Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Following the 1 April tomfoolery we could get back to serious stuff for the Wednesday Wavers.  Meteorology can be a complicated subject but here is a simple explanation of what's occurring, as they say on Barry Island.  The run of fine weather had been caused by high pressure over the United Kingdom.  Its slow movement across had caused a gradual shift in the wind direction until on Wednesday it was coming from the east.  A stable atmosphere.  A decent turn of wind speed and Voila!  Mountain Lee Wave.

Unsurprisingly, the DGS Google and WhatsApp groups had been chattering away with analysis of Skysight and RASP predictions.  Queries over the BBC weather forecast and how realistic the forecast for gusts would be.  The excitement had spread as far as RNAS Culdrose and Seahawk GC members prepared to join the Wavers.  Note that I have had to drop the reference to Wednesday as the CFI is getting tetchy that wave only seems to happen on a...certain midweek day!

There it is.  Lift marked in bright orange between the airfield and the ranges. Perfect!

The wave cross section for 0900 showing wave extending vertically all the way to 30,000 feet. 
Whoo Hoo!

Mike Jardine and I were duty and as ever thinking about our visitors for the day.  Would it be flyable for visitors or would rotor over the site prevent us, well me actually, delivering a good introduction to our sport?  Normally one can never tell until the day but on this instance both One Day Courses were cancelled on Tuesday so that they could rebook when the conditions were better for introductory flights.

The day dawned with an early start for the Wavers with privateers rigging to try for an early launch.  Alas, Merrivale (surface to 10,000 feet AMSL) and Willsworthy (surface to 4,500 feet AMSL) firing ranges were active today.  So club gliders without a moving map would have to stay to the west of the A386, the Tavistock to Sourton Road.  When I arrived and opened the gate the rotor was roaring overhead but later when the Duty Instructor arrived it was calm indicating that the wind strength must be changing and altering the wavelength of the wave.

The privateers fielded a Libelle, a Discus, a DG300, a Mini-Nimbus, an Open Cirrus, a Kestrel 19 and a K-6CR.  The Duty Instructor waited to see the results of the early launches and whether to field none, one, or two K-13s.  Andy was first up into the rotor and lots of sink in the down wave for the longest flight of the day; five minutes.  John Allan tried and managed three minutes as did Richard.  Time for a break and a cup of tea.  Then Andy tried again and much later John, who broke a weak link in the rotor.  All were very short flights.  On the basis of the results of the morning's flights it was decided to scrub the day and pack the toys away.

The early birds waiting for the right moment to launch

Andy and Phil prepared their trailers and left the site ready to head to Lleweni Parc (Denbigh) in North Wales at the weekend.  I will do the same on Saturday ready to head to Talgarth in the Black Mountains in South Wales for the week.

Phil ready to depart with his "Swedish" style trailer shares a word with Steve Lesson

Was that the end of the day?  No,  several club gliders needed checking, and small jobs doing, before bringing them back on line.

Adam works on the canopy emergency release mechanism on the Puchacz

One Day course candidate John Thorpe, even though he wasn't going to be able to fly, came to the club to witness proceedings and had a good introduction to what he would be doing when he rebooks.  We also welcomed Raymond Staines, who had flown with us some ten years ago, who arrived and promptly joined the club.  I gave him a walk round and an introduction to the Wavers and we made good progress on his introductory check list, as I am his "buddy".  He also had a good look at his "Welcome pack".

During day the Colin was preparing the fuselage of CCY for paint, masking it and using a block and tackle to lift it out of its belly dolly ready for spraying.  Inevitably there was a job for him in the hangar too.

Colin replaced part of the lap belt in the rear seat of K-13, FGR.  Its the little things that count.

John Smith continued to make progress on the new launch point bus assisted by a selection of members.  DB made progress on the gliding equipment trailer to accommodate the longer strops that are now recommended by Skylaunch.

More tea was drunk, lunch consumed, and the hangar packed.

So a lovely day, but with fierce rotor and strong wind.  Unfortunately the Wavers were unsuccessful on this occasion.  But as our readers know, "never say never to Dartmoor Wave".

Thanks to all who turned up for an early start to help launch the early birds and the trainees; Julia and Victor, also Malcolm, Dave Archer, and Steve Lesson who helped about the club.

The Chairman was missing, probably frustrated at not being present while stuck in Plymouth waiting for his car to be ready after work on it at the garage.

The Chairman's view of the day's proceedings

Roll on Saturday, as we have five club gliders back on line.  However, on an initial look we might be for more of the same with perhaps stronger winds.  There is always work to be done around the site and lectures to be delivered.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 30th March 2025

The morning greeted the early arrivals with low cloud. But as the forecast was for the cloud to lift and leave us with clear skies and a moderate NW breeze we set about getting things ready to fly.

Once the cloudbase was high enough, first into the front seat was Freddie Purkiss. Five flights during the day including a practice launch failure sees him well on his way to achieving his aims.

Freddie doing his pre-flight checks.

Today's duty IFP Steve Fletcher had two visitors to fly. One was booked in and the other arrived unexpectedly. First visitor was Peter Timmoney arrived from Plymouth with his wife. Peter enjoyed three short flights with Steve.

Peter being briefed by Steve.

The second visitor was Colin Easton. An ex Dockyard Drawing Office worker also from Plymouth enjoyed two slightly longer flights with Steve.

Colin Easton and Steve.

Whilst Steve was flying the visitors I test flew K8 GDK after rigging post ARC.

Getting ready for the test flight.

When Steve had finished with the K13 it was time to resume training. New junior Edward Nicholson who wants to become a RAF Engineer settled into the front seat. Following his introductory flights last week it was time for hands on and was soon getting to grips with coordinated turns and trimming the glider during flight.

Edward excited to start his training.

An old member returned today using a voucher to re-introduce himself to flying. Matthew Stone enjoyed three flights with me. By the third he was doing everything showing how little he had forgotten.

Matthew happy back in the front seat.

Brent Tor.

Thank you to Phil Hardwick and Ed Borlase for all the winching today who under their guidance saw George Purkiss do the majority of the launches ready to eventually be cleared to drive the winch.

The longest flight today was only 10 minutes, but all enjoyed what flying was done.

Peter Howarth