Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 22nd February 2025

The weather gods have timed it right for once. We have a weak ridge of high pressure promising an almost spring like day with a westerly breeze, plenty of sunshine, and even the possibility of a little thermal activity. The flying start was delayed a little as yesterday's front and showers moved away.

Some interesting clouds and the breeze straight down the runway.
What more could we want?

Today's instructor commenced his list with 3 flights with Viktor followed by 2 with Zack the second of which was a 19minute soaring effort. Next came a check flight with Jamie who recorded a day topping 36 minutes before flying solo for another 19mins. Good effort Jamie. The solo pilots made several soaring flights in the K8 after it was released from the hangar by the technical team who spent several hours investigating it's weight and balance and different ballasting options.

Viktor and Mike getting ready

The view to the south with the Tamar estuary shine in the sunlight

K13 FGR ready to launch and ....

...off they go

Zack following a cloud street

By 4pm the thermals had evaporated and last flight was landed at 5pm leaving enough time for the gliders to be washed before returning to the hangar.

K8 ready for it's hangar flight

A nice almost spring like day

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 26 February 2025

I couldn't get to the club today.  I had to wait for a technician to call to look at my upright freezer.  The freezer was out of warranty, of course, but fortunately insured.  I think it must be a sentient being and it obviously missed me when I was flying on Saturday.  How did I know this?  Well, when I returned home on Saturday afternoon there was water all over the utility room floor, a fan was squealing like a stuck pig, and the contents were defrosting rapidly.  I experienced a certain sense of Deja Vu as my last freezer failure was in a nuclear-powered submarine which is a major event dealing with five tonnes of defrosting food.  Fortunately this wasn't as bad and by working like Billy-O we managed to salvage most of the thawing contents.

So from regularly looking at the weather forecasts, weather, and Glide and Seek during the day I could see that there was no flying at Brentor.  But the Duty Instructor kindly sent me a report of the day's activities.  So here it is.

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Hi Gavin,

No flying today.

Plenty of tasks on the ground.

Work continued on the bus conversion to a launch point by John Smith.

David was replacing wheels on the base of the hangar doors.

Colin and Peter were working in the workshop on various tasks.

East end fencing repairs were tackled by Mike B, Steve F and Phil.

The new defibrillator was presented to the club by Robin. He was able to obtain a generous donation from the Tavistock Rotary Club and Robin's family members donated funds to this as an alternative to birthday presents for Robin.

"Our Doc", Robin presents the club with a defibrillator

The new instrument panel in the simulator was put to the test by Neal and was working well.

Note the instruments in the panel.  They are not actual aviation instruments. They are 3-D printed replicas driven by stepper motors from the outputs from the simulator's Condor II software, all created by Viktor.

Дякую, Вікторе (Thank you, Viktor)

A productive non flying day.

Mike

 

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A good effort by the DGS team even if they didn't get in the air.  What did the technician find today?  He found no faults (Ahhh!).  All diagnostic checks were OK.  He could see the last 120 hours of history and the sudden massive rise in temperature from -21C to ambient temperature on Saturday.  The Freezer is now running and its back down to -20C.  We have three bowls of water placed in it for test and we are monitoring progress.  Managing the club fleet is so much easier.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 19 February 2025

Today's RASP indicated low cloud in the morning, rising around midday, and returning mid-afternoon and that’s exactly what it did.

The opportunity was taken to review the SPL (Sailplane Pilots Licence) implications that are coming in to force this September.  Then the manoeuvring envelope was introduced to our trainees Jamie and Zack to further understand the information presented on the glider placards.

We had two trial flights booked today with BI Richard Roberts however, one decided to re-book and look forward to better flying days.

The west end launch point

Overcast views to the South

The airfield from the south east

Our second trial flight visitor Dominic Washington decided to come to the airfield and was successful in getting into the air.

Trial flight visitor Dominic Washington about to fly with Richard

Neal Oxley prepares to aviate

A further visitor was Upavon GC member Peter Hale who was introduced to a K13 for the first time and managed the last flight of the afternoon before conditions closed in. 

