Dartmoor Gliding News - Monday 26th August 2024

Another bank holiday. I had offered to open the field to enable solo pilots to fly and the usual group of self-authorising pilots. A forecast for a moderate south-westerly wind, possible soaring although thermal height would only be 2500ft AGL. Scratch had offered to fly with a few trainees to offer some thermalling advice with upper air work.

A club K13 and Astir 77 were joined by private gliders DG300 (HME), Libelle (JEU), Kestrel 19 (DBK), Libelle (CLM) and Twin Astir (DSL). The first flight with Scratch and Freddie Purkiss saw them managing to climb created a line of single seaters to form ready to launch.

The sleek DG300 ready to launch.

Returning member Josh Wehner arrived with friend Toby Robinson. Both flew with Scratch and each enjoyed soaring flights.

Josh and Toby with Scratch.

The solo pilots were enjoying various amounts of success. Steve Lesson (Astir 77), Malcolm W-J (Twin Astir) and Sean Westrope (Libelle) unfortunately drew the short straws. Mark Elliott (Astir 77) managed 43 minutes, myself (Kestel 19) with 1 hour 17 minutes, Phil Hardwick (DG300) with 1 hour 41 minutes only topped by Andy Davey (Libelle) with 2 hour 8 minutes to claim flight of the day. All flights were completed below 3000ft AGL.

Kestrel's view of K13 and Brentor Church.

Mark's view from the Astir.

The Kestrel returns.

The wind again today remained with a more southerly component and was starting to increase in speed. Scratch took a last couple of flights in the K13 with Val Kiely and I then took to the back seat to fly with Alasdair Barclay and finally Freddie Purkiss. This enabled them to both practice cross-wind approaches. Freddie's was combined with a hangar landing. All were well flown by the trainees.

Val with Scratch.

Val's view of the airfield.

Thank you to all at the airfield today. All flew and we managed 15 flights with an average flight time of 33 minutes.

Peter Howarth