Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 15th November 2025

After yesterday's visit from Storm Claudia, the first order of business was a pitch inspection. The runway was in surprisingly good condition given the prodigious amount rain over the last couple of days... With the wind in the east there is always a possibility of wave and today was like that. The signs were good from the start. There was a cap cloud covering Dartmoor. The were several stationary lines of clouds laying more or less north - south. Game on.

The early view to the east - wave clouds on view

And later. The clouds have dissipated but the wave is still there

The conditions early on were somewhat challenging with the wave moving around / coming and going. This did not stop Andy Davey flying the club Astir CS77 for 53 minutes returning after he had explored the local wave system.

By lunchtime, the wave was really established and entry to the system was an easy, short, jog east from the top of  the winch launch to the edge of the cloud where a right turn had the glider climbing in smooth lift. Climb rates varied but typically 2 knots low down building to 4 knots a few hundred feet higher. Occasional patches of 6 - 8 knots were reported. The local wave system topped out at 4000ft QFE ( or 4800t above sea level). 

To the north there was a large active looking cloud which produced much stronger and much rougher lift giving entry to the wave again which topped out at 6000ft above sea level north to Sourton just downwind of Yes Tor.

Mike and I ready to launch and ...

.. a couple of minutes later established in the wave and sharing a joke

Val enjoying the view

The view to the west as we rose above the cloud

The wave later in the day

This view never gets old

Rick progressing along the primary with 6 knots on the vario

Can you spot the K13 on the secondary wave bar?

Our One Day Course candidate was Daryl Vickery who was treated to several forays into the wave.

Daryl with Scratch

Elsewhere, Adam and I spent several hours replacing the complete rudder pedal assembly in the K8. It will return to service after certification from Colin.

A fantastic winter flying day with 17 launches with an average flight time of 32 minutes (flight times were curtailed by mutual agreement to ensure everyone could fly).

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 8th November 2025

After a week of wind and rain, Saturday dawned clear and bright with  a SW breeze. We are between frontal systems with the next due tomorrow, but today we can fly.

At the early morning briefing we were very pleased to announce that we have purchased a second Twin Astir to complete our new look training fleet., The "new" aircraft is already well know at DGS, Twin Astir G-DDSL has in fact been operated for many years from our airfield  by a private syndicate. We are very excited and expect to see DSL at the launch point soon after the instructors have had some time for aircraft familiarisation. Here are a few library photos to wet our appetites

Sitting in the sun.

At the launch point

On approach

The airfield was very busy as club members strived to use today's weather window. The launchpoint was a very active place today as we worked through everyone's flying needs, a heady mix of dual and solo flying. There was a little soaring to be had if you launched at the right time with Andy Davey recording 16 and 26 minute flights in his Libelle. Alasdair Barclay posted a very creditable 23 min in the Astir. Best 2 seater flight was 17min flown by myself with today's One Day Course candidate.

Early on the sky was uninspiring

A rather tall line of clouds to the south - possible showers?

Looking for any signs of soarable conditions

By early afternoon the sky looked great,
although cloud base was less than 2000ft 

We had 3 visitors today. Lance Whitehead was our One Day Course candidate. He enjoyed his day so much that by the end of the day he had joined the club as a full member. Welcome to the club Lance. Our other visitors were Richard Harper and Jules English who enjoyed Air Experience flights,

New member Lance

Richard

Jules

We flew until bad light stopped play as we were treated to a little sunset colour.

Phew!! What a day. 45 launches. A new member. and a new two seat aircraft. Not bad for November.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 1st November 2025

 We are still getting weather fronts crossing daily with lots of rain. Today was no different. SW winds and frequent showers meant that flying needed to be carefully timed. But fly we did with just 1 K13 and 1 K8 due to the limited number of members on the field today.

The wind was almost fully across the runway at times.

Rick took the first flight as a solo; self check flight perhaps. This was followed by Rick flying with Ian King, today's only pre solo trainee. Scratch borrowed the K13 after this to fly William Stevens today's air-experience flight. Later K13 flights saw Scratch flying with Rick doing some instructor training and a flight with me to complete my annual checks.

K13 waiting patiently

And off again

Ian and Rick

William Stevens

The K8 saw some use for circuit practice until Malcolm Wilton-Jones managed to hitch a lift on a passing cloud to record The longest flight of the day at 30 minutes. 

K8 under a showery sky

Malcolm's view to the south

Definitely some lift there.

Elsewhere work continues on the Twin Astir Trainer and the simulator clubhouse extension.

The day finished with a lively Committee Meeting.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 2nd November 2025

The forecast gave a moderate breeze increasing during the afternoon and possible showers around lunch time. A  k13, Puchacz, K8 and Astir were readied and the airfield set up to fly from the east end.

Would we be lucky to escape the showers.

As it was the first flight was delayed by a shower. Finally Misha Skochko and I launched with Misha practising rolling out of a turn at specific landmarks. His second flight was made just before a second shower approached.