 

Upavon GC visitor Peter Hale.

In the three hours we had available from 12pm until 3pm 14 launches were achieved before the gliders were cleaned and put away in the hangar.

Thanks to all who made it a flying day.

Mike

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 12th February 2025

The days briefing started with a review of the RASP which indicated easterly winds but with no sign of any wave developing, 80% surface sun though through the day. However not to be deterred three privateers rigged those being Andy with his Libelle, Phil with his  DG300 and Scratch with his standard Cirrus .

Initial flights were extended circuits and training flights including a simulated launch failure for Neal Oxley which was dealt with very well. An indication of good progress in Neal’s training.

No sign of any wave but with light Easterly winds and good sunshine the thermals started to develop. 

K8 and K13 share a thermal

Returning Nymsfield member Nigel Braytook the opportunity for a
check flight with me before taking a soaring flight in the K8

Nice views across the moors with plenty of blue sky

The grass on the runway doesn't look very green from here

Nigel keeping a good lookout and staying aloft for half an hour.

K8 can be seen beyond the port wing of the K13

What better way to spend your 19th birthday for our days trial flight Samuel Rice
than to take a soaring flight with our IFP Steve Fletcher

Phil heading off for a 40 minute soaring flight in his DG300.

So the day culminated with 31 launches , some good soaring flights for all gliders with the longest at one hour 51 minutes by Andy in his libelle.

Thanks to all for making it a very good days flying.

Mike

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 9th February 2025

Talk over the recent days was over the forecast of moderate NE'ly and a possibility of another wave day at Brentor. When I arrived there were two Libelles rigged and the field set up to fly from the west end. Whilst Andy Davey prepared to take an early launch other members liberated the club aircraft from the hangar as the only serviceable K13 was at the back of the hangar.

Tantalising early wave as seen from the winch.

I took a launch in K13 FGR to give it a test flight post annual inspection. With the K13 given a clean bill of health, the first trainee, David Osment settled into the front seat. Two flights in the morning and two later in the day saw his general judgement improve. The latter two were with the altimeter covered up.

David on his downwind leg.

Andy had three flights but the wave eluded him and all flights today.

Andy returning on one of his flights.

Jamie Young had a check flight and then added another solo flight, plus another two later in the day.

Jamie ready for another solo.

And watched returning by mum Alison.

Richard Roberts took a back seat ride to check recency ready for his visitor today. A break between training allowed him to fly Nakul Puri from Tavistock who was watched by his partner.

Nakul and Richard ready to fly.

Other trainees Freddie Purkiss and Viktor Skochko each enjoyed four flights each and are both progressing well towards their goals. Ed Borlase brought the K8 to the launch point and enjoyed two flights, one of which was 17 minutes to claim flight of the day.

Ed happy back in the K8.

Our other visitors today were the local PCSO's (Police Community Support Officers) on their monthly visits to check all was well at the club. Whist they were at Brentor International they showed keen interest in the cliders and what we were up to. Maybe we might see them in a non official capacity to try a couple of flights.

PCSO's on duty at Brentor International.

Thank you to all at the club today. Not a wave day in the end, but at least a soaring day with one flight of 17 minutes and 25 flights.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 5 February 2025

In east Cornwall the morning dawned clear and frosty.  At Gulworthy Cross daffodils were in bloom and birdsong was audible when I opened the gates at the club.  Has Spring sprung already?

Unfortunately the clear skies had changed to high cloud cover but a watery sun was still visible.  Later, when Malcolm arrived he reported that he had driven through rain for most of the way from Newquay.  Shades of bad weather to come perhaps?

A watery sun was visible through the high cloud cover to the east

Unsurprisingly the airfield was still wet so the customary single K-13 and single K-8 would be used with vehicles sticking to the centre track where possible.

