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