Dartmoor Gliding News- ICL 2019 The Park

13th & 14th  July 2019

The weather forecast was showing a mixed bag, but Sunday was always going to be the better day. As DGS pilots are such a hardy bunch we (Roger Appleboom In Club Libelle ,Andy Davey in std Libelle and myself in Discus w ) all arrived before 930am for the Saturday club briefing.

We then proceeded to rig our gliders and generally fiddle with our gliders. (And put up tents/mansions to sleep in )

The task briefing was carried out by local club pundit at the park Phil. The weather was presented and we were given a window of flying opportunity at about 4-5pm. In the end it was a challenge just to stay airborne never mind go on a task. The Day was scrubbed, but not until we exhausted the last opportunity it might be a good Saturday for local flying.

That night the gliders put to bed , some with swanky new covers(Andy) ,some left out rigged to catch a possible shiver from the night air!(me). We all adjourned to the pub in Mere for tea,where we were joined by Henry from Mendip GC. The usual good food , poor banter and small amount of alcohol followed!

Sunday-

All set again , bad news was the forecast gave possible morning showers , good news,they never materialised so the heating process happened quicker than Saturday giving a soaring window between 1pm and about 5pm

Cloud base was still low. 3000ft at best, and making the flying a little defensive was the added issue that DGS members aren’t used to ..... crop fields EVERYWHERE. For some reason not many were cut, good land-out options were limited to small airfields or large runways if air traffic control was feeling welcoming on the radio.

Andy waiting to take to the sky 

In the event Andy was set a 54km triangle on the novice task.The task setting kept them close to the park and Andy did a sterling job of getting around it on his first attempt ,at a very respectable 60min

By the looks of this Andy likes the ICL weekends

The Pundits were set 101km Park-Salisbury south-Blandford-Park

It was interesting flying with cloud bases varying 1000ft. Funny thing , it always seemed to be 2000ft over the task turn points.I completed in 1h20.

But what of the 3rd musketeer I hear you ask, in the intermediate class ?

Roger - cable on - one for all and all for one

Roger took three winch launches and connected on the third. By this time he decided to enjoy the flying in a beautiful part of the country and ‘wandered’ down the first leg towards Sailbury South a little way ,before assessing the chance of a land out was getting high at this time of day. It therefore turned the flight into one of his legendary ‘I went for a wander’ around Wiltshire.

Congratulations go to Andy on his first cross country, and his first inter club league. It’s fair to say his was a little nervous about what he was letting himself in for. By close of play Sunday he was sighed up to enjoy the next ICL in August! If you are in any doubt and want to come along but have any trepidation, just talk to Andy when you see him next.

We all landed within an hour of each other and helped everyone de-rig . We were all on the road home by 5pm.

What is amazing ,is what you can pack into a weekend off. Mixed with time to relax , time to socialise, talk gliding , eat food and drink. Oh and we had a few x countries, and a few local soaring hours. What’s not to like.

How FAR will it be next time ?

And will you be there?


Richard Roberts

Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 7th July 2019

Just Enough, Just in Time? You betcha. Today’s lean manned team not only managed to deliver soaring flights for all our members, but also aviation to a variety of visitors.

Roger Green and Neil Rogers take to the skies in the K-13.

Instructor Peter Howarth launching for a 45 minute flight in the K-8.

A gentle north-westerly provided benign conditions, but a slate grey pavement of cloud prevented the sun from providing consistent heat to the ground and hence soaring could not be guaranteed. When the sun did break through, however, its heat was rapidly put to effect, enabling Roger Appleboom to bag flight of the day in mid-afternoon with a 1 hr 10 min flight to 3,300ft. But let’s rewind to the morning, when visitor Jacqueline Wilding-White delivered surprise of the day by producing her Log Book, which showed her to be a Silver ‘C’ holder from 1994. A swift climb to 1,500ft was sufficient to allow her to demonstrate that she hadn’t lost her touch, despite the 25-year gap – who says those skills are perishable..?!

Visitor Jacqueline Wilding-White, from Newton Abbott.

BI Roger Green later flew with visiting pair Alan Britton and Martin Yeo, whilst privateer Leith Whittington gave his Dart 17R its final few soaring flights before ARC (it being rumoured that this superb piece of English engineering might soon be available on the market…)

Visitor Alan Britton is shown the controls by BI Roger Green.

Visitors Alan Britton and Martin Yeo from Bude are presented with their certificates by Roger Green.

