Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 20th July 2025

A small crew gathered today and were greeted with low cloud and possible showers. Ever optimistic that the forecast improvement would arrive the ground kit was set up, but the aircraft were left in the hangar. Eventually after several cups of tea and coffee, lunch consumed, the rain cleared and the sky started brightening up. A K13 and the K8 were liberated from the hangar, DI'd and taken to the east end launch point.

First launch at a leisurly 14:34 was a check flight for Viktor Skochko. Successfully flown he was allowed another solo to add to his total.

Viktor ready for his check flight.
And ready for another solo.
After spending yesterday on the winch launching all the licensed pilots, John Smith was first to jump into the K8.

John getting into the K8.
Off he goes.
Perfect landing.
We were joined today by another naval pilot. Keegan Coetzee is a Royal Marine posted with 42 Commando in Bickleigh. With a PPL behind him, he wanted to take up gliding so he was a candidate to fly with me. With three flights he was starting to get used to coordinated turns and trimming the glider.

Keegan receiving his parachute brief from Steve.
Settling into the front seat ready to fly.
The only other trainee today was Edward Nicholson. Three flights was spent improving general flying and crosswind take-offs and landings. His final flight was a hangar landing during which we enjoyed a 21 minute soaring flight when the conditions improved. Steve Fletcher also had a circuit in the K8, but Ed Borlase mamaged 20 minutes on his hangar flight.

A big thank you to Phil Hardwick who winched and retrieved for the 13 flights today. The last flight landed at 18:05.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 12th July 2025

 High pressure is very much in charge of the weather. The forecasts were showing SE winds fairly light with mostly blue skies. Skysight was showing moderate soaring possibilities locally with much better soaring towards the north coast. Sun screen and plenty of water were the order of the day to combat the 30ยบ + temperatures.

Busy rigging area
An absolutely blue sky. 
The day started with Rick flying with Alasdair who was looking to complete his Bronze flying tests. Mike Jardine flew with Elliot Flannery, our only trainee today. They completed 2 soaring flights before Mike switched to flying his Std Cirrus.

Busy launchpoint
Sharing a thermal with K13 G-CFGR
We had a full list of visitors today. James Byles for a One Day Course and Jugal Sheth, Aishwara Rokade and Brodie Langman for Air Experience flights. 
James
Jugal
Aishwara
Brodie
The solo pilots had a good day today with Adam Hoskin recording 3hrs 6 min in his bright yellow K6 just pipped for longest flight by Andy Davey ( Libelle ) at 3hrs 9mins. Most enterprising flight was by John Allan ( Mini Nimbus ) who soared to the North coast to experience the forecasted stronger conditions. He turned Hartland Point returning back after 2 hrs 48.

This is what John had to say.

"Had a good flight today. Completely blue conditions to start with, which makes things more of a challenge, but as forecast a lot better towards the North coast. Managed to get round Hartland Point (nice view of Lundy) - but turned out to be a 38Km glide back to the Upper Tamar Lake and where the good lift (convergence) was. Cloud bases up around 6400ft made it possible."

Approaching the North Coast
North Coast
Rounding Hartland Point

John's flight trace
Today saw junior pilot Zack Smith convert to the K8 in which he recorded 1hr 4mins on his first flight.

Briefing from Rick
Bit more briefing
Off he goes
He looks pleased with himself 

A very successful day

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 13th July 2025

Shhh, don't let on. but it was another wave day at Brentor today. The east south east wind, 10 to 15 knots with gusts of 20 always allows the optimists to hope for some wave action. A K13, Puchacz and K8 were DI'd and taken to the west end launch point. These were joined by privateers in a K6 and Open Cirrus.

First flight with Freddie Purkiss found a lot of heavy sink and some turbulence, an indication that there may be some wave somewhere. The second flight we managed to find some weak smooth rising air, but only mahaged to climb to 1600ft. We were joined by Steve Fletcher in the Open Cirrus. With bigger wings he was able to sample a wider area, but only managed to climb a little higher. These two flights were the longest of the day with Steve Fletcher claiming flight of the day with 32 minutes. He landed when some weak thermal activity seemed to break up the wave.

Steve returns.
Training continued with Misha Skochko improving his judgement in the circuit and general flying.

Misha getting ready with help from dad Viktor.
After Misha, dad Viktor had a flight with me and managed an extended circuit of 22 minutes.

Our view of the airfield.
And Mary Tavy.
Duty BI Gavin Short was kept busy with three visitors today. First to arrive was Paul Gray. Paul had been bought a voucher for his 60th birthday. He was watched on by his wife Mel who made their short journey from Tavistock.

Paul, do you know Gavin prays before each flight.
Second visitor was Anton Vasili who is Computer engineer living in Dartmouth working in Plymouth. Accompanied by Lauren and their daughter, Becka.  He hails from Dnipro, Ukraine which is the home town of our Ukrainian pilot, Viktor.

Anton ready for his flights.
Gavin's final visitor was Emma Nicholas who lives in Tavistock. She came to the site for a single flight. She was accompanied by her wife and two daughters who were fascinated by the whole operation.