To day was going to be Flarm day.  A major push to update the firmware, normally an annual occurrence, to version 7.40 which doesn't have an expiry date.  Cue the Fleet Manager delving in to the innards of the K-13 and K-8, after their Daily Inspections, to insert the SD or micro SD card and upload the firmware.  We had a long wait as the update was evidently a big one.  The K-13 was then taken to the launch point.  The K-8 followed but at the launch point the firmware update had not taken so it was time for me to retire to the clubhouse and download the firmware again for a further attempt later in the day.

With that flying commenced albeit with a later start than usual, with the first launch at 1050.  Are the Wednesday Wavers loosing their mojo?  What was missing from this picture?  Perhaps it was that Andy was hors de combat with a bad cold.  There were no other obvious reasons.

Today's launch point

Back in the hangar the maintenance team made a big push to get K-13, FGR back in service following its annual inspection;  a small amount of paint on the aileron tips, fitting of the new 3D-printed battery box, measurement of the control surface deflections, an ensuing adjustment of the wheel brake, and of course the all important fresh ARC (Airworthiness Review Certificate) to be stuck in the cockpit.  In our post EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) world no aircraft shall fly unless its paperwork is complete, but you knew that didn't you?

Geoff flies his downwind leg while Mike enjoys the view

Mid-morning showers caught out both the maintenance team and the Wavers; tarpaulins were deployed over the open cockpit of the Puchacz on the hangar apron and a pause in flying and a retreat to the east end launch point (bus) respectively.

Hangar queens out on the apron?  No, they are are "seeking the sky", for a GPS fix, as part of the Flarm Firmware update.

Showers dissipated and flying recommenced.  Trainees Neal and Geoff continued working with the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, whilst the pundits tried their hand in the K-8.  Neal's training has moved on to practice launch failures which he conducted satisfactorily from low and high level.

Geoff and Mike ready to launch

"All out, All out"

And away they go into an overcast sky

Later Robin flew with Mike for some refresher flights.  Afterwards, with little demand for the K-13 Mike made a solo flight and then Neal and Geoff took a further flight each. 

The forecast had predicted some light thermals and our resident "Liftmeister", Malcolm soared, or perhaps scratched, in FXB for 19 minutes.  He only narrowly won "Man of the Match" award as John Allan flew FXB for 17 minutes on the next flight.  As I mentioned earlier Spring may have sprung (and thermals are appearing) despite the gloomy overcast. 

The K-8 in the circuit after passing the distinctive landscape of Black Down

Then the K-13 was used for refresher flights from the rear seat for those who fly our visitors; Steve Fletcher and Scratch took turns in providing "ballast" in the front seat so that the other could fly.

First, Steve's turn to fly

How's it going Scratch?  Note the K-8 that has just landed.

Steve returns the favour

Earlier there had been a request to replenish the weak link tool box with blue links (used for the single-seaters).  This was an unneeded precaution as John Smith flew the K-8 later in the day and the launch cable and strop returned to earth with the weak link attached.  At the end of the day John did have the good grace to say that it was a first for him, not breaking a weak link, so he must, finally, be getting used to the K-8's launch characteristics.

The Duty Instructor's perennial view from the back seat

After Colin helped Phil with a canopy problem on his syndicate's Twin Astir, he flew with Mike in FSD.

At the end of the day Neal (he loves it doesn't he?) flew with Scratch as "ballast" and Dave Archer clocked up some more flights in the K-8.

After 28 flights the toys were returned and the hangar packed after the Flarm firmware was successfully uploaded to FXB.  Not a bad launch total considering the late start on a gloomy day in early February.

A final aside; the maintenance team in the hangar was oblivious to a drama that occurred at some point during the day.  Neal was in the club house using the facilities when the plumbing decided to give him an impromptu (very) cold shower.  All credit to Neal; he stopped the leak, mopped up the water, and then called for the plumber (Aka Scratch) to make a permanent fix.  Yet another day in the life of a glider pilot but perhaps not one for his log book.

This is the nearest anyone got to seeing Neal battle the plumbing in the club house as he took an involuntary cold shower

Hangar packed, farewells made, the Wednesday Wavers wended their weary way home.  Until the next Wednesday then.

Gavin Short

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 with 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 be 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 the 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