Three days on the trot with no flying due to the weather or a waterlogged airfield. The last time we flew was on Sunday 18 January. This was caused by a succession of Atlantic depressions. Some pilots might be depressed by this state of affairs, but at Dartmoor Gliding we are able to look on the bright side (if we try hard enough). The bright side being that despite the weather, the club has flown six times in January.
On Wednesday, we hosted Viccki Banthorpe from Momentum for Professionals to conduct a consultation on our marketing strategy. She confirmed what we are doing was correct but added a few new ideas, and different viewpoints, to get us thinking. The committee plans a follow-up meeting to implement some of these ideas.
New placards and weight and balance tables were installed in the Puchacz following its decennial weighing on 10 January. John Smith busied himself with the crafting of a replacement vent deflector for the K-8, GDK.
In the afternoon, we took delivery of a billboard from Mr Sticker (Chris Wool - a Flight Instructor Coach from our sister club at North Hill (Devon and Somerset GC)). He kindly drove his van from his workshop in Saltish with our shiny billboard. Chris enjoyed a hot cup of tea, an overview of our fleet modernisation plan, and a chance to put the gliding world to rights. He also brought a set of blue DGS logo stickers for The Twin Astir 1, DSL, and The Twin Astir trainer, HBK. To be applied soon. Thank you, Chris.
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| The DCFI, Peter, contemplates the new billboard and wonders when we will see the Dartmoor Wave this year. |
Colin continued his annual inspection of the Puchacz, focusing on the wings, which were the last part to be inspected. Now it's the paperwork to be tackled!
On Saturday, Rick summoned Scratch and I to give us an update on the programme for our Flight Instructor training. Although I wasn't planning to come up to the club today, it gave me a chance to drop off some new precision scales to allow the maintenance team to start using the new Aerodux 185 glue and 155 powder hardener. Colin and Adam checked the test previous test pieces and set to work on CCY's Starboard wing aileron hinge pads. The new instrument panels for CCY are complete and the replacement air brake lever bushes have been replaced. This work is leading up to the sale of K-13, CCY as it is surplus to requirements as we transition towards a "glass" fleet.
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| CCY's new front panel |
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| And this will be the instructor's view in the back |
The juniors were out in force and kept busy with tasks and work around the site. Work continued on the Twin Astir Trainer rear shelf and battery installation. It is nearing completion. It is proving to be DB's Opus Magna.
John Smith led a team of helpers (Alastair Barclay and Ed Nicholson) to mount the billboard on the side of the hangar. It looks tremendous. Critical viewers will note that the side of the hangar lets the side down. Although there is roof paint splatter, there are decades of algae on the side walls. So another team experimented by pressure washing the other side of the hangar. It looks better, but It's going to be a big project.
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| A wide angle view of our new billboard in place |
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| The dry day forecast materialised as one of showers and rainbows |
On Sunday it dawned bright, calm and clear. It seemed promising for some aviation, but on approaching the club the mist rolled in, and it was evident how waterlogged everything was.
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| The road to the club. Misty at this elevation. |
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| The adjacent fields were waterlogged |
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| My first sight of the billboard in situ |
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| Looking better with the inner gate open |
The mist cleared and allowed a team to walk to the east end for a pitch inspection. The news was not good; waterlogged. I took the opportunity to open my trailer up in some bright sunshine and air my Standard Cirrus for a while. Freddie, Aiden, and I opened up the Twin Astir Trainer trailer and Freddie led the work on reattaching the vinyl covering on the instrument panel supports. Much sticking with Evostick and multiple clamps later, it looks to be a job well done. Then the cloud came down, and we put the glider away before it started to drizzle, as I did with my glider.
Meanwhile, the duty instructor was working with Seahawk GC visitor Chris Morris to remove the NSF wheel from the Volvo so I could take it home and get the leaky tyre fixed. However, the locking nut wouldn't come off. The job was postponed until Wednesday, when we could have access to a "windy gun!"
Inside the clubhouse, Phil and David repainted canopy edges of the Twin Astir Trainer. They discovered that two 14ml pots of Humbrol matt light grey paint don't go very far, so there will be a plan C on paint coming soon. Ed Borlase was fettling the Ka-6CR fuselage lifting handle that Viktor made for him. It's caught the attention of our Ka-6CR pilots. Adam ordered one on Saturday and Chris Morris ordered one today from our friendly Ukrainian 3D-printing and joinery company.
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| Ka6-CR fuselage lifting handles (one for Viktor and one for Ed) |
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| Looking back to admire the new billboard, when leaving the club |
Gavin Short
