Dartmoor Gliding Society - Wednesday 15th July 2026

Andy's take on Wednesday's Weather.

High pressure is still in charge, so again Wednesday will see an easterly flow over the field at 10kts.  There will most probably be some high cloud cover (there is some difference between the models).  If we get the high cover it will dampen any thermal activity if not there could be some good thermals from midday on. There is a good chance of some wave in the morning but only going to 4,000ft this is why the thermals won’t get going till lunchtime and there is the chance the wave could mess it up all day.  We'll only find out by being there.

After welcoming Richard back, today's Basic Instructor, from two gliding competitions it was time for the first task of the day to rig K-13, CCY.  There was a sense of urgency as the Two Twin Astirs were both offline.   After being rigged, taped, the canopy cleaned, and the safety cushions installed the maintenance team took over to check the control deflections.  Adjustment was needed on the port air brake which was successful.  The other deflections were OK, but much work was expended getting them right in the middle of the range of the manufacturers design values.  The team were ably assisted by junior Rowan who logged the readings and worked out the direction of adjustment need so that the team wielded spanners in the correct direction!  Good preparation for his A-levels in maths, physics and geography which start in the autumn.  In other work Twin Astir, DSL, was offline for its annual inspection, planned, and HBK, with a hydraulic leak on its main wheel brake, unplanned.  Calliper seals and O-rings are being sourced.

The Twin Astir was derigged for its annual inspection on Sunday
and brought out for an initial look today

The suspect rudder pedal operating arm in DSL, which had excessive play, was removed and inspected.  The fix was new bolts and a new bush to be made, but not the bearings.

At the launch point Andy took the first launch at 0946 and climbed through the rotor, albeit it took some effort, into the wave for the flight of the day of 3 hours 56 minutes.  Then the training started with Ed Nicholson sampling the delights of the rotor for the shortest flight of the day at 9 minutes!

Next up was returning temporary member Walter Seip who was accompanied by his mother and grandmother.  It is great to see that gliding can be a family affair.  This was Walter's first introduction to wave, but the duty Instructor limited the flight duration, due to the effects of the turbulent rotor, to 16 minutes.  Not deterred, Peter in the mighty Kestrel, tried climbing in the rotor for a similar duration.  Getting through the rotor into the wave lift was the challenge in these morning flights.

Walter Seip on his way to 3,000 feet in the wave.  Just visible is the vario repeater, bottom right, indicating a climb of 9 knots (900 feet/minute)

Our veteran rotary-wing aviator, Michael M-S, was also undeterred with the prospect of a "little" vibration and took the third flight with Duty Instructor Mike Jardine to add soaring in the "Dartmoor Wave" to his log book.

Michael M-S climbing past 2,700 ft in a full, 10 knot, climb. It's fascinating to watch the speed at which the altimeter needles swings round the dial.  Who needs an engine Michael?

While Michael M-S climbs, Mike admires the murky view
to the south of the barely visible Hamoaze

The airfield looks small from 4,000 feet. 
This photo was taken just four minutes after Michael M-S was climbing through 2,700 feet.

When it was time to come down Michael opened the airbrakes fully; remember in the K-13 the air brakes are paddles above and below the wing. In 10 knots of lift with the airbrakes fully open Michael and Mike were still going up at 2 knots!  Time to find some sinking air to help the glider descend. 

On landing, Mike needed a rest after the three "full-on" flights and handed the glider over to Rick and Zack for a 31-minute flight.  Then Duty Instructor's schedule resumed with Neal clocking up 25 minutes in the wave.

Peter, after his relatively short soaring flight gave it another go and clocked up 2 hours 41 minutes and explored the wave patterns in the local area.  Biding his time, and only when he was convinced that Peter was fully established in the wave Sean launched his Libelle and clocked up a little over an hour. 

Fortunately, Richard's dance card was almost empty with just a Friends and Family flight experience for member Dave Osment; to fly Nick Miller which meant that he didn't have to wait for the work on CCY to complete and could fly in K-13, FGR.  Previously there was concern whether we could fly Nick at all due to the turbulent conditions but Richard, as ever, flew him very professionally for 19 minutes for a great flight.

