Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 20 December 2025

Twas, the night before Christmas.  Well, the Saturday before Christmas at least.  The clubhouse was fully of Christmas offerings, mostly of the biscuit kind, but the best were homemade mince pies from Wendy, Rowan's mum.  Tea was brewing, and the log burner was throwing out heat.

The rain had stopped and there was blue sky, in parts, but the wind was full cross and building.  Furthermore, the cloud base was due to drop - sadly not a flying day, and sadly we had to postpone a visitor on their third attempt to fly with us.

But there was plenty for the DGS elves to keep themselves busy in the build up for Christmas.  The paint for the cockpit surrounds had finally arrived.  I chose Humbrol matt grey enamel rather than the tricky to handle safely two-pack acrylic.  Over to Phil and Ian to continue their work when they are next at the club.

Could the toy shop have used a bigger box to accommodate our paint order?

Rick outlined the plan of the day and promptly disappeared into the Motor Transport Hangar with Scratch and started an intricate ballet with the vehicles and winches to pack it for the winter.

Steve Lewis and I found ourselves detailed off to go and retrieve the Twin Astir 1, G-DDSL, from its T-hangar at the east end.  This was a chance for two non-former syndicate members to get to grips with opening up the T-hangar and moving the glider down the runway.  Rick was keen on such a trial, as the Twin Astirs are heavier than the K-13s or the Puchacz.  Would it get stuck?  Well with Steve and I didn't get it stuck...

The bright picture belies the strength, and cold, of the strong southerly wind
as Steve and I tow the Twin Astir 1 to the west end

The club's new acquisition, looking splendid in the sunlight. 
To the eagle-eyed the lack of a tailplane was deliberate.

The transit to the west end went smoothly.  Once at the west end we took the opportunity to investigate the battery set up, firstly to get them charged, but primary to see what work needed to be done to standardise the installation, so it could accommodate the club's format batteries (end plates, fuse, and XLR sockets).  As suspected polarities would need reversing, connector wires made up, but more importantly the battery box repositioned.  All in the pursuit of standardisation (What did you expect, the Fleet Manager used to work for NATO, and they are hot on standardisation)?  But for now with the long planned introduction of the instructors to the glider, and the work on the Twin Astir Trainer, HBK, that could wait. 

The original battery box. Can it be used with batteries with end plates!

There was more room on the Port side of the shelf
 that can accommodate the club's battery format.

  

A taster for our members.  Their view of the front panel.

And the view for the instructors.  Hopefully the CFI will have
stepped out before we try and get in the back seat

Work was underway on the Twin Astir Trainer, G-DHBK.  The brake system was fully commissioned.  John Smith tidied the vinyl fabric on the side supports of the rear panel.  John Allan delved into the intricacies of the glider wiring.  The rear shelf and the battery stowage are now ready to be installed after the battery stays were insulated and thumb wheels, vice wing nuts, fitted. 

The rear shelf ready to be installed in the glider complete with Neal's 3D-printed battery boxes

Just because we were doing lost of jobs didn't mean that ground school was neglected for Rowan and Val.

Under the CFI's watchful eye, Scratch delivered a lecture on circuits.  I gave a lecture on stalling, which under the revised Instructor's Manual for the Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) syllabus includes slow flight.

After the theory lectures John Alan Coached Rowan round a small local task (Brentor, Roadford Lake, Lydford, Brentor).  Obviously too much fun was being had, so Rick asked me to fly with Rowan. We covered slow flight, stalling, and later thermaling techniques.

Scratch and John Allan were involved in discussions to improve solar battery charging arrangements for in the MT hangar.  Throughout this and late into the evening, Adam working on K-8 ruder pedal bushes, keen to get it back into service and ready for Colin's inspection when he returns from his hols in Portugal.

The light was starting to fade, and it was getting cooler in the stronger wind, so the Twin Astir Trainer was popped back in his box.  Rick and Steve took the Twin Astir 1 back to its T-hangar.   Rick proved, what we all knew, was if you tow a heavy glider off the good piste and through the boggy bits you can get a glider stuck.  The pair were missing in action for a while but made it back for the committee meeting that had been brought forward to 1500.  The Committee thrashed out a lot of issues, including the future composition of the club fleet.  Stop Press: The cost of trial flights is held at 2025 prices.  So come and blow away those New Year Cobwebs with Dartmoor Gliding Society

 Adult:

 

 

 

Junior (Under 21): 

 

 

 

 

 

At last the wind is forecast to go easterly over the Christmas period with the prospect of wave on Saturday 27 December and maybe the Sunday too.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers wherever you may be. 

Gavin Short