Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 28th July 2024

With different forecasts giving various wind directions, the main decision for the day was how to set up the field. Both wind socks showed a more easterly component the winch was moved to the west end. A K13 and the Puchacz for club and visitor flying were taken to the launch point. These were joined by privateers 2 x Libelles, K6, Open Cirrus and Mini Nimbus.

After a quick check flight for myself, I started training flights with Freddie Purkiss. Straight off the top of the launch we found a thermal and were climbing to cloudbase of 2500ft. We were surprised that none of the privateers were heading to the launch point.

Freddie at 1800ft.

Freddie finished his flights with a couple of good landings and was happy with his flying. Another junior member, Jamie Young, arrived with his family. Dad Martin was lined up to fly with duty BI Phil Hardwick and enjoyed a soaring flight and saw what his son enjoys so much.

Martin ready with Phil.

Privateers Ed Borlase (K6), Andy Davey (Libelle) and Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus) all launched. Ed was to have an attempt for his 5 hour flight.

K6 soaring high.

Belinda Gray arrived for her trial flight and enjoyed a short soaring flight with Phil.

Belinda with Phil.

Meanwhile returning trainee Julia Old enjoyed two soaring flights with me with plenty of hands on controls to regain some of the skills from 30 years ago. The next visitor for Phil to fly was Ray Barlow. He chose to combine his flights into one longer flight during which he enjoyed getting to grips with the primary effects of controls.

Ray Barlow all set for his flight.

The next trainee to fly with me was Saturday soarer Viktor Skochko. After a quick circuit on his first launch we launched again for a second flight. We were in lift straight off the launch. Viktor got a bit excited as we climbed through 2000ft and was marvelling about the fantastic view as we topped out just over 3000ft. This was the highest he has been and was his longest flight. We finished with Viktor executing a perfect unassisted landing. He left with a very big smile on his face.

Whilst this was happening, Sean Westrope had flown, but returned after 44 minutes to relieve John Allen who had been on the winch since we had started flying. This enabled John to fly his Mini Nimbus. His second launch rewarded him with a flight of just over two hours.

John's view of Meldon.

The start of a possible convergence.

The last visitor arrived to fly with Phil. Johns Prowse enjoyed two flights including a soaring flight.

John happy and looking forward to his flight.

Alex Michelsen lives nearby and popped in to watch how the club operated and confirmed to himself he wanted to join up. After signing the paperwork there was time for him to have a couple of flights with me. The second was a soaring flight where he was soon performing some gentle turns and was amazed that he was actually flying and also could look down on his house as we flew around the circuit.

Alex settling in ready to fly.

Ed Borlase returned after 3 hours 49 minutes. He flew into a blue hole and couldn't climb back away to continue. This was flight of the day. Not quite what he wanted, but a small reward on the day. Only 22 flights, but all had a soaring flight and an average flight time of 49 minutes.

Thank you to all at the club, particularly John for his long stint on the winch until a relief could be found.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 24th July 2024

The nearer we got to Wednesday the worse the forecast got. RASP still gave 2 stars at times on Wednesday morning but all the forecasts gave rain coming between 3 and 4pm.

Arriving at the airfield at 0800 the cloud was very low and not looking like rising to circuit height anytime soon. As the trial flight visitors phoned in I had to tell them that things weren’t looking great and to phone again later. Unfortunately the weather didn’t improve enough to give people a decent flight and with a heavy heart I had to cancel all the trial flights.

Low cloud all around.

Finding the gaps between the low cloud

The cloud base crept up to circuit height at around 11.00 and so a K13 was taken to the launch point in the hope of doing some training. With a short window of opportunity of having some flying Mike Jardine flew Jamie Young, Geoff Cooper (a new joiner), David Moorley, Zack Smith (another new member) and Neal Oxley.

Dave Moorley preparing for blind flying?

Me briefing new member Geoff Cooper.

New member Zack Smith eagerly awaiting his flight with Mike.

Myself, John Allan, Peter Howarth and Dave Archer decided to get the K8 out and fly that. The rain arrived at 1523 and so we packed up. All 19 flights were short, the average being 4 mins and 26 seconds! Peter Howarth managed 8 mins for the flight of the day.

John Allen landing on the stub from the North.

Meanwhile Colin and John Smith continued their excellent work on CCY. A big thank you to Andy Davey and Phil Hardwick for doing the bulk of the winching but not flying.

Colin and John working on CCY, getting high on the glue!

At least we flew.

