Saturday 4th September 2010

With a warm front located just off the north coast, the weather was very unpredictable. The Jantar1 and Open Cirrus both rigged and waited to see what would happen but, in the event, It was mostly cloudy and too stable for much thermal activity.

DCFI Mark Courtney was on site today to help with BI training for Bob and myself.

It was a busy day with lots of training and Air Ex flights. Alan Bamford converted to the K8.

Towards the end of the day there were some challenges presented by the winches but these were overcome by the usual suspects.. The GusLaunch had it’s brakes sorted out ready for tomorrow and the ML winch will have new cables this week.

The day finished in usual style with a gaggle of glider pilots swapping stories outside the clubhouse.

Steve 

Wednesday 1st September 2010

Clear blue sky and winds 10-12 knots from the east ensured plenty of early activity today as the whispers of a possible wave day spread like wildfire.

The launch point was impressive with 10 gliders in the queue; almost like the grid at a competition.

Did the wave materialise. Well no. There was some wave influence on the streeting thermals which again made things a little tricky. However, plenty of pilots managed to soar which gave rise to gaggles of gliders in the best of the conditions. Best climb was a 4.7 knot average and longest flight approached 2 hours.

The training operation continued throughout the day with both K13’s busy.

Mike Jardine took advantage of Don’s presence to finish his “Friends and Family” qualification which will enable him to fly his friends family in one of the club 2 seaters. Good effort Mike.

Thanks once again to Barry and Heather for their exceptional efforts helping other pilots to fly.

Steve 

Monday 30th August 2010

A blue day with light winds which gave awkward soaring conditions.

Not put off by this was Nahir, a visiting glider pilot from Israel, who soloed on the winch yesterday and soared the K8 today showing the other pilots how it’s done.

Also soaring well today was Alan Ballard who led the way in the K6 and achieved his Silver Height with a recorded height gain of 1019 meters. Well done Alan. 5 hours next??

Alan in thoughtful mode taken on a somewhat colder day.

 
Steve

Sunday 29th August 2010

Good soaring day with the wind from the east straight down the runway giving launch heights to 1600ft.

The club welcomed Nahir, a visiting glider pilot from Israel, who wanted to add winch launching to his skills. This he achieived and made several solo winch launches.

Great news. Alan Bamford went solo today. Well done.

Thanks needs to go again to the Green Party (Barry, Roger and Heather) who have worked tirelessly pushing, pulling, winching, towing etc to make it all happen.


Steve 

Saturday 28th August 2010

The forecast looked good confirmed by the deep blue sky early this morning. By 9am the airfield was busy as the airfield kit was made ready, club aircraft out and inspected, and the Jantar 1, Open Cirrus, ASW20 and Astir (yes it’s the Green Party again) rigged. The aircraft were later joined by the Twin Astir which emerged from it’s “T” hangar like a butterfly coming out of it’s crysalis.

Simon Leeson and DCFI Mark Courtney arrived from North Hill in the Rotax Faulke, made the tea, and then flew back to their home airfield. Now that’s what I call service. Perhaps bacon sandwiches as well next time??

Dominic Tomalin from Kelly College dropped in for a meeting with Bob, Don and myself to discuss Cadet flying.

The cloud rapidly developed throughout the morning and even looked to threaten rain at one stage. But as the cloud lightened a little so the thermal activity started. There were lines of thermal energy surrounded by some heavy sinking air which made soaring a challenge. The sort of day that really helps pilots develop their soaring and decision making skills.

Flight times ranged from a few minutes to well in excess of 2 hours. Cloud bases were variable ranging from 2000 – 2700 feet QFE.

There was a lot of training and Air Experience flights mostly conducted by Don and Martin. By the end of the day there had been a total of 48 flights.

The day finished in, what has become traditional style, in the clubhouse.

A very good day.

Steve

The Green Party Pays A Visit to the Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Club

The Mean Green Flying Machine,otherwise known as the Green Party, AKA Barry and Roger, collected our Astir FLJ from the home field at Brentor in the afternoon of Tues.12 August. We delayed briefly to admire the Bleriot monoplane replica that was being parked in the hangar overnight.Talk of those Magnificent Men, they must have all been Heroes in every sense of the word. Speaking as a glider pilot, we owe those early pioneers a great deal. Personally, having examined the wing section and other features, I would NOT wish to take to the air in such a machine.

