Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 30th September 2026

The Equilux (equal day and night) happened last Friday, so I shouldn't have been surprised that it was still dark when the alarm clock went off, and I let "Mackle" the cat out into the rain.  He's got such a thick coat that he doesn't care about the rain.  Mere mortals not so much.

Weather: I could just say see above. But it was a bit more nuanced than that.  The front had passed through during the night, leaving low cloud and a strong blustery southerly wind, i.e. full cross on the runway.  Not very conducive to flying or indeed pleasant.  Many Wednesday Wavers thought so, and so the turnout today was low.  Fortunately, as the Duty Basic Instructor, I didn't have any visitors to cancel.

So it was a day for rigging the Astir CS77 after its annual inspection.  The battery installation needed to be completed before fitting the repaired seat and side panels, with their covers now properly stuck down.  The glider was rigged and taped following a little instruction on the operation of the GROB Astir rotating collar sleeves.  This design needs a little bit of thought as to how they work, as it does away with a conventional main pin, or pins, to secure the wings to the glider.  The canopy was not fitted to allow maximum time for any residual fumes from the seat upholstery repairs to dissipate.

Instrument panel fault-finding in the clubhouse (Club Libelle and Standard Cirus, behind)

Mike Bennett and Gavin worked on their instrument panels, fault-finding, making repairs and fettling. 

A wonky view of Gavin's panel

In the trailer park, Mike Jardine was improving his Flarm set-up by repositioning the UHF antenna and testing.  Later, there was more serious work being undertaken.

Oh No! What has happened here?

Ahh.  All is clear now.  Dave Archer is involved in some extreme fettling, or Pilot Owner Maintenance in technical parlance.

This work is to rectify a rudder pedal rubbing problem.

Meanwhile, in the hangar, what could be described as a "leisurely rig" was underway.  Sometimes many hands don't make for light work.

Astir CS77, DNE rigged and taped, ready to go back in the hangar

Throughout the day, there was the sound of a circular saw as John Smith continued to work on the frame for the solar panel on the roof of the glider workshop.  Although we need, at the moment, to run the generator for power tools, the solar set was generating significant power and topping up the 5 kW battery when the sun poked through the clouds.  Impressive stuff.

The Waver's work is done; the hangar doors are shut.

No flying today, but much was achieved.  Roll on Saturday.

Gavin Short