Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 1st February 2025

With the high pressure moving slowly away to the east and a weak occluded front following in from the west today was forecast to be fairly quiet with the initial blue skies and frost quickly giving way to stratus cloud and slightly warmer conditions. Wind light from the SE. Flying was from the west end with only one K13 and one K8 both aircraft landing on the track to prevent too much damage to the grass which is very soggy in places.

K8 on approach and ...

... rounding out

Flying was the expected round of training and currency flying. It was really good to see our strong cadre of junior pilots who are keen to bee involved in all aspects of club life. Longest flight of the day was a massive 10 minutes by Malcolm Wilton-Jones who put his wafted around in the K8 for a dizzying 10 minutes.

FSD ready to launch and ....

..off they go

Three of today's juniors posing for the camera

Junior pilot Freddie getting ready to fly with Rick

As always there was a lot of  work going on apart from the flying. Before the morning briefing the juniors replaced to gate sign which was removed to allow entry of the "new" bus into the site. It is only fair that Zack was involved in this endeavour as the "new" bus ( now known as Zack's shack ), which he negotiated,  caused it to be removed in the first place. 

Zack and gate sign with Elliot supervising

In the hangar, there was much measuring, balancing and planning for the up and coming weighing of the Puchacz after the canopy and instruments are replaced, Later in the day, K13 FGR was rigged following it's recent C of A. 

Working on the plan to reweigh the Puchacz

A lot of the tasks needed to run a successful gliding club often goes unseen but continue seven days a week. The treasurer team do a lot of work behind the scenes keeping our coffers suitably serviced. On the maintenance front there is always files to be updated, parts to be sourced and firmware to be updated, plans to be laid etc. etc. The IT group are having a busy week with a problem with EE displaying our website. Plans are being made to update the site entrance, fit out Zack's Shack, upgrade the solar system, keep the tea fund supplied and so on.  All of this is but a small sample and doesn't even mention the Management effort by the various committee members.

FGR being assembled (rigged)

A good club day

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 2nd February 2025

The forecast for the cloudbase to lower as the day progressed and for possible rain early afternoon, inspired the few gathered members to get on and set the field up to fly. This forecast led to there being just enough to fly, so duty BI rang our first visitor of the year to see if they could come earlier for their flights.

First flight took off at 09:44 with Viktor and myself. A launch to 1200ft and cloudbase still above us showed us we had made the right decision to fly.

Lower cloud over the moors.

Clearer to the south.

After Victors second flight our first visitor, Philippa Knight had arrived, so we handed the glider over to Gavin for her flights.Philippa Knight from Plymouth with partner Jack from Plymouth. Philippa had never flown in a glider or light aircraft before. We quickly established that both the BI and visitor worked at Cotehele; one as a shuttle bus driver, one in the gift shop as part if her university placement to become a ranger. There were more coincidences as Philippa's dad and Gavin had served in the same submarine as engineers. Its a small world. 

Partner Jack watches Philippa return.

Philippa receives her certificate from Gavin.

Philippa was the whisked away to walk the dog and a nice pub lunch as her flights were part of a birthday treat.

Ed Borlase and I took a flight, but the cloudbase had already started lowering and the southerly wind had increased.

Airfield from the east.

This would be the last flight of the day as we decided to return the K13 to the safety of the hangar. A short day, but we made the most of it. Back to the clubhouse for a late lunch and well earned teas and coffees. Thank you to Phil hardwick who winched and was unable to fly.

Peter Howarth