Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 17th July 2021

Saturday's briefing started at 9.30am, with the club gliders ready at the west end launch point as the days wind was predicted light N / NE less than 10 knots, RASP indicating 3500 feet cloud base but a higher boundary layer so hopefully some good thermals. Ready to fly were a number of club solo pilots , two One day courses and one trainee, so short on numbers but not on optimism for the days flying ahead.

Briefing over and looking at a promising sky three launches in and Mike Bennett found the thermal to take him to 1700 feet to put his Bronze training into practice.

Dave Kent waiting for Rick

Next was the first of the one day courses Dave Kent with Rick in DMX.  After that was Haydon Biddle with me and the launch was watched by his family.  It wasn't until the afternoon that both Rick and I found the lift to give both courses the extended flights of 46 and 38 minutes to give both Dave and Haydon the opportunity for some good hands on training which they both handled very well.

Haydon and Mike

Visiting us for the day from Trent gliding club was Colin Metcalf who took a half hour familiarisation flight with Rick in DMX.

Colin Metcalf

Continuing his training was Dave Archer who's flight took us to 3800 feet providing great views over the moors.

Dave Archer climbing well

The skyline improved over the Tamar valley as the day progressed during which time Steve Fletcher in his Open Cirrus and Ged with Phil in the twin Astir went off for an hour and a half's local soaring.

Steve's Fletcher's view of the Tamar looking down the river Tavy
with Lopwell Dam at the near end and the "17 Arches" Rail Bridge at the other

Time for Scratch to launch the syndicates new purchase a Standard Cirrus and take it away for a good extended first flight. Then it was the turn for Rick to have a couple of launches in the Cirrus, thumbs up from both of them.

The "new" syndicated Cirrus - All Out

And off into the blue

After Heather had run retrieve all day Steve Lewis now having completed the ARC on his own glider decided it was time to take Heather for a 48 minute tour of the area as a thank you.  Smiles all round.

Heather enjoying the view while trying to listen to Tour Guide Steve.

So a great day's flying was enjoyed by all, thanks as usual to the winch drivers and ground crew.

Mike Jardine

Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 10th July 2021

 Early morning in Plymouth and the day looked hopeless as far as gliding was concerned. Low cloud, constant drizzle occasionally giving way to rain showers in very light winds. 

Oh well, perhaps we will continue with the myriad of maintenance tasks at the airfield. Over the last couple of weeks a lot of work has been done. The north side perimeter fence has had it barbed wire top strands repaired, all of the grass has been cut, the drainage pipe across the west end launch point which has sunk over time has now been filled with top soil and the grass encouraged to grow through. The repairs to HXP are progressing. The winches and vehicles have received attention. The clubhouse solar system has been tested again and the controller once again removed to be returned to the suppliers. The "Atom" base station project moves forward.

Arriving at the airfield was quite a surprise. No drizzle, cloudbase looking workable and a few developing clear patches, wind light easterly but forecast to become southerly going westerly. There was a lot of members all busy getting the equipment out and ready. They had even positioned a winch at each end to cope with the expected change of ends later. So off flying then.

The view from the west end at the start of flying

After a couple of circuits by Mike and Rick, Mike Bennet launched and managed to scratch out 9minutes in the K8. Interesting. I took a launch with today's One Day Course Candidate Jonathan Neal and we managed 13 minutes. More interesting. 

One Day Course Candidate Jonathan Neal

Ready for his Air experience flights Dan Truscott

After a change of ends flying continued apace. There were showers approaching from the west and the best lift was to be found just in front of them as I discovered whilst flying with our other Air Ex visitor Dan Truscott. Best flight of the day was by Adam Hoskin who managed 25minutes in the K8. Eventually though the showers overtook us and proceedings were brought to a premature end.

DMX lifts off again

This interest photo, taken at 4.15pm by Martin Cropper
shows Brentor with the rain approaching from the left

A busy club day

Steve

 

Dartmoor Gliding News-Wednesday 14th July 2021

The lack of recent blogs indicates the period of unsettled weather we have experienced. This was the scene at 8:30 when I arrived at the airfield, an indication that we were actually going to fly.

 Empty hangar at 8:30.

The early arrivals had emptied the hangar, set up the winch and towed the cables out ready to fly. This enable a first launch at a respectable 09:58. Although busy at work, Mark Elliott saw the good weather and excused himself to be first into the K13 with me and was soon back up to speed with his general flying.

The next two trainees were Simon Vallance and John O’Connell, who both continued getting to grips with the skills of approaches and landings. John managed the first soaring flight of the day with 16minutes which he was very pleased with.

