Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 8 April 2026

Forecast:  Sunny, blue.  Light Northeasterly breeze.

Duty Instructor:  Mike Jardine.

Guest Instructor:  Chris Bryning (Seahawk GC).

Duty Basic Instructor:  Gavin Short.

Visitors:  Tom Taylor (Two flight voucher).

Aircraft available:  Twin Astir 1 (DSL), two K-13s (FSD and FGR), and Astir CS77 (DNE).

Pitch:  Firm and dry.

Tea:  Brewed.

Morning brief:  Sunscreen, soaring hats, and water. It's going to be warmer than Marrakesh.

Wednesday Wavers:  Ready.

The flying schedule:  A lot of check and conversion flights, clearances to fly solo, and training.

A warm welcome for our visitors set against a wonderful azure sky

Things are happening this morning.  An empty hangar.

John Osment prepares his Standard Cirrus for the day

After a couple of check flights David Osment was cleared for further solo flight, of which he made three.  First steps, first steps.  Solo pilots Zack and Jamie flew the Astir CS77 and Viktor flew his lovely K6-CR, Red Bear.

David Osment delighted to be cleared by the Duty Instructor to fly further solo flights

Chris Bryning took Misha up for a set of three training flights in a K-13.  We welcomed Steve Lesson back to the field after his recent lay-off, and he sampled the delights of the Twin Astir with Mike.  Whilst more solo pilots took to the air; Peter flew the Astir CS77 and John Osment flew his Standard Cirrus.

Steve Lesson gets to grips with the Twin Astir while Malcolm looks on, probably reminiscing the many hours when he occupied that same front seat.

Today's trial flight visitor was Tom Taylor who used to live in Okehampton working as a manager at a mobile phone shop.  A decision taken on a change of career, to drive trains, saw him moving to East Grinstead.

Visitor Tom Tylor prepares to take to the skies with Gavin

However, canny mum, Pauline, who came to watch him fly, bought him the trial flight voucher for his birthday and so Tom had to come back at Easter (to see his mum!) and enjoy his flights over Dartmoor.  After an orientation flight Tom got to grips with the controls, and he tried the elevator and the ailerons.  By the smile on his face and enthusiasm he was thrilled to experience "silent flight".  We hope to see him again soon. 

Tom raring to go again. "Is this more exciting that driving trains?"  I think so!

John Smith tried the Astir CS77 which I think is becoming his favourite.  Alasdair was quickly on his heels to be next in the cockpit.

We also welcomed back Edward Bailey, One Course Candidate from last Wednesday, who was keen to continue his flying.  So Mike took him up in our new flagship, the Twin Astir 1. In the afternoon he was accompanied by his mum, Julie, who is keen to reestablish DGS's relationship with Mount Kelly, where Edward goes to school.

Mike Bennett ensure that Edward is safely strapped in before flying with Mike Jardine

There was another a warm welcome back given to Freddie Purkiss, almost unrecognisable with his new haircut, on Easter leave from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.  I am sure the CFI will find solace with Freddie on the field in the future.  Rick sometimes feels outnumbered by the ex Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, including RAF Regiment, personnel in the club.  Visiting instructor Chris (ex Fleet Air Arm!), after a check flight with Freddie, which included "an interesting circuit", re-cleared him for solo flight.  After his subsequent flight in FGR Freddie waited until the end of the day, when the conditions were forecast to be better, and took a 15-minute soaring flight in FSD earning him "Man of the Match".  Welcome back to Dartmoor, Freddie.

Pundits young and old put the world to rights

More flights in the Astir CS77 were made by Malcolm, Jamie, and Zack.  Brentor International was proving to be a busy airport this afternoon.  

The training flight line at Brentor International

Scratch made a further familiarisation flight in the Twin Astir with Peter whilst Mike flew with our new membership secretary, Neal, in a K-13. That was followed by some training flights with Jamie demonstrating there is no shame as solo pilot in flying with an instructor regularly.

Junior solo pilot and the Duty Instructor discuss what they are going to do in their next sortie.

After the inevitable fettling after rigging David Archer brought his K6, G-DHEB, up the field and took two flights including a hangar landing, or were both hangar landings?

 

Some readers may be aware that Schleicher wooden gliders have to have the tailplane removed, and the elevator inspected, every 500 launches.  For most gliders this is carried out at the annual inspection.  But for our hardworking K-13s that also occurs during the flying season.  These statistics are tracked diligently.  With the benign conditions and one launch remaining in the count, Colin brought his inspection trestles and tools onto the airfield rather returning the glider to the hangar and disrupting flying operations.  He had plenty of willing helpers.  Inspection done, the tailplane was refitted.  Scratch took Mike Bennett up for the test flight - "It's lovely!" was his verdict.  The aircraft was then released to service.

John Smith looks on as David gets ready for another solo flight

By 1700, all had had their fill and the gliders were landed at the west end and returned to the hangar.  The privateers derigged.  After his flights Viktor carried out some pilot/owner maintenance back at the "trailer rack".  He changed the tyre and inner tube on his main wheel.  Like trailer tyres, glider tyres never wear out they just age out.  So a sensible precautionary measure at the start of the soaring season for Red Bear.

 

There were 46 flights today.  The lovely conditions were however combined with an inversion layer at about 2,500 feet QNH which put a cap on almost all soaring aspirations.  What thermals were present were bouncing off the inversion layer which was clearly visible to the north of the site.

 

After packing up the Wavers headed home satisfied after a satisfying and hot day.  We all had fun, and it was cheaper than the Easy Jet fares to Marrakesh, where it would have been cooler.

 

Duty Instructor Mike extended a big thank you to Peter and Chris for assisting him with check flights, amongst others, in the K13s and the Twin Astir, in what was a very busy day.  

The only negative news we received on leaving the club is that the Aerotow day (where the Devon and Somerset GC Eurofox tug, from North Hill, joins us for the day) planned for Friday, has been postponed to due to strong cross winds forecast from the south.  Oh well, you can't have it all in life, but It's nice to try.

 

Gavin Short