Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 27th July 2025

DGS is known as a friendly club for visitors and members. Today we would be very much a Friends and Family club with a number of visitors. A forecast of a light westerly breeze and little chance of much soaring. 2 x K13's, K8 and Puchacz were taken to the east end launch point by our enthusiastic junior members.

Edward Nicholson was first to fly with me. Before it started getting busier it was time to introduce Ed to launch failures. A demo and practice adds another part to his progress.

Ed preparing for his flights.

Junior Zack Smith brought his friend Lewis Delooze to see what he gets up to. Lewis enjoyed a couple of flights with Steve Fletcher during the day.

Lewis relaxed with excited Steve.

After three training flights with Aiden Hughes who had a demonstration of the zig-zag circuit to improve his judgement, the visitors started to arrive.

Aiden doing pre-flight checks.

First visitor was a friend of Steve's. Philip Howard-Knight enjoed a couple of flights with Steve.

Philip and Steve.

Mike Jardine arrived with two visitors. James Rothwell and Cadan Cane.

Mike and Caden.

Mike with James.

Next to arrive was Viktor Skochko with his wife Ahzhelika and family. Viktor and Misha are regular fliers with us, so it was time to bring Ahzhelika to see what they get up to. She had two flights with Steve and enjoyed the experience.

Ahzhelika and Steve.

The Skochko family.

AGC Wyvern pilot, Hamilton Males returned for some mor flying with us. He brought his son Joshua to experience gliding for the first time. We hope Hamilton will return again to become a full member.

Hamilton and Joshua ready to move the K13.

Joshua being briefed by Phil Hardwick.

Solo pilots Zack Smith and John Allan flew the K8 with Ed Borlase flying his K6 enjoyed various success. A commendable 31 minutes saw Zack claim man of the match today. Our other solo pilot, Freddie Purkiss had a solo in the K13 after the statutary launch failure practice with me. This saw him ready for his conversion to the K8. After the requisite briefings he was settled in ready to go.

Freddie watched by dad George.

And off he goes.

John Osment had a couple of flights with me in the Puchacz to get ready for his return to flying glass fibre in the near future.

Thank you to all at the airfield for a very busy day of visitors and flying with a steady supply of cables supplies by Nicky Smith in the retrieve and winch drivers.

Peter Howarth