Wednesday 19th January 2011

Four stalwarts rose to the challenge of providing a really early start to a full flying day, and by the time other members started to appear, having encountered icy roads and fog, they found the winch and control caravan already in place at the right ends of the field, and the gliders DI’d and at the launch point.

DI-robics? Jeff Craggs gives the K8 a thorough DI.

 Although it wasn’t soarable, it was a fantastic day, with blue skies, spectacularly criss-crossing airliner con-trails above and fog remaining in the valleys.  To paraphrase what John Howe said: “We’re so lucky to belong to a club in such a beautiful place.”

'Fixed price to solo' student Richard Morgan is congratulated by instructor Bob Pirie after going it alone for the first time

Flying started on a high-note, with fixed-price-to-solo student Richard Morgan soon doing his first solo (Congratulations, Richard!),. Then trial lesson student  (and one-time Kelley College pupil) Richard Cooper was introduced to the joys of gliding by Ged. All the Wednesday regulars as well as some weekenders (Dave Longden, for example) were on parade, undergoing training, having check flights or just keeping (or getting) current. It was good to see Robin Wilson completing further flights towards his Bronze Badge and, by the way, “Welcome back” to our recently-absent ‘yachties’,Martin Broadway and Chris Fagg..
Everyone pitched in splendidly, achieving 37 launches (not bad for January!), and special thanks to those who carried out the pre-C.of A. de-rig of the Zugvogel - without any interruption of flying activities. After sunset - and an equally spectacular rising of the moon  over the moor,  the customary stoking of the woodburner and ‘abuse’ of the flight simulator took place.

New temporary member Richard Cooper gets a site briefing from Chris Fagg

Today was not all good news, however, because the Club has fallen victim to Air Southwest’s departure from Plymouth Airport. Our resident Dash-8 captain, Alan Bamford, announced that he is being reassigned to Aberdeen, where he will be converted to command Eastern Airways’ SAAB 2000 turboprop airliner. We wish him and his girlfriend, Haley, every happiness in their new home - and Allan every success on his next step up the airline ladder. (Hmm. I wonder if we can claim a transfer fee from his intended new club at Aboyne?)

Moonrise over Dartmoor

Bob Pirie

Sunday 16th January 2011

Plenty of rain, and as Mike Kellar pointed out---"someone has pinched Brentor Church".

The day took on the new non-flying day format---some briefing, some fun and a little housekeeping.

The briefings covered NOTAMs weather flight limitations and preparation for navigation part 2.

The housekeeping was directed at the principle of first impressions, from the entrance gate to the clubroom---making the club look and feel comfortable.

Thanks everyone for your great efforts here.

Don

Saturday 15th January 2010

Wind, rain and low cloud. A full set.

Bronze training interspersed with chores and crashing the flight simulator were the main activities.

Principles of Flight, met and the bronze C oral test were the subjects---well done Robin who completed the bronze oral test, he is now getting dangerously close to completing that bronze.

Thanks everyone for completing the numerous housekeeping chores, we now have plenty of computer power, Wi-Fi, clean vehicles, more gorse cut back and loads more wood for the fire.

Lets hope this low pressure system moves away soon.

Don

Wednesday 12th January 2010

Fog, low cloud and torrential rain with a forecast for it all to get worse meant that this was always going to be a non flying day.

Was the airfield deserted? Not a bit of it. A steady stream of club members arrived at the warm clubhouse; some to work; some to play and some to pass the time.

The simulator was kept busy all day. Phil flew a short cross country out of Brentor. Ged tried ridge soaring the western flanks of Dartmoor (the programme seems a little inaccurate here), Jeff did some local soaring, Bob and I took on the challenge of soaring the anabatic winds in the Slovenian mountains.

It was not all play though, Jeff completed the blackout curtains for the simulator, Ged and Phil changed the clutch master cylinder in one of the Discoveries and Phil, Ged and John adjusted the rudder pedals in the K8. Between the worst of  rain, Ged was to be found clearing the drainage channels. Now that's dedication!

Steve

Sunday 9th January 2010

The airfield had dried out significantly to allow operations to proceed though flying didn't commence until after mid-day as problems were encountered  with the tractor which broke down halfway down the runway with launch hut in tow. Once rectified flying started under a bright blue sky and tantalising glimpses of cumulus heading our way on a light westerly.
  
Early flights were of limited duration until the wind strengthened slightly and with the suns heating, those lucky enough to be launched found themselves underneath those clouds and finding lift, myself reaching the giddy heights of 2,500 feet and the vario at one point registering 6 knots of climb.

A good looking cloud street - especially for early January.

 All too soon it was over and normal service was resumed though all gliders were out of the hangar and members took the opportunity to remain current and enjoy the view.

