ed: As its designed to do) in what seemed like rotor, but may have been caused by extended curl over from the trees on the south side and an extreme wind gradient.  As Mike turned the glider the upper wind was surprisingly strong and caused significant drift downwind before the intrepid duo landed after a modified circuit (Ed: So type conversion and launch failure practice all in a single two minute flight.  How economical is that?)

After considering the conditions, which were going to be challenging for a K-13 too, Mike decided to stop flying operations.  Meanwhile the wind strength was increasing further.  So the launch point was packed up and the two two-seaters, and the winch brought were back to the clubhouse.

The Puchacz suitably chocked after its short flight

The early cessation of flying meant that we were able derig FGR ready for its annual inspection.  Once suitably mounted on the "dead man" frame the canopy was removed, the tail plane disconnected, the seats unscrewed, and  the wings removed relatively easily using the "Allan" main pin retractor.  A few modifications in size and shape and the "Allan" retractor will be suitable for both lower and upper main pins for our K-13s.  The wings were placed on trestles on the right side of the hangar and CCY's other wing laid ready for inspection.  The fuselage was initially place on the left side of the hangar.

A committee of taste (Ed: That's a highfalutin name for you and Peter contemplating life on the hangar apron) considered that the Puchacz wouldn't fit and that FGR's fuselage needed to be placed along the back wall behind FSD in hangar position one. Positioning the various components parts and location of the gliders when we packed the hangar required some in depth thought.  So with the tea made all retired to the clubhouse for lunch and some sinking thinking (Ed: "This is the German Coastguard what are you thinking about?").

FGR being derigged for its annual inspection

Suitably refreshed after tea and lunch the hangar was packed in double quick time. Some minor projects were progressed and the Astir CS77's documentation was weeded and filed.

After lunch Jamie Steel came up to fly (Ed: But yet again we weren't due to the weather) so he discussed with me the arrangements for our navy flying package in the New Year.

Andy Davey brought two belly dollies to the club today and we trial fitted to the Puchacz The better fitting will be loaned to the club and will be used for fitting out our AMF trailer (Ed: Thank's Andy).

Andy's long term loan to the club (Ed: I can see the need for some red paint on the horizon)

As the afternoon drew to a close  (Ed: Sunset at Brentor was at 1613 today) and we started locking up Jamie was presented with a raspberry-jam filled doughnut as compensation (Ed: That's one way of ensuring that we don't attract any mice into the clubhouse) for not being able to fly with this autumn.

Today the Wednesday Wavers were thwarted but not downbeat.  "We will get to fly. We will get to fly." Repeat after me. "We will get to fly."

Gavin