On Christmas Eve, the Wednesday Wavers had been good. No flying in the spirit of familial harmony. And so it was meant to be for New Year's Eve too - NRI - No Rated Instructor on the calendar, which effectively means no flying. But the old softy softened when he asked if anyone wanted to fly on the club forum. He was inundated, so the Wavers were very pleased when Mike Jardine said that he would open the field. Yippee!
So here we are on the last day of 2025. High pressure in charge, frosty, light winds, sunshine, and a one-star forecast from RASP. Well, it is the end of December, so let's make the most of it. Indeed, the blog may turn in to a photo essay as we have something to celebrate.
In the clubhouse, the wood burner was working hard to take the chill off. Whilst teas were being made, I could hand out the DGS haul of raffle prizes from the members' support of the Harrowbarrow and Metherell Community Shop (the Tamar Valley Pantry). It has now been trading for two months and couldn't have made it without your support. The haul; a six-pack of beers and cider, a six-pack of soft drinks, membership of Pentille Castle and estate, and a bottle of Glenfiddich malt whisky. Not a bad haul.
The raffle prizes were handed out
The turnout today was tremendous, not just the Wednesday Wavers but more: three FI (S), four BI(S), and an IFP. Oodles of instructors, maybe we could have loaned some out to another club if they were short and couldn't fly today? Sean was keen to try flying from the rear seat of a K-13. Initial steps in his path to Basic Instructor.
As expected, the winds were light. Mindful of a wind change later when the wind speed would drop in the middle of the day, initially two K-13s and the Astir CS77 were ranged at the west end. As we were setting up, we were joined by Christopher Morris from Seahawk GC. Welcome back Christopher.
The initial set up on a frosty morning with long shadows
Low morning sun too
Look at the blue of that sky
It took a while before the canopy cleared, but frost clung to the wings of the Astir CS77 for several hours, despite being sat in the sunshine.
Ice on the fabric of the K-13 wings was less of an issue
Training flights for Misha, Michael M-S, David Moorley, Sean, Lance, and Neal were split between Mike, Peter, and Rick. Mike also flew with Christopher Morris and John Smith.
First up with Mike was Misha. A rare photo of the CFI running the wing. He's normally in the back seat of a K-13.
You would think that an experienced helicopter pilot knew how to do his straps up, wouldn't you? Michael M-S prepares for flight.
The Astir CS77 was taking ages to thaw so it was moved back towards the boundary fence, leaving an icy glider outline on the ground - It reminded me of a crime scene in a TV drama.
In the trailer park privateers were rigging; Discus, Open Cirrus, two K6-CRs (EWO and DKG), and a Standard Cirrus which was just catching some air and sunshine.
"Gentlemen, rig your gliders!"
The new kid on the block. The early bird catches the worm, or does he?
Open Cirrus rigging. Yes, the fuselage is that far away from the wing tip.
A Discus with more conventional length wings
Misha on his third training flight
Blackdown, resplendent in the winter sunshine. Would it produce some thermals later in the day?
Mike and Misha's view to the south
The airfield, still quite green for late December
With three FI(S) on the field, all manner of training was taking place. Rick took three flights with Sean in the rear seat, as a start to his BI(S) training. Sean, welcome to the team.
Sean prepares to fly from the rear seat under the tutelage of Rick, the CFI.
Other flights were made by Steve Fletcher in the Open Cirrus, and Steve Lewis and Neal flew together in a K-13.
Back at the clubhouse, non-flying work was going on. DB was fixing the Twin Astir Trainer trailer door closing mechanism and adjusting the ramp to ensure that everything closed as designed. The new instrument panels are ready for installation and wiring up by John Allan, but Neal was keen to check that his 3D-printed sun shades fitted the new LXNAV LED Flarm displays. There are a lot of steps, taken by many members and contractors, to get G-CHBK into service, but I am sure it will be very worthwhile.
John Osment hands off the work so far to John Allan, on the Twin Astir Trainer's panels and equipment.
After a delay, the reason for which will be revealed later, the K-6 team rigs Viktor's "Red Bear"
Daily Inspection, Critical checks, and Positive checks complete, DKG is at the launch point.
