Dartmoor Gliding News–Wednesday 19th March 2014

 Some our more 'senior' members (of whom there are several in attendance every Wednesday) may recall the New Christy Minstrels' 1961 hit song, 'Three Wheels on My Wagon'. Well with a dry airfield, the sun breaking through, John Howe's arrival in his open-topped vintage Standard 8 and a healthy (and early) turnout of members (including enthusiastic one-day course candidate, Angela Bamfield , we started the day in an upbeat mood.  Indeed an appropriate theme tune as we got the kit out might have been 'Two (working!) drums on our Guslaunch'.

John Howe, Standard 8 and K7m

But then it all went downhill.  As the winch was prepared for a busy day, it was discovered that its solenoid was in a burnt-out and visibly-knackered state. It then took the best part of the day for a dedicated team, with a final 'assist' from Ray Best (diesel fitter), who happened to be present working on the ML winch, to succeed in removing the solenoid and starter motor assembly and take it off-site for professional assessment.

So all depended on the ML. Test flights by CFI Don in a K13 last weekend proved that more work needed to be done to ensure full power during the launch, and with Ray and a small band of DGS members wielding the spanners and 'A-team' drivers in the cab, I embarked on a series of further test launches - all of which I had to abandon as soon as I had become established in the main climb. Until this winch can deliver reliable, full-height launches consistently, it must not be used other than in controlled, test flight circumstances, therefore all thoughts of flying today were abandoned, and Ray will return on Saturday hopefully to fine-tune it back to health.

So setting all thoughts of flying today to one side, Steve Lewis escorted Angela to the simulator. Then while some members re-packed the hangar, others were up to their elbows in grease delving in the bowels of our ailing winches.

"Many hands make winch work?" not today but spare parts are on the way

John Bolt reckoned that in 30 years at DGS he had never known a day when we had been totally 'winchless' - which says a lot for our current team of dedicated volunteers who keep the club running - as well as their predecessors. We sincerely hope that through a combination of Fitter Ray's professional skills and hard work by the 'usual few' we'll have at least one winch working this weekend.

The "Black Hand Gang". John and Jorg have been working on the oily bits of the winch. 

But I urge all members to turn up anyway and lend a hand with various essential chores, before the 'usual few' run out of steam and enthusiasm though lack of support.

Onward and upward!

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News–Sunday 16th March 2014

Like many other members I have been keenly watching the changeable weather forecasts over the last few days wondering what to expect (not least as I knew I would be quizzed on my knowledge of the F214 and F215 charts available from the Aviation Met Office, as well as NOTAMs).  It was therefore slightly frustrating to see bright sunshine on my way up from Cornwall, and to hear from other members of more bright sunshine on the way down from Torquay, and on the way up on Plymouth, to arrive at the club in heavy mist.  Still this being Dartmoor the weather can change very quickly so the gliders were wheeled out in anticipation.

K13 launching into a low cloudbase

I was indeed quizzed on the weather charts and I think I even managed to persuade Don that I half understood what I was talking about when interpreting the information and abbreviations.  Don even helped me with some of the abbreviations and I now know that BR is officially Mist, otherwise known as Baby Rain, also that GR is officially Hail (5 mm or more in diameter), otherwise known as a Granite Rain.  Thanks Don :)  Of equal use was Dave Parker (and I don't get to write that phrase very often) who showed me how to check the weather charts and NOTAMs on my smart phone, giving me no excuses in future.

Darren gets a briefing

Anyway onto the flying, the cloud base was not increasing so Don saw this as a great opportunity for some practice low-level launch failures with Dave Parker and myself initially bearing the brunt of his enthusiasm.  When the South cable of the Gus launch decided to jam itself up for a couple of hours we knew that this would not be the busiest day of the year.  However Don then had one of his brainwaves - what to do with his new Cloud Flying Endorsement and examiner status?  There was only one answer as young Peter Clifford first found out, followed by the likes of Darren Wills and Roger Appleboom - to fly where no one had flown before on Dartmoor, straight into cloud to practice recovery procedures, which he did very successfully and to everybody's great satisfaction.

Well I'm ready where is Don? Darren thinking about the flight ahead

The Junior section.

In the meantime young Andrew Swann continued his solo flying in the K8 with 3 short, but perfectly executed, circuits, and grandfather Mike continued his own training with Don as well as continuing to pop up and help out whenever somebody was needed.  Michael Larkin was the final beneficiary of some short circuits before the cloud base finally got too low around 3:30 PM.  Luke missed out on some flying yet again so better luck next week and hope to see you at the club nice and early.