Emma settled in for her flight.
The still bumpy conditions prevented Freddie and Viktor adding to their solo flights. Both enjoyed further flights with me as did trainee Misha. Solo pilots John Smith (K8) and Ed Borlase (K6) managed extended circuits.

K13 launches again.
K6 and K8 wait to fly.
George Purkiss was rewarded for all his work around the airfield today, when Steve Fletcher took him for a quick flight in the Puchacz.

George watched by Freddie.
Thank you to the small crew at the airfield today who each kept things moving and operating smoothly.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 9 July 2025

Yes, the weekend was rubbish, weather wise but lots of jobs and clearing up got done.  James underwent tractor driving training on reversing the tractor/winch combination.  Not an easy task, especially in the pouring rain.  Lectures were delivered. The simulator was used.  Glider log books brought up to date.  A normal rainy Saturday.  So it was the turn of the Wednesday Wavers to go and do the flying bit today.

Steve Moore, from Seahawk GC planned to join us but was a little concerned at what RASP was telling us.  Whereas Skysight looked good before lunch, 3.5 kts up to 3,333 ft AMSL, but softer after lunch.  Reassuringly encouraged by Skysight he made the trek to DGS. 

Early bird Conor's view of the cross track and rigging area
It was nice and clear early, but by the time I arrived, it had clouded over and the cloudbase was low.  Skysight's forecast was turned on its head.  Nevertheless, we got the gliders out and sent a K-13, a K-8, and the Puchacz to the east end.  On reflection, a second K-13 would have been used.

Before flying, the first task was the disposal of the old launch hut trailer chassis, which Mike Bennett and Scratch set about with gusto.

We bid farewell to the remains of the old launch point trailer and sheet metal
Mike Bennett, complete with flashing amber lights, leads the convoy to Saunders scrapyard
Colin turned up early and with Andy and I we had a conflab to determine the way ahead on the outstanding defect on the Astir CS 77; the excessive play in the the air brake handle.  Photos taken and plans made I will contact soaring (Oxford) Ltd who are the UK Grob parts support specialist.

That done, Andy, Peter and I rigged our gliders, hoping for some good soaring.  When Scratch returned, he made up some replacement securing straps for my trailer using the club's industrial sewing machine.  Thanks Scratch.

First up was David Bouchier for a reminder flight, which was launched before 1000, followed by Connor as the first of the Duty Instructor's trainees.  Phil was the Duty BI with a full dance card of a One Day Course and three trial flights.  So plenty of visitors to host today.  In the clubhouse, Phil briefed and then flew Ian King, who hails from Launceston.

One Day Course candidate Ian King, ready for his first flight into the unknown with Duty BI Phil

Connor continues his training with Mike Jardine, complete with colourful bucket hat.

Visiting Instructor Steve Moore kept his hand in with a circuit in K-8, GDK.  Later, he enjoyed a 24 minute soaring flight as the conditions improved.

You've got a new motor Peter. Very shiny!  What's that hanging off the back?
Mike's next trainee was Ed Nicholson whose training is progressing well.  A circuit was followed by two practice launch failures.

Ed resplendent in his yellow bucket hat, also continues his training

Peter takes a rest after manoeuvring the mighty Kestrel around
Quite a lot of cloud cover in the late morning
"Take up slack, K-13 dual, remaining cable"

Four Winds house in the foreground and there is a very nice field behind it
Our first trial flight visitor was Charlotte Young, who was accompanied by her family.  Charlotte loves the outdoors and was clearly in her element.  She is due to head to London in the autumn to study drama at University.  What better thing to do during her last summer in Plymouth?  Go and fly in a glider over Dartmoor and enjoy the great outdoors.  She enjoyed taking the controls under the watchful tutelage of Phil.  Charlotte, good luck at University, don't forget Devon and Cornwall.

Charlotte Young brings some colour into Phil's life.  An attentive family member looks on.

Puchacz, the "Eagle Owl" ready to add some drama to Charlotte's day out
Phil straps in

Charlotte receives her certificate

Gavin ready to take a launch in his Standard Cirrus

The view from the Standard Cirrus heading towards Whitchurch golf course and beyond Tavistock at 2,000 AFE

Harvey flew three training flights with Mike.  The first one was an extended circuit with a tiny bit of soaring.  Encouraged by Steve Moore's progress in the K-8 Andy took a launch and was rewarded with a launch failure (weak link breakage) and was quickly back on the ground.  I launched and also had a weak link break which is a rare event for me in the Standard Cirrus.  I recovered from the failure, but at 850 feet I was in lift and carefully climbed above the runway until I had enough height to head to the south of the airfield and then around the back of the launch point to find lift over Blackdown.

Harvey looking for lift.  Where is it?

An initial dual soaring flight for Freddie which was followed a a 28 minute solo flight

Our second trial flight visitor was John Lonsdale.  John has taken early retirement and has returned to gliding.  He went solo with the air cadets, as Phil says, "a good few years ago"!  Welcome back to our sport, John.