Steve Fletcher

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 21st July 2024

Despite me leaving my new blue suede (hiking) shoes at home the Sunday Soarers were "all shook up" today.

Thoughts of the "King" with my blue suede shoes

The reason?  It was all change in their Sunday routine.  Rick was today's Duty Instructor and I was his Basic Instructor.  However, Rick needed to leave at 1545 at the latest so an early start was called for.  Rick and I opened the gates and the hangar doors at 0715.

An unusual view of the club.  This is what it looks like at 0725 on a Sunday morning!

Other members soon arrived and got the kit out.  The club gliders were given their Daily Inspections and the1000 morning brief was held at 0830.  As a bonus Ed Borlase treated us to an in-depth explanation of some of the extended features of  'Windy' (a weather forecast App, covering err, wind!).

Trainees today were junior Jamie who was accompanied by Alison, his mum, sensibly equipped with a thermos mug of coffee in hand at this early hour.  Also Viktor, full of the joys of the world after the recent birth of his daughter.  Congratulations Viktor.

Later before the morning brief there was a shocking revelation of a major breakdown in the "buddy" system.  It transpired that young Jamie's buddy had not taught him how to make the tea!  Obviously you can't be a DGS pilot without this essential knowledge.  After suitable instruction his progress card could be signed off for "Demo" and "First Attempt".  Mum, Alison, is delighted as apparently she is the only person who makes tea in the Young household.

Mike and Andy have a "push-o-war" contest as Steve struggles to get his Open Cirrus to go together.  As ever time taken to achieve correct alignment is the key to success, not brute force, Steve.

The privateers magnanimously agreed to help get the club gliders to the launch point before they went back to the glider rack and rigged their own steeds.  Thanks, guys.

A little red in the face, Mike?

I had three visitors booked for today.  The first two scheduled for 1100 and 1200.  Dave Bourchier was working in the hangar and so would provide the backstop for, and greet, our visitors, as the Sunday Soarers would be operating from the east end.

The first glider away was Jamie and Rick at 0941 into a very flat-looking, overcast sky. This was the first of a set of three refresher flights for Jamie.  Later Jamie soared for 27 minutes, his longest flight to date.  Congratulations Jamie.  Viktor had a set of three short flights with Rick, concentrating on the round out and touch down.  Viktor "rounded it off" by making a short soaring flight later in the day.

Chief Flying Instructor Rick briefs Viktor on the finer points of landing

Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus), Sean and Andy (Libelles), Phil (DG300), and Ed (K-6CR) rigged their gliders and brought them to the launch point in a leisurely fashion as the consensus was that the "sky wasn't going to work" until the afternoon.

I was urgently relieved on the winch as my One Day Course had arrived.  Confused, Moi?  Steve started investigating as it wasn't on our booking sheet for the day.  It transpired that former Royal Marine Joseph Foster was early on parade, as is their wont.  At DGS we rise to such a challenge and we undertook to fly him.  

 

Phil and Steve stepped in and agreed to fly the Stevens brothers, who were our first and second trial flights.  This would allow me to complete Joseph's course before the Duty Instructor needed to leave the field.  

 

Brothers Jonathan and Mark Stevens hail from Bournemouth and Plymouth.  Younger brother Jonathan was first up with Introductory Flight Pilot Steve, who took him for a soaring flight. 

 

Steve briefs Jonathan Stevens before his flight

Brothers Stevens and their respective pilots enjoying the moment

They joy of flight.  The Stevens families, with Phil and Sean, watch Jonathan's launch

Mark subsequently flew with Basic Instructor Phil.  It was nice to see shared filial activities.  I recalled when my brother, Noel, joined the DGS Expeders at Aston Down last year for a One Day Course that I had purchased for his (significant) birthday (the one beginning with a six).

Who is the instructor?  Mark Stevens and Phil engaged in animated flying discussions.

Former Royal Marine Joseph Foster and Gavin ready for the first flight of Joseph's One Day Course

Despite being hampered by the average launch heights achieved in the Puchacz, and the plentiful sink, Joseph came away with a good appreciation of all three controls, how remarkably sensitive the controls are, and how responsive the glider can be.  He also participated in glider ground handling and launch procedures, and witnessed the operation of the winch.  He went away very pleased with the birthday present that his sons had chosen for him.

Joseph and Gavin on approach in the Puchacz

An almost text book two-point touchdown

In amongst Joseph and my flights Sean cracked out another three flights, with a bit of soaring, as he gets to grips with his Libelle (which means Dragonfly in German).  Ed managed some early flights too, with a bit of soaring as a bonus.  But today's "Man of the Match" was Andy in his own "Dragonfly" who soared for 1 hour 36 minutes.