Highlight of the day had to be when it appeared that the streets of Plymouth had been emptied with the arrival of visitor Grandad Neil Rogers, accompanied by his (two Range Rover Discoveries filling) entire family. To make the event even more memorable, he was treated to a cable break on his second launch, adeptly handled by Roger.

The Rogers family take a keen interest whilst Grandad Neil is briefed for his flight.

The Rogers family, from Plymouth, in full.

To round off the day, we sent Ed Borlase aloft in the K-8 for a 30-minute (minus one) flight, reaching almost 3,000ft.

Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News-Wednesday 10th July 2019

Early arrivals were hard at work removing the fence and moving the winch into the top field. As others arrived the gliders were taken out of the hangar and readied to tow to the east end. With the forecast of light W/WSW winds and RASP giving 3.5 stars for early afternoon we took both K13’s and two K8’s to the launch point.

First flight was a test flight of DMX following completion of the recent ARC. All went well and it was cleared for service
.

Both K13’s at the launch point.

We welcomed one day course student Chris Down. After a briefing in the clubhouse by Roger Green it was time to get acquainted with HXP.

Chris and Roger ready to fly.

Early flights by Roger/Chris and Martin Cropper in the K8 showed that there was lift available despite the high cloud cover. Chris enjoyed 5 flights, 1:37 and had plenty of hands on the control time.

Our other visitor was 85 year old Basil Hulatt who had been given the trial flights for a birthday present.

Basil getting ready to fly with me.

The grid became rather crowded with the arrival of private aircraft. Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus), Andy Davey (Zugvogel) and Phil Hardwick (Astir).

Our other trainees John Smith and David Archer flew with Martin and myself improving their skills ready to solo in the near future. Also occupying the front seat was Barry Green. Some power failures and launch failures gave him chance to sharpen his flying ready to go solo soon.

After recently being cleared to fly solo, both Bob Sansom and Robin Wilson were allowed to fly the K8. Both achieved extended flights of 23 and 21 minutes respectively. Bob’s first flight was a cable break which was well flown.

Bob back in the K8 (sorry no photo of Robin)

The airfield and Black Down

Other notable flights were Steve 2:11, Andy 1:33, Malcolm 1:03, Hugh 1:00 and Martin 0:36.

Thank you to Heather who retrieved all day. Also thanks to winch drivers and all helpers for a good day flying.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 6th July 2019

We are still under the influence of high pressure. There are fronts crossing the country to the north but they are thankfully far enough away not to spoil our day. There is some evidence of this in the sky with some pre frontal "wave" looking clouds and a threat of high cirrus to damp down the sun's warmth. The RASP forecast gave some soaring possibilities early in the day but abruptly cutting off in the afternoon. ( spreadout?). The wind was light from the NW, strengthening later and veering a little further to the north.

Looking south under an uninspiring sky

Today we were missing a few Saturday stalwarts. Scratch and Rick are in North Hill checking out a possible winch purchase and DMX was off line having the last of it's CofA work done. But the remaining members were keen to get going with the first launch at 10.30. The club aircraft K13 HXP with both of the K8's were joined at the launch point by the Twin Astir, Open Cirrus and Zugvogel 3B from the private fleet.

Karon Marren 

Karon's husband Chris climbing well

Right from the off there was some soaring to be had. The conditions though were best described as difficult. There were very narrow, elusive thermal bubbles that were not at all organised until above about 1800 feet which led to the low cloudbase at 2300 feet. As the afternoon wore on this became more and more difficult.

Looking down at the launch point while soaring over the north ridge.

But the DGS pilots were up to the challenge. Andy Davey in the Zugvogel 3B had the longest flight of the day at 2 hours 21 minutes making great use of the new variometer. Other notable flights were Steve Fletcher in the Open Cirrus 1 hour 53 minutes and Joe Nobbs in the K8 1 hour 23 minutes.

One Day Course candidate Rita Smith ready to fly with me.

Was the K13 left out of this revelry? Not at all. One Day Course candidate Rita Smith and I had a couple of good soaring flights of 55 and 43 minutes during which Rita made a good start at mastering the controls and is very keen to visit us again soon. Our other visitor today was Simon Jeffrey enjoyed a short soaring flight with Mike Jardine to complete his Introductory Flight.

Sim on Jeffrey with Mike Jardine

Late afternoon the wanderers returned and Scratch and Rick both managed to get a flight in.

Our thanks to all the helpers.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 30th June 2019

Ed Borlase’s view westward over Discus V5 gives a feel for the day.