Richard briefs Nick Miller before his Friends and Family flight

Running through their preflight checks

Whilst waiting for CCY to come online Rick got his syndicate's Standard Cirrus, FCN, out of its box and soared for 1 hour and 22 minutes.  The conditions seemed to be improving as the day progressed. 

Peter's view of Tavistock and the disused golf course to the south

And the airfield and Blackdown to the north

Later the view of the Rivers Tavy and Tamar were even murkier. 
We need a good cold front to clear the rubbish out of the air.

After discovering a puncture in his main wheel during his Daily Inspection Steve Fletcher had a later start than he intended but connected to the wave and enjoyed almost two hours aloft

Glide and Seek's view of Steve's flight that topped out at over 5,000 feet.

There were periods when the launch point was devoid of gliders.  Looking from the apron whilst working on CCY's control deflections four, sometimes five gliders could be seen climbing in the wave.

Sean's Libelle after his flight

By now the rotor had subsided and the "Old man of the sky", John Smith took the K-8 aloft for almost 40 minutes.  Solo pilots John Osment and Junior Jamie matched John's flights. Inspired, Dave Archer rigged his K-6, "Debbie" and flew for almost half an hour thereby doubling the flight time in his log book for this year!

Sean reminiscing his flight with an attentive audience (Rowan's mum)

The maintenance team released Rowan from the apron so that he could fly ad enjoy the wave with the Duty Instructor.  It was then David Moorley's turn to soar in the wave.

Dave Osment's immaculate 1967 Ford Cortina powered by a mighty 1500cc engine. 
Note the maintenance team still hard at work on the hangar apron behind.

The glider rack waiting for the privateers to return

The launch point late afternoon with the solo ships about to launch

Mike then took over the Standard Cirrus to get some solo hours in and achieved just over an hour.

Mike's view from his Standard Cirrus in the wave to the west of the airfield

Malcolm took the last flight of the day in the K-8 and landed at 1823.  All who wanted, had enjoyed their flights in a surprisingly good, but challenging day.  Unfortunately, after his great soaring flight Peter suffered a puncture on landing.  Andy helped him to change the inner tube of the mighty Kestrel's 5-inch main wheel (which is the same size as those in the K-13s and Twin Astirs) - pricey!

A day of wave and thermals.  Turbulent rotor and initially a challenge to exploit the access the abundant lift that was there.  Many exploited it well.  Seven training and visitor flights, and 13 solo flights.  Total flight time was 17 hours 49 minutes.  The average flight time of 53 minutes; with the easterly wind the Wednesday Wavers are back on form.

Before I sign off bear a thought for those who didn't fly because they were winching, processing equipment we had received from Seahawk GC, and the maintenance team working hard to get gliders back online. They all deserve our gracious thanks as without them, we wouldn't get to fly. 

Postscript.

On Sunday Scratch and I attended a party at Seahawk GC.  This was to mark the 60th Anniversary of the club's existence.  Sadly it also marked the closure of the club.  After 60 years of operating at RNAS Culdrose it had become impossible for the gliding club to have a home on the base and operate there.  Disappointingly, this was a repeat of the closure of Heron Gliding Club at RNAS Yeovilton in 2018.

Seahawk Gliding Club 60th anniversary cake

A defence planner might analyse the situation and conclude that with ever reducing funding, defence cuts, consequential tightening of regulations, restrictive operating practices, had led hard-pressed senior managers to conclude that the cost of operating gliders was too much.  As ever it's easy to know the "cost" of an activity but never appreciate the value of it.  That there is no gliding at any Royal naval air station in the 21st century is a damning indictment and perhaps a telling measure of the level of decline of the United Kingdom's Naval Service.

The name board over the Seahawk GC clubhouse bar

Looking positively, the long-standing relationship between the clubs is not all lost.  Although we won't be able to fly gliders at RNAS Culdrose, the doors are open at Dartmoor Gliding Society for those members of Seahawk GC who wish to continue to fly gliders.  However, it won't be in their beloved Cornwall.  A number of Seahawk instructors and members are already flying at Brentor.  They, and anyone else from Seahawk who wants to sample "The Dartmoor Wave", are most welcome. 

The "Clagged Inn" sign now in pride of place in the DGS clubhouse marking the close relationship between the two clubs over the years.

Gavin Short