Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 23 July 2025

After a run of weather over the weekend, despite no instructor on Saturday, some notable flying was achieved.  Albeit limited by the increasing wind strength on Saturday and rain showers throughout the morning on Sunday.  So looking forward to today Wednesday's Weather from our resident forecaster was as follows:

With a ridge of high pressure over the area tomorrow should be a reasonable day with a light northerly wind cloudbase lifting to 3,500 ft and some decent thermals from mid morning on. There is a chance of some over development in the afternoon.

After the weekend, it seemed that the Wednesday Wavers would bring a sense of normality.  Well, perhaps not for the duty BI, me, who would have six trial flights on his schedule.  In addition it's getting to the funny part if the year where school holidays and family holidays can cause either a glut of pilots on the field or a famine.  The morning brief should establish which of the two extremes we would enjoy.

After an early brief the Duty instructor, Mike Jardine, had a light schedule today.  The first set of three training flights was with Harvey.  Then it was returning One Day Course candidate Ian King who enjoyed two extending soaring flights in his set of three.

Mike Jardine and Ian's view of the airfield, on one of Ian's soaring flights 

Eight gliders at the launch point.  "Come on up guys the water is lovely!"

Our first visitor, John Evans, arrived early for his flight, accompanied by his family and had time to complete the paperwork in the east end launch point. This allowed them to observe the Wavers setting up and Harvey being put through his paces with a practice launch failure, which made for dramatic viewing.  Then it was time for John and I to have a go. The day was already thermic and we enjoyed some soaring, albeit I had to work very hard to core the very narrow early thermals.

John Evans and family after his soaring flight. Eleven-year-old Ethan was very keen to have a flight.

It was time for the early privateers to have a go.  Phil in his DG 300 had a respectable 21 minutes before Andy launched. 

Then we heard a sound that hadn't been heard at Brentor for a least a decade; the sound of a self-sustainer (a two-stroke engine with a foldable propeller raised on a pylon from within the fuselage when required).  Yes, Andy's new (to him) glider is a Ventus CT, the "T"  standing for Turbo or self-sustainer.  He ran the engine twice to get used to it.  Some observers remarked that Andy is the last person who needs a turbo and there are a few members who could genuinely use the assistance of an "iron thermal".  Good luck, Andy, with your new glider and getting used to operating it at Brentor.

The view from the Ventus CT after an engine "burn"

Our second visitor was Kerry Harris, who hails from Tavistock.  She was thrilled to be able to see her house in Tavistock on her second flight. This was a nice diversion from her job as a supermarket manager in Plymouth.

Kerry and Gavin ready to go.

Whilst we were flying, Steve Lesson, who is recovering from a motor traffic accident, sent us this photo.  It must be frustrating looking at a great sky and only dreaming of what could be.  Thanks for the good wishes and encouragement, Steve.  Get well soon.

A couple of nice-looking streets running down to Plymouth.  Looking east from Lee Moor.

Scratch had a couple of goes in his Standard Cirrus but frustratingly it was back-releasing early and not providing a full height launch.  Maybe Mike could do better later.

Our third visitor was an enthusiastic Krzysztof Florczyk.  As you can imagine, filling out the paperwork before his arrival was an exacting exercise.  Even after working with Polish Military officers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels for 15 years, I still find Polish spelling a challenge.  

Krzysztof, although originally from the deep south of Poland, now lives in Plymouth.  He works for a logistics company that supports Great Western Railways, including the on train catering .  "Any one for a British Rail Sandwich?"  Only Kidding Krzysztof.  That's a very old British joke.  I am sure the catering is delicious under your watchful eye.

Not deterred by Scratch's setbacks, John Allan launched in his Mini-Nimbus and enjoyed a flight of 2 hours 42 minutes.  Mike then took Freddie for a check flight that turned into 19 minutes of soaring, and then he soared in CCY solo for 26 minutes. 

A very keen Krzysztof ready to have some fun

"It was difficult low down and some streets were short lived plus there lots of sink around" reported Malcolm after a five-minute circuit that followed John Osment's five-minute circuit.  Mike and Peter then showed them the way with 1 hr 3 mins and 1 hr 59 mins respectively. 

Mike soaring in his Standard Cirrus

During the afternoon, we had some military visitors.  Two Chinook helicopters flew" nap of the earth" in the valley to the east, below airfield height.  Their return transit was a more leisurely one and at a greater height.

A persistent dark cloud shadow over Tavistock.  Is some higher entity displeased with the mess of diversions and roadworks in the town hampering visitors and members from coming to fly?

