Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 4th August 2024

Today a select band of Sunday Soarers were faced with a forecast that could be summed up as "So So".  On initial look RASP was favourable; the cloud base was due to rise through the day with thermal activity present.  IRL (in real life) it was "So So".  The actuality was always going to be less than forecast with a south westerly breeze that was strengthening and backing to the south during the day.  Inevitably it would limit our launch heights, which it did.  But a little detail like that wasn't going to dissuade the Sunday Soarers.

Our first trainee today was junior Freddie Purkiss.  Freddie is now doing all the flying.  Today he flew his first (practice) launch failure and landed ahead following a demonstration by Duty Instructor Peter Howarth.

"Our father, who art in heaven..."  Freddie prepares for his impending
practice launch failure flight with Peter

And they are off

K-13, FSD, climbing steeply. Freddie, remember this is meant to be an instructor-initiated launch failure flight

Kelvin Litchfield, returned to fly with us following his single trial flight last month with Hugh, to celebrate his birthday.  Although he is a temporary member now Kelvin opted to take a One Day Course to ensure a dedicated package of flying and an instructor for the day.  I was happy to rise to the challenge.  Although the conditions were difficult with low height launches, due to the increasingly cross runway wind, he got to grips with all three primary controls, and of course, the lookout.  We look forward to Kelvin's return.

Kelvin Litchfield on his One Day Course with Gavin

Canopy down, Gavin concentrates prior to the launch

Freddie's Dad, George, who is an Associate Member, runs the wing as Sean, as the Launch Marshal calls  "All out, All out"

The Puchacz take to the skies

Julia Old, in three flights and a hangar landing, made steady progress with her flying after returning to gliding. She made her first approach and landing, following her first complete launch.  Great progress Julia.

New member, but experienced glider pilot, Julia Old shares a reminiscence with Peter before their first flight of the day

Ed was keen to fly his own glider today despite the limited numbers of people on site.  So after getting the club glider out we helped him rig EWO.  He experienced a launch failure, due to a weak link break, and a circuit.  I too experienced a weak link break in the Puchacz, although high enough in the launch to continue flying as the winch drivers got to grips with controlling the speed on the manual winch.

Roger Spall, our Canadian visitor had a couple of flights to complete his annual visit to us before he goes touring in Europe with his wife.  Unfortunately there were no photos as photographer Ed was learning to drive the manual winch at the other end of the field.  So as a consolation here is a traditional Canadian dish for the foodies, and one that will probably appeal to more members than Canadian Poutine, which was featured in last Wednesday's blog.

Canadian buttermilk pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup. Sadly, although we had some Tamar Valley blueberries we didn't have the other ingredients to recreate this dish in the kitchenette in the launch bus.

Associate member Ray Boundy provided a sterling service manning the the tower and running the flight log whilst Sean Westrope continued working towards his Bronze flying test.

Peter watches Sean trying to find some lift, which he had done so by the height that FSD is at.

A slightly hazy view of the runway

Gavin, sans bucket hat, congratulates Kelvin Litchfield on his course completion with Ed's K-6, EWO, as the backdrop that Ed helpfully rigged for the purpose!

We welcomed two "walk-in" visitors this afternoon; John Osment and his adult son.  John was interested in our gliding operations as he used to fly in the 1980s at Booker Gliding Club which is located near High Wycombe.  John was a former Assistant Category instructor there.  He made three flights with Peter and did all the flying.  Welcome back to gliding John and we hope you will use your temporary membership for some more flying at DGS.

John Osmet, and Peter, for his "returning to gliding" flights

Sean with family Osmet watching flight operations from the Launch bus.

After flying John Osmet Peter made another two fights with Freddie to move his training along nicely.

"Man of the Match" goes to Sean who soared with Peter for 17 minutes, although I did manage 12 minutes and 11 minutes with Kelvin in the Puchacz.  It was that kind of day.

A "So So" day due to that south westerly crosswind.  But the small, but select, band of Sunday Soarers managed 24 launches.  Thanks must go to Phil who launched, or supervised launches on the manual winch all day.  Thank you, Phil.

 

Gavin Short