Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 26 June 2024

"Hot and hard work" summed up the day. Although Mike, the Duty Instructor, encouraged an early start, it was not to be.  Briefings in the clubhouse followed by additional visitors coming to see the action slowed progress and hence the start of the day's flying.  It was going to be hot, so water, sunscreen and hats were the order of the day.

I had a One Day Course, two two-flight trial flights, and a single trial flight that sadly couldn't make it today, to fly whereas Mike's dance card was quite thin by comparison. Mike started the training with new member Loraine Kindley who enjoyed three soaring flights, the longest being 25 mins. I flew two flights with Rod Cartridge as a warm-up for his One Day Course.

With a full cross wind from the south, conditions were challenging for instruction as 850-900 foot launches gave little opportunity for visitors to have much stick time.  One had to work hard to exploit the narrow, weak thermals low down.

Andy ready to launch in his Libelle for 12 minutes of scratching

By a lot of hard work Steve Fletcher, in his Open Cirrus, proved to be the exception to the rule. He got away and managed to soar for 2 hours and three minutes.  Bravo; an inspiration to all the privateers sitting and waiting on the ground, and a worthy winner of today's the "Man of the match".

Loraine carries out her pre-flight checks before going soaring with instructor Mike

A busy launch point with gliders waiting for those thermals to develop

Libelle fever: Sean, in his Libelle, prepares to follow Andy's Libelle

At lunchtime, our other visitors arrived at the launch point; Olesya Godsafe and partner Rory Shepherdson.  They travelled from their home in Taunton today to come and fly with us over Dartmoor. Olesya is a doctor working at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, and Rory a cartographer at the UK Hydrographic office.  However, we missed a trick by not showing Rory an air chart. 

Mike and I decided to fly the visitors; Olesya and me in the Puchacz, and Rory and Mike in K-13, FGR.  The conditions made it hard work to climb, but we achieved soaring flights for both during which they were able to experience operating the controls. (Note to self: If you hand your camera to someone to take a photo of Olesya and Rory receiving their certificates make sure they press the shutter!)

By now the Twin Astir was out and being enjoyed by Robin, Phil and Andy.  Rob and I continued his One Day Course, and he enjoyed an extended soaring flight, sampling the effects of the elevator and the ailerons.  Mike took Martin Broadway aloft for some refresher training flights before Martin took the K-8 aloft.  Hugh Gascoyne flew the Astir CS77 for the first time and managed to soar for 12 minutes on his second flight.

Martin Broadway searching for the best lift

Other privateers, Peter with his Kestrel 19 and David with his K-6 attempted to soar with not much to show for their efforts. By 1600 any soaring had stopped as the sea breeze approached from the south and killed the cumulus.  There remained a band of cumulus well to the north of the airfield showing some tempting looking convergence, which was sadly out of reach.  The flight durations became shorter, with lots of sink causing pilots to scurry back to the airfield.

Lots of blue sky. Looking from the North of the airfield as the sea breeze makes its prescence felt

The day ended with most gliders being hangar flown, which included Rob by giving him a demonstration of a spot landing and coming to rest with the main wheel on the cross track.

At the end of a long, hot day, a delighted Rob receives his certificate

So hot and hard work paid off and the Wednesday Wavers delivered training, visitors' flights, and private flying in testing conditions with a total of 31 flights. Thanks, to the winch drivers for managing to keep the cables within the airfield boundary inspite of our inadequate attempts to "lay off"!

Water, sunscreen and hats were the order of the day.  Methinks that Rick will need to restock the soft drinks in the clubhouse on Saturday.

Gavin Short