Mike Larkin on final approach with Don in the K13

Whilst all this was going on our winch master, Rick, had managed to sneak away on a Sunday to give some valuable winch training to Roger and Dave, who have been successfully signed off on Gus, and myself who will need to get a few more flights under my belt before also being signed off - Darren you are next in line!!!
So from an inauspicious start we actually all agreed that this was a fabulous day's training and thank you Don for your efforts in putting together a slightly unusual and invaluable day

Jerry Wellington

Dartmoor Gliding News – Saturday 15th March2014

Part of the life of a glider pilot is given over to monitoring weather and soaring forecasts and this is no different for me. I had been monitoring the potential forecasts for today since last Wednesday. The atmospheric soundings were strongly suggesting wave. Sharp inversion ( less than 2000 feet above sea level in this case ), wind strength increasing with height but maintaining a constant direction, north westerly in this case.

The atmospheric sounding for 1pm Saturday showing the inversion, increasing windspeed with height, and a fairly constant wind direction. It also suggests very little in the way of cloud cover

North westerly? Surely Dartmoor Gliding only gets wave in easterlies? Only one way to find out; off to the airfield. The sky was full of wave clouds, lenticulars, wave bars, etc. There was a complete absence of the signs thermal activity. That strong inversion and high pressure is responsible for that.

Henry in the K13 with instructor Ged with Stefi in attendance

Henry and Ged about to commit aviation into a dramatic sky

There was a full training programme with junior Henry Flower working towards solo, Stefi Guiu working towards her General Flying test, old hands Jeff Cragg and John Blaskett working towards solo after their winter layoff, Rick Wiles and Mike Jardine working towards an air experience flying rating.

What cloud there was showed an extensive wave system

So, did they find the wave. Well, yes they did. It did not go very high. Less than 2000 feet. Flights of half an hour were common place and the wave bar was aligned with our north ridge so access was easy from a winch launch. Longest flight of the day was by recently solo junior, Andrew Swann, who logged 36 minutes in the K8. He is making a habit of doing this.

The view from the K8 taken by Andrew looking down on the local cloudscape

My only regret was that I had not rigged my own aircraft so that I could have used it’s extra performance to explore the local area properly. Easy to be wise after the event. I should have learned that lesson years ago.

Elsewhere around the airfield the testing of the winches continues. The bad news is that the ML winch is still unacceptably down on power. The diesel fitter with be summoned again. The good news is that the Guslaunch winch brakes are now working and it is back to two drum operation. Some work was being done at the hangar to the roller to make it heavier.

The instructors look cosy at the Mary Tavy Inn.
Missing from the photo was Bob Pirie who was on family duties, Martin Cropper with car troubles
and me behind the camera.

At the end of flying, after the kit was put away, the instructors made a quick exit to the Mary Tavy Inn for their periodic meeting. This went on well into the evening but was not really much hardship in the convivial surroundings. Great choice of venue Don.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News–Wednesday 12th March 2014

Earlier hopes of wave-producing easterlies were thwarted, and my drive down from north Cornwall was in thick fog and near-freezing temperatures. However, I arrived to find bright sunshine, and was encouraged by the number of members who had made the effort to get there early and get the kit out (and as the day progressed, some privately-owned gliders as well).

Open Cirrus and Astir basking in the sunshine behind G-DDAK

At the airfield, this first spring-like day inspired some opening of trailers, polishing of gliders and fiddling with instruments. Meanwhile every farmer in the west country (except our own Phil the Farmer , who came gliding) seemed to be engaged in spreading a full winter's worth of cow dung across their fields. (Some of the roads got a bit slithery too.) This 'spreadathon' included the top field at Brentor, with the farmer depositing aromatic bi-product less than half a span from the west end launch point, from which we were operating. With the wind varying from zero to 'light airs' from various directions, we found ourselves downwind of the fallout for much of the day - but at least it helped to clear our sinuses.

Farmer at work

After the worst winter mud anyone can recall, we found that the airfield had started to dry out beautifully, which made life on the ground  much more bearable. But now the challenge is to start rolling and filling in the ruts and holes left over by the winter weather and the club's energetic efforts to keep the show on the road year-round. Some of the longer-serving members present today observed that whereas in the old days members all pitched in to help maintain the surface of the airfield and tracks, in 2014 this just doesn't seem to happen - and the results are there for us all to see (and sometimes feel when we land).

Vice Chairman Colin with tractor and roller.

 Phil Hardwick and Colin Boyd seem to be leading the charge to improve matters. As ever, there are plenty of bright ideas from members about what needs to be done - but what these guys need now is actual help from us all actually to get the job done.

