Dartmoor Gliding News - Friday 30 August 2024 - Day One of DSGC Expedition to Dartmoor

So gliding on a Friday.  What a bonus.  Does that make the crew the Friday Freebies then?  This special event was Day One of the expedition by Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC) to Dartmoor.  The aim was to give some of its members experience at flying from another hill top site, and experiencing winch launching from a different location.  Also a chance to fly different aircraft than those in their fleet, such as a K-13, an Astir CS77, or a Puchacz (which is the predecessor or DSGC's Perkoz).  On Friday DSGC would bring their Eurofox tug, a a K-21 two-seat trainer, to Brentor so that DSGC and DGS members could experience aerotows out of Dartmoor.  Sadly the Eurofox wouldn't be available over the weekend as it would be on duty back at North Hill.

DSGC members rigging their K-21 in the morning dew

A busy briefing in the club house

So today was a day of many firsts.  The first for many aerotowing from Dartmoor for both club members and our visitors.  DSGC tug pilots Mark Courtney and Stuart Procter kept the launch rate up throughout the day.  We were operating from the west end in light airs which can make for a low launch rate.   The gliders on the winch would launch on the south side as normal.  The gliders and the Eurofox would land on the north side but the gliders would then clear away to the south to allow the Eurofox to land and back track ready for the next launch.

The Eurofox arrives from North Hill while the DSGC crew rig their
K-21

It sounds complicated but it worked very smoothly.  Each of the four DSGC visiting glider pilots had and aerotow launch in their K-21.  DGS trainees, David Moorley, Jamie Young, Alasdair Barclay also experienced an aerotow.

The Eurofox, well clear of the new boundary fence ready for touch down

A study of the old and new; a K-13 and the Eurofox

A recent addition to the DSGC fleet, Eurofox G-GNHL is powered by a Rotax 915iS engine driving a carbon fibre four-bladed propeller.  Its climb rate with a single-seater to 2,000 feet (I analysed the flight that I took later) is 8 knots (that's 800 feet per minute).  From launch to 2,000 feet, whilst towing, to landing averaged just seven minutes.  Impressive stuff.  The aircraft is incredibly quiet too.  Even so Mark and Stuart were meticulous in carrying out well-established noise abatement procedures by varying the tow out route on each launch.

Peter Howarth and David Moorley kick off the proceedings with the first aerotow out of Brentor, for many years.

And that's the last we will see of them for 27 minutes

The Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, took a winch launch with Jamie in the Puchacz to make good use of the conditions and conduct spin training for over an hour (Ohh, my stomach!).  A first for DGS; spin training in the Puchacz.  A first for Jamie; spinning.

Jamie in the Puchacz, climbing to height prior to commencing spin training

An aerotow in progress. Can you spot them?

HASELL checks complete. We are well clear of the runway and any other aircraft. Let's spin!

Solo pilots John Allan, Phil, Andy and I also took an aerotow and enjoyed long flights in the local area.  The conditions were great if a little hazy, and occasionally quite dark as the cloud cover built up in the west.

Phil starts his ground roll in his DG300

Heading towards the moors

And airborne

My launch was uneventful and I enjoyed the fast climb to 2,000 feet.  After the tug released me over Tavistock I took a couple of thermal climbs before flying 136 km in the local area taking in sights of Plymouth, Saltash, Bodmin Moor, Launceston, Roadford Lake and Princetown.  My highest climb was to 5,125 feet AMSL.  Not too bad for the end of August.

My 136 km jaunt around the local area

Looking south. The River Tamar meanders downstream to the Hamaoze and then to Plymouth Sound

Now heading south to Plymouth Sound

The Plymouth - Saltash road bridge with Isambard Kingdom Brunel's glorious 1859 railway viaduct beyond

A close up of Brunel's creation.  Please note that the photo was not taken from my Standard Cirrus!

From left to right; Halton Quay, Hole's Hole, and Weir Quay with the extensive yacht mornings

Cotehele and Calstock

Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor

Siblyback Lake on East Bodmin Moor

Mike Bennett also enjoyed an aerotow in a K-13.  Peter and he had almost an hour's flight to the south of the site.  Scratch had an aerotow launch from the back seat in the Puchacz to get his hand in before taking Dave Bourchier up on an aerotow. Scratch's 1 hour 8 minute flight with DSGC instructor Steve Westlake must have been plenty preparation to do that!  Mike Jardine had some aerotow rear seat practice with Peter.

A stunning view from Tavistock looking north

Mike concentrates on thermaling while Peter admires the view to the south taking in the River Tavy, the River Tamar, the Hamoze and Plymouth Sound beyond

One might have thought that the winch at the east end was collecting dust.  Not a bit of it;  Jamie and Mike took the Puchacz for some spin training as mentioned earlier.  Then John Smith took a couple of winch launches in the Astir CS77 as did Steve Lesson.  Steve's second flight saw him soaring for a very creditable 1 hour 29 minutes.  The "Two Malcolms" used a winch launch to fly for 2 hours 33 minutes in the Twin Astir, thereby getting their money's worth. After all they are both on a pension!  

Winch launch activity. The K-8 lands before the "Two Malcolms" take a winch launch in the Twin Astir

Later the K-8 got some soaring in from a winch launch as the early afternoon was obviously time for a bit of wafting about.  Mike Jardine flew the K-8, GDK, for 1 hour 3 minutes and Alasdair topped his example with 1 hour 9 minutes.  DSGC member Karen King arrived today, even though she was scheduled for flying on Saturday.  She wanted to explore the site and help out.  That she did, thanks Karen.  Peter duly rewarded her with a winch launch in K-13, FGR.

Suitably warmed up, Mike needed an aerotow check flight in a K-13, from the back seat, so Peter duly obliged.

Mike concentrating hard on keeping position behind the Eurofox.  Note to the committee; can we afford a razor to present the BGA Instructor of the Year in the best light?

Looking out the front Mike's positioning on the tug looks near perfect. Bravo!

Off tow.  Peter enjoys a front seat view of Brentor church, St. Michael de Rupe, while Mike does the flying.

In the late afternoon Mike and Jamie took an aerotow in the K-13, another first for Jamie.

Jamie prepares for his aerotow launch

Jamie's view from the front of K-13, FGR as the Eurofox readies itself to take him and Mike overhead Tavistock

"All out, All out".  Jamie and Mike head to 2,000 feet

Jamie and Mike Jardine thermaling with the Puchacz with Dave Bourchier and Scratch

Nice turquoise shirt, Dave!

Scratch's view of the proceedings with Dave Bourchier in the Puchacz. 
How can you tell that it's David Bourchier in the front seat?

So a highly successful day with many firsts for both DSGC and DGS members.  The average duration of the glider flights was 65 minutes, partly due to the weather conditions and partly due to the 15 aerotows.  DGS members should continue to play the EuroMillions; we need an Eurofox!

Finally, many thanks to Mark Courtney and his team from North Hill for making this event happen.  You are welcome at any time.

Gavin Short