Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 6th April 2025 - Diamonds Over Dartmoor Again

The forecast had been show strong easterly winds for several days. This had already led us to cancel today's booked Air experience flying. We  were expecting 15knots+ and gusty at ground level with 35-40knots at flying heights. The  soundings definitely showed the possibility of wave

Early morning sun illuminating the wave cloud

Wave clouds over the airfield early on in the day

Right from the start the wave was easy to see with a large lenticular over the airfield. Early on the expected strong easterly at ground level was really quite mild. The wind was there but the rotor was back washing over the airfield resulting in deceptively gently conditions. Once launched it was a different matter with the winds aloft up to 40knots. It was interesting the watch a glider launch only to hover over the winch while disappearing vertically in the wave.

Andy pm the Libelle returning after another great flight

Andy Davey (Libelle) launched first. He has discovered that early launches generally provide easier access to the wave before any thermal activity complicates things. He flew for 3hrs 43 topping out at 17,000 feet above the airfield. He was followed by Phil Hardwick (DG300) 3hr24, Adam Hoskin ( K6CR) 3hr38 and Gavin Short ( Std Cirrus WL) 3hr20. All went to height only stopping when their lack of oxygen limited their efforts.

Gavin used hid height to explore and .....

... this is his view from overhead Holsworthy.
The domes at Bude are visible on the left

Adam had this view to the south from overhead Dartmoor

After a 30 minute pause Scratch launched in the club Astir CS77 1hr38 closely followed by John Allan in the Mini-Nimbus who had the longest and highest flight of the day at 5hrs2 topping out at 19233ft above sea level to gain his Diamond Height badge ( subject to ratification ).

This is what John had to say

 Height gain 17159ft (from the dip after launching)

Max height, 19233ft QNH (doesn't quite beat Andy's club record of last year).

(18413ft QFE)

Spent several hours trying to get past the 10000ft inversion, with a foray to Hatherleigh, and down towards Lee Moor.  Later I headed off to Roadford and found a solid band of 2knots lift just before the lake.  This seemed to get better as I went up reaching to 3-4Knot. However I headed down when I reached FL190, as reports from Rick, said it was getting rough to land, and they'd decided to stop K13 flights. Outside temperature was a balmy 0C at 10,000ft, but forecast to be -24C at 19500ft, but with the lovely sunshine it didn't feel bad at all.

John Allan

John's trace - note the highest climb was near Roadford

John's view over Dartmoor

John's view down the Ply Estuary and Plymouth 

After the solos had gone it was back to club business with a series 30 minute flights in the wave with Rick in K13 FGR. 

Soaring in the K13

K13 FGR on approach

As the day wore on the calm(ish) wind on the ground gave way to increasingly stronger easterlies. By 3pm Rick deemed that the wind was too strong and gusty to continue flying. The solos who were still airbourne were contacted and they decided to return while the local conditions were still manageable.

So what a day.

Just 13 flights for a total of 26hr.15mins ie Just over 2 hrs average flight time white many pilots going high in the wave. And John's Diamond Height just tops to day off nicely.

Where would we be without our juniors?
Zack dreaming of rear seat flying with Elliot in front.

Steve