The 3 musketeers and a K8.
Wednesday stalwarts John Howe and Steve Raine with Field Treasurer David Rippon in the Glider  

But back to today's report. The weather warmed up beautifully, to the extent that many of us were in shirt-sleeves - although no one went as far as exposing their knees. However with high pressure and an inversion, visibility remained pretty awful the whole time.

One of our Astir syndicates. Phil Hardwick attended by Andrew Beaumont

The combination of our temporary single-cable operation and no thermals or wave meant that we only had one glider in the air at a time, which worked out just fine given the weather conditions. Today we achieved 30 launches.

Today's Air Experience visitor, Bill Reade

Having only a single cable has encouraged us all to strive for greater efficiency in the way we operate, and I believe it is important that we build on this when the ML winch comes back on line, hopefully in the near future.

With the first hint of Spring, members seldom-seen during the winter start to reappear. From an instructor's perspective, today consisted of an encouraging balance of 'returnees', ab initio trainees, solo pilots of club aircraft who have strived all winter to maintain their currency, and private-owners who take the challenge of being really current in their own gliders seriously, and were getting in some launches and stick-time as they prepared for expeditions or competitions at other clubs.

But although those present today focused determinedly on their personal gliding objectives, everyone engaged in flying operations worked very hard and with good humour, and ended the day knackered, but hopefully satisfied with what the day had delivered.

Jeff Cragg back in the saddle 

Highlights? Firstly, Jeff Cragg - having ended last season with a big birthday - getting back in the saddle, with a return to solo flying surely only a few launches away. Secondly, John Howe, after a bit of a layoff, returning to solo status. And finally, Karl Andrews, who soloed the weekend before last, doing some more today in the K13 - and then progressing to the K8.

Karl looks pleased to be in the K8

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News – Sunday 9th March 2014

  Sunday was another day where threat and error management revealed that flexibility and patience would be required, and were delivered with an addition dollop of teamwork. 

Threat and Error management at work. The CFI takes a launch in the K8

The ongoing problems with the ML winch inexplicably losing power, despite running to full revs following fit of its reconditioned injector unit, were subject to a threat error test by Don in the K-8, our lightest glider, the outcome of which was emphatic: the power loss was dramatic, approximately 10 seconds into the launch, in spite of full throttle being applied.  Mitigation of the threat was by 'Termination', i.e.. to stop using the ML and fallback onto the Guslaunch as the vehicle of choice for the day.

That was where the teamwork came in as, with only one drum in operation, this meant a pretty constant shuttle for the retrieve driver plus a slick operation at each end of the airfield to ensure that the maximum launch rate was achieved.  It was very fortunate that we had David Jesty on hand to instruct, despite his snowboarding injury, for the flying list consisted of at least three juniors, all keen to get into the air, plus regulars Roger Appleboom, David Parker Colin Boyd and Allan Holland.  And with a wind just east of south and a clear sky beckoning, why not? 

K7M G-DDAK takes another launch

Sadly the much anticipated wave did not materialise, but with both K-13s on hand we did manage to get through the flying list and pack the gliders away with a sense that everyone had made their contribution to making the day a success, so far as was possible and safely practicable.  Let's hope the mechanical genies can work their magic on the ML for Wednesday: there's an Easterly forecast!

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News – Saturday 8th March 2014

The forecast gave a sunny mostly blue sky day with a strengthening, gusty south, south east wind. This and the fact that the day started with low cloud and mist kept a lot of the Saturday regulars away.

Stefi polishing a canopy repair. Don looks on 

Undeterred Don Puttock arranged a canopy sanding and polishing workshop with Mike Gadd and Stefi Guiu. They were working on the couple of repairs to the 2 seater canopies. This is starting to show real promise. Well done and thank you.

Visitor Heidi Mayroher gets some family support while waiting to fly

Visitor John Hayward finally managed to fly after several earlier bookings were scuppered by the weather.

Eventually we had enough members to fly and spurred on by the arrival of a couple of visitors, the newly repaired ML winch was positioned at the east end. This did not perform as we had hoped but Don coped well with the somewhat erratic launching and we managed to put together a flying programme to fly the e air experience visitors, David Parker's family visitors and let Stefi Guiu and Mike Jardine to test their skills against the lively approaches.

David Parker's family visitors.

Canadian glider pilot Zak Morgan

Amanda Parker

Mana Longmire

While we were flying the committee held a meeting in the clubhouse but even this could not generate a thermal to increase Don's entertainment.

