Today was our second aerotow day held in conjunction with our sister organisation, Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC). This followed the success of the first aerotow day, held on Friday 30 August, as part of DSGC's annual long-weekend expedition to Dartmoor.
It was a cool, early-morning start to ensure that we were all ready for the arrival of the Eurofox tug from North Hill. As I left home there was mist in the valleys. Then there were SNOWFLAKES! Well actually one, on the dashboard, showing that the temperature had dropped to 2C at New Bridge at Gunnislake, while I crossed the River Tamar to enter Devon.
Geoff, Phil, Andy and I were the first to arrive at 0730 and we got the gear out. Soon we were joined by Mike Bennett and DB, and others, who made short work of the field preparations. The privateers were helped to rig. It all went very smoothly and CNN, my Standard Cirrus was rigged and at the launch point by 0900.
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It was an early start and the dew thick on the grass.
Thank goodness I packed my welly boots.
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All clear here. Looking towards the north east
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All the gear is out and has been inspected.
Just waiting for some instructors to show up!
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CNN rigged and at the launch point.
However, I would have to wait some time before the condensation
cleared from the canopy and the dew stopped forming on the cold wings.
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Today, at the brief, we
welcomed three pilots from North Hill; David Perriam, Nick Harrison,
and Shaun Dayman, who were keen to fly from a hill top site. We were also joined during the day by DSGC instructors Mark Courtney, Mike Sloggett, Peter Smith, and second tug driver Robert Lee.
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| Setting up for the combined DSGC and DGS morning brief |
The arrival of the tug from North Hill was delayed by the mist and fog. It was worse to the east of Dartmoor, especially the radiation fog in the Exe valley. The higher ground was clear especially at Crediton as the tug pilots leapfrogged from clear ground to clear ground to get to Brentor.
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The tug arrived; resplendent in red in the crisp morning sunshine!
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Aerotow operations today would repeat what had been established in August. We were again launching from the west in light airs. Wind forecast varied greatly and although the west end is not our preferred end it matched the majority of the wind direction forecasts. The tug-glider combinations would take off
from the North side. The tug would land on the north side then taxi back to the launch point at the west end.
Gliders would land on the north side and clear to the south of the centre track. Winch operations, including the cables, would be on the south side.
So we would use our elderly and rather dilapidated control tower on its trailer. Its due for replacement and the project to replace it has been kicked off by one of our 14yro trainee pilots, Zack Smith. He has set up an inspirational Go Fund Me page:
Zack's Campaign Check it out. Its all his own words and sentiment. The replacement would benefit our visitors as well as members and protect our equipment that we use during the flying day, such as the club parachutes and personal rucksacks.
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First aerotow of the day. DSGC leads the way in a DGS glider.
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...with Mike Sloggett and Robert Lee aboard
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Richard, although not booked in for an aerotow, came up to help. Apparently fresh air on Dartmoor after a rubbish day at work yesterday was just the tonic he needed. Dartmoor Gliding improves one's mental health. Who knew? As the first aerotow launched Richard dispatched me to drive the winch.
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Mike Jardine and Viktor in the Puchacz wait for the tug to land
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Mike takes Victor aloft in the Puchacz for some more spin training
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With all the punters taking aerotows initially it was quiet at the winch. Which left me with my thoughts and to watch the tug-gliders launch into a fabulously clear and bright sky. So I make no apologies for sharing many of these glorious scenes with our readers.
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The tug and the Puchacz climbing hard, as seen from the winch
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Viktor and Mike. Sorry Viktor, I got the azure blue in the shot
but couldn't find any yellow. Slava Ukraini!
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The rate of climb when viewed from the winch is impressive. Normally the winch driver is looking at the faces of the pilots in the tug and glider as they are coming straight at him. Looking up to see the tug and glider combination was a new sensation for me.
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And away they go.
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Building on our experience with the Eurofox tug in August the noise abatement procedures were improved. Today the tug-glider combinations climbed to the right to circle to the south of the airfield, or on occasion head east over the moors, away from Mary Tavy and to keep to the north of the metropolis of Tavistock. It seemed to work. Once clear of the runway the tug engine was very quiet. Indeed, I had to concentrate to hear it.
