The morning brief for the nine members involved a review of RASP which
indicated an initial 2,500 foot cloud base reducing to 1,500 feet by lunchtime and a light SE wind veering to southerly as the morning
progressed.
Taking advantage of the window of
opportunity the K-13 and K-8 were DI’d and taken to the West end of the
airfield; the winch to the East.
Initially for
trainee David Osment, launch failures were the focus, landing ahead for
low launch failures, modified circuits for higher launch failures, and practice circuits.
Peter's view from the K-8 looking to the southeast
Blackdown looking very brown, contrasts with the green of Mary Tavy
Are Mike and David above cloud base? It looks like it.
Dave searches for lift
Licensed pilots Peter, John Osment, Phil, John Smith, and Malcolm took the K-8 up for a circuit a piece with John Osment staying aloft for 10 minutes while Malcolm was left looking at his laurels with a seven-minute flight.
The cloud cover increased, and the visibility decreased as the front approached
The tops of the moors beyond Mary Tavy were wreathed in cloud
David Osment waiting for the Duty Instructor for another training flight
As the distant weather front
moved closer a final flight of the day was provided for Ian King before
the gliders were cleaned and put away.
Gavin came to the club briefly to deliver clean glider and canopy cloths and a sheaf of paperwork. The latter was to allow Colin to start the annual inspection and ARC of the Puchacz following its weighing on Saturday. Gavin also took delivery of further 3D-printed battery boxes and Flarm LED Display sunshades, from Neal, for the Twin Astir Trainer project.
Today the Wavers enjoyed a short window from 10.20am until 12.30pm until the light rain settled in with 11 launches being achieved. Not bad for an uninspiring January day.
Mike Jardine (additional material and edit, Gavin Short)
Day started with the airfield quite wet as Rick introduced a new idea to keep the runway as healthy as possible, so the K13 was to be launched on the south side of the track and the K8 which was launched on the north side of the track.
Me, Elliot, and Jamie taking up the K13 with a small cloud street parked underneath Mary Tavy
First to fly was Elliot who practised stalls and lookouts with three really good landings and circuits, he is majorly improving and is on track to going solo in no time.
I took the first flight in the K8 to see how the conditions where, once at the top of the launch it was lovely and sunny, very stable for the whole flight, once I started my circuit I saw the hunt with hounds on the north side where they seemed to stay most of the day.
Me taking off in the K8 for the first flight in it.
Rick then took Ian with him into the sky to do overall practise with some circuit planning and launches. After Ian was Val, and as Rick stated after Val’s flights. “That was Val’s best landing ever”.
K13 ready to fly.
Moving to the solo pilots, Jamie launched and got the day topping flight of 13 minutes which he got after launching under a nice dark cloud. After that flight, John Allan took a quick 6 minute circuit to then relieve John Smith who was on the Winch for a couple hours. John Smith then took 2 flights in the K8 to keep current to fly.
The K8 was kept busy
Val getting ready
Lastly, Rick and myself flew the last flights with Rick flying solo in the K13 and myself in the K8
My view from the K8 flying over the church
Rick in the K13 flying near the church to start his circuit
Meanwhile, down at the hangar the "technical elves" were busy. Peter Howarth's Kestrel was weighed. Weighed??? Yes gliders need to be weighed every 10 years to calculate the centre of gravity position and it's load carrying capacity. The Puchacz was also weighed and then de-rigged ready for it's annual inspection.
The Kestrel set up on the scales
And now for the Puchacz
After cleaning all the gliders and drying them for the next flying day we ran into a problem, due to the Puchacz being de-rigged do its ARC, we had a game of “How many gliders can we fit into a hangar” which lasted for about 20 minutes until the DGS team rubbed their brains together and formed a solution to the problem.
Some mystery person had locked the door, as Rick pounds on the metal to see if anyone can open the door
Overall a very nice day, for all glider pilots to keep their recency and training up to standard, very calm conditions to get some good circuits and landings in, thank you to everyone who winched today, this includes James, John Allan and John Smith. Thank you to Allison for driving the retrieve until the afternoon and my Mum for driving it for the rest of the day.
It's a Wednesday. The Wavers came out in moderate numbers. A light northwesterly wind, +8C, cloud base high enough. Let's go flying. A K-13 and a K-8 to the east end. The snow had all gone, even over the tops of the moors.
Time for some to get current. Time for some to blow the cobwebs away. Time for some to enjoy being in the fresh air of a new year.
Scratch remained at the west end, finishing off the work that he and Val undertook on Tuesday on the green tractor battery housing arrangements. Later he proved that the battery was OK, and it was the alternator that needed his loving tlc.
Toys out. The Wavers are ready to play.
It was decided to aim for two flights a piece for the trainees and others who needed dual flights due to the shortness of the day. Trainees were David Osment, Neal, and Ian.