But before Viktor was allowed to get in the cockpit, a number of things needed to happen. The check flight with the DCFI which would include the inevitable launch failure, followed by a flight in his glider and a type conversion brief. Then, and only then, will Viktor be allowed to get in the cockpit.
Someone is about to fly my glider!
Viktor briefing Peter. I thought it was meant to be the other way around.
Strap him in tight
And away he goes
On a safe approach over the boundary fence
You can't miss that colour!
Peter brings "Red Bear" back to the field before giving Viktor a type conversion brief.
That's how to do it Viktor
Tail tow-bar and wing dolly on, ready to back to the launch point for Viktor's turn
Meanwhile, Richard takes a launch in his Discus
A worm's eye view
And then silence returned for the worms
We welcomed Colin back from his holidays in Portugal (it was a bit warmer than the West Country but very wet, apparently). He checked Adam's work on the rudder pedals of the K-8, GDK and released the glider to service. I conducted a Daily inspection and Malcolm conducted a positive check. As always, it flew beautifully, but the electric vario wasn't working (a power lead problem was later discovered). I headed over to Blackdown and made use of the winter thermals, climbing 350 feet in occasional 1.5 knots of lift. Ten minutes of blissful solitude and silence, what a great way to end the year. A gentle, relaxed circuit, and then down to earth before letting Malcolm, John Allan, and David Archer sample silent flight too.
Gavin checks GDK before flight
Ed's EWO ready for the off.
But first Ed had to show Viktor the way in EWO.
And today's colour is RED!
EWO flying high and touching the moon
An apprehensive Viktor. Just remember your training and all will be well.
The K-6 is a snug fit.
"Canopy closed and locked. Air brakes closed and locked. Cable on please."
Time to level the wings
"All out, All out."
She flies
She accelerates
She climbs
Approaching the top of the launch
"Fly me to the moon".
Viktor returns to the airfield after his first flight in "Red Bear".
K-6s are photogenic from any angle
Looking great in the winter sunshine
Final approach
Nicely does it
The debrief amongst friends
Viktor shows Rick and Misha the intricacies of Red Bear.
Then Viktor conducts his ABCDE checks prior to his second flight
By now the Astir CS77 was thoroughly defrosted and Rick took it for a flight following a flight with Scratch in a K-13.
Viktor's take on his day:
Today, it all came as a surprise to me. I
was completely unprepared — my instrument panel was left at home, and
the glider documents were as well. I’m very grateful that all of you
helped me get through this.
I
quickly drove back to get the panel, Dave helped me fix the electrical
side of things. Gavin completed the daily inspection logbook. John, Ed,
and Gavin helped me get everything out, assemble it, and—most
importantly—pack everything away again afterward. Peter carried out the
test flight.
I
was incredibly happy when I released and could finally feel how it
flies — it was amazing. I caught myself thinking how hard it was to
believe that this moment had actually arrived. It had been a long and
emotional journey from the moment I first saw the advertisement to the
moment I could truly enjoy the first flight. It was incredible.
I’m really glad this all happened this year — it genuinely feels like a logical and very satisfying conclusion to the year.
Thank you all.
As ever, thanks are also due to the log keepers, retrieve drivers, and winch drivers. Thank you.
Scratch at full throttle
David Archer, wings level, ready for the last flight of the year
Launch!
David Archer takes the last flight of the day in the recently returned to service K-8, GDK
"Well, I was happy with that!"
With the toys packed away for the last time in 2025 the sky turns pink.
Heading home for New Year. The last sunset in 2025.
Thirty-six flights on a day we didn't think we would be flying. Sean starts a journey into instructing, we keep current, trainees continue their training, and today's highlight; Viktor flies his "Red Bear" for the first time.
To all our readers, I wish you a Happy New Year 2026. The challenge for 2026 is to get all five Ka6-CRs rigged and on the field at the same time. Readers have to decide is the colour order they want to see them in; two reds, two whites, and one yellow are the mix to choose from.
For the last week club members have been watching the weather carefully as there was a good chance of a wave day. On the day there was a strong wind from the north to north east on the ground with much more east with increasing altitude. The sky was full of wave bars and lenticulars to raise the excitement. The club was busy very early in the rush to get ready.
