Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 24 January 2024

The forecast was for the cloud base to rise mid morning and lower later in the afternoon.  So there would be a window to go flying.  Yippee!  Those who had checked the weather forecast and arrived early were bemused however, to see clear skies.  So out with the toys and we set up to launch from the east end.  No trainees or visitors today so the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, decided to get the Puchacz, the Astir CS77, and a K-8 out for the members to fly.  The serviceable K-13, FSD stayed at the back of the hangar to be later boxed in by the annual inspectios of the wings of its sister, FGR.

The start of the day looked promising

Then the weather matched the forecast.  The low cloud rolled in and it was time to retire to the club house and wait.  Meanwhile work was underway to get FGR back on line following its annual inspection and some titivation.

Peter conducts a Daily Inspection of the Puchacz (Ed: John looks keen with his parachute already on, doesn't he?)

(Ed: Ahh! I see now. John had been selected as the "crash test dummy" to ensure that the replacement seat harness in the front seat of the Puchacz fitted correctly. I stand corrected!)

Tea duly drunk, the cloud base seen to be rising and so the two Assistant Category instructors took to the skies for a weather check.  On completion the green light was lit so Andy Davey had a go in the Astir CS 77 for the first time. As previously mentioned with no trainees and no visitors today, flying continued seamlessly with solo flying only. Astir CS77 (DNE) and K-8 (FXB) saw solo pilots flying them to maintain currency.  The club single seaters were joined by Mike Bennett and Hugh Gascoyne with their club Libelle (DVM).  Concerned that the new Centre of Gravity release hook may have been releasing early their launch heights were subsequently found to match those of the Astir CS77.  So it seems that the Club Libelle syndicate are getting used to their new glider.

Hugh Gascoyne landing his and Mike Bennett's Club Libelle

Proof that the launch point can be busy without visitors or trainees using the two seaters (Ed: I am surprised that the Duty Instructor didn't just put his feet up and have a cup of tea)

The Wednesday wavers who flew solo today were Andy Davey, Mike Bennett, Steve Fletcher, Malcolm Wilton-Jones,Hugh Gascoyne, Peter Howarth, John Smith, and David Archer.

A single seater grid at the launch point

Dave Archer leaps into the air in the K8

Were the single seaters huddled together for warmth? (Ed: I think its a bit more sinister than that. Look how they have arranged themselves into a wooden glider line and a GRP glider line)

Malcolm hangar landing the Astir (Ed: Just to be clear that his spot landings are better than this!)

Sadly Colin and I didn't make it to the launch point but by late afternoon I was able to call for "hands" to rig K-13, FGR, after its annual inspection, so that it could be flown on Saturday (Ed: Timely having two K-13s while you sort out the Puchacz!). So hangar flights were organised and the day ended with the finishing touches being made to FGR ready for it to re-enter service.

After an inordinately long time FGR was rigged and the rest of the hangar could be packed.  With the dew point starting to match air temperature the underside of all the gliders' wings were wet.

Colour-coordinated glider rigging

FGR being rigged after its inspection getting ready for the weekend (Ed: I thought that "anything for the weekend Sir?" meant something completely different)

The rest of the gliders parked waiting to be packed into the hangar at the end of the day's flying

Astir CS77 "I am bored. How long does it take this lot to rig a K-13?"  K-8 " You haven't seen anything yet!"

More hanging around! More talking!

The Puchacz on the naughty step for littering in the National Park

The new Treasurer takes a close interest in the flight logs

With the hangar packed, and the Club Libelle back in its trailer, pilots and workers started to slide away except for a few stalwarts who put the world to right in the club house.

Its still January and we are in the Met Office's "Stormageddon zone" but we managed 21 flights and ensured that the Wednesday Wavers were current.  The Club Libelle obviously  flies well as Hugh was "Man of the Match" with 12 minutes aloft.

Hugh's jubilant reaction on being told he was "Man of the Match"

Gavin Short