DGS News “How I did It”. 300km Diamond Goal–Ged Nevisky

Looking at rasp on Fri. afternoon, its predicting 4 or 5 stars for the whole of southern England including the south west, Lasham is saying its a 500k possibly a 750k this has got to be the day for a 300k from Brentor.
Spent Fri evening getting everything ready, up at 6.30 check Notams double check I’ve got everything and off. At the airfield by 8.00, others are already here getting the kit out so get the glider guider and start putting the task in BRT-CKL-BRT 301k out and return.

Mike Jardine arrives he's going to try silver distance to North Hill so we have a quick chat and start rigging the gliders, whilst were rigging Don arrives so we let him know our intentions and I get him to sign my declaration.

This photo of Ged in the Open Cirrus was taken on a previous occasion at Brentor 

Out to the launch point by 10.30 and line up behind the K13, stuff some sandwiches down and get everything ready in the glider, K13 launches and starts thermalling over the launch point, time to go.
straight off the launch and join Don in the thermal its a good one and I take it right up to cloudbase 2500ft not very high but the forecast says it will improve later so off I go, I decide to go round the moor because of the low cloudbase even though it looks good over the moor. I need to keep topping up and have to climb twice before I even get to Okehampton but thermals are good and plentiful, this is going to be a long day. I work my way slowly along the track and its only when I get to Honiton I start to climb a bit higher, that's better I don’t have to stop as often and can try dolphining more which is improving the speed. ( only 42kph so far)

Open Cirrus on the wire

I work my way east avoiding the airspace of Merryfield, Yeovilton and Yeovil and share several thermals with other gliders, there’s lots out today and finally I can head straight for the turnpoint. Cloudbase is over 3500ft now, I can see the park to the north( I was there last week for the ICL) and take one last climb before the turnpoint which gets me round and on my way home, I’m still not convinced I’m going to make it because I’ve had a couple of heart stopping moments where I’ve got a bit low and had to scratch away again and the exe valley can be tricky to cross but at least I’m now making the retrieve shorter.

I go south of Yeovilton but as I’m over 4000ft I go straight over Yeovil and after passing Merryfield decide to go north of Dunkeswell as the sky is looking better that way.

Before I know it I’m at Crediton and the climbs are still good, I am now thinking I might make it. I have a good climb at Whiddon Down which takes me to 4750ft the highest of the task and suddenly the Glider Guider pings and tells me I’m on final glide ‘wow’ perhaps I will make it after all, but I decide to take one further climb just before Okehampton just to make sure because it is looking dark and overcast ahead, I cut the corner of the moor near Okehampton camp and sweep down the side of the moor arriving back at 1300ft a quick circuit and land.

Take off 11.01 land 16.30  5hrs 29mins. What a flight.

Ged

My Early Morning Field Landing – Darren Wills

The air of expectation was high after last weeks fantastic flying conditions and the early signs were promising as I arrived at the club. Hoping to bag a two hour soaring flight I was debating whether to rig the K-6 or not due to the strong cross wind.

Having requested a check flight with David Jesty we duly strapped in. Pre-flight checks done, one last last look at the wind sock. Horizontal. Hmmm. We are launched into the wide blue yonder to test out the conditions.

'Right,' says David, 'field landing in the stub.'

Ooh, unanticipated, but this is gliding where it seems anything can happen and quickly too.

Where's the stub? Which way is the wind blowing? Why is this glider sinking so rapidly?

Mistake number one. Turn to the right instead of left. More height lost.

Mistake number two. Misjudge strength of wind higher up.

Mistake number three. Turn onto finals too far back.

Nose down, gain more speed, trees far too high in cockpit, this could be interesting.

'I have control' says David calmly.

'You have control.' Smart turn to the right, sum up our options, into wind and we are down. The perfect field landing.

Darren and David looking relaxed in their field

Debrief with David in the cockpit, have I ever thought about taking up knitting instead? Phone call to Jerry back at base to muster the troops.

After an hour or so DMX is back outside the hanger and being re-rigged.

Lessons learned? More field landing practice for definite, prepare the flight more thoroughly certainly. You just never know what might happen. There's a lot to learn.