A light north-westerly with some promise in the afternoon was the forecast on RASP; and so it turned out to be.

Stephen Morris receives his certificate from BI Rich Roberts.

Tracey Leaper enjoying as joke with Instructor Peter Howarth.

The two Petes: Visitor Pete Barnes is ready to fly with Instructor Peter Howarth.

Our visitors were Steve Morris, who flew with recently qualified BI Rich Roberts, Tracey Leaper who flew with Peter Howarth, Graham Simmons and Roger Croot who flew with Martin Cropper, and finally the two Petes: Pete Barnes and Pete Howarth, who flew for almost 15 mins to claim two-seat flight of the day. That honour for single seat flying went to Rich Roberts, in his Discus, who claimed 35 mins. Single seat flight of the day went to Ed Borlase who, at 36 mins, sneaked in a minute more than Rich Roberts in his Discus.

Graham Simmons receiving his pre-flight brief from Martin Cropper.

Robin Wilson (fwd) and Phil Hardwick (aft) almost ready for the off in the Twin Astir.

 Martin Cropper

Dartmoor Gliding News - Richard's 492 km

Wednesday 4th July 2019

New out and return (almost) distance record set from Dartmoor Gliding Society.

Nothing worse than declaring a x-country and doing a five minute circuit around the airfield so..... I have got into the habit of trying to keep a low profile about what I am doing . In the morning weather/safety brief each day I say I’m going x-country and leave it at that.

I had planned the task at home a few days prior.

Tasks were -

A- Bicester 512km
OR
B-301km to Chicklade in Wiltshire

The day looked to be good on arrival at the club. With small bits of cumulus forming about 10am,my only worry was ,would it go blue late in the day making it hard to get back to Dartmoor.
The issue with a big task out and return is that you have to have good soarable weather over a massive area. (Remembering we live in the U.K. this only happens a few times a year, let alone the south west with water on three sides.

With the glider stocked with all the equipment, food,drink and task A programmed into the Oudie and flight computer I launched at 1215.

Low down conditions were broken and hard work but above 2800 feet QNH was much easier. I took one climb to 3800ft and went through the start line. Conditions were good until about Taunton when the climbs were a little slower.

Push on I thought, if the forecast were to be believed it will get better the further into the country you get.

Cloud-base was definitely 1000ft higher.

I found better thermals slightly south of track (4-6knot average) and that took me over Glastonbury

The aftermath of Glastonbury festival 2019

I continued into the 10 knot headwind and stayed relatively high so to avoid any low points this far out. I then routed over the north side of Swindon as it looked like it had much more sun on the ground.

The metropolis that is Swindon

Listening to the aircraft radio while on a x-country can be a double edge sword. You get information about weather condition around the country if you want it or not! At this point a few pilots were talking about areas blueing out and a few saying they only had 80 km or 120 km to run to finish the tasks they were on.
NOT what I wanted to hear at 3.30 pm still on the way to my turn point 257 km from home

Good old dad was the plan C for the day (Landing out and having to de-rig the glider and trailer back home)

Due to my previous planning I had a rough idea using the RASP software I would need to round the Bicester turn point at 330-4pm to have a chance of getting back. I managed to turn at about 4.15 pm

It’s then I felt how far away I was from my home club. But......positive mind set required at this point, I now had a 10 knot tailwind helping me.

Bicester airfield from the south west looking north east

The route back was much the same but the gaps between the clouds seemed to be getting bigger. I started to think about the amount of energy left in the day and what speed I had to fly. It’s funny how lack of day makes you want to fly faster but the security you get from being high makes you want to fly at max glide. This results in procrastination at every opportunity, you know what you should do but it’s hard to put speed on and throw the height away you just gained.

The sky with flatter clouds - still a long way to go

So back into Somerset I took a detour just at the end of the Mendip gliding club ridge. Looking ahead at the sky and the Somerset levels I did consider landing, using the club as an option I pushed west and contacted a good climb. By my calculations it gave me a good chance of making Devon and Somerset gliding club so I pushed on.

Same when I got there at 6.15 pm , using them as an option I pushed west, found a climb and worked out how far I could get. The sky really was looking very soft by now and I thought this could be the last glide straight into a field. Still the road retrieve for my dad would be shorter at least.

I got a weak climb around Tiverton and flew to just northeast of Okehampton. This really was the last throws of the day as it was now after 7 pm!!! Half a knot climb here 1 knot there. I got to a height that gave me final glide but no margin for error and no circuit height. I knew with a north easterly there was likely to be sink in the way back and the land out options are not that great if your are low and rushing the decision. So with a field selected I had one last search for a climb that just prolonged the agony.

