Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 6th September 2025

 Low pressure still very much in charge firing seemingly endless fronts across the area. Today we were happily between the fronts but in a strong airflow. The strong wind made the decision to cancel visitor flying inevitable.

Val and Rick

Off they go

And back again

CFI Rick Wiles decided that we would fly the K13's. The day was limited to Instructors and IFP's only to fly P1. The first flight demonstrated that although strong, the wind was in was well within limits and several flights were undertaken. The best of these was a 25minute effort by Scratch with John Allan in the front seat. What they were staying up on was uncertain. A mix of ridge from the southern slopes and a little wave would be a good guess.

The view from the top of the launch looking south

The wind did increase enough that at 1pm we stood down to wait fir relatively calmer conditions and by 3pm we were flying again.

Everyone who want to flew. Several early pilots improved their handling skills with Rick.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 10 September 2025

Andy is worthy of an award with his upbeat forecast on what looks like a miserable day.  Wednesday Waders again, rather than Wednesday Wavers 

Wednesday Weather.

The synoptic chart for 1300 local.  Messy, isn't it?

There is a largish area of low pressure to the west of the UK, which is giving us these very changeable conditions. For Wednesday, there are a couple of fronts crossing the area overnight, and there will be an occluded front crossing the field just after midday.  Prior to the front, the field will be in low cloud and rain with a SSW wind at about 10 kts. The front should be over the field at 1430, and once the front clears, the wind will go more westerly and the cloud base should lift to 3,000ft.  It could then become flyable.

Skysight summarises the day with its new windgram.

Lots of talking is required to make this into a flyable forecast

Serendipitously, we had no visitors booked today for trial flights. So as the Duty Basic Instructor, I didn't have to cancel our visitors.  The challenge was for the Duty Instructor, Mike Jardine, to keep our trainees, and indeed us, occupied.

On the last flying day, the Sunday Soarers indulged in a bit of wild swimming in a monumental deluge as they put the gliders away.  Understandably, the five soaked and bedraggled aviators were not up for changing the main wheel on K-13, FSD, which had developed a slow puncture.  Our Chairman, Steve Lewis, led the DGS Pitstop Team to change it for the ready spare and then fix the puncture.  To have good access, this meant that the hangar doors needed to be opened, the Astir CS77 needed to be moved out into the open and for it to get wet.  The gliders were moved around, and the orange belly dolly was put into action. Inevitably the job threw up more snags and intrigues, but the team muddled through.

Scratch was busy with the industrial sewing machine, making more glider pockets for the Puchacz and Astir CS77.   In between pockets, he progressed the update of our operating procedures.

You have got to be quick to catch Scratch at his workstation in the hangar

Scratch admires one of his glider pockets in the daylight

Neal decided that getting new LED strip lights from Screwfix in Launceston was easier than battling back into the Tavistock roadworks.  After revealing some interesting wiring in the ceiling of the kitchen, both old light fittings were replaced by two energy-efficient strip lights that actually shed light on the proceedings.  The parachute room and Tech Office will be done on another rainy day i.e. pretty soon.

Neal removing the old light fittings in the kitchen

Colin paid us a brief visit, and he and I managed to progress some maintenance paperwork.  More importantly, I got my ARC documentation back and the main pin for my Standard Cirrus.  After extensive engineering advice and further inspection, the main pin was cleared for use. Yippee! I can fly my glider again.

John Allan made progress fitting a ground-based radio to the Volvo, so we don't have to rely on a handheld radio.  It should also improve the quality of communications on the field.  The 3D-printed sun shade for the front Flarm LED display in the Puchacz was offered up. However, more modifications are required!

A trial 3D-printed sun shade...

...for this Flarm display

Inevitably, there was more discussion about medicals and operating procedures after 30 September.  After lunch, I ordered some new inner tubes for the main wheels of our training gliders.  This is a family-friendly blog, so I shan't shock our readers with the prices.