Unpacking the hangar
Waiting at the launch point
After an early briefing the first flight was Andy Davey in his Libelle who pushed east over Mary Tavy looking for the usual wave entry only to be disappointed. He dropped back and managed to contact wave over Brentor Church which allowed him to climb to 3000 ft or so before once again pushing to the east and contacting the primary wave, After a steady climb in the cold conditions he was soon on oxygen. He had already contacted air traffic control, first by phone before the flight, and then as he approached the FL195 ( 19500 ft ) upper air boundary by radio where he was instructed to turn on his transponder and was given a Radar Service to enter the upper airspace while he tracked north towards the north coast. He topped out at 21760ft ( a height gain of 20318ft ). This is the 3rd best height gain of 2025 only beaten by 2 flights from Aboyne in Scotland. What an amazing flight. A new club record.
Andy's View approaching the north coast
And his view of a lenticular and it's shadow
Andy was not the only wave flight today. Junior pilot Elliot Flannery had a creditable 37 minutes with CFI Rick in a K13 and John Allan in his Mini Nimbus went to Diamond height. Here are John's thoughts
"We had a nice Xmas present of easterly winds giving us great wave conditions for yesterday at Dartmoor Gliding Society. Several early flights managed to connect with the wave right of the wire from a winch launch. The lift reached above the Dartmoor NSGA (wave box) of FL195. I didn't have a transponder, so stopped at FL193 (19870ft), Andy Davey got clearance from ATC to go higher and reached 21760ft, with a height gain of 20318ft and a new club record. Lovely and smooth, with great views of the the south west of England. Circuit coming into land was pretty exciting!!"
Climbing in front of a lenticular
Passing a lenticular on the way up
Tracking south
Lenticular and shadow
Lenticulars in the distance
South Coast
South Coast
Climbing at 8 knots
After the first 3 flights the surface wind backed further to the north cutting off access to the lower wave systems. Higher up the wind was more easterly and the wave systems lasted most of the day. This did not stop members from trying most with circuits.
John on approach in the Mini Nimbus.
What a fantastic day. A new club record and a Diamond height.
After yesterday's flying with record height and badge claims, it was no surprise of the bigger turn out today. The forecast was for a moderate easterly breeze, possible wave and the cloudbase to rise through the morning.
Privateers and club gliders waiting.
With visits up to the airstrip, it was obvious the cloudbase was low, but frustratingly it was obvious there was wave present over the valley towards the moor.
Obvious gap over the valley.
With no flying there was still activity around the club. John Osment finalised preparations ready for fitting of the instruments back into the Astir trainer. Viktor rolled the fuselage of his new Red Bear out of the trailer for some fettling.
As the morning progressed, more teas and coffees were drunk and optimism remained that the cloudbase would rise and it was decided to eat lunch and make a final decision after.
Obvious wave, but still low cloud.
Sadly we made the decision that no flying would be possible and the toys were but back in the hangar and trailers.
Brentor bathed in sunshine.
Another day that promised so much, but frustratingly delivered little. Thank you all who were at the airfield. At least we tried. My I wish all a Happy New year. See you in 2026.
We think we have been good this year. We especially didn't schedule a flying day today in the spirit of Christmas familial harmony. This was particularly galling when our weather guru, Andy, posted a satellite picture showing that it was waving over Brentor at 1040 this morning. Oh, to be there.
EUMETSAT image at 1040. The heart at the centre of the picture is Brentor.
I was in Tavistock collecting the turkey and ham from Howell's the butchers and indulging in a little bit of Christmas shopping. Well, there's no point in starting too early, is there? Although a clear blue sky, there was some low cloud, indicating the presence of rotor. Occasionally it could be felt outside the pannier market. From Plymouth, there were reports of a huge wave system overhead.
Although our hearts were in the sky today, we decided to leave it exclusively to you, Santa. The Dartmoor Wave Box will be clear for your passage this evening.
Our thoughts turn to what presents you might bring the Wavers. New gliders, new instruments, or new trailers (Ed?) perhaps. Maybe you came early for some of us with canopy flashers to fit? You definitely came early for Viktor, perhaps it's a Ukrainian tradition, with his K-6CR, G-DDKG.