Simon getting ready.

John contemplating the task ahead.

One day course student Jon Neal returned today to complete his course with us. He had one flight left after rain interrupted flying on Saturday. Jon is hoping to return and carry on his flying journey soon.

Jon Neal completed his course today.

We were joined today by a steady string of visitors. Richard Roberts and newly promoted IFP Hugh Gascoyne were kept busy looking after the visitors who all left happy with their experiences.

Richard with visitor Michael Frogget

Hugh with Chris Goddard.

Richard briefing Anthony Raulins  before flying with Hugh.

Visitor Chris Halford

Our other visitor was Chris Halford also flew with Hugh. The IFP’s did a sterling job, but more training taking photos for the blog needs to be included in the syllabus.

Malcolm Roberts who usually flies as a passenger in the Twin Astir had a couple of flights with me with a view of possibly becoming a handling pilot again and maybe sometime moving back to solo status.

Malcolm back in the front seat.

An ex club member Dick Masters returned to the club after an absence of about 6 years. His love of flying and living in view of soaring gliders has drawn him back as he nears full retirement. He had three flights with me and was soon blowing away the cobwebs.

Dick all smiles back in the cockpit.

Solo pilots Mike Bennett, Roger Green, Steve Fletcher and Martin Broadway all enjoyed flights of various times during the day. After his IFP service Richard Roberts took his Discus for a flight of 1hour 35minutes to claim flight of the day.

Concentration is a must for flying.

Rick Wiles arrived to give Malcolm Wilton-Jones some valuable launch failure practice in the Twin Astir on his road to clearance to fly from the back seat. Rick also continued IFP training with Gavin Short and Phil Hardwick.

The long day ended with the aircraft back in the hangar at 7:33pm. 46 flights and some happy pilots. Thank you to everybody who contributed to the successful days flying.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 11th July 2021

Despite a forecast of low cloudbase and poor horizontal viz, today’s Sunday Soarers exceeded themselves today by going even higher than before whilst maintaining contact with the ground in “Atom-2*: The Antennae”.  After early arrivals had signed the COVID-19 List, enjoyed a tea/coffee courtesy of Rich Roberts, and swapped their entire repertoire of gliding jokes (ie. by about 0830) he decided that our contact with the airwaves should be continued by adding the three antennae to the mast previously attached to the clubhouse roof in “Atom 1” (see blog for Sunday 20 June).  

 Operation Atom (2): the first two aerials are fitted
(Rich Roberts offering advice with the screwdriver)…

…and now the third one in the middle.

And so the ‘hi-hos’ were re-mustered, but today with tallest first: safety always being at the forefront it was decided that Ray Boundy (former tall electrician) and Ed Borlase (closest resemblance to a flagpole) should go up the ladders (both because they had better reach than the others, and to save on scarce upper ladder rung life).  Before they could even begin to ask, “Isn’t there a set on instructions” (to which, of course, the answer would have been “Yes, we’ll tell you what to do..!”) up they went, almost as far as the summit of the west end gable (approx. half a hectopascal).  

Peter Howarth giving some encouragement
(“Your tea’s gone cold, now..!”)

The tricky part was not in attaching the antennae to the cross piece (this had already been effected at base-camp ‘QFE Zero’ in a classic piece of “Here’s one I prepared earlier” groundwork) but in getting the many clamps, brackets and nuts located and tightened, at well above head height, using the club’s only (non-BSF) correctly sized adjustable spanner (which was, of course, attached by a line to the waistband in case it dropped out of someone’s hand, ahem…)  In this case, Ray and Ed worked like a pair of men’s tennis doubles (“Have you got it?” “No, I thought you did…”) despite an uphill stream of advice, with Ed providing the spanner-work, whilst Ray put his electrician’s experience to good use, almost resembling Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear in reaching “To Infinity, and Beyond” (see photo).

 “To Infinity, and Beyond...!”
Former Chairman Ray Boundy resembling Buzz Lightyear
in his vision for the club’s future.

The finished article: a masterpiece of modern electrical architecture.

After the antennae and cross piece had been fitted, and the mast re-raised near flight level altitude, there remained just connection of the cables to the cable box - which had been fitted inside the clubhouse by Rich (‘Measure Once – Why So Often?’) Roberts - to finish the job.  Except that, of the three cables, two were exactly the same and, although one fed the ADS-B aerial and the other FLARM, a bit like chives, it was impossible to tell one from the other.  Back up the ladder went our sleuths and, with cable ties attached to identify one (but not the other) cable, Peter Howarth eventually concluded the marriage to planet earth.  Does it work?  Well, following prior direction, we left a ‘synaptic gap’ twixt the cable box and the breaker in the Tech Office so we are unable to confirm or deny whether BRT has joined the FLARM and ADS-B networks – let’s hope that some future blogger will be able to deliver electronic transparency on this.