Later in the afternoon, the sun came out for a brief period - Andy's clearance, before it started raining again.  A lot of rain had fallen overnight and during the day, confirming that it was indeed a day for the Wednesday Waders rather than the Wednesday Wavers.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 3 September 2025

We are in meteorological autumn, and the aftermath of Hurricane Erin is bringing us occluded, warm, cold, and then warm fronts in quick succession, approaching from the southwest at frontal speeds of 30 to 35 knots.  More Wednesday Waders than Wednesday Wavers then.  A time not to feel guilty at being late on parade for an appointment with the practice nurse in my local surgery, and in the afternoon departing early to Cadleigh, Ivybridge to give a talk on "Modern Gliding" to the South Hams MG Car Club.

Time for the Waders to get stuck into some jobs in the hangar, clubhouse, and the Motor Transport hangar.  I brought my strimmer to cut the grass around our "Learn to fly a glider" signs which indicate the way to our club.

Richard, the Duty BI, cancelled our visitors by telephone whilst the rain was hammering down on the clubhouse roof.  Then Richard revealed that he had visited Tesco en route.  Cue Richard and Peter busy in the kitchen producing a late breakfast of bacon and sausages sarnies. Yummy!  Thanks, Richard.

Chef Richard, who was assisted by Sous-chef Peter, starts the production line of tasty bacon butties

Despite professing to having already eaten breakfast John Osment succumbed to a bacon butty

After flying in the Alps, in the simulator, John Allan headed to the hangar to fix the power supply to the radio in K-13, FSD.  Neal Oxley had made a prototype sun shade for the front seat Flarm LED display, the Puchacz.  After completing a reorganisation of our paperwork, as the newly appointed Membership Secretary, he offered it up.  It was just about right.  A few tweaks are needed before he can print the final version.

Then Steve Lewis turned his hand to removing the Polish standard format Bigraphs (CC) on the nose, fin and rudder of the Puchacz using my small heat gun.  It had been drawn to our attention that a Ventus flying out of Lasham has the competition number CC.  A clash.  So we had Trigraph stickers made up with HCC for the fin and rudder as per the BGA recommendation.

The Trigraph mounting team, Steve, John Allan and I, set about measuring and debating the alignment of the new letters.  Satisfied, we set about in good Blue Peter fashion with soapy water, squeegees, and Fablon (well, vinyl letters).

Steve carefully aligns the transfer sheet into position on the port side
after carefully measuring and marking

Now the starboard side. 
After a team effort of removing the backing sheet, John applies the finishing touches

The Puchacz, resplendent in its new livery while the Trigraph team check the port side

Whilst the nose decals came off cleanly, and those on the starboard side too, inevitably, two small areas of paint were lifted off the rudder on the port side.  A judicious touching up with vinyl primer and white paint, and all was well.  Steve loves this stuff! 

Back in the clubhouse, there were extensive discussions on the new Sailplane Pilot Licence, the associated medical standards, and the underpinning national legislation that comes into force at the end of the month.

Heavy showers continued throughout the day.  Just when you thought it was brightening up down came the rain.   By early afternoon, members had started to pack up and leave. John, Steve and I were the last, pleased with our work on the Puchacz's new livery.

During the afternoon it started to look nice on several occasions. 
Thirty seconds after I took this photo, it was hammering it down with rain.

So no flying today for the Wednesday Waders, but bacon and sausage sarnies consumed, many non-flying tasks tackled, but no strimming due to the heavy rain, and an undiminished optimism for better weather next time.

The talk to the MG car Club went down well with lots of follow-up questions and interest.  The grandfather of Rowan Guest, a recent One Day Course candidate, was in the audience WhatsApping like a teenager to show Rowan what he was listening to.  It's a small world!  In lieu of a speaker's fee, the MGCC made a donation of £35 to our club. As they say, "every little bit helps" ***. 

Gavin Short

*** Despite what the Tesco marketeers would like you to think, this expression, with slightly different wording ( everything helps ), dates from the late 1500s.

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 23rd August 2025

The forecast suggested reasonable soaring conditions under a blue sky with initially southerly winds going westerly later. Looking out the window showed cumulus clouds forming under a little high cirrus. So much for the forecast then. Perhaps a return to my mk8 seaweed would be more accurate.