I'm sure my antics helped to curtail the days flying and I apologize to all the members who missed out but a big 'Thank you' to everyone that helped, the teamwork was fantastic.

I'm sure one day I will return the favour.

Darren Wills

DGS News - Saturday 1st June 2013

The forecast looked great as the weekend approached. Rick Wiles was planning his 50km flight in the Zugvogel.

But on the day the NNW wind started strong and just continued to strengthen. By 9am there were cloud streets running as far as you could see. By 10.30 the sea air had arrived to wipe out the soaring possibilities.
First launch was at 10.34; first landout was at 10.37. ( is this a record?). Darren Wills was flying with instructor David Jesty and misjudged the final turn to the Stub runway and sensibly turned away to land in a field just down the hill from and downwind of the airfield.

David Jesty, Darren Wills, K13, field

 There followed a mad rush to assemble the derigging kit, get the trailer ready, assemble a crew  and drive the short distance to the field where the K13 rested serenely in  the summer sun.

Although the access to the field was soft, our large team ( 12 people in all ) made short work of moving the glider down to the gate, derigging it and carrying the parts out of the field to put them on the trailer parked in the lane. Returning to the airfield the K13 was reassembled in double quick time and was ready to fly again before 12.30 but the wind had strengthened so much that it was decided not to fly.

The glider retrieve "A" team

There was another flight much later in the day when the conditions had calmed down a little. Instructor Bob Pirie took a launch in the Bocian and spent 15 minutes or so playing with the ridge lift  / broken thermals.

A slightly disappointing day.

Steve

DGS News - Wednesday 29th May 2013

A sunny and very soarable day, with a one-day course, several trial lessons and  a small team of our solo pilots sharing the heavy workload, but at the same time taking the opportunity to enjoy themselves and extend their skills.

Instructor Bob introducing Phil Hardwick to the delights of back seat flying

 The day started around the hangar and clubhouse with Colin Boyd finalising plans to collect the 'new' engine for the Guslaunch winch, and Ged Nevisky and Mike Jardine completing paperwork following their epic 300k and 50k flights. Meanwhile the rest of us got the K-13 and Bocian on-line, while Phil the Farmer and two members of the next generation of Hardwicks, Mark (14) and Nicola (17) changed ends of ground equipment due to to the easterly element in the north wind, and got the ML winch DI’d and ready. Their presence helped to reinforce our club's status as an Accredited Youth Gliding Centre, and Nicola was rewarded later in the day with a flight with Steve Lewis in the Bocian.

One Day Course candidate Terry McAuliffe

The instructing team was kept busy until mid-afternoon, but we were a bit disappointed by the lack of home grown 'trade' (i.e. club members) seeking instruction - not to mention their help in keeping things running smoothly.

Sheila Smith and son in law Mark Pogson both enjoyed Air Experience flights

While Ged and Steve concentrated on delivering a one-day course to ex-power pilot Terry McAuliffe and a stream of trial lessons  in the guise of Geoffrey Roberts, Sheila Smith and her son in law Mark Pogson, I first of all introduced Steve Raine to the front seat delights of the Bocian (in a tricky cross-wind), then gave Phil and Mike Gadd their first taste of the pleasures - and responsibilities - of flying the K-13 from the back seat. Currently, they're two of our most focused solo pilots, and here's hoping they extend their horizons to include a Basic Instructor rating among their goals.

Geoffrey Roberts and family with Ged

During the afternoon a flash of blue overalls heralded the arrival of Alan Holland, who extracted the Zugvogel from the back of the hangar and disappeared into the sky for an hour or so, to be followed - as conditions deteriorated - by John Howe and yours truly.

Is Mike Gadd hiding in the back seat of the K13?

Thanks to John, Phil, Mike and Andrew Beaumont for running an efficient launching operation, although commiserations to Andrew for not getting airborne. (Although one might say: "Serves you and Phil right for parking your glider at t'other place!"

Earlier in this report I mentioned one day course member lapsed power pilot Terry. During the day another ex-power pilot, Roy Young, came along to give us a 'once-over', and from discussions Ged and Steve had with both these gentlemen he will be back for a One Day Course soon. With the cost of power-flying, combined with the closure of Plymouth Airport, hopefully more disillusioned or deprived power pilots will gravitate to Brentor.  "Bring 'em on!", I say.