 Move over Jodrell Bank: BRT is now in connection with the universe
(well, those with FLARM or ADS-B at least…)

And so, with a steadily darkening sky, it was time for a quick look around the hangar (including a flick of the battery switch in the K-8 to the ‘off’ position), and return to our loved ones (or telly on for Wimbledon/Wembley).  Thanks go to foreman Rich Roberts, clerk of works Peter Howarth and on-site technicians (ie. blokes up a ladder) Ed Borlase and “Buzz” Boundy for some sterling teamwork today, all done without a single plan, instructions or back of a fag packet (a rare sight these days) to draw upon.

Martin Cropper

* Atom: a station to re-transmit FLARM and ADS-B signals received from aircraft within range to aid electronic conspicuity and coverage provided by various apps 

Dartmoor Gliding News-Wednesday 30th June 2021

The early arrivals set about setting the airfield up. The winch was taken to the west end and the cables towed out. The aircraft were liberated from the hangar, DI’d and towed to the east end launch point. By now other members had arrived and after the morning brief first launch was made at 10:16. This flight only lasted 1 minute as it was an ultra-low launch failure demonstration by me with John Allan in the front seat. John then flew the next two launches, which included a practice launch failure.

Long Mynd visiting pilot, Matthew Cook got another leave of absence pass whilst on holiday to come back and fly with us today. Matthew had three flights in the K8, the longest being 38 minutes, which  was flight of the day.

Matthew happy to be flying with us again.

Paddy Cosgrave was next to fly with me in DMX. During the first flight a problem with the varios was noticed. On landing this was diagnosed to a missing total energy probe. Luckily this was found near to the launch point. So that flying could continue CCY was brought from the hangar. In a manoeuvre carefully coreographed by Commander Short and his new ground station radio, DMX was returned to the hangar and CCY brought to the launch point. Paddy continued his training in CCY with some stalls and general flying skills.

Malcolm Wilton-Jones took to the back seat of the Twin Astir as a new syndicate member. With Robin Wilson in the front seat they had two flights. The longest of which was 27 minutes.

With a good looking sky, Steve Fletcher decided to rig his Open Cirrus. By the time he launched things did not look so good and he was soon returning to land.

The Open Cirrus on approach.

Both John O’Connell and Simon Vallance flew with me and both flew complete flights on their individual roads to future success.

Hugh Gascoyne stepped into the K8, but only managed a couple of circuits.

Hugh and Steve discussing their flights.

With the calm conditions, John Allan returned to the front seat. After another awkward height cable break practice, it was time to put all his good training and flying into practice with his first solo flight.

John happy to be going solo.

Off he goes.

And returns as seen from the winch.

Down safe and very happy.

John’s second flight was his first solo cable break, which was flown perfectly as per the training. This was followed by a third flight with a full launch and good circuit and landing. Well done John, the real flying and learning starts here.

Rick Wiles had arrived to witness the above event and the settled into the front seat of the K13 to carry on with some IFP training with Gavin Short and Phil Hardwick.

IFP training by Rick with Gavin & Phil.

A good days flying with 32 flights. Thank you to everybody who contributed to the successful days flying. Once again, congratulations to John Allan in achieving his solo goal.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News- Goodbye Old Friend - The Zugvogel Departs

The clubs venerable Zugvogel 3A was sold quite a while ago but Covid 19 had prevented it's new, Polish, owner from collecting it. Today the deal was finally concluded.

The Zug flying high over Dartmoor

The Zugvogel 3A had been the part of the DGS fleet for as long as anyone can remember. This very sweet flying, vintage (1958) glider has seen many achievements during it's tenure. It has ridden the wave to great heights, flown cross country and furthered the flying careers of many pilots. Many DGS pilots have fond memories of their time in the Zug. So why did it fall into disuse? Well the ergonomics of the cockpit left something to be desired. Getting in and out was a struggle, particularly for pilots of reduced stature and the seating position often induced back ache, The pilots who enjoyed it the most moved on to their own hot ships.

Many DGS pilots recount memorable flights and as such the glider will live long in our memories.

The "mean and moody " 3A

Zugvogel 3A G-CHKV in it's element

Steve

Gavin And Scratch stayed very late on Saturday 26/6/2021. This is their story

The new Polish owner, Thomas, and his co-driver Jack were delayed in their ferry crossing to UK by having to get a Covid test.  When club members were departing I got a voice mail message to say they were arriving in 40 minutes (1930ish) so Scratch and I stayed behind.  We thought it better to do it then rather than on Sunday morning, with a reduced crew, in the rain.