David Osment carries out his ABCDE checks before the first flight of the day
Dad, John Osment, does his checks on the K-8 for the first single seat flight of the day.
David Osment takes Duty Instructor Mike Jardine aloft
Neil, trimmed, in lift, after a 1,400-foot launch. Bravo Neil!
Phil back seating Mike
Mike surveys the scene
Back at the clubhouse, Colin and DB were busy trial fitting the battery shelf to the Twin Astir Trainer - Some modifications were needed.
and admires the brightness in the direction of Plymouth Sound while Phil is busy in the back
The Wavers maintained a slick launch rate, and so later the trainees received their third flights. Meanwhile, the licensed and solo pilots enjoyed a couple of flights in GDK a piece; John Osment, Gavin, John Allan, Peter, Scratch, John Smith, and David Archer.
Gavin in the K-8, on approach, for landing on the stub runway
Phil getting ready to impress Peter with his flying skills during his Annual Pilot's Review
By now all had had their fill and the Wavers were getting ready to pack up when the Church became less visible. Rain was starting to come in. This wasn't forecast, but was a portend of Meteo Fance's Storm Goretti on Thursday.
The French newspaper headlines screamed:
Météo-France place dix départements en vigilance
orange jeudi pour "neige-verglas", la côte normande en alerte "vent"
avant l'arrivée de la tempête Goretti.
It sounds apoplectic. Let's see what it brings to the south-west.
Back to the here and now; the flying. To conclude, David Osment took an extra flight with Mike with a combined 200 foot launch failure with a land ahead for a hangar landing.
So a compact and bijou day with 24 launches in total. A good start to 2026 for the Wednesday Wavers.
On Christmas Eve, the Wednesday Wavers had been good. No flying in the spirit of familial harmony. And so it was meant to be for New Year's Eve too - NRI - No Rated Instructor on the calendar, which effectively means no flying. But the old softy softened when he asked if anyone wanted to fly on the club forum. He was inundated, so the Wavers were very pleased when Mike Jardine said that he would open the field. Yippee!
So here we are on the last day of 2025. High pressure in charge, frosty, light winds, sunshine, and a one-star forecast from RASP. Well, it is the end of December, so let's make the most of it. Indeed, the blog may turn in to a photo essay as we have something to celebrate.
In the clubhouse, the wood burner was working hard to take the chill off. Whilst teas were being made, I could hand out the DGS haul of raffle prizes from the members' support of the Harrowbarrow and Metherell Community Shop (the Tamar Valley Pantry). It has now been trading for two months and couldn't have made it without your support. The haul; a six-pack of beers and cider, a six-pack of soft drinks, membership of Pentille Castle and estate, and a bottle of Glenfiddich malt whisky. Not a bad haul.
The raffle prizes were handed out
The turnout today was tremendous, not just the Wednesday Wavers but more: three FI (S), four BI(S), and an IFP. Oodles of instructors, maybe we could have loaned some out to another club if they were short and couldn't fly today? Sean was keen to try flying from the rear seat of a K-13. Initial steps in his path to Basic Instructor.
As expected, the winds were light. Mindful of a wind change later when the wind speed would drop in the middle of the day, initially two K-13s and the Astir CS77 were ranged at the west end. As we were setting up, we were joined by Christopher Morris from Seahawk GC. Welcome back Christopher.
The initial set up on a frosty morning with long shadows
Low morning sun too
Look at the blue of that sky
It took a while before the canopy cleared, but frost clung to the wings of the Astir CS77 for several hours, despite being sat in the sunshine.
Ice on the fabric of the K-13 wings was less of an issue
Training flights for Misha, Michael M-S, David Moorley, Sean, Lance, and Neal were split between Mike, Peter, and Rick. Mike also flew with Christopher Morris and John Smith.
First up with Mike was Misha. A rare photo of the CFI running the wing. He's normally in the back seat of a K-13.
You would think that an experienced helicopter pilot knew how to do his straps up, wouldn't you? Michael M-S prepares for flight.
The Astir CS77 was taking ages to thaw so it was moved back towards the boundary fence, leaving an icy glider outline on the ground - It reminded me of a crime scene in a TV drama.
In the trailer park privateers were rigging; Discus, Open Cirrus, two K6-CRs (EWO and DKG), and a Standard Cirrus which was just catching some air and sunshine.
"Gentlemen, rig your gliders!"
The new kid on the block. The early bird catches the worm, or does he?
Open Cirrus rigging. Yes, the fuselage is that far away from the wing tip.
A Discus with more conventional length wings
Misha on his third training flight
Blackdown, resplendent in the winter sunshine. Would it produce some thermals later in the day?
Mike and Misha's view to the south
The airfield, still quite green for late December
With three FI(S) on the field, all manner of training was taking place. Rick took three flights with Sean in the rear seat, as a start to his BI(S) training. Sean, welcome to the team.