The wind was still like this at the end of the day

Today was a busy day with lots of solo pilots as well as trainees and visitors. We were joined by Junior Rowan Guest who was attending for as One Day Course. Rowan enjoyed lots of flying with 2 of his flights stretching beyond 30 minutes and up to 3500ft above the airfield. He also got stuck in around the launch point and finished his day with a little time at the winch. 

Rowan ready to go

Rowan's view of the Tamar Estuary. 

Today's other visitors were Jill Ellis, Nicholas Williams, Jim Melbourne, Nigel and Tehya Smith. 

Nicholas Williams

Jim Melbourne

And what of the solo pilots My second flight with Rowan we managed to find some thermal activity and this prompted the gliding equivalent of the charge of the light brigade as the launch queue suddenly became manic and not the "sleepy hollow" I have just launched from. Who knew my secondary role was as a thermal "sniffer".

First solo to launch was John Allan in his Mini Nimbus who returned 3 hours 18 minutes later having completed 90.9% of his planned 217km flight Brentor, Brayford, Taunton ( actually turned at Wellington ), Hatherleigh, Brentor. Great flight again John.

Back into the sunshine on final glide just past Sourton, looking across North Dartmoor.

On the way back from Wellington, visibility went great. Thermals got better once past Crediton. 

John's flight trace

Second solo launch a few minutes after John was Andy Davey in his Ventus C. His flight saw him visit Launceston before venturing into North Devon. 2nd longest flight of the day at 2hrs 52.

Andy's trace

There was lots of soaring into the early evening.

K13 hangar landing

After everything was put away we had the Summer BBQ, organised once again by Mike Bennett. The food was delicious and the company was delightful. Thank you Mike.

( The event was so busy I forgot to take any photos  - you just cannot get the staff these days ).

A great day

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 24th August 2025

After yesterday's successful barbeque today saw a few defferent faces amongst the Sunday soarers, but also a few regular faces missing. A light south easterly and possible 5 star rating, pilots were looking forward to a good day. A K13, K8, Puchacz and Astir were readied and towed to the west end launch point.

First trainee was Misha Skochko. With his training progressing well it was time to add some more launch failure practice to his skills. A demonstration of a go-around failure followed by Misha flying one sees him moving ever closer to his goal.

Misha ready for his launch failures.

Training continued throughout the day with Aiden Hughes and Ken Hamblyn. Both had soaring flights with some valuable stick time. Today we were visited by Richard Hicks for a ODC. Richard was supported by his family and was introduced to his gliding experience by duty BI Richard Roberts. Although initially a little nervous Richard H enjoyed his day with us.

Richard keeping a good lookout.

Richard's waiting for another flight.

Today's solo pilots Zack Smith (K8), Viktor Skochko (K8), Freddie Purkiss (K8), Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus) and Andy Davey (Ventus) all enjoyed flights of various durations. The longest flights were by Steve and Andy in excess of 3 hours each.

Steve's account:-

My task for the day was a little different with requests from friends to take pictures of their properties from the air. Luckily the lift to the south of the airfield allowed me to get all 3 pictures requested during my 3hrs 31mins. Some great climbs, some to 3400 feet.

Steve's view of the Puchacz over Tavistock.

One of Steve's good climbs.

Zack waiting in the K8.

Viktor ready to go.

I switched training aircraft to give John Osment a launch failure in the Puchacz. A successful flight saw John ready to re-convert to an Astir for the first time in many years.

John settled into the Astir.

After all the training, Zack requested a flight in the Puchacz to start his conversion towards flying the Astir.

Zack getting ready.

And promptly goes soaring.

A special thank you to both Scratch and Mike Bennett who both spent time with George Purkiss on the winch. George is now cleared to drive the winch. Well done George.

The Sunday Soarers made best of the day with several soaring flights.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 27 August 2025

Yesterday's newspaper headline was "This summer is the warmest ever, says Met Office".  I'll give our readers a moment to compose themselves after choking on their tea after that porkie pie.

Many of the Wednesday Wavers can remember the summer of 1976.  Apart from four pleasant warm spells, this year is nothing like 1976, as soaring pilots across the country will attest.