Third up was Mike Bennett with DSGC instructor Peter Smith for their journey into the blue.
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The climb rate of the K-13 and tug seems greater than the Puchacz
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Ever upwards
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The tug-glider combination turns right,away from Mary Tavy,
to adhere to the noise abatement rules
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As we thought. Scratch talking is louder than the tug on approach
Then came Geoff Cooper with Peter Howarth; Geoff's first aerotow experience. They were followed by DSGC's David Perriam for an aerotow in DGS's Astir CS77 to 3,000 feet. I had no complaints to the Fleet Manager so he must have been happy with the improved operation of the aerotow release mechanism.
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Peter and Geoff fly past the winch
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One for your photo album Geoff
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Mike Jardine and Neal's view of the airfield whilst on tow
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Some mist remained throughout most of the day towards
Lydford and further north west
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Mike Slogettt observes Steve checking the location of the airfield as the head towards Blackdown
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Then they turn for the downwind leg and leave Mary Tavy behind
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Then there was a short pause in tug operations as Mark Courtney handed the controls to Robert Lee while the Eurofox enjoyed a parsimonious sip of fuel. Andy and Phil took the opportunity to squeeze in a quick winch-launch circuit to get their hand in.
Then a brace of 3,000 feet aerotows followed with Peter Smith and Shaun Dayman in the K-13 and John Allan in the Astir CS77. In between, Scratch and DB went aloft in the Puchacz for a normal 2,000 feet aerotow.
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DB and Scratch launch to the east
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By now the aerotow queue was lengthening across the south side of the launch point and Phil aerotowed to 2,000 feet in his DG300. I joined the queue.
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Peter runs the wing for two DSGC pilots in DGS's K-13, FGR
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Mike Sloggett and Nick Harrison lift off in FGR
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At 1300 there was a tempting cloud street forming over the moors. I was keen to get going and connect with it. However Mark was wary of the sheet of cloud approaching from the west and sensibly made the decision that this would be the last aerotow of the day (No.13!). The tug would head back to North Hill in the remaining good weather. Despite a sense of urgency North Hill pilots wouldn't be North Hill pilots if they didn't stop for lunch. One of their members brought lunch supplies from Tavistock for the tuggies before their departure.
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My view of the tug drivers as they consume their pasties for lunch
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Then we are ready to go. "NHL, CNN take up slack"
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The ground roll and take off distance of CNN was a little longer
with two pilots, and pasties, aboard the tug.
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I had opted to go to 3,000 feet but the tug waved me off at 2,000 feet as they had reached cloud base. The tempting street was decaying and so after a few attempts I returned to the airfield. Not a memorable flight but currency, or is it recency now, on aerotow launching was maintained?
With that operations shifted to the winch with Geoff flying with Mike Jardine in the Puchacz this time. Andy, denied an aerotow, took a launch on the wire and achieved "Man of the Match" with a flight of 29 minutes. Trevor had come to the club today to learn about ground operations with aerotows. He was rewarded with a flight in K-13, FSD with Peter. This was followed by a rear seat training flight for John Allan in the Puchacz, with Mike Jardine.
We managed thirteen power movements and 19 glider flights today, which totaled 32 launches.
We received several pieces of feedback on the day:
"A great day today, thanks to all from DGS for the teamwork!"
"I would like to say a personal thank you to
Peter Howarth, Mike Jardine and Mark Courtney and all at the field today for what I believe
was a very safe and successful days tugging."
"Yes, many thanks for a fantastic day."
Shortly afterwards the Friday Flyers called a halt to the proceedings as all had had their fill. Also we didn't want to encounter canopy misting problems as the air temperature dropped to the dew point. A few remained at the clubhouse discussing glider electronics and how to enable a digital task declaration from an Oudie to a Red Box FLARM. A plan was evolving for implementation in CNN in the near future.
So an another successful aerotow day. Thanks to all who made it happen and facilitated good inter-club cooperation. Let's do it again soon and hopefully the organsier on the DGS side, Rick, will be able to take a day off work and take part. It's simple Rick; just say that you are WFH (Working From Height!).
Gavin Short