However, the best festive present would be the gift of lift, especially to understand how you can make such rapid cross-country progress. If the wave persists, it should provide good conditions for you this evening. The Wavers have had lots of theory lectures this year and our fair share of mountain lee wave, which leads us to imagine how you might make progress in wave. You probably already know this Santa but just for fun, and for training purposes, we asked Mr. Google for an AI overview:
-------------------------------
Santa's sleigh could theoretically use powerful
mountain lee waves
as a natural, high-altitude express current, though he would need his
unique "quantum anti-gravity technology" and magic to navigate the
severe turbulence and downdrafts associated with this weather
phenomenon.
How Santa Could Use Mountain Lee Waves
Mountain
lee waves are a type of standing atmospheric wave that forms downwind
(on the leeward side) of mountain ranges when specific weather
conditions are met.
Natural Lift:
Glider pilots routinely use the powerful, smooth, rising air on the
upwind side of the wave crests to gain significant altitude and cover
long distances. Santa's team could ride these upward currents,
potentially saving reindeer energy or "magic dust".
High Altitudes:
The right conditions allow these waves to propagate vertically into the
stratosphere, an unpowered glider once reached over 50,000 feet using
this lift. This would place the sleigh well above most commercial air
traffic and weather.
Speed Boost:
The flow of air in these waves involves significant changes in wind
speed, and Santa could use these fast-moving currents as a natural
tailwind to enhance his supersonic journey.
The Hazards and Santa's Solution
While
beneficial for experienced glider pilots, strong mountain waves pose
significant hazards for most aircraft due to extreme turbulence and
powerful downdrafts.
Severe Turbulence:
The "rotor" area, which forms below the main wave crests, is a zone of
violent, rotating air that can cause an aircraft to lose control or even
break apart.
Powerful Downdrafts:
Sinking air within the wave pattern can exceed an aircraft's ability to
climb, forcing it dangerously low or preventing it from clearing
terrain.
Icing: If moisture is present, severe icing can occur within the associated lenticular (lens-shaped) or roll clouds.
Santa's sleigh is likely equipped with advanced technology to handle these conditions:
Quantum Anti-Gravity Technology:
This system likely provides sustained lift and allows the sleigh to
maintain a stable altitude regardless of the powerful vertical air
currents.
Aerodynamic Magic:
The "aerodynamic magic" and a potentially a "time shield" mentioned by
experts would counteract turbulence and sonic booms, ensuring a smooth
and silent ride.
Advanced AI Navigation:
The sleigh's navigation system would help Santa map out the most
efficient path, likely threading the needle between turbulent rotors and
using the smooth, lifting wave crests.
----------------------------------
The Wednesday Wavers hope that this helps. Have a good flight. Make sure you adhere to the mnemonic IM SAFE, and please don't forget your pre-circuit checks, we don't want to have to disturb the British Gliding Association over their Christmas break with an incident report.
So Santa, that concludes our letter and news from the Wednesday Wavers. I'll get back to dressing my Christmas tree in the front room while the rest of the family is busy in the kitchen. All that remains is for us to wish our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The winter equinox today and rain forecast for sometime during the afternoon led to getting things ready as soon as enough bodies had arrived. Having not flown for a few weeks, I took a solo flight in the K13. After releasing I found the air very smooth and reduced sink with patches of lift. I saw the Astir launch so I made my way down to start training flights.
Cap cloud over the moors.
It was Andy Davey who had launched in the Astir and he managed to contact weak wave out over the valley nearer to the moors than I was. I launched with Ed Nicholson, but we were unable to join Andy, but extended the flight to 12 minutes. After our second flight Andy returned with what remained as flight of the day of 32 minutes.
Looking south towards Tavistock.
With no visitors today, Richard Roberts took a flight in the Astir, but could not emulate Andy's flight. I continued flying with Sean Westrope to complete his annual review and then Freddie Purkiss for recency flight after the recent poor weather.
Next was Aiden Hughes for a couple of circuits flying without an altimeter to improve his judgement in the circuit. Good flights Aiden.
Aiden flying well.
With rain approaching from over the moors the last person to fly with me was Ed Borlase for part of his annual checks. Everybody had flown, so it was time to pack the toys away which was completed as the rain arrived.
Only 10 flights, but we all flew which is always good for this time of year. Yes it was another wave day at Brentor. Will it be the last of the year? Watch this space as there are rumblings of possible wave 27th/28th December.
Thanks to those at the airfield today. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the Sunday Soarers.
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