Hedging their bets, a small band of optimists started the day by ensuring that the clubhouse stove was firing 'on afterburner', then ventured onto the sodden airfield intent on exercising the K8 (the easiest glider to ground-handle in the prevailing conditions). But after the first two cables, the lowering cloudbase convinced us that further attempts at aviating were inadvisable.
So it was back to the clubhouse and 'on' with the simulator to practise spinning; the main focus being on bridging the gap between what we say we should be doing - and what actually happens (or should happen!) in real life. At this time of year, with few opportunities to soar above launch height, we all risk becoming rusty when it comes to practising the avoidance of and recovery from spins. Therefore I urge everyone to spend a few minutes in the simulator with an instructor to bring your skills up to scratch. Thanks to Dave Jesty for sharing with us some of the simulation techniques he gained while coaching Kelley College cadets.
By this time, John Bolt had completed the C of A work on the K7/13 (Thanks, John!), so the presence of so many of us craving fresh air and exercise enabled the glider to be rigged quickly, ready to be put to work again.Then finally, a celebratory pot of blue paint was opened and inroads were made in repairing those minor eruptions of hangar- and cable-rash which had been detracting from the appearance of this fine training glider.
Bob Pirie
Sunday 6th February 2011
Its amazing how a good breakfast can change your outlook on the day but not the actual events. The weather continued its theme of strong winds rain and low cloud.
A series of lectures for bronze and pre-solo pilots included "soaring weather, polar curves, altimetry and airbrakes and approach control". Marta showed us all up by using her quick mind to resolve altimetry problems in record time, the boys were still considering the question when she produced the answer.
After the brains were sufficiently topped up, we practised on the simulator. Again Marta demonstrated to Martin that overflying the airfield at 300ft while inverted could become a standard start to a circuit----however there is still some more development required, we might run out of aircraft if we did it for real."
Don
A series of lectures for bronze and pre-solo pilots included "soaring weather, polar curves, altimetry and airbrakes and approach control". Marta showed us all up by using her quick mind to resolve altimetry problems in record time, the boys were still considering the question when she produced the answer.
After the brains were sufficiently topped up, we practised on the simulator. Again Marta demonstrated to Martin that overflying the airfield at 300ft while inverted could become a standard start to a circuit----however there is still some more development required, we might run out of aircraft if we did it for real."
Don
Saturday 5th February 2010
Rain, low cloud and high winds made this a clubhouse day.There was plenty going on though.
Matthew was busy studying for the Bronze exam. Bob and I were practicing for our BI test using the simulator. Don gave a very informative lecture on recognising the clues to potentially good soaring days from all the forecast information available to today’s pilots.
Rick Wiles continued the development of the clubhouse computer network. We now have a computer driving the simulator and a separate one in the office for preparing presentations, study and research. Both computers share a common file system. There is a third computer being prepared to drive the new plasma screen (thanks to the tea fund) which will be positioned to enable it to be used to give lectures and presentations without interfering with the simulator.
Steve
Matthew was busy studying for the Bronze exam. Bob and I were practicing for our BI test using the simulator. Don gave a very informative lecture on recognising the clues to potentially good soaring days from all the forecast information available to today’s pilots.
Rick Wiles continued the development of the clubhouse computer network. We now have a computer driving the simulator and a separate one in the office for preparing presentations, study and research. Both computers share a common file system. There is a third computer being prepared to drive the new plasma screen (thanks to the tea fund) which will be positioned to enable it to be used to give lectures and presentations without interfering with the simulator.
Steve
Wednesday 2nd February 2011
With the cloudbase at 780 feet AMSL and the airfield elevation at 820 feet AMSL the visibility made this a non flying day. The mild, damp conditions were not wasted though.
Bob spent a large part of the day with the tractor and roller starting the process of repairing the damage to the runway and tracks inflicted by our heavy use throughout the winter. John completed the C of A on the K13 BVB. There was a group chopping wood again. The DGS lumberjacks did not receive my suggestion that they should be singing the song from a certain Monty Python sketch at all well!
After refreshments Don gave a very interesting talk and slide show on “Ridge Soaring” which was followed by some ridge soaring using the simulator.
Ged and Phil then used the JCB to level the area next to the clubhouse ready for some further cosmetic work in the spring. The other bit of news today was that the ML winch guillotine mechanisms have now been modified to remove potential snags from the cable drum area. Thanks David and Alan.
Steve
Bob spent a large part of the day with the tractor and roller starting the process of repairing the damage to the runway and tracks inflicted by our heavy use throughout the winter. John completed the C of A on the K13 BVB. There was a group chopping wood again. The DGS lumberjacks did not receive my suggestion that they should be singing the song from a certain Monty Python sketch at all well!
After refreshments Don gave a very interesting talk and slide show on “Ridge Soaring” which was followed by some ridge soaring using the simulator.