After offering a cup of tea that was gratefully accepted Thomas spent about an hour going through HKV's paperwork with me.  Thank goodness it was well organised. He was particularly interested in when the CofG hook had been changed and the date of the seat belts (they are on condition).

Eventually we got to the storage unit where Thomas started an inspection of the glider.  Connections, corrosion, integrity of the fin post, instruments etc.  I picked up from his mate Jack, who spoke very good English, that Thomas expected the Zugvogel IIIA to be in better condition, including finish, than it was.  Scratch and my replies were that it was only £500.

The Fuselage on the trailer

They had brought a smart Polish open trailer.  The arms located, eventually after Scratch's fettling and lubrication, to the cockpit mounting points.  The locating tag which Thomas had queried a few days ago, under the fuselage was no where near the trailer fittings so the rear fuselage was strapped down.  Then the whole fuselage was wrapped in cling film, as was the tailplane, which was an interesting exercise is in the light rain.  As entertainment there wee some amazing wave clouds on display at dusk..  Aileron locks were fitted to the wings and wing root holes stuffed with bin bags.

Finally, when they were ready to go we had the obligatory trailer lighting check with problems with the brake lights which, after half an hour,  was traced to a short one side.  Thomas never got it working properly and they thought they would chance it.  "HKV left the building" at 2300.  They were aiming to drive straight back to Dover as they were on a 48 hr ferry ticket.

All ready for the long trip to it's new home

We retrieved all the club tools that had been used, replaced HXP's canopy in the now spacious storage unit, and Scratch locked up. But. as we left we were unanimous agreement that Mr Roberts owed us a curry in the Ganges in Tavistock, or similar, for duties above and beyond...

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News-Saturday 26th June 2021

The weather forecast had been changing faster than a model in a fashion show. The latest version was giving easterly winds and a 50% chance of rain. On the airfield the sky looked a bit better than that. cloud cover was 6/8th's with variable cloud bases and the wind variable but mostly from the east. 

Robert and I ready to launch

Our first visitor today was Junior Robert Battersfield who had been bought his voucher by his sister. (Would my sister please take note.) Robert's launch was uneventful in what was almost still air on the ground but had a little turbulance in the top third which got my interest. Coming off the wire there was some strong lift - interesting.  A circle showed just how narrow the lift was but a series of  "figure of 8" turns across the easterly wind kept us climbing. A few turns later we were able to level the wings and head off south in what was definitely wave bar giving a smooth 2 knots of lift. We climbed to 2500ft using a track from Mary Tavy to Tavistock which took us well above the local cloud base.  All too soon it was time to pull the airbrakes and return return to the airfield. Robert had enjoyed this flight as much as I had.

Paul looking pleased with himself

Second visitor today was Paul Fitzpatrick. I was hoping for some more wave flying but this time it was just not there and I was just resigning myself to an extended circuit when we bumped into a strong ( 4 knot ) thermal bubble overhead Brentor Church which had us turning and climbing steadily to 3500ft. Cloudbase was much higher here and the cloud cover was thinning out revealing the amazing clarity of the air. We could see both coasts clearly with the radar domes near Bude shining brightly in sunshine. We returned to the airfield  after a 33 minute flight during which Paul enjoyed himself trying out the aircraft controls.  

Andrew waiting for his instrcutor

Next to fly with me was Andrew Carlisle who also enjoyed a Soaring flight. 

There were other visitors today. Matthew Cook a visiting instructor from the Long Mynd had been with us all week. Today he managed a 55 minute soaring flight in the K8. Well done Matt. Alson visiting today was the BGA Chief Technical Officer Gordon MacDonald who arrived in style in his beautifully presented Beechcraft Bonanza. This 4 seat, single engined aircraft in unusual in that it has a "V" tail.

Matthew's friend, Steve, also managed a flight

Gordon's immaculate Beechcraft Bonnanza

The "V" tail is very distinctive

Club flying consisted mostly of training flights with Rick in DMX. The only private flying was the Twin Astir which made several  short soaring flights with various combinations of the syndicate members flying it. Interestingly. Malcolm Wilton-Jones was in part of the crew for 3 of these flights. A future syndicate member perhaps?

John Allan turning right

Looking down the runway towards the west

And the weather. Better than the forecast with no rain at all until the evening after most of us had already left the airfield. Most of us? Gavin and Scratch remained behind - see the next post

A good day

Steve