After yesterday's and the overnight rain, it wasn't looking too promising at the morning brief but there were good indications that it would brighten up later, become thermic, and continue to work late into the afternoon.
And that's what happened. The challenge today was accommodating the ground works at the club entrance to restore the road leading to the hangar apron. Many seasons of rain had steadily eroded the roadway. So the car park, or the road, was the only place to park. There was no access to the airfield today. The entrance is a hole in the fence, rather than the main gate, for the duration of the ground works.
I arrived late due to family commitments, but managed to attend the brief. I had several Official Observer and Fleet Manager tasks that, in the end, kept me busy all day. The first one was downloading Sean's .igc file from his silver badge flight last week at Aston Down. What should be simple in gliding never is when you haven't done it before. After Sean, John Allan, and I addressed the problem, I finally had his trace safely ensconced on my data stick for analysis and submission of his claims: Silver distance (50 km); Silver/Gold duration (5 hours); and with luck, Part 1 of his 100 km diploma.
As many of our members know, the C of G release (winch hook) in CCY is back releasing early. Annoying and limits the launch height that can be achieved. So I am exchanging two of our older hooks for reconditioned and serviced ones. The replacement hooks should arrive very soon.
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| Two TOST Centre of Gravity releases (hooks) ready to be sent off for exchange |
The Wednesday Wavers took two K-13s, a K-8, and the Puchacz to the east end launch point.
In the hangar the annual inspection of FSD continued. By the end if the day all the component parts, bar the canopy had been inspected and given a clean bill of health. It only left DB to wield a paint brush to touch up some the aileron arms with a touch of white paint.
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| The club gliders are ready for their DI under an ominous-looking sky |
We welcomed back Steve Moore from Culdrose. He has organised his calendar so that he can join us regularly on Wednesdays and help out with the instructing load. Steve, you are most welcome to join the Wednesday Wavers. Let's hope the wind goes east for you so that you can enjoy the delights of the Dartmoor Wave too.
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| Seahawk GC Instructor Steve Moore readies himself for some check flights and the obligatory practice launch failure |
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Steve Moore taking the first flights of the day |
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| The cloud base was still quite low when we started flying |
Back in the clubhouse, Steve Fletcher, as Secretary, endorsed Ray Staines' application for his Sailplane Pilot License (SPL), and I checked the submission for completeness. From 30 September, this supersedes the old BGA Gliding Certificate. Have you applied for yours yet? Time is ticking away.
Mike's first trainee was David Osment for a batch of three flights that included some soaring. Meanwhile, Peter took the K-8 for a weather check in the windy conditions. All OK and the K-8 could be put to use, which David's dad, John, promptly did.
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| And then the sun came out and things looked a lot better. |
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| Normal service resumed at Dartmoor International |
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| Climbing in a thermal above the airfield |
The third pilot to fly with Duty Instructor Mike Jardine was Harvey, who is making good progress, undoubtedly helped by his two soaring flights today in addition to some circuits and training.
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The Astir CS77 looks a little lonely at the clubhouse under a rapidly improving sky.
It would have been a good choice in the windy conditions today. |
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| John Allan observes the progress of the ground works with the contractor Richard Yelland |
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| All cleared away, ready for the aggregate to be laid |
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| Sharing a thermal with the Twin Astir |
Our first visitor was Kelly Gardener, who thoroughly enjoyed her flights with Steve Fletcher, especially the soaring; she is from Bere Alston.
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Today’s first visitor Kelly Gardener |
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| As the sky became active, many gliders were aloft at the same time |
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| Two gliders share a thermal |
After his initial circuit, John Osment took the K-8 up for almost an hour of soaring.
Our second visitor was 14-year-old Arthur Murphy-Jennett, who hails from North Devon. He was accompanied by his mum and another family member. He enjoyed a short introductory flight that was followed by a longer, soaring flight with IFP Steve Fletcher.
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| 14 year old Arthur. First ever flight in a plane of any type. |
Andy took his Libelle up for a second flight and achieved a 1 hour 39 minute flight in the steadily improving conditions. Phil and Malcolm also enjoyed a flight of over an hour in the Twin Astir. Ray was already soaring with Mike and marking the thermals for the privateers during a 49 minute flight.
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| Peter observes John Allan's flying in the Puchacz during their 30 minute soaring flight |
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A good view of the airfield from the Puchacz, at height.
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Alasdair flew with Mike twice to get a feel for the increasingly windy conditions, and Dave Archer did the same in the K-8. Several members had been called to the hangar in the afternoon to assist Colin in laying out and turning the wings of K-13, FSD, for its annual inspection. It turned out to be the perfect excuse to observe the ground works and put the kettle on for a cup of tea before heading back to the east end.
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| Colin and Dave Archer inspect the progress at the hangar apron |
Regrettably, I didn't get to fly today; I had so many other tasks to attend to. But the Wavers achieved 32 flights today. Not bad for a day that didn't promise much at the start.
Gavin Short
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