Ged and Phil then used the JCB to level the area next to the clubhouse ready for some further cosmetic work in the spring. The other bit of news today was that the ML winch guillotine mechanisms have now been modified to remove potential snags from the cable drum area. Thanks David and Alan.
Steve
Sunday 30th January 2010
With the Met Office predicting a surface wind of 030 at 6kts levels of anticipation were high that the wave would now set in. Unpacking the hangar, the talk was of how low the temperatures had been on the way to the airfield: variously -2⁰C in Cornwall, -4⁰C locally at the airfield and -6⁰C in Tavistock. Coming after a mild week in which the airfield had thawed, these low temperatures had caused the mud to freeze up in the wheel boxes of the gliders. Now frozen wheel boxes can be enough to cause some gliding sites to shut down operations altogether. But not so the men and women of Dartmoor who, after 30 minutes of work with paint scrapers and a veritable Mt Etna of a hair dryer, had the all of the fleet’s available glider on line and ready to ride the wave.
CFI Don Puttock decided to go on a sniffer, (something apparently he used to do in the margins of competitions), by giving Heather Horswill a valedictory flight in thanks for all her hard work in support of the club.
The wind, which had hovered tantalisingly about 010-020, backed to the north. They returned with nothing on the scent. And so it remained; with clear, blue sky, and a steady, light northerly strangling all hope of wave
Don, ever the exponent of ‘expectation management’, switched targets from ‘achievement’ to ‘development’. Which proved to be remarkably successful. On the ground, Mike Keller took and passed the Bronze C theoretical exam, following which he was briefed and graduated from the K-8 to the K-6. Then, after careful tuition with Ged Nevisky, Jacob Knight (17) and Alan Carter converted onto the Zugvogel, it’s light wing loading winning broad grins and a thumbs up from Alan, who achieved the flight of the day. The light wind conditions also allowed Nigel Williamson to go solo in his winch driver training, under Alan Ballard’s tutelage, and enabled Sandra Butterly to reacquaint herself with her old friend, the K-8.
So a day which promised great heights was transformed into a day of great progress, in all sorts of other directions. Finally, all hands turned to in de-rigging K-13 BVB ready for its ARC inspection on Monday. Then, like hobbits in the Shire, it was time to retire to the clubhouse to smoke (metaphorical) pipes and exchange tales of even greater achievement (although probably only in exaggeration!)
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Martin Cropper
CFI Don Puttock decided to go on a sniffer, (something apparently he used to do in the margins of competitions), by giving Heather Horswill a valedictory flight in thanks for all her hard work in support of the club.
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| Heather Horswill waiting to be launched for her valedictory flight |
Don, ever the exponent of ‘expectation management’, switched targets from ‘achievement’ to ‘development’. Which proved to be remarkably successful. On the ground, Mike Keller took and passed the Bronze C theoretical exam, following which he was briefed and graduated from the K-8 to the K-6. Then, after careful tuition with Ged Nevisky, Jacob Knight (17) and Alan Carter converted onto the Zugvogel, it’s light wing loading winning broad grins and a thumbs up from Alan, who achieved the flight of the day. The light wind conditions also allowed Nigel Williamson to go solo in his winch driver training, under Alan Ballard’s tutelage, and enabled Sandra Butterly to reacquaint herself with her old friend, the K-8.
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| Plymouth Sound (on the horizon) from 1100f |
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| The Shire (note smoke rising from chimney..!) The hangar and clubhouse at dusk |
Saturday 29th January 2011
With the early wind in the NE there was an indecent haste to get flying. There were several private gliders rigged and waiting, along with several visitors from North Hill So the scene was set.
The wind strength never reached the forecast level which would almost certainly set up a good wave system. Instead pilots were teased with occasional glimpses of wave and rotor.
However, training continued apace with the two seater busy all day. Everyone had a good time trying to find the elusive lift and the best flight of the day was Bob Jones in the Open Cirrus who managed to find what was probably the only thermal of the day.
Steve
The wind strength never reached the forecast level which would almost certainly set up a good wave system. Instead pilots were teased with occasional glimpses of wave and rotor.
However, training continued apace with the two seater busy all day. Everyone had a good time trying to find the elusive lift and the best flight of the day was Bob Jones in the Open Cirrus who managed to find what was probably the only thermal of the day.
Steve
Friday 28th January 2011
This evening a significant number of club members and guests got together at the DGS Annual Dinner which was held at the Trout and Tipple, Tavistock.
A good time was had by all at this informal event arranged largely by club member Mike Keller who decided that the club needed an annual dinner and just got on and organised it.
Well done Mike and many thanks.
Steve
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A good time was had by all at this informal event arranged largely by club member Mike Keller who decided that the club needed an annual dinner and just got on and organised it.
Well done Mike and many thanks.
Steve
Wednesday 26th January 2011
Everyone was keen to get going early today, no doubt encouraged by CFI Don who was filling in in Bob’s absence. So gliders out, airfield ready and then wait for the low cloudbase to lift.