Looking west along the runway

 On a personal note, as I was one of the lucky few today I managed to stay airborne for 48 minutes, obtaining my first Bronze leg in only my sixth solo flight. Nobody told me this gliding lark would be so addictive! 
 
As usual hard work and team work from everybody ensured operations ran smoothly and everyone that turned up managed to get a flight.
 
Darren Wills

Saturday 8th January 2010

With lots of club members on site and DCFI Mark keen to fly it was very disappointing that the field was just too wet and soft.

Even with this disappointment people were not idle. A group was discussing Bronze exam subjects with Mark. “Want to be” lumberjacks Ged and gang were cutting up wood  for the stove. Will led a group clearing the stones from the hangar apron which had been deposited by the heavy rain. Jeff purchased and installed a blackout curtain for the simulator. Rick was installing software on the new computer supplied by Colin. I spent some time fixing website bugs. The simulator was kept busy throughout the day.

Thanks everyone

Steve

Wednesday 5th January 2010

Fog and teeming rain (which rejuvenated the mud) failed to deter a hard core of members, who fired up the woodburner and engaged in a variety of activities, including simulator training, equipment maintenance, wood-chopping and 'line-shooting'.
 
The simulator was kept busy as usual, but either the damp (or possibly a hit and miss attempt at 'tweaking' by a previous user) contributed to some particularly erratic flights - and spectacular crashes. ( This was fixed later – Steve )

Ged was persuaded to model his new soaring hat whist flying the simulator

  A brace (duo? couple?) of field treasurers was seen in earnest conversation - so if your flying account is in the red, watch out!  
 
Meanwhile a number of us discussed the pros and cons of various types of parachute, in preparation for the purchase of two brand new ones for the club via the Sport England grant. It was particularly useful to be able to investigate various possibilities via the newly-installed internet connection in the clubhouse.
 
There was a feeling among a number of us that (a) that the club was very fortunate to secure such funding (£9,750) in these times of financial stringency (thanks again, Bob Jones), and (b) that we should always make a special effort to ensure that organisations or individuals awarding grants, bursaries and donations to the club and its members should be thanked formally and acknowledged publicly wherever possible.
 
Whilst many gliding club 'stalwarts' around the UK are still hibernating, a sure sign that spring is on its way was an appearance by Dave Bourchier, who spent the day checking our current stock of parachutes and re-pack dates, repairing the launch cable repair equipment and finally the guillotine mechanism, on the ML winch.

Dave at work on the winch - I think he could teach the safety officer at thing or two about PPE

 
Bob Pirie 

Monday 3rd January 2011

As the snow stayed away, it was a busy day with practise launch failures, circuits and Bronze training.
 

The K13s are busy

Congratulations to Chris Kaminski who passed his Bronze today.  Alan Ballard worked tirelessly on the winch all day, giving instruction to Nigel Williamson  The K6 was found a better parking position in the hangar.

Do we need an extra pre-flight check? - A ( are you awake)

As the temperature began to drop it was back to the Club House for the last of the Christmas mince pies!

Sandra

Sunday 2nd January 2011

The forecast was promising, but the view through the rain streaming down the clubhouse windows was less so. We had time to spend with a practical lesson in NOTAMs before the cloud lifted and we all went flying.

Quite a busy day, welcome to Henry Acton and Richard Williamson who spent the day helping and getting used to field operations. Henry Ford and brother popped in with many other pilots looking for some post Christmas fresh air.

The wave taunted us all day with some valiant attempts at soaring, but little over half an hour locally
.

The edge of the wave bar is clearly visible to the east

Well done Nigel Williamson, first flight in the K6. Of course we now expect a few bronze legs.

Scratch spent the whole day on the winch, thanks very much---that made the day possible.

Don

Saturday 1st January 2011

After the most successful year that DGS has ever enjoyed, it was important to get the New Year off to a flying start.

The low cloudbase with 8/8 coverage, misty conditions and a light northerly wind did not promise much. The pilots made good use of the day though with everyone maintaining their currency. Bob and Steve continued with their instructor training with CFI Don; Cable breaks, stalls and steep turns today.

Junior pilot Matthew Wiles continued his meteoric progress. He soloed on his 16th birthday on the December 7th. Since then he has completed lots of solo flights, achieved 2 bronze soaring legs, converted from the K13 to the K8 and, today he converted to the K6.

Superman? I don't think so ---  Just an excited Matthew after flying the K6

Thanks to Rick Wiles for lots of winching today and also for working on the second club computer and the wireless modem/router. The club now offers the use of wireless broadband to the those club members who use laptops, netbooks or smartphones on the airfield.

Steve