Wheel down , checks sorted, in I go. Landed and safe rang for a retrieve. I walked to the nearest house (google maps makes this so much easier than when I first started flying) found the owner first time and the husband and wife were very welcoming and said they had another glider land a few fields away several years ago from Brentor!!!  I pointed out the must mean they have very nice fields for us to all land in them.

Friendly farmer just north of Okehampton, great field, decaying sky

Below are the highlights from the BGA ladder information

492km flown (my furthest flight - yes it did feel like a long way)

7h on task 7h 25m in the air (my longest flight)

Oh and a new club record!!


My biggest points on the BGA ladder (check out https://www.bgaladder.net and join in. )


Yes it did feel a very long way

Thanks to all the helpers but especially Pete Howarth for taking on my instructor duty for the day to release me for what we saw as an epic day, and my Dad for the support, tracking me on spot the glider, sandwiches and tea on landing and retrieve driving to get me.

Home by 11.00 pm

Just EPIC.......

Note to self - Next time take off 30 min earlier, fly faster, land back at Dartmoor. But what’s 8 km between friends?

Richard Roberts

Dartmoor Gliding News-Wednesday 3rd July 2019

Arriving early at the airfield, Richard Roberts and Hugh Gasgoyne were hard at work removing the fence and changing ends ready to fly. At the morning brief, all forecasts were indicating a good day. Richard added to this that it looked like an epic day, so it was full ahead rigging private gliders and towing club aircraft to the launch point at the west end. Richard also declared his intention to attempt a 500km out and return to Bicester.

We were lucky today to have Martin Cropper at the field. This enabled Richard to be excused duties as BI for the expected one day course and concentrate his preparations for his declared task. More news on this will form a separate blog.

We achieved first launch at 10:03 which was Robin Wilson with me in the K13. A simulated power failure and a second well flown launch failure cleared him for solo or flying P1 in the twin Astir. While we were flying our One Day Course visitor Tria Raffield arrived and Martin gave her the introductory briefing. After showing her around the K13 we went for her first three flights during which we went through the primary effects of controls and she got her hands on the controls.

Tria ready to start her flying

A busy grid was forming and between 12:00 and 13:00 we managed to launch Phil Hardwick/Martin Broadway (twin Astir), Richard Roberts (Discus), Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus), Andy Davey (Zugvogel), Roger Green (ASW20) and Hugh Gasgoyne (K8). All were soon soaring away.

Richard before leaving for Bicester

The Twin Astir returned after 1:31 and was soon off again with Phil and Malcolm Roberts on board. Martin took over the K13 and flew with John O’Connell. Two flights of 21 and 25 minutes gave him plenty airtime. A demonstration of approach control gave him chance to put this into practice on the next flights.

John doing his checks (It’s not that bad Martin).

With all aircraft staying aloft, the second K8 was brought from the hangar and Malcolm Wilton-Jones promptly took off and stayed away for his statutory one hour.

Tria was now ready for her second set of flights. Two soaring flights of 17 minutes and 13 minutes gave her plenty of time on the controls and by the end of her flights she was making coordinated turns. She left with a smile on her face, 1 hour and 7 minutes airtime and a promise that she will try and return. We hope to see her again soon.

After waiting patiently all day, Bob Sansom jumped into the front seat of the K13. After a 13 minute flight, a power failure and a cable break, he was allowed to fly the K13 solo. He promptly disappeared for 29 minutes, taking off at 18:54. Well done Bob.

Hats various were the order of the day

Barry Green had a 14 minute flight with me as he continues on the road to hopefully go re-solo soon.

Barry and Bob putting the world to rights.

Ed’s view from the K6

Martin returning in the K8

Other notable flights of the day were:-
Steve Fletcher Open Cirrus 2 hour 14 minutes
Andy Davey Zugvogel 3 hour 45 minutes
Roger Green ASW20 2 hour 55 minutes
Hugh Gasgoyne K8 1 hour 16 minutes
Malcolm W-J K8 0 hour 59 minutes
Allan Holland K8 1 hour
Ed Borlase K6 1 hour 11 minutes
Martin Cropper K8 1 hour 6 minutes
David Westcott K6 0 hour 44 minutes
Phil/Malcolm Astir 1 hour 31 minutes
Martin/Robin Astir 1 hour 5 minutes

So, some statistics for the day. 35 flights. Total air-time 31 hours 35 minutes. Average per flight time 54 minutes. First take-off 10:03. Last take-off 18:54.