The intervening time was filled with the usual bronze discussions and housekeeping fueled by tea in the warm clubhouse. The Zugvogel was reassembled after it’s C of A and is now ready for another season – thank you John and David.
The cloudbase lifted, so, game on. The wind was just east of north which put straight across the runway.Would there be wave? The were obvious wave clouds in the area but this proved to be elusive with most pilots sustaining their flights a little with fleeting touches of wave lift. The exception to this was farmer Phil who flew with Don for a master class in ridge soaring. They stayed airborne on the north ridge for a considerable time and looked like they could have stayed there all day.
Good news. Richard Williamson, who has experience of gliding with the ATC, completed the first step in his conversion to sport gliding and flew solo for the 1st time as a civilian. Well done
Also congratulations to Robin Wilson for completing his Bronze. The Cross Country endorsement is next Robin
Steve
The intervening time was filled with the usual bronze discussions and housekeeping fueled by tea in the warm clubhouse. The Zugvogel was reassembled after it’s C of A and is now ready for another season – thank you John and David.
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| Wave clouds teasing the Zugvogel |
Good news. Richard Williamson, who has experience of gliding with the ATC, completed the first step in his conversion to sport gliding and flew solo for the 1st time as a civilian. Well done
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| Richard Williamson on final approach for his first civilian solo. |
Steve
Sunday 23rd January 2011
Weather was much as forecast with varying amounts and types of cloud which made for an interesting sky-watching day. The wind was quite fresh but rather more northerly than would presage a classic Brentor wave day. And so it turned out, with broken wave coming & going to tease and tantalise the healthy crowd who turned out.
Four consecutive cable breaks on the north drum announced the end of life of the wire so we soldiered on with the south drum only. No more failures and a creditable, under the circumstances, 32 launches by the time we retired to the clubhouse. Nigel Williamson worked hard most of the day to gain his wings (or is that "wincs") on the Guslaunch.
Longest flight was just shy of half an hour. Even Trevor in the Jantar1 failed to get away despite flapping his wings furiously (or was it turbulence?) but everyone who wanted to fly had their fill. The sky was littered with lenticulars as we packed the toys away for another day.
Alan Ballard
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| A busy launchpoint with at least one member looking for divine guidence |
Longest flight was just shy of half an hour. Even Trevor in the Jantar1 failed to get away despite flapping his wings furiously (or was it turbulence?) but everyone who wanted to fly had their fill. The sky was littered with lenticulars as we packed the toys away for another day.
Alan Ballard
Saturday 22nd January 2010
Winds 020/10, evidence of wave all day. An amazing cloudscape but only really soarable for an hour or so.
Very well done to Andrew Carter who not only went solo today, but also completed his first bronze leg.
Darren Wills went off in the K8 for the first time and Matt Wiles completed his first qualifying soaring flight for the cross country endorsement.
Shrek did his epic trip from North Cornwall using public transport and still arrived smiling. Also a warm welcome to Richard Cooper our latest new pupil.
Thanks everyone for making this a great day, and a special thanks to Chris Matten who spent much of his birthday on the winch and also to John Bolt and Dave Bourchier who spent the day wotking on the Zugvogel getting it ready for it's annual inspection.
Don
And Sandra’s view of the day
The weather tested us with strong rotor and wave today with Matthew Wiles achieving the longest flight of the day with 70 minutes in the K6.
Congratulations goes to Andrew Carter for his solo flight in the K13 after only three visits to Brentor, who then went on to get a bronze leg in the wave of 48 minutes. Well done also to Darren Wills who progressed on to the K8. The wave then teased the rest of us, with myself only managing 11 minutes!
It was an enjoyable day with the four aircraft being kept busy all day while those not flying, kept warm by doing various jobs around the club house, making sure the woodburner was kept stoked and plenty of sheep herding.
Sandra Buttery
Very well done to Andrew Carter who not only went solo today, but also completed his first bronze leg.
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| Andrew Carter with CFI Don Puttock |
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| Darren Wills looks pleased after his first flight in the K8 |
Thanks everyone for making this a great day, and a special thanks to Chris Matten who spent much of his birthday on the winch and also to John Bolt and Dave Bourchier who spent the day wotking on the Zugvogel getting it ready for it's annual inspection.
Don
And Sandra’s view of the day
The weather tested us with strong rotor and wave today with Matthew Wiles achieving the longest flight of the day with 70 minutes in the K6.
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| This picture from Matthew Wiles in the K6 at 3000 ft showing some of the wave clouds and a K13 much lower |
Congratulations goes to Andrew Carter for his solo flight in the K13 after only three visits to Brentor, who then went on to get a bronze leg in the wave of 48 minutes. Well done also to Darren Wills who progressed on to the K8. The wave then teased the rest of us, with myself only managing 11 minutes!
It was an enjoyable day with the four aircraft being kept busy all day while those not flying, kept warm by doing various jobs around the club house, making sure the woodburner was kept stoked and plenty of sheep herding.
Sandra Buttery
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