Bob Pirie

DGS News - Monday 27th May 2013

Forecast was for an occlusion approaching from the west so we got going as swiftly as possible.  The wind was following the isobars up over the hill from the south making a landing on the 'stub' runway look promising.

After a delay caused by broken speaker wire at the winch, Don and Jerry managed to get airborne in the K-13, twice. However the windsock was telling its own story and after a quick dose of C&D (common sense and discretion) we decided to get the glider back to the safety of the hangar. 

Which wasn't all bad - since it enabled us to enjoy Dave Parker's toasted crumpets in the clubhouse and watch Don's latest CD on Met whilst the rain lashed against the windows.

Martin Cropper        

DGS News Sunday 26th May 2013

Safe in the knowledge that Appleboom was away on one of his motor biking jaunts, a not inconsiderable sense of confident satisfaction filled me as I rounded the corner to the club.  Surely 'flight of the day' would be mine today?  The forecast looked good, RASP was encouraging and there was a queue of trial lessons to be flown, and even if these didn't deliver there was the prospect of the Zugvogel - whose lightly loaded big wings were bound to waft me to glory, weren't they?

So, buoyed up by the great news that Ged Nevisky had completed 300kms to Chicklade yesterday, and that Mike Jardine had dropped in on our neighbours at North Hill, we got the launch point set up at the east end, whilst I chuckled silently that victory today would be mine.  Guaranteed. 

But what's this appearing over the hill? Robin Wilson with his (pristine) K-6?  'No, Robin, you'll never make it to North Hill, not with those clouds, just potter about a bit mate.'  And then that sharp white pointy thing - surely it can't be Bob Pirie with his ASW-20?  Robin launches, and promptly shoots up to 4000 feet plus, shortly followed by Bob who disappears in a westerly direction, not to be seen again for 3 hours, during which he rounded most of Devon - twice! 

Well, you can dream - but if people will insist on turning up with their gliders, ready to go - it's back to the Bocian for you, my boy!  Where Henry Flowers was ready to go for his One Day Course, and having been 'encouraged' to learn his pre-flight checks at his last visit (when we were unable to fly) showed us all that he had - CB SIFT CB as well as the final E! At 14 years of age, Henry is shaping up to be a good prospect for solo at 15. 

Dave Parker sizing up the Zugvogel

A target which was not available to Don's squad of Dave Parker and Jerry Wellington when they started to fly.  Dave was converted to the Zugvogel by Don (and his later confession made interesting listening!) whilst Jerry got in valuable crosswind circuit practice as part of his Fixed Price to Solo.

Luke Botham and Mike Keller managed flights in the Bocian before 'previous engagements' called them away, and our trio of trial lessons included Tim Smith, from Plymouth City Council, Justin Nichols, who was visiting from London, and Justin's father-in-law Alan Wright, whose previous flying experience was in Fleet Air Arm Tiger Moths from Roborough.  He proved that he hadn't lost his touch! 

Tim Smith

Justin Nichols

Alan Wright

With Robin's descent from Silver Height (75 ft the right side - now that's worth a small fee to the OO, I would have thought?)  and Bob's return from his milk round it was time to put the gliders away and reflect upon a day - not only of dashed dreams but of many smiling faces as well - and not one of them Appleboom's!

Martin Cropper

DGS News Saturday 25th May 2013

I arrived to find the hangar doors open, gliders being rigged and the cables already out. Well I guess this will be a good day then.

A short time later Scratch arrived with his caravan and Malcolm with his camper van---even more evidence that this will be a good day.

Ged thrust a 300km declaration under my nose and Mike Jardine got clearance to attempt his 50K, Ok I am now convinced it will be a good day.

First launch in the K13 and climb away at 4 knots, followed by Ged in the Open Cirrus, no more evidence required.

Lots going on.

Dave Parker flew some more solos (getting closer to being cleared to fly his nice new K6).

Dave Parker and an anonymous glider trailer. Lurking inside is his new K6 G-CFTB 

Scratch found himself over Meldon Reservoir with me during his launch failure practice!