Our fourth visitor was John Morris, who hails from Ashbuton.  Having a technical background, he was interested in the physics and dynamics of flight.  On our second flight we finally connected with the lift just to the east of Brentor church which rapidly turned into a 6 knot thermal and we powered past 2,000 ft.  I intended to break the climb at 2,000, which turned out to be 2,100 feet AGL such was the speed of our ascent.  After cruising for a while, it was time to turn potential energy into kinetic energy and the back again, which John enjoyed tremendously, before entering the circuit to land.

John Morris ready for an introductory circuit that was followed by a great soaring flight

As the day wore on there was much haziness from the north coast.  It looked like rain but wasn't.  But it was definitely moisture.  Later it almost enveloped the field, but then the sky went blue, and it no longer approached the field.  With Alasdair on the field, it was the Scottish language that came to the rescue.  It was "mochy" that was approaching from the north, which is a damp, close, and oppressive atmosphere, often with high humidity.  There.  That described it perfectly.

More interesting patterns are appearing the fields around the airfield.  This time the south field (top right).  Could that be an alternative runway?  One can but dream!

Peter’s view of the Puchacz with John and Gavin climbing at 6 knots to 2,100ft AGL

Steve Fletcher managed to climb and fly for 1 hr and 1 min.  He sent me a photo of Roadford Lake from his flight.  He described achieving 3,000 feet AFE at one point, but most of his flight was between 2,000 and 2,600 feet AFE.  A good day in the end.

Steve Fletcher's view from his open Cirrus of Roadford Lake.  Note the mistiness coming in from the north coast.  Starting to get "mochy".

Alasdair managed to soar on his second attempt in the K-8, and Malcolm finally connected with the lift to fly for 1 hour 18 minutes in his syndicate's Twin Astir.

Colin came to the club late in the morning. This was the first time he could drive after the operation on his wrist.  He was taking it easy, as was Neal Oxley, who similarly was back at the club the first time after a layoff.  Neal suffered an eye injury whilst gardening.  Who knew that Neal engaged in such dangerous sports?

While looking out and greeting our steady stream of visitors, Neal continued upgrading the lights in the clubhouse with modern LED strip lights.  He intends to replace the old LED tubes and fluorescent fittings in the kitchen and the parachute room.  He spent some time planning a PIR motion switch for the parachute room so that the light doesn’t get left on inadvertently.  Neal and Colin, we look forward to seeing you back in the air again soon.

Our fifth visitor was Kevin Titmus had tried to fly with us before but was thwarted by the weather.  Today he made the trek from North Devon with his wife to come to DGS.  He had retired three years before and was loving life.  However, we took off into sinking air everywhere.  So after his short flight, we gave him another one, which he thoroughly enjoyed. 

Kevin Titmus about to go aloft

Back on the ground after his flight in the Standard Cirrus, the Duty Instructor took Dave Archer aloft for a 26-minute soaring flight.  Now Dave has to repeat the feat without the talking ballast in the rear seat!  Afterwards, Mike took Harvey for a fourth flight, which was a respectable 14 minutes of soaring. 

Our final visitor of the day was Jonathan Bright and his business partner Edward Baily, who have been friends since childhood.  They run Tors Distillery, which is based in Okehampton, making artisan English vodka.  Tors Distillery   Jonathan was also accompanied by his parents.  Jonathon was very interested and enthusiastic about all that he saw.  He enjoyed two soaring flights, the last being a hangar landing so that we could pack the Puchacz away.  The northerly crosswind and turbulence made me concentrate on the approach, but Jonathan was impressed that we came to a graceful stop with the nose wheel of the Puchacz exactly on the centre of the cross track as planned.

Jonathan Bright and Gavin.  His fellow director observes in the background.  Will he need to restructure the company after this flight?

The end of the day and time to pack the hangar

As you have read, we had a busy day with our visitors.  Thanks to the support of the members although we were a little short handed, collecting them from the clubhouse, assisting in the completion of the all-important paperwork, delivering parachute briefs, and strapping them into the cockpit, the day went well.  We just about managed to stick to the timetable and all enjoyed their flights.

I was surprised when I got home that I had 11 flights and 1 hour 19 minutes of flying to enter in my logbook. A long but enjoyable day.

Seahawk GC instructor, and DCFI, Steve Moore couldn't make it today.  This was a summary of the feedback he received from Mike and I.

"Yes, we had a good day.  If you got away, then there were some strong thermals. It turned into the day RASP predicted by mid-afternoon.  If you managed to get to 2,000 feet AGL, conditions were good.  Several one, two, and almost three-hour flights were made which included an hour's flight by Mike in his Standard Cirrus."

So, who was the "Man of the Match" today? The longest flight?  The greatest height? No, it was Freddie's impressive solo soaring flight in the K-13 in difficult conditions that had outfoxed his fellow Wavers.  Well done, Freddie.

In summary, the Wednesday Wavers cracked out a total of 37 flights today of which 19 were soaring flights. 

 Gavin Short