Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 27th December 2025 - A New Club Record.

For the last week club members have been watching the weather carefully as there was a good chance of a wave day. On the day there was a strong wind from the north to north east on the ground with much more east with increasing altitude. The sky was full of wave bars and lenticulars to raise the excitement. The club was busy very early in the rush to get ready. 

Unpacking the hangar

Waiting at the launch point

After an early briefing the first flight was Andy Davey in his Libelle who pushed east over Mary Tavy looking for the usual wave entry only to be disappointed. He dropped back and managed to contact wave over Brentor Church which allowed him to climb to 3000 ft or so before once again pushing to the east and contacting the primary wave, After a steady climb in the cold conditions he was soon on oxygen. He had already contacted air traffic control, first by phone before the flight, and then as he approached the FL195 ( 19500 ft ) upper air boundary by radio where he was instructed to turn on his transponder and was given a Radar Service to enter the upper airspace while he tracked north towards the north coast. He topped out at 21760ft ( a height gain of 20318ft ). This is the 3rd best height gain of 2025 only beaten by 2 flights from Aboyne in Scotland. What an amazing flight. A new club record.

Andy's View approaching the north coast

And his view of a lenticular and it's shadow

Andy was not the only wave flight today. Junior pilot Elliot Flannery had a creditable 37 minutes with CFI Rick in a K13 and John Allan in his Mini Nimbus went to Diamond height. Here are John's thoughts

"We had a nice Xmas present of easterly winds giving us great wave conditions for yesterday at Dartmoor Gliding Society.  Several early flights managed to connect with the wave right of the wire from a winch launch. The lift reached above the Dartmoor NSGA (wave box) of FL195.  I didn't have a transponder, so stopped at FL193 (19870ft), Andy Davey got clearance from ATC to go higher and reached 21760ft, with a height gain of 20318ft and a new club record.  Lovely and smooth, with great views of the the south west of England. Circuit coming into land was pretty exciting!!"

Climbing in front of a lenticular

Passing a lenticular on the way up

Tracking south

Lenticular and shadow

Lenticulars in the distance

South Coast

South Coast

Climbing at 8 knots

After the first 3 flights the surface wind backed further to the north cutting off access to the lower wave systems. Higher up the wind was more easterly and the wave systems lasted most of the day. This did not stop members from trying most with circuits.

John on approach in the Mini Nimbus.

What a fantastic day. A new club  record and a Diamond height.

Steve