Sean prepares to fly from the rear seat under the tutelage of Rick, the CFI.
Other flights were made by Steve Fletcher in the Open Cirrus, and Steve Lewis and Neal flew together in a K-13.
Back at the clubhouse, non-flying work was going on. DB was fixing the Twin Astir Trainer trailer door closing mechanism and adjusting the ramp to ensure that everything closed as designed. The new instrument panels are ready for installation and wiring up by John Allan, but Neal was keen to check that his 3D-printed sun shades fitted the new LXNAV LED Flarm displays. There are a lot of steps, taken by many members and contractors, to get G-CHBK into service, but I am sure it will be very worthwhile.
John Osment hands off the work so far to John Allan, on the Twin Astir Trainer's panels and equipment.
After a delay, the reason for which will be revealed later, the K-6 team rigs Viktor's "Red Bear"
Daily Inspection, Critical checks, and Positive checks complete, DKG is at the launch point.
But before Viktor was allowed to get in the cockpit, a number of things needed to happen. The check flight with the DCFI which would include the inevitable launch failure, followed by a flight in his glider and a type conversion brief. Then, and only then, will Viktor be allowed to get in the cockpit.
Someone is about to fly my glider!
Viktor briefing Peter. I thought it was meant to be the other way around.
Strap him in tight
And away he goes
On a safe approach over the boundary fence
You can't miss that colour!
Peter brings "Red Bear" back to the field before giving Viktor a type conversion brief.
That's how to do it Viktor
Tail tow-bar and wing dolly on, ready to back to the launch point for Viktor's turn
Meanwhile, Richard takes a launch in his Discus
A worm's eye view
And then silence returned for the worms
We welcomed Colin back from his holidays in Portugal (it was a bit warmer than the West Country but very wet, apparently). He checked Adam's work on the rudder pedals of the K-8, GDK and released the glider to service. I conducted a Daily inspection and Malcolm conducted a positive check. As always, it flew beautifully, but the electric vario wasn't working (a power lead problem was later discovered). I headed over to Blackdown and made use of the winter thermals, climbing 350 feet in occasional 1.5 knots of lift. Ten minutes of blissful solitude and silence, what a great way to end the year. A gentle, relaxed circuit, and then down to earth before letting Malcolm, John Allan, and David Archer sample silent flight too.
Gavin checks GDK before flight
Ed's EWO ready for the off.
But first Ed had to show Viktor the way in EWO.
And today's colour is RED!
EWO flying high and touching the moon
An apprehensive Viktor. Just remember your training and all will be well.
The K-6 is a snug fit.
"Canopy closed and locked. Air brakes closed and locked. Cable on please."
Time to level the wings
"All out, All out."
She flies
She accelerates
She climbs
Approaching the top of the launch
"Fly me to the moon".
Viktor returns to the airfield after his first flight in "Red Bear".
K-6s are photogenic from any angle
Looking great in the winter sunshine
Final approach
Nicely does it
The debrief amongst friends
Viktor shows Rick and Misha the intricacies of Red Bear.
Then Viktor conducts his ABCDE checks prior to his second flight
By now the Astir CS77 was thoroughly defrosted and Rick took it for a flight following a flight with Scratch in a K-13.
Viktor's take on his day:
Today, it all came as a surprise to me. I
was completely unprepared — my instrument panel was left at home, and
the glider documents were as well. I’m very grateful that all of you
helped me get through this.
I
quickly drove back to get the panel, Dave helped me fix the electrical
side of things. Gavin completed the daily inspection logbook. John, Ed,
and Gavin helped me get everything out, assemble it, and—most
importantly—pack everything away again afterward. Peter carried out the
test flight.
I
was incredibly happy when I released and could finally feel how it
flies — it was amazing. I caught myself thinking how hard it was to
believe that this moment had actually arrived. It had been a long and
emotional journey from the moment I first saw the advertisement to the
moment I could truly enjoy the first flight. It was incredible.
I’m really glad this all happened this year — it genuinely feels like a logical and very satisfying conclusion to the year.
Thank you all.
As ever, thanks are also due to the log keepers, retrieve drivers, and winch drivers. Thank you.
Scratch at full throttle
David Archer, wings level, ready for the last flight of the year
Launch!
David Archer takes the last flight of the day in the recently returned to service K-8, GDK
"Well, I was happy with that!"
With the toys packed away for the last time in 2025 the sky turns pink.
Heading home for New Year. The last sunset in 2025.
Thirty-six flights on a day we didn't think we would be flying. Sean starts a journey into instructing, we keep current, trainees continue their training, and today's highlight; Viktor flies his "Red Bear" for the first time.
To all our readers, I wish you a Happy New Year 2026. The challenge for 2026 is to get all five Ka6-CRs rigged and on the field at the same time. Readers have to decide is the colour order they want to see them in; two reds, two whites, and one yellow are the mix to choose from.
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