Dunkelflaute. Its never ending isn't it? High pressure over the UK with the air temperature and the dew point very close is bound to lead to foggy conditions.
Heathrow
and Gatwick were fogged in today and we were NRI (No Rated
Instructor). But that didn't stop operations by Mike Bennett, DB, John
Allan, Steve Lewis, Colin and I, pleased to be out in the fresh air after Christmas.
Mike took the opportunity to burn some rubbish. After all it was the only way we were going to get a thermal today.
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| Dartmoor Gliding's very own "Firestarter" in action |
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| The heat was too much for some |
CCY's
trailer, with K-8, GDK safely secured in it after trailer's conversion,
needed to be moved to the east end. But there were a couple of things
to do first; John and Steve fitted a pair of stainless steel number
plate brackets to the rear door and I removed the instrument panel and the
safety cushion from GDK's fuselage. It proved to be a remarkably easy operation as a K-13 trailer
is quite spacious when accommodating a K-8, so there was no need to pull the fuselage out to gain access.
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| Following its conversion CCY's trailer can accommodate either a K-13 or a K-8 |
Trailer hooked up and ready to go, a tea break was called for, and while we enjoyed our break I colour-coded the ASI on GDK's panel. Its becoming a recurring theme.
Tea drunk, four
of us headed up to the east end with the Jeep towing the trailer. The
airfield was quite firm due to the lack of rain. A positive point
from Dunkelflaute! The firm ground made for easy access and
straightforward parking of the trailer. On the return journey eagle-eye
Steve spotted a fallen strop. Well to be accurate he retrieved it from
the open gate leading to the south field where the farmer had left it!
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| Trailer parked. Now to chock the wheels |
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| The Chairman checks the securing arrangements |
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| Evidence of littering at the airfield. These were retrieved from the fence near the hangar apron. The Libelle and K-6e owner will remain nameless to spare his blushes. |
Then
Colin, Mike and DB turned their attention to a utility trailer that has
seen better days and inflated its tyres before hooking it up to Colin's
Green Chariot.
After
lunch (turkey and cranberry sauce rolls of course) the drizzle stopped for half
an hour. This allowed John and I to open our trailers, check our
gliders, and indulge in a bit of fettling. John wants to add an
artificial horizon to his glider; an App running on a smart phone. He needed to
determine where to fit it.
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| All intact. A reassuring sight after the recent storms |
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| Yes, John is in there. Steve provides helpful location and fitting advice. |
Meanwhile Mike got the hoover out in the clubhouse. Careful, Val might object!
The drizzle started again. The trailers were duly closed. Mike and DB
had already departed, as had Colin, and I followed closely after that which left the die hards (Steve and
John) to secure the airfield on completion of today's operations.
With
that Dartmoor International ceased operations for the night. Heathrow
and Gatwick eat your heat out! A strange comment perhaps. As way of explanation my neighbour's
husband's flight to UAE from Heathrow was delayed by fog today. She couldn't
understand it as she saw me leave home this morning to go flying....
Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year to the readers of our blog. The wind
is forecast to swing round to the east, Dunkelflaute will be gone, and so we hope
to be airborne again early in 2025.
Gavin Short
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