So to Wednesday's weather from our guru. 

Low pressure is dominating our weather at present.  A cold front should have passed over the field by mid-morning.  So first thing, there will be rain, but once the front clears, there should be a rapid improvement in the conditions.

Wind initially will be southerly, but once the front clears will go round to the west at 10 kts.  There should be some reasonable thermal activity from lunchtime on, 3 to 4 kts going to about 3,500ft, with the better conditions to the west of the field.

After putting Mackle the cat (my organic weather sensor) out this morning, he confirmed that it was raining, the temperature was 15C, but that it felt cooler in the southerly breeze.  He wasn't impressed by the Met Office's warmest summer ever.

Mike Bennett suitably attired whilst making the tea.  It was wet and cold outside.

Skysight had the frontal clearance at 1300.  So the first launch for a weather check was at 1243. The two Mikes (Jardine and Bennett) sampled the post-frontal sky, soaring for 12 minutes.  The forecast now realised, we had a great afternoon of soaring.  The postponement of our visitors to the afternoon, to make best use of the conditions, was carefully managed by Steve Fletcher, the Duty BI.

The view to the east while walking the K-8 to the launch point

Puddles on the centre track whilst heading east

But the sky was brightening to the west

The Twin syndicate get their glider ready.  Look at the low cloud over Mary Tavy.

Low cloud at the start of flying, before our visitors arrived

Waiting for improving skies

Then the sky in the west looked like this

First launch into variable cloud levels

The ghost in the machine?

Mike Bennett checks out the conditions. Nice thermal Mike.

A gloomy view to the South and Plymouth

First up was Joey Warren, a 96-year-old who flew some fundraising flights for her church with me a few months back.  Today, she enjoyed an extended soaring flight with Steve. 

"Old Hand" Joey Warren about to go soaring with Steve

The airfield from overhead Mary Tavy

Then it was the Fletchers' turn to fly.  All three of them.  A quiver of Fletchers perchance?  Steve flew his niece Amelia and his nephew George.  Both enjoyed soaring flights with their uncle.

Amelia ready to fly with her uncle

The Puchacz over Blackdown

Then it was the turn of Barry White (no jokes please, he has heard them all) to fly.  Barry enjoyed an extended soaring flight with Steve.

Barry White, and his support band, after his flight with Steve

A bird's eye view (or the K-8's at least) of the Puchacz

A closer look at the Puchacz

Our final visitor, Simon Wolstenholme, a former paraglider pilot, had two flights, including a soaring flight that finished with a hangar landing.  They probably didn't fly over his house at Lewdown, but they should have been able to see it.

John Allan briefs paraglider pilot Simon Wolstenholme on the Puchacz's instruments

Simon, keen to get back in the air with Steve

Back at the hangar, Steve presents Simon with his certificate

Our solo pilots enjoyed soaring in the K-8, with John Smith clocking up an hour and 10 minutes at the end of the day.  I think I achieved the highest climb in the K-8, finding cloudbase at 4,100 feet, above airfield height, to the west of Tavistock, the XK10 variometer singing like a homesick angel.  Meanwhile, John Allan ventured along the Tamar Valley.

The River Tamar from Calstock, to Cotehele, the Hamoaze and the south coast

View of Bere Ferrers and the River Tamar.

Our trainees, Ian and Neal all made good progress in their training with multiple or long soaring flights.  DB also managed two flights with the Duty Instructor, one was a soaring flight.

Later in the day climbing to cloud base to 4,100 feet with Ian King

Peter manages to catch DB unawares and snap a photo

The Twin Astir added to the party with Malcolm and Robin clocking up 1 hour and 11 minutes. 

The majesty of Dartmoor

It was a day that started off soggy and then turned out well.  Twenty flights were made on a glorious afternoon. Throughout the blog, there have been multiple references to soaring.  Yes, there was a lot of it.  In fact, all but four flights were soaring flights.  The Wednesday Wavers averaged over 26 minutes per flight today.  Not bad for an afternoon's work in August.

Gavin Short