However, I digress. We drove away toward Nympsfield, having been informed by David Jesty that an epic time was to be had over the next few days. An easy drive followed, we arrived to find room keys etc. as promised,so a beer,then bed.

Up early, breakfast in Stroud, then out with all the club kit. All very tidy. Roger had an aerotow with David in the back seat. I think the lady tug driver had her work cut out [mine was not much better]. During this time all sorts of exotic glass ships were being assembled and proposed tasks of gargantuan proportions were being plotted, the sky now was looking GOOD.The long distance fliers were all gone in a surprisingly short time.

Roger and self now had check flights,surprising how much more concentration is needed to do decent circuits and landings at a different field. However, all was acceptable.

We are both desperate to get silver distance and duration, however being the guy that I am, [always modest], I let Roger have first launch in our Astir. By this time the sky was not so good, another launch ensued. Roger flew for some 50 mins. and explored over a considerable area, but no 50Kms. today.

Shortly after he landed gliders were returning in large numbers, some with tales of "daring do". At least one 500km  around various turnpoints, plus other long flights [grrrrr].

Next day weather not so good, field very quiet. Roger continued aerotows, self took one launch in Astir, for 55 mins. Not bad considering conditions,and I believe longest of the day,flying very conservatively,in gentle ridge lift and the odd weak thermal.

Having towed our glider to the Long Mynd [Church Stretton] and Shennington [Edgehill],earlier this summer  we are finding that completing Silver Tasks is not as easy as we thought,but Nil Desperandum, Persistence will prevail, only the timing is uncertain.

Good Flying All,

Barry and Roger Green [The Green Party]

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Today is best summed up in three words.

RAIN STOPPED PLAY

Steve

Tuesday 24th August 2010

A continuous risk of showers and a strong westerly wind failed to deter the eight club members who turned out for today's 'play-day'. After a less than promising start, the weather improved and by mid-morning we were rewarded with sunshine, well-defined cloud streets and plenty of strong thermals - plus a lot of laughs. We operated just three gliders, the K7/13, the SF27 and the ASW20F, and those who flew all coped well with some very challenging conditions.


Thanks to everyone who attended, and especially to Barry and Heather for launching us and retrieving the cables so efficiently. Thanks also to John Bolt, whose latest improvement to the launch caravan has been the installation of a 'picture window', which gives visitors and our own 'caravan lurkers' a greatly improved view of all the work and antics going on outside.

Congratulations to Phil the Farmer, who after a dual soaring flight with Dave Jesty, then a couple of failed attempts on his own, conducted a successful and rather impressive Bronze C leg duration flight.

With all the banter on the forum about locking (or failing to lock) the site and the clubhouse, we ended the day by introducing DGS's first-ever 'Ceremony of the Keys'. Clad in leather flying helmet and pink tights, Martin Smith rose to the occasion - but as he marched under escort away from the securely locked clubhouse, a hammering on the window and some muffled shouts revealed that Sean Paramore was still locked inside!
 
Let's hope we manage to organize other 'ad hoc' flying days like this.


Bob Pirie

Sunday 22nd August 2010

An early start for Chris and Karon Matten who volunteered to ferry me back up to the motor glider, which was stranded by the weather at the Memdip Gliding Club Halesland, for an 8am take off. Chris and I had a fun flight back to DGS, trying to navigate the old fashioned way and dodge the clouds.

Meanwhile Martin Smith and Martin Cropper had the field ready for a quick start, Martin stayed on for an hour or so to get us going.


A good training day, but the thermals proved to be fairly useless. There were plenty of pupils to take advantage of the conditions including a new junior (Jacob) who is joining us. A fairly busy day with Alan,Barry and Roger doing great work on the winch finished with a couple of tinnies by the clubhouse.


Don

Saturday 21st August 2010

Normally gliding over Dartmoor is a colourful experience with deep blue skies, the mosaic of fields in every shade of green, crops in yellow, and distant water in steely blue/grey. And today – white - (well light grey actually). The fog was so thick that visibility was less than the width of the runway all day.

However, the clubhouse was busy, John was in the hangar helping Bob with the CofA for his K8. Gus and Mike removed the chassis ??? from the Astir trailer for some much needed TLC. The highlight of the day was

Will Wilson who took and passed his Bronze exam supervised by CFI Don. Well done Will.

Steve