How about Richard Roberts I hear you say. I will leave that story to his own report of the day. Was it an epic day, I will leave that for you all to decide, but it was a long and enjoyable day.

Thank you to Heather who retrieved most of the day and to all winch drivers and helpers who made the day. Thanks to Ed for the photos.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 29th June 2019

The forecast for today was for low cloud and poor visibility- this was a puzzle- in Plymouth, 17 miles away, on the coast the sky was endlessly blue. The wind was gentle. Keen to make the best of the day A K13 was fielded with one of the K8's.

Poor visibility with the predicted low cloud, 

We welcome 2 visitors toady. Mick Halls, today's One Day Course Candidate and Craig Hinchcliffe who is learning to fly at North Hill but spent the day with us with his wife as they was camping nearby and decided that exploring Dartmoor wouldn't be complete without a visit to us.

DSGC visitor Craig Hinchcliffe

One day course candidate Mick Halls

Initially the sky was just overcast with 8/8th cloud with a few lower clouds scudding by but as the day wore on the cloudbase lowered and by 1pm a halt had to be called to the flying. After waiting foir an improvement which never came the gliders were put away after the K13 had a tyre and tube change.

looking down at pockets of cloud from 1300 feet

While flying was curtailed Phill and Rick took the opportunity to make some repairs to the mower and attach it to the green tractor. Mowing seems to be a full time job at the moment.

The cloudbase continued to lower and by 5pm was at the top of the trees. This obscured the view of the Red Arrows as they flew by after their display in the beautifully clear conditions. We heard them go by to the east but had no view at all..

Better next week? I hope so.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News- Malcolm's wave flight. Wednesday 26th June 2019

The day started as forecast with a light NE wind and low cloud, so low that the airfield was effectively at cloudbase. The forecast was for an improvement in the afternoon but with a strengthening wind.

After lunch the sun appeared briefly and then a clearance appeared to the east so we prepared the Ka-8 and Ka-13 as we had a couple of students and a couple of visitors. We started with the Ka-13 at 2:23 pm with a stationary cloud upwind of the airfield, heavy sink over the winch and rotor over the approach and circuits were just 3 minutes wiih one for 4 minutes so the Ka-8 pilots were all reluctant to fly, although a couple elected to fly in the Ka-13 with Peter. The last of these was Phil Hardwick just after 5 pm and he turned north at the top of the launch and it was immediately clear to those on the ground that they had contacted wave.

Alan called from the winch and suggested we get the Ka-8 out which we did but waited for Peter to land as Alan did not want to fly himself.. I had also not wanted to fly but as the conditions had obviously improved and I was next out of those who had not flown Peter said get in so I did, after retrieving the ballast weight from the other Ka-8.

Flying towards a rotor cloud.

Established in wave at 2000ft

Went through the checks and launched at 5:45. It was clear on the launch that I was going through rotor as it was very rough and on releasing at 1,000' in 4 knots up I got to 1,100' before turning north and went into reduced sink with some fluctuation which were soon getting smaller and when I was down to 1,000' again the vario started to move positively upwards an soon settled at 4 knots later increasing to 6-7 knots. Best height here was about 3,700' in wave and I then started investigating the rotor clouds from above but nothing but turbulance but I did verify strong sink downwind of them so not a place to go!

           Line of rotor clouds over Lydford from around 3,000' or more.

6 Knots at 3000ft

Back upwind and into the lift again I headed south west and then saw what appeared to be some rotor clouds much higher up so flew under these and found off the clock lift which had me at 4,700' in no time at all at cloudbase.

A line of rotor clouds were the only indications of wave, there being no lenticulars.
Lydford Gorge is to the right of centre in this picture, taken from over North Brentor.

7 knots at 3400ft

I headed towards where I thought I might find more lift but instead found massive sink initially and afterwards I found wave but not smooth like earlier but varying from a couple of knots to off the clock as though rotor was mixed in with the wave lift. I suspect there was an upper wave system but with no clouds to mark it and having been airborne for about 45 minutes it was time to return to the airfield with enough height to check out the conditions before landing. The presence of vehicles by the fence indicated that it may have been put up already so I elected to land on the south side with a more into-wind angle. Definitely a very happy hour.

Finally, thanks to all who waited on the ground for me to come back.

Malcolm Wilton-Jones