After a full day, and just before Joseph goes to view the action at the winch, he receives his certificate

Despite an obvious exception (Andy) early conditions were hampered by persistent top cover and so the privateers cannily waited some more. 

Our third trial flight visitor was Junior Theodore Chaplin who arrived with his Dad, and grandparents, eager to watch Theo flying.  Despite having never being up in a light aircraft before he gamely rose to the challenge.  We manged to climb up to 2,300 feet which gave Theo plenty of time for "hands on" and to operate the controls.  He was able to make some turns on his own, but needlessly criticised himself for what were some very good first attempts.

Junior Theo Chaplin ready to aviate with Gavin

 

After a hangar landing, and parking the Puchacz ready to put into the hangar, a pleased Theo receives his certificate.  Note the glider launching continues (top left)

After Theo and my soaring flight, thoughts turned to packing up to let Rick get away, at his planned time.  Rick returned a K-13 by hangar flying with Viktor which allowed the latter to get home to his new daughter.  How he managed to get a "pink chit" from his wife, so early after the birth, so that he could go gliding I will never know!

Towards the end of the afternoon the high cloud cover dissipated and the sun broke through and warmed the ground.  Finally!  The privateers launched and soared leaving the launch point empty, and consequently easier to clear up; Ed (39 minutes), Phil (29 minutes), Steve (20 minutes) and Malcolm (27 minutes) in the K-8.  Rick took a solo flight in the second K-13 to make a hangar landing and then leave the site.

Ed soars in his K-6, EWO, to the west of the airfield

So the Sunday Soarers were "all shook up" today but they still managed to run the field, host our visitors, and fly themselves.  Bravo to them on fielding all three two-seat trainers and achieving a total of 31 flights.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 17th July 2024

I awakened to a misty morning in my village and also on the road to Brentor.  When I arrived at the club the mist had burnt off leaving the tors still wreathed in cloud.  The Wednesday Wavers wouldn't be waving today with the light wind from the SSW but forecasts indicated that it should be a nice soaring day.

The privateers were rigging; Std Cirrus (Scratch, and maybe Mike Jardine), DG30O (Phil), Libelle (Andy, although he didn't take it to the launch point), and Club Libelle (Mike Bennett).

Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, conducted the morning brief.  Hugh was scheduled to fly three visitors, nicely spread across the day.  The club fielded two K-13s, the Astir CS77, and a K-8) to the east end.

It was good to see new member Rob Cartlidge, who is coming to the club regularly on Wednesday, learning how we set up the field for flying operations.  Today he had a focus on retrieve driving and cable operations.

Mike took a test flight in the K-13 to check the cloud base.  All was well and flying could start.

A subsequent check flight was made by Hugh and Steve Fletcher. "Blimey, those clouds look low!"

Hugh's first trial flight candidate was Hazel Young, an antique shop manager from Dobwalls, who was bought a voucher by her family.  DGS is becoming a theme in her family as her dad, son, and husband(?) have all flown with us previously.

Hazel Young ready to aviate with Introductory Flight Pilot, Hugh

Hugh and Hazel encountered thermals that were difficult to centre in. They were also limited by a cloud base of 1,500ft AGL. However, they found couple of weak climbs to 1,300ft.  She was happy with her two soaring flights and was ready to compare notes with her family. 

 

Another DGS gliding certificate to make a complete set at home in Dobwalls

Meanwhile I was winching and observing the activity from the west end; specifically who was landing long and who was landing short.

The winch driver's view early in the day

The pilots were laying off to the south and countering the cross wind nicely.  Dave Bourchier and I noticed some damage to the yellow drogue chute and we effected an exchange for a good blue drogue chute.  So temporarily we don't have our normal yellow and blue tribute combo; Slava Ukraini!

The DGS Formula One drogue chute exchange team in action.  No delay was inflicted on the launch rate during this operation.

Our second trial flight was  Kelvin Litchfield, a former Police traffic officer from Taunton. Although semi-retired he is currently working as a driving instructor. He may be moving to the local area and if so would be keen to learn to fly at DGS.

Steve Lesson and Hugh prepare K-13, FSD for the next trial flight

In the middle of the day conditions improved, allowing climbs to 2,100ft which allowed Kelvin to thoroughly enjoy his soaring flight.

A training glider is not like a driving school car as backseat driving is allowed! Kelvin receives his certificate from Hugh.