So, the day turned out well considering the trials and tribulations and ended in traditional fashion in the clubhouse. Ray, the diesel fitter, will be back on Wednesday to adjust the ML winch.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News – Wednesday 5th March 2014

For those enthusiasts who turn up rain or shine each week, Brentor Wednesdays are always a bit special. But although today might be described as 'extra-special' - it being both Ash Wednesday and St Piran's Day (St. P. being the patron saint of Cornwall) - operationally and weather-wise everything was very similar to a week ago.

We started the day with clear blue skies and our customary crosswind and, as the day went on, the first hints of (sadly unproductive) cumulus deteriorated into practically total cloud cover and life got colder. As per last week we still had to contend with a muddy airfield and only a single working drum on the Guslaunch winch. But by the time the ten or so of us present had all flown, we were prompted to call a respectably early halt to proceedings as shivering set in and the winch ran out of fuel.

The passing cumulus teased rather that delivered

 Not a great day for soaring, with John Bolt scraping the longest flight of just 11 minutes, but we all enjoyed some fresh air and exercise - plus a few laughs. And most of us helped to demolish some 'hand-crafted' (?) doughnuts provided by John Rogers. Although bad for the waistline, at least they helped to fortify us for the coming privations of Lent. Aircraft-wise, we campaigned just the K13 and K8, with the K7(M) held in reserve at the launch point and remaining mud-free. In addition to all the efforts of solo pilots to stay current, Jorg Beasley and John Rogers made real progress towards safe and elegant cross-wind circuits and landings.

Some of the Wednesday gang.
From the left Bob Pirie, John Bolt, Allan Holland, John Howe, John Rogers
Far right is David Rippon sporting a more sensible hat than last week.

So a good day at the sharp-end, but not a bad one 'back at base' either.

For starters, Don Puttock had worked wonders with fettling the cockpit canopies of both two-seaters, which are now useable and safe, but which will benefit from a polishing session being planned for this weekend.
Vice-Chairman Colin ('D'Artagnan') Boyd was on-site early to discuss fencing matters with a specialist contractor, and to meet with a diesel mechanic who had arrived to fit the expensively-but-professionally renovated fuel pump back onto the ML winch.

Colin and Ged getting covered in grease while fitting new wheel bearings.

Little was seen out on the airfield of my fellow instructors, Ged Nevisky and Steve Lewis, because they spent an amazingly productive day resolving technical issues. Both of them, assisted by Colin worked wonders in restoring the collapsed cable retrieve trailer to working order, but probably the most welcome news of all was that thanks in no small measure Ray the diesel mechanic, the engine of the ML winch had been fired up successfully. Therefore things look promising for a two-cable operation this weekend.

Completed cable trailer with 2 wheels and new bearings.

While I made my excuses and left early to indulge in St.Piran's celebrations this evening at our local pub in North Cornwall, a stalwart band of washers and brushers set about washing off what seemed like half of Dartmoor from the underside of our hard-working gliders.

Bob Pirie

Dartmoor Gliding News – Sunday 2nd March 2014

Having read about all the successful flying that our fellow members have been enjoying the last couple of weeks, the Sunday Soarers turned up full of hope and expectation of once again launching into spectacular skies full of fluffy cumulus, thermals or perhaps could we catch some good wave flying to shake off our damp cobwebs.

Dave Parker seems fascinated by woodcutter Puttock

 However the reality of another wet and windy Dartmoor soon kicked in and of the major activity of the day, designed to work off the calories of another hearty Sunday Soarers breakfast, was to attack the large pile of wood that has littered the parking area for several months and to convert this into suitable sized fuel for the wood burner.  Health and safety seemed to go out of the window once Don had adopted his role of Chief Cutter on the circular saw; thankfully the only item that was cut in addition to the wood was a small piece of Don's glove and he was soon able to retire to the clubhouse to begin his usual role of lecturer.

But Jerry just couldn't watch

I was 'persuaded' to have a go at the next part of my own exams and went through NOTAM's as well as weather forecasting (mind you, the forecasting was a waste of time as I only needed to put my head out of the window and could have told him that the weather was awful!!!)  A cloud flying lecture was then lined up for the benefit of our safety officer, Dave Jesty, whilst the rest of the Soarers adopted their usual Sunday pastime of listening in whilst drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Roger and Dave were at least able to give Roger's trailer a good clean ready for his forthcoming expedition to Talgarth to experience the delights of ridge soaring.

We are looking forward to some sun.

Jerry Wellington

Jerry Wellington

Dartmoor Gliding News–Saturday 1st March 2014

Blue skies, light SW breeze backing to southerly later. There was even enough warmth in the day to suggest that spring really is on the way. Great.

There was a full complement of trainee and pre-licence pilots to occupy CFI Don and the K13 all day. The K7m G-DDAK was out ready for some air experience flying and the K8 entertained the solo pilots.

