Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 11 June 2025

A very pleasant day was forecast for the Wednesday Wavers.  Easterly or south-easterly wind, depending on who you believe, increasing in strength throughout the day and warm air temperature.  The Skew T forecast didn't predict wave though.  All the firing ranges were active, so we would be staying west of the A386 and not exploring the moor today.  That shouldn't be a problem as the thermals were expected to be fairly weak. The RASP forecast barely mustered one star.

As the Daily Inspections were being conducted, I did my bit for nature in trying to turn our new big earth berm into something more attractive.

Me atop the berm, scattering wildflower seeds.  Let's see what happens in three weeks.

We would be operating at the west end, so one K-13, CCY, the Puchacz, a K-8, GDK, and the Astir CS 77 were fielded.

But first, during the Daily Inspections, it was time to get busy with the Henry and hoover the glider cockpits.  In addition, John Smith did an outstanding job cleaning the Astir CS77 top to bottom, including the canopy.  Robin did a lovely job on the Puchacz too.  The fleet has to look its best for the forthcoming BGA Quality Assurance audit on Friday, 13 June.  Suspicious of the date, moi?  Non!

David Osment gets ready to fly with Mike Jardine, the Duty Instructor

Summer must be coming as most of the Wavers were in T-shirt attire despite the wind.

David was first in the air today with a 12 and then a 25-minute soaring flight

John Smith took the Astir CS77 up for 18 minutes. The conditions were surprisingly soarable.  Was RASP being pessimistic?

Gliders at the ready viewed from the west

Peter's view in the K-8 while soaring to crank the flight time up to 26 minutes.

The Twin Astir syndicate, Phil and Robin, decided to have a go for all of a five-minute circuit.  Then the two Mikes (Jardine and Bennett) went up for an extended circuit.  Was the sky cycling?  To prove the sky watchers wrong, visiting instructor, and DCFI at Seahawk Gliding Club (at RNAS Culdrose), Steve Moore took the Astir CS77 up for 14 minutes.  Determined Phil and Robin went up again and soared for 32 minutes.  The record so far.

The Twin Astir viewed from the K13, looking for thermals

Then it was Raymond Staines's turn to soar for 27 minutes in CCY.  Mike reported that the new TOST hook in CCY, fitted on a very rainy Saturday last, enabled launch heights of 1,400 to 1,500 feet.  For most of the day, this was the height of the cloud base.

Ray goes through his pre-flight checks while a remarkably relaxed Duty Instructor looks on

We had one visitor today, Ian Warren, who came with a two-flight voucher.  IFP, Steve Fletcher delivered two extended circuits.  Unfortunately, Ian had to leave the field promptly on completion as his partner and their dog were waiting for him in the car park.  Ian, I hope you enjoyed your flights.

Mike Jardine stepped up Ray's game and subjected him to a brace of simulated launch failures.  Mike then stepped out of the rear seat and spoke those long-awaited words, "Ray, would you like to try that again, on your own?"  So he did.

It appears that the Saturday and Sunday Duty Instructors have been having a little competition to see how many juniors they can send solo.  So Mike decided to get in on the act and send our Wednesday Waver junior, Raymond Staines, solo.  Ray returned to Earth after an extended circuit after Dave Archer led the way for a circuit in the K-8.  Congratulations, Ray.  Welcome back to the fold.

Raymond about to try that again on his own!

Meanwhile, Malcolm had clocked up three flights in the Twin Astir and enjoyed a soaring flight.  Then it was Neal's term, after several weeks of layoff, for a set of three flights.  Scratch returned from the east end, having worked on replacing a guide wheel on the tractor's grass-cutting deck.  His efforts were rewarded with a 24-minute flight in the Astir CS77.

Neal back in the seat to practice circuits

Regrettably, I spent most of the time in the clubhouse poring over the glider documentation, ready for Friday’s inspection.  I did take breaks, though.  We had a stream of walk-ins; a previous lapsed glider pilot and former DGS instructor, a North Hill pilot who had never been to the airfield and thought he should since he was holidaying only ten minutes away, and a resident of Brentor who after 20 years of watching us fly over his house decided that he wants to come and try it.  I enjoyed being in the sunshine and warm air, but flying would have to wait for another day.

We also welcomed David Moult back to the fold after yet another visit to see family in Australia.  Then, knowing that Malcolm would be in the air forever in the Twin Astir (48 minutes) Robin flew with Mike in CCY for over half an hour.  They reported rotor on the approach, which made sense as the wind strength had increased and the slight south of east air flow would be setting of the Mary Tavy "Hydraulic jump".  Steve Fletcher took the latest flight for Mike for a practice launch failure to ensure his currency as he is due a revalidation check of his IFP endorsement presently with the CFI.

Malcolm will be up there forever.  Let's go and join him.

During the day family Osment  (John and son David) had been working with Colin on the annual inspection and ARC of K-6, FUB, in the hangar with their trailer ranged on the apron.  The poor range performance of the Flarm was sorted....the aerial needs to be vertical, not horizontal!  DB had been working on a K-13 tailwheel with a split tyre and unknotting a winch drogue shock rope.  Thanks to all the efforts of the maintenance crew.

The view of Tavistock with the cumulus building in the afternoon

So, who was the "Man of the Match" today?  It wasn't a glider pilot pushing the boundaries of what could be achieved in the conditions of the day.  No, it was a winch driver. or more specifically, Andy, who had driven from his home at Barnstaple just to winch.  He winched all morning and then headed home after lunch.  Andy, thank you. Your altruism is much appreciated. 

The hint of rotor on the last few flights reinforced the saying "Never say never " to the possibility of wave at Dartmoor.

The gliders were brought back to the hangar and then packed after CCY had been hoovered out again.  A clean fleet ready for Friday.

Twenty-six fights on a very pleasant June day.  It was a beautiful day.

Gavin Short