Another shower on the way.

After a short break Freddie Purkiss launched in the K8 and Jamie Young launched in the Astir. Each managed extended flights of 16 minutes and 20 minutes respectively. Both flights were initially the longest of the day.  Duty BI Phil Harwick greeted One Day Course member Michael Malric-Smith. Phil gave him two introductory flights, but with Michael's experience of flying helicopters and light aircraft it was necessary to quickly place him with a Flight Instructor. Luckily RNGSA instructor Jamie Steele was at the club today and took over in the back seat of the Puchacz. By the end of the day, Michael was doing a large part of the flying.

Michael and Jamie ready for another flight.

Today also saw the return of member David Moorley after 12 months away due to various family commitments. After four flights today David was well on his way back to where he was before the break.

David happy to be back in the saddle.

Other solo pilots also enjoyed flights in the K8 & Astir. Viktor Skochko (K8), Steve Fletcher (K8 & Astir) & Ed Borlase (K8) enjoyed extended flights in the sometimes buoyant air. Steve Fletcher stayed aloft for 29 minutes to claim flight of the day.

Another rainbow viewed by Ed.

I swapped back seats to the Puchacz to fly with Freddie Purkiss preparing him for his transition to the Astir in the near future. Jamie also swapped back seats to take Michael for a flight in the K13.

The final flight lands.

A good days flying, initially dodging the showers, but ending with all happy pilots saying they were glad we made the effort to fly. Michael was also signed up as a full member and we look forward to seeing him again.

Thanks to all at the field today, including Alison who did the majority of the retrieving today.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 26th October 2025

With no flying yesterday and the schools on half term, would today be a busy day? A moderate breeze which was forecast to increase during the afternoon we set about getting things ready to fly. A K13 and the K8 were taken to the launch point. As it was there was only one student pilot and two visitors booked in so the K13 was the only two seater required.

After a test flight following a minor repair, the K8 was cleared for the solo pilots to fly.

Phil on the test flight.

Misha was the only trainee, so off we went in the K13 before the visitors were due to arrive early due to the possible changing conditions.

Misha trying to extend the flight in weak lift.

Our first visitor arrived to fly with dity IFP Steve Fletcher. 12 year old Archer Welch came with mum and dad. Even with a parachute and extra weight, Archer was too small to sit in the front seat, so he was settled into the back seat.

Archer and Steve ready to fly.

Archer has dreams of becoming a pilot, but will have to put on some weight if he wants to start that journey in gliding.

Archer receiving his certificate.

The second visitor promptly arrived jus as Steve was finishing the first set of flights. Stev was able to retunr to the back seat to fly Bran Situte. Originally a present for partner Ruth who wasn't keen to fly, Bran stepped in to use the voucher flight.

Bran stepping in to use the voucher.

The solo pilots took turns to fly the K8 gaining experience flying the K8 in higher winds.

Freddie taking his turn in the K8.

As the wind was steadily increasing, it was decided to hangar fly the aircraft and repack the hangar before the forecast rain was due to arrive. Everybody had flown, so all were happy with the decision. With everything packed away the rain arrived, so today nothing got wet.

Thanks to all at the airfield today. Any flying day at this time of year is appreciated.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 22 October 2025

It was the lull before Storm Benjamin arrived from France.  The wind, although light, was already from the south backing south-east, but the forecasts varied, so to be conservative, we set up at the east end.

With one visitor today and just two trainees, we fielded a K-13, a K-8, and the Astir CS77.  We needed to get going, and for our visitor to arrive in time, before the forecast rain arrived.  Again, forecasts differed with the rain arriving at 1500 through to 1700.

The sky looked quite good for the end of October and the cloudbase higher than forecast

With only two trainees and a single visitor today, a single K-13 plus the single-seater gliders would suffice

So what else was going on at the club?  I will borrow a phrase from my wife's late grandmother, who would always declare "You know, the usual" in answer to any question, from what was going on to what she wanted for tea.

"You know, the usual" summed up what was happening at the clubhouse and hangar: DB was fitting a different, and hopefully stronger tail dolly wheel for the Astir CS77; the Twin Astir Trainer was out if its box and Andy was making sone minor GRP repairs on the inside of the fuselage; Colin arrived and contemplated how to solve the tatty microphone wiring and improve the battery shelf; DB straightened the belly dolly stays; Alasdair was devising a Scottish engineering solution to hold the trailer doors open (i.e. one that doesn't cost anything) and fit better number plate brackets; I researched panel-mounted microphones and spoke to the suppliers; I also offered up the new Flarm LED displays and mounting brackets; safety cushions were discussed and the reupholstering if the seats was planned;  John Smith was busy felting the chicken coop (sorry, I mean the Simulator extension to the clubhouse); and finally Neal was working on the lighting in the parachute store, and fitting the PIR sensor, before hoovering and cleaning the tables (Shhush, don't tell his wife).