A phone call later and Steve Raine set off to collect Mike from North Hill,

A long time later Ged reappeared over the horizon to complete his diamond goal flight, and Robin Wilson reviewed his climb from a launch failure to discover he had completed a silver height.

I later heard that Mike Gadd spent the day walking in some woods trying not to look up at the sky.

The day finished with a convivial dinner of aromatic duck washed down with
old speckled hen----perfeck.

Don

DGS News – My 50km flight Mike Jardine.

A check on the Friday RASP and it all looks good for Saturday. North Hill possibly ? An 8.30am start at the airfield , Ged was already preparing for his 300k .

Gliders rigged , a few words with Don , NOTAMS , route etc. and then down to the launch point. Some food and water packed, radio checked  , QFE and QNH pressure settings noted on my map , GPS set for Brentor to give me an idea as to distance away from the launch point . It starts with a good ' Scratch ' launch , find the lift and then soon up to 3,000 feet and heading out for the first 10 miles to Okehampton.

The next hour and 20 minutes spent between Milford reservoir and Lyford Gorge loosing and gaining height. Radio check with Brentor to confirm my position and height 2,600 , keep persevering was the advise from Dave Parker. One more dark cloud to try and I was soon above  3,800 feet and off for Okehampton .Okay look for the best clouds , what looks like the best route from this cloud to the next cloud  , where are their shadows on the ground , head for the nearest.

I made steady progress to Okehampton from cloud to cloud , overhead the town at 3,200 feet. The GPS indicated 10 miles from Brentor , another climb and back up to 3,800 feet. Ok radio check with Brentor , I'm heading now for Crediton , re set the GPS for North hill   , with Map , GPS course and moving from cloud to cloud and keeping to the sunny side which seemed to work for me height was maintained between 3,600 and 4,000 feet. The miles were counting down on the GPS. Having Changed to QNH en route another 800 feet was gained , 4,800 feet and the clouds are now streeting.

2.8 miles to North Hill. What a great looking day.

 At 7 miles from North hill on the GPS , 3,800 feet and there is Dunkeswell and yes now I can see North hill I know I can get there , I can start to relax and enjoy the views. The Exe estuary , Exeter Airport , M5 traffic it looks busy. I arrive North of North hill 3,000 feet back on QFE , plenty of looking out for activity , which way are they launching and landing , which side of the airfield do they use for each , a K21 on a left hand down wind for me to observe. Okay I have the set up now. Time to loose height , no rush still taking in the views , a Radio call to North hill to advise my position and intention.

Finally down to 1000 feet , radio call , downwind left hand to the airfield , then on to the approach and landing some 2 hours 57 minutes after my launch , fantastic , maybe a little slow but so was the tortoise.

North Hill at last - Brilliant

I was given a very warm welcome and lots of assistance from all at North hill much appreciated. A familiar figure of Mark Courtney came across to assist and offer a cup of tea and then sign my paper work.

All in all a very satisfying day , a good learning session and an opportunity to puts lots of advice into practice.

It all came together on the day.

A Final thanks to Steve Raine who came to retrieve me .

Mike Jardine

DGS News - How I didn't do a 300km Fight

About 4 weeks ago while we were reporting on the DGS pilots visit to the Nympsfield Task Week, I mentioned that I would get some pictures and a report on Ged's attempted 300km flight which ended with him in a field in Wales. Well here is how he saw the flight

Steve

How I didn't do a 300km Fight - Ged Nevisky

Into the briefing at 10.00am. 2 tasks set a 200km and a 300km both into wales.

All or nothing says I lets go for the 300km Nympsfield-Craven Arms-Carreg Cennen Castle-Nympsfield. The gliders all ready to go so into the launch queue, there are a few delays so don’t get airborne till around 1215.

This photo of Ged in the Open Cirrus was taken on a previous occation at DGS

Top of the launch about 1000ft there’s a K21 thermalling about 1/4 mile away so lets join him, its a good thermal both going up nicely. I leave the thermal about 3000ft and set off on task, GPS dings as I cross the start line and tells me the heading to first turn point 97km away it also says I am 6800ft below the glideslope (a bit to do then).

