Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 25 February 2026

Three degrees.  Just three degrees.  No, not a Royal love interest from when he was a prince, but today's maximum forecast separation of air temperature and the dew point.  Meteorologists will know that means a low cloud base.  Glider pilots use a rule of thumb, 400ft per degree Centigrade, giving the cloud base height.  Today was all about those three degrees (on a nice summer's day the separation should be at least ten degrees).

But in the morning, we hadn't got to that temperature separation yet.  So the cloud base was too low to go flying.  Indeed, the forecasts, except for Skysight, weren't very optimistic so it was a slow start while we waited.  This gave the management team a chance to discuss insurance renewal premiums and a plan for the fleet to reduce costs.  It's amazing how the warmth of the wood burner and a hot cup of tea can improve one's cognitive abilities.

The Chairman gets stuck in to the Daily Inspection of the Volvo
 (yes, it was a late start for the Wednesday Wavers!)

Hangar doors open.  The gliders emerge.

David Osment manoeuvres K-13, FSD on the apron. 
 Don't forget to check the Total Energy probe during the Daily Inspection.

The Chairman and DCFI get stuck in moving the glider up the slope.

Despite the Waver's keenness to fly, it wasn't going to be a great day for visitors.  So, after discussing the prospects with the duty Basic Instructor, me, John cancelled his Friends and Family flight.  Hopefully his daughter, Jane, can come back when the weather is better.

Time to remove the Swiss competition letters and put the correct trigraph on the fin of Phil's DG300

A "Swedish" trailer.  Everything organised and engineered to perfection. 
 Perhaps this is the SAAB of glider trailers.  Does that make farmer Phil an architect?

The final result, nicely split across the fin and the rudder.  Phil surveys the results.

The cloud base was lifting slowly.  Time to go flying, but notice how moist everything is.

The Duty Instructor ready for a weather check to establish
whether the cloud base is high enough for us to go flying

Andy, ready to take the second launch of the day at 1232 (yes it was a late start)

Meanwhile, in the hangar, CCY's fuselage is moved into the daylight and
 K-13, FSD's wings are laid out for inspection as part of its annual.

Mike Bennett rises of a nose wheel after a field change
on the K-13, FSD, prior to inspection and repair

 

Mike and Lance return. The approach made challenging by the increasing southerly cross wind

As the flying ceased and the toys were packed away, the separation of the air temperature and the dew point steadily reduced and lowered the cloud base to the deck. 

 

At the end of the day, the "Three Degrees" become zero
 According to the flight log, John Allan achieved the flight of the day with a circuit.  The suspicion was that the log keeper was tardy in recording his landing time.

 

A late start for the Wavers but recency flights and Pilot Annual Reviews for those who needed it, and currency flights for others in the K-8.

 

A dreary looking day but successful on the flying front with 15 flights made. Also, a successful day on the maintenance front with K-13, FGR ready for some final small jobs and rigging on Saturday when we expect to see it returned to service.  Thank you to Colin and all those who assisted him today.

 

Gavin Short