A tatty white patch on the nose will be sorted by Les Clarke in his
 workshop and spray booth later in the year

The aerotow hook surround needs a bit of tlc too.

Steve and Colin get to grips with the rear shelf and battery boxes that need strengthening.

DB contemplates 46 years' worth of additions and modifications to the Twin Astir Trainer's wiring loom.

So in a phrase, "You know, the usual" at DGS.

Flying commenced with Ian flying with the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine.  On Ian's third flight, he flew the launch, the circuit, the approach, and the landing with barely an utterance from the back seat.  Congratulations.  After Mike Bennett took a check flight (mandatory now under the SPL recency rules) with Mike Jardine, these flights were interspersed with K-8 and Astir CS77 launches by John Osment, Peter,  Malcolm, Alasdair, John Allan, Mike Bennett, and John Smith.  Of course, the sun broke through the overcast when Malcolm got in the cockpit, and inevitably, he had to be called down after 35 minutes, thereby achieving "Man of the Match".

Alasdair conducts the daily inspection the Astir CS77 under a enticing-looking sky.

The "three amigos" wait for the runway to be clear before taking the Astir CS77 to the launch point

Malcolm releases the cable at the top of the launch.  We wouldn't see him for a while, so it was clear for the amigos to take the Astir CS77 to the launch point. 

Then it was Ken's turn for his three flights with Mike.  Ken achieved the longest K-13 flight of the day, so Malcolm had left a little bit of lift for others.

Ian and Mike share an interesting-looking sky on Ian's third flight

Note the wisps of cloud over Tavistock, lower than the K-13's height

Mike and Mike encounter low clouds on Mike Bennett’s check flight

Mike B demonstrates to his instructor how to thermal in 3.5knots of sink

Back at the clubhouse, my sole visitor of the day, as the duty Basic Instructor, arrived.  Bob Bryan is just shy by a few days of celebrating an important milestone in life.  I would fly him under the friends and family scheme.  Bob and his wife, Chris, are fellow MG enthusiasts with the Tamar Valley MG Owners Club.  They have visited DGS before during the club's navigation exercises.  Sadly, I couldn't bring my 1968 MGC GT today as I needed the Twin Astir Trainer seats, new glider parts, and tools that were in the back of my daily driver.  Colin thinks I need a Berlingo van, like his, as the Fleet Manager, but I think I will stick with what I've got.

Alasdair ready to launch, Ian runs the wing, and Mike Bennett is the launch marshal. 
DGS teamwork at its best. 
"Ochh, stop yer blether" was heard from the cockpit!

And away Alasdair goes into an almost totally overcast sky

After helping Bob and Chris set up the clubhouse for a post-flight afternoon tea, Bob's band of supporters arrived, and we all moved to the East end in a couple of trips in the Volvo.   Our driver was Peter, the DCFI.   An honour indeed!

Mike and Ken had just finished flying, so FSD was ready for our use.  After a parachute and safety brief, Bob and I flew.  The first flight was an orientation flight to show Bob the differences from the Chipmunk he used to fly a long time ago.  The second flight was a tiny bit longer as we encountered a few tantalising bits of lift while Bob tried his hand at the controls during the elevator and aileron demonstrations.  Warming to gliding rapidly, on the third flight, he took the controls from after the launch until we were back to near low key.  Even though the day was in full overcast, he had a great time and was warmly supported by his friends and members alike.

Bob Bryan and Gavin get ready for their first flight

Bob and his neighbour John Smith, who Bob didn't know was a pilot,
share a joke before Bob's third launch

A welcome sight in the clubhouse for our visitors and the weary Wavers

With that, the team retired to the clubhouse, where the wood burner was going and a fantastic spread was laid out before us.  There were even glider-shaped homemade shortbreads.  Meanwhile, at the launch point, FSD was pressed back into training mode with short flights for Dave Archer and Alasdair (all good recency flights, chaps. Make sure you get them signed off in your log books) and another flight for Ken.  The Wednesday Wavers brought the gliders back, packed the hangar and put the kit away before joining the tea party.  I am pleased to say that the Wavers stepped up to the task and ensured that Chris's fantastic spread of food and drink was duly consumed, which made clearing up a lot easier.

We said farewell to our guests.  Some Wavers remained behind to discuss gliding issues in our pristine clubhouse (thanks, Neal!) until the drumming of the rain got too much and it was time to wend our way home.

Today in the lull, 23 flights were achieved before the rain set in and the onslaught of the edge of Storm Benjamin.  I received thanks and praise from my visitors after discussing what could be achieved in our sport.  Bob, Chris, and Bob's supporters had a great day.  They kindly made a generous donation to the club for the use of the club's facilities.  In reality, having a welcoming, warm clubhouse with tea, sandwiches, and cake after a day's flying on Dartmoor was a treat for the Wavers too.

It turned out to be a great day, for which "You know, the usual" didn't quite cover it.

Gavin Short