Visitor John Lonsdale ready for his first flight.  Is there something missing from this picture, John?

Ahh! The picture looks better here as visiting instructor Steve Moore looks on.

Andy took another launch and managed to "get away" and enjoyed the longest flight of the day; 3 hours 33 minutes.  John Smith relieved Steve Moore in the K-8 and enjoyed 40 minutes of soaring.

I was still soaring while Andy and John launched.  Unfortunately, I was up against a time limit.  Andrew Downing, Steve Lewis and and I were due to me Chris Shears from West Devon Borough Council at 1400 in the clubhouse.  When you are over 2,000 feet to the south of Tavistock, it is very tempting to ignore the appointment.  I'll be honest, I was tempted but a sense of responsibility got the better of me and I returned to high key.  Then the radio sprang into life with stentorian tones, "Charlie November November, you are instructed to land".  Crikey!  I thought that kind of thing happened in the Bronze examination.  I called back "Charlie November November downwind, left hand".  I landed long in the light airs, and Connor kindly towed me back to the glider rack.  I was five minutes late.  The meeting, however, was very successful.  As to the outcome, well, members and our blog readers will have to wait a few weeks to discover what was agreed.

A nice looking sky. The launch point looks relatively empty because most of the gliders are in the air.

After Phil flew John Lonsdale for two soaring flights he then flew Ken Hamblin, our third trial flight visitor, for a single flight.  Regrettably, we don't have a photo.   Ken was a former paratrooper and achieved a long-held dream with a voucher presented by his son.   He seemed to revel in the experience of his flight.

A new view of the airfield.  Notice the tracks that have been carved out in the north field (left of picture) recently.

With other pilots soaring, Peter took another go in the Kestrel and clocked up 1 hour 52 minutes.  The K-8 was now in demand and Malcolm took GDK up for 57 minutes, just avoiding busting the club hour limit.

The Kestrel 19 shares a thermal

The retrieve driver's view looking back towards the winch

Now it was the turn of Hamilton Males, ex-RAF and a member of Wyvern Gliding Club (Army) at Upavon, to experience gliding on Dartmoor.  Hamilton has tried gliding before but has been focused on power flight and in particular Wyvern's motor glider.  Hamilton lives in the South Hams, so Upavon is a long trek for him.  Can we coax him to Dartmoor Gliding? Time will tell.

Visiting PPL pilot and occasional glider pilot Hamilton Males ready to sample the delights of K-13, CCY.  

After our successful meeting in the clubhouse I was detailed off by the Chairman to fly Chris Shears, which he thoroughly enjoyed.  The onset of the sea breeze prevented any soaring, but Chris enjoyed the hangar landing and coming to a precise stop on the cross track.

Chris, eager to take to the skies
The One Day Course was going well.  Ian was enjoying the flying.  Earlier, before the sea breeze cut in, Phil and he launched into a cloud street straight off the winch, climbed, and headed to the north-west under the street.  They were able to fly out to the Ambrosia (custard and rice pudding) factory at Lifton.  Although Ian is almost retired, he still works there three days a week and had fun taking some aerial photos of his workplace.

The trace of Ian's fifth flight
Ian ready for his final flight of his One Day Course, looking very happy after his soaring flight

I had planned to pack up early and go and pick up my wife's car from its service and MOT so I was about to head back to derig CNN.  We received a call from the clubhouse that another visitor had arrived.  So I went and collected Lee Clarke and his two supporters, ready for his two flights.  I recognised Lee as he had come to the club previously, and I had shown him round the club.  He was buzzing with enthusiasm.  We quickly filled out the requisite paperwork.  

Initially, the Duty Instructor wanted me to fly him as he and Phil were still busy.  Ahh, a conflict of interest and time pressure, which was resolved by a call from the garage.  The car had passed its MOT and the service was complete, but it needed new tyres, so they would keep it overnight.  I could relax.

Mike and Phil were confused by the presence of an extra visitor that they weren't expecting.  On further investigation, Lee's enthusiasm was confirmed in that he had turned up a week early!  Nevertheless, so as not to disappoint him Mike flew Lee, who, as expected, enjoyed his flights.  Lee, maybe you can come back next Wednesday and make use of your temporary membership and fly with us more, hopefully when the sea breeze isn't suppressing the thermals.  In amongst all of this excitement, Dave Archer squeezed in a circuit in the K-8, thereby raising his flight average for the year.

Lee Clarke takes an early trial flight with Mike!
Meteorology question?  How do cloud streets form east-west when the air above the airfield is only 1-2 knots variable but predominantly northerly?

In summary, the Wednesday Wavers flew 36 flights, a One Day Course, three trial flights, and an additional visitor's flight.  The "Man of the Match", as ever, was Andy Davey with 3 hours 33 minutes, but as we took off at the same time and I was called down..... I might have been robbed!
 
Several members stayed behind in the clubhouse, nattering and putting the world to rights.  A satisfying end to a hot and humid day. 

Gavin Short