The Duty Instructor's view of the airfield from the east at 2,500 feet

K-13, FSD launches again

And so to Hugh's third trial flight; Rupert Stockwin, a tree surgeon and photographer from Shebear. Rupert has some aviation experience with microlights and so his wife had bought him a glider trial flight voucher as a gift.  He took two flights and was keen to take many photographs.  He had a very professional (and very large!) digital camera with impressively sized lenses.

Rupert's view at cloud base

Flying parallel to the runway

Looking at Blackdown and back at the runway

 The conditions had improved again allowing climbs to 2,400ft. Rupert was unruffled by tight angles of bank whilst thermaling.   During the first flight they were able to soar and encountered some six knot climbs to cloud base. His last flight was just a circuit, due to the arrival of the sea breeze, which allowed him to take some great photos some of which I have included.

Rupert Stockwin after his soaring flight and then later a photo reconnaissance mission

Hugh then handed the glider to me to take returning member Jesse Kane aloft.  You know that "It's booming, Mate." is going to be the kiss of death when you can see that the southerly wind has brought the sea breeze from the channel, and all the cumulus clouds have suddenly disappeared.  And so it was, but we managed to find some lift over the scrapyard during Jesse's orientation flight.  On his second flight we found lift to the south of the airfield that allowed him to make two turns, with him controlling the elevator and ailerons, with just the lightest of input from me on the rudder.  He was delighted to airborne amongst the wonderful Dartmoor views.  Jesse, we will get you using the rudder next time.

View from the launch point as Jesse and Gavin launch towards the milky top cover, whilst the K-8 awaits its turn

As if suspended in space.  Gavin brings Jesse, in FSD, back to Terra Firma

What of the other members and privateers?  Alasdair soared early on, and later, in the K-8.  Mike Bennett took a couple of launches to get his hand in and later soared for nearly a half hour.  Mike Jardine continued members' training with a set of three flights with David Moorley which included quite a lot of soaring.  He then flew Rob Cartlidge for 48 minutes during which they must have covered a huge amount of the pre-solo syllabus.  Bravo!  Robin also managed a soaring flight with Mike.

The Astir CS77 landing

Then the sea breeze hit; Steve Lesson had a couple of circuits in the K-8.  Mike then flew temporary member Grahame White twice and commendably managed to extend his final flight.  Earlier Malcolm and John Smith had soared in the Astir CS77 but later in the sea breeze even Malcolm couldn't manage to get it to soar.

Of the privateers; Scratch managed 1 hour 34 minutes in his Standard Cirrus while Phil took the day's crown with 2 hours 52 minutes in his DG300.

Scratch's view of Tavistock, looking towards Plymouth. "It was challenging getting away".

Today we made 32 flights.  Almost all pilots managed to soar in the improving conditions until inevitably the southerly wind brought the dead air of the sea breeze to us.

Throughout the day Colin, assisted by John Smith, were toiling in the glider workshop reskinning the front of the fuselage of CCY.  Super seam was then applied.  Dope and paint to come next.  Then Phoenix-like, CCY will rise again.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 14th July 2024

The forecast of a light SSW breeze and 3 stars RASP soaring prediction saw privateers rigging after the club aircraft had been taken out of the hangar. A club K13, Puchacz and Astir were taken to the east end launch point. Private Open Cirrus, K6 and a pair of Libelles joined them.

Duty BI Phil Hardwick was joined by ODC student Mark Taylor. Mark had been given the course as a birthday present. With over an hour in the air during the day, Mark thoroughly enjoyed his day with us.

Mark enjoying his day with us.

Junior trainees Toby Irons and Freddie Purkiss are both progressing well and enjoyed three flights each.

Toby strapping in ready fir his flights.

Freddie helps launch the Puchacz.

With conditions starting to improve the solo pilots started launching. Steve Lesson in the Astir, Steve Fletcher in the Open Cirrus, Ed Borlase in the K6, Andy Davey in the Libelle and Sean Westrope in the Libelle.

Steve enjoying the Astir.

Some pilots were managing to soar away and were being observed from the ground.

Old school observation.

New school. How many pilots does it take to operate a phone?

A recent visitor returned today for some additional flights. Julia Old enjoyed three flights honing her skills on turns and general handling. David Moorley also continued hid training improving his approaches and landings.

Astir and K13 soaring above Brentor Church.

Open Cirrus over Blackdown.

Open Cirrus with K6.

Towards the end of the day Martin Broadway re-converted to the Astir. He had previously flown one about 20 years ago.

Thank you to all at the club for a good day flying.

Peter Howarth