Karl awaits his first solo flight. Excellent 

Big news of the day was a first solo flight by Karl Andrews. Well done Karl; a major step towards your licence completed.  He and the other recent solo pilots were all presented with glider pilot wings by Don. It remains to be seen where they will wear them.

Stapling it to your forehead  may well sting a little bit Stefi

Andrew thought he may need to grow a bit to wear it on his chest

Another highlight today was our growing cadre of junior pilots. They kept themselves busy around the launch point, and they certainly kept the aircraft busy. They are a great asset to the club and fun to have around.

Peter with Andrew in the K8 

Stefi watches a soaring glider.

Peter and Don watching a glider in circuit 

The day remained soarable for several hours and enabled our visitor Simon Daniels to experience a couple of soaring flights with instructors Steve Lewis and Ged Nevisky. He is keen to return for some more and begin his flying training. Longest flight of the day was 28 minutes by our youngest solo pilot Andrew Swann in the K8 but most pilots managed some soaring.

Visitor Simon Daniels with instructor Steve Lewis in K7M G-DDAK

Elsewhere, John Bolt  along with Mike Jardine and Steve Raine completed the ARC renewal and C of A on the Astir. Showing great determination to get a job completed, pilot Ray Swinfield made a special effort to come to the airfield specially to check out the Pirat trailer, getting it ready for the coming cross country season. He completed checking out and fixing the electrics so it now has a full compliment of lights, all of which are working. The Pirat trailer fixtures have been rounded up and are in the trailer. We all owe him our thanks.

K8 returns to the hangar at the end of the day

So, lots going on today, all completed with good humour and not a little banter. As has become a tradition the day ended with a beer and chat in the clubhouse in front of a roaring log burner.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News – Wednesday 26th February 2014

Faith in the forecasters' predication that early showers would dissipate (or at least become 'occasional') encouraged a dozen or so regulars to set aside thoughts of tea and log fires to get the show on the road early(ish). But one of our first tasks, while the winch was being prepared and gliders DI'd, was to help Andrew and Phil roll their trailer down to the hangar for that glider's annual inspection by our senior engineer, John Bolt.

For most of the day the sun shone and sufficient cumulus appeared occasionally to keep us interested -  if not airborne. But as has been the case for the whole of the winter, the main challenge was the fence-to-fence mud which, combined with some much rawer air that rolled in during the afternoon, was a real challenge to our resilience.

The cloud bases remained low most of the day but offered some entertainment for the pilots

 We started and continued the day using just two gliders; DAK with me instructing and the Zugvogel which Steve Lewis once again persuaded us to excavate from the back of the hangar. Apart from a brief 'hop' to test the airs, Steve spent the whole time on the ground, running the launch point and helping to keep spirits up. He had plenty of experienced helpers - the usual crowd, so I won't name them all - but two of our most determined ab initio students, John Rogers and Jorg Beasley, deserve a special mention. Thankfully they managed to get some air-time today, but otherwise they worked hard and competently along with the rest of the team.

Many hands make light work.
Bob Pirie, Phil Hardwick, and David Rippon (he must be wearing that hat for a bet).

Throughout the day DAK was kept busy with refresher flights and pre-solo training for Jorg and John. Meanwhile practically everyone had a trip in the Zug, with Robin Wilson achieving the longest flight of 12 minutes. (At this time of year we must be grateful for small mercies!)

Today's "ace" Robin Wilson waiting for a launch in the Zugvogel

With only one winch cable available, a slick launching and retrieving operation was needed - and delivered - and by the time the late pm drop in temperature persuaded us all that gliding was longer fun, we had achieved 20 or so launches plus a couple of cable breaks. As with last Saturday, this again proves that even with a single cable, provided members get their act together, and provided there's a sensible ratio of gliders and people to operate them, a satisfying day's flying is achievable. Had we had more gliders out on the muddy field today, it would have been chaos.

Apart from couple of instances late pm when the subtle wind-shift from south west to south caught out pilots and cables fell over the fence, the aftermath of one cable break caused us concern for a while. Having retrieved the cable and parachute from among the gorse on the north slope of the hill, when the team returned to the launch point it was discovered that Phil the Farmer was missing. A search by glider and ground team was initiated, but he then reappeared having been attending to some other task, so all's well that ends well.

One additional bit of good news. Apparently while we were all at the far end of the field, Colin Boyd dropped in at the clubhouse to deliver a new vario for the K8.

A really worthwhile day with a great group of people - but there must surely be an end to all this mud, cold and damp soon.

Bob Pirie