Sky is looking good and I take some early climbs to top up height and see what the thermals are like, then after about 45 minutes things seem to stop working and I glide for about 15-20 minutes with no lift at all and I am down from 3500ft to less than 1000ft above ground, I have a field all picked out and think that’s it. (I later learn this is the area where Phil Hardwick lands out.) I then I get a sniff of lift and start to climb again although very slowly and decide to move to a better looking cloud close by, that one is much better and I climb quickly to about 2500ft and set off again, things are going much better and I am just short of the turn point at over 4000ft as I round the turn point I see a hang glider about 1000ft above me obviously from The Long Mynd which is about 10k away. I am hopeful at this point as that leg was directly into wind and things should get easier.

GPS switches to next turn point Carreg Cennen Castle north of Swansea over 90km away and over 6000ft below the glide slope. The sky is starting to overdevelop and the climbs are weakening as I work along the track, I can’t see any good clouds ahead and decide to turn left to the only decent looking cloud nearby it seems to be coming off a small ridge right next to Shobden airfield and I am able to slowly climb away but I have to be careful I don’t go into Shobden airspace. I set off again and manage another couple of climbs before everything dies and the sky is completely overcast. I can see the ridges next to Talgarth in the distance which are probably working in the westerly wind but I am too low to reach them. I am now flying down a valley and try to get some lift off some small ridges on the left but nothing seems to be working, oh well have to go and land out, there are some decent fields to my right up sloping and into wind, I didn’t realise how steep the slope was till I was on the final approach, probably about 30deg. good job the glider had a wheel brake as I started to roll backwards after landing.

Open Cirrus in Welsh field - what no sheep? 

Spend the next 4hrs having tea and biscuits with the farmer and his wife as I wait for the retrieve. (It really was in the middle of nowhere thanks Andrew) We just managed to load the glider before it went dark. Got back to Nympsfield 1230.

This picture gives some idea of how steep his field really was.

Ged

DGS News Wednesday 22nd May 2013

With an increase in the northerly crosswind and strong thermic conditions forecast, we managed to fit in a trial lesson for Stephen Holley, plus a few solo flights in the Bocian by Mike Jardine, before the order of the day reverted to two-seaters only; always with an instructor in the back, and with rigorous attention to glider parking and ground-handling. The Zugvogel remained safely in the hangar and the only glimpses of privately-owned gliders were when their owners exposed their fuselages to the elements while they fettled instruments, trailers lights etc..

The only ab initio member on the field today was  Roger White (the guy in the vest!)  who, having arrived on his lovingly-restored motorbike, opted not to fly but work with Colin Boyd, first of all setting up the ML winch for the day's flying, and then attempting to breath life (with some success) into the dormant ex- Perranporth winch.

We had a good turnout of experienced pilots, some needing 'refreshing' after long lay-offs (in today's case by me in DMX) or wishing to explore the delights of the Bocian (with Ged).  Having firstly coached current pilots John Howe and Robin Wilson in not only flying safely, but also in exploiting lift in such challenging conditions, it was great to be able to help 'remove the rust' from Jeff Craggs, John  Bolt and John Blaskett.

Unfortunately John Blaskett, at the bottom of the flying list, had his session curtailed when the increasing wind-strength prompted us to call a halt to proceedings, but he has clearly been 're-bitten by the bug'. John Bolt is obviously relishing being 'back in the saddle' with his years of extensive experience starting to come to the fore, and Jeff Craggs achieved the day's longest flight of 44 minutes after many months off the scene. He was in fine form, and his 'commentary and self-criticism'' (heard from the back seat) were as entertaining as ever.

Bob Sansom and John Howe did a great job winch driving, with Jeff and Robin on retrieve; Bob ending the day with an 'exciting' maiden flight in the Bocian with Ged. A major regret was that Mike Keller, who does such a splendid job with trial lesson bookings and manned the tower for most of the day, had to leave before his turn came around - so 'we owe you one' next time, Mike.

Finally, as usual Dave Bourchier seemed to be everywhere - hooking on, retrieving and generally keeping the launch point running.

After an early finish, we reconvened in the clubhouse, where Mike Gadd's evangelising on the joys of the Inter-Club League led to some enthusiastic discussion.

Bob Pirie