Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 14th June 2025

The challenge today, you might not be surprised to hear, was going to be the weather. Various troughs with associated fronts were passing overhead. This made the forecast uncertain as to the timings of everything. Wind was going to be SW with low(ish) cloudbases and frequent showers. Personally I actually enjoy these conditions as they provide a definite challenge to find rising air amongst the showers and clouds. 

Low cloud and the wind starting to back to the SW

We took 2 K13's, the Puchacz and a K8 to the east end. Meanwhile, Adam spent his day in the hangar with the Astir upgrading the hook release and the canopy catch retaining spring. Thank you for all the work Adam.

We ended up having plenty of practice drying off gliders as the frequent showers passed by. Rick's list of trainees was short today, with only Elliot and Val. He used his time very constructively by getting the annual BI/IFP flight checks done for Richard, Gavin and Steve Fletcher. 

Today we had a couple of visitors, Nicholas Mortimer One Day Course and Navy visitor Andrew Roberts. 

Andrew took his final flight with Rick

Nicholas ready for his One Day Course

During my flights I managed to find the lift in front of the showers and had a couple of short soaring flights. On the second of these I centred a 6 knot thermal core ( where did that come from?). The only snag with this was that 3 turns later  - about 1 minute - I pulled out of the climb to avoid disappearing into the clouds at the 1600ft cloudbase. Great fun.

Passing shower

Variable cloudbases looking south

We were joined by a couple of private gliders. Phil flying his DG300 managed a soaring flight of  23 minutes and Andy flying his Libelle for a day topping 39 minutes. Today would definitely suit a light agile glider such as the Libelle. Note to self to try the K8 in these conditions rather than a K13.

Phil and DG300 waiting to go

The day finished with a Committee meeting which stretched into the early evening.

No. I wasn't looking for divine guidance
but removing a stone from in front of the launchpoint

Steve