Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 24th April 2024

This was the third consecutive flying day at DGS this year where we flew.  Are things returning to normal?  A light northerly was forecast (Ed: It was cold in the wind) with the day becoming thermic, some blasts of sunshine, but mostly cloudy.  Plenty of members were ready for refreshers, conversions to glass, and continuing to make solo progress.

In the hangar today there was plenty of activity too in preparing the third two-seater ready for the "Women Go Gliding" event that we are hosting this weekend (Ed: If the Met Office forecasts will let us!)  This involved turning the fuselage of FGR the right way up after its new skirt was fitted. A refurnished release hook replaced the existing one (Ed: these are periodically changed as part of routine maintenance and sent back to TOST in Germany for overhaul).  Later in the day a call for hands allowed the glider to be rigged and CCY derigged to make space in the hangar (Ed:  Whose idea was it to have four two-seaters in our inventory - a bigger hangar anyone?)

An initial check flight was the order of the day for Hugh Gascoyne.  David Moorley started his training with Duty Instructor Mike Jardine.  Steve Fletcher flew the Puchacz with Phil Hardwick before Pill got his Twin Astir out of the T-hangar.  Meanwhile Peter Howarth held the K-8 aloft for 25 minutes.

Peter's view of the airfield and Blackdown Moor

The Peter grabs a hasty snap of the Twin Astir (Phil and Robin) passing underneath him

Inspired by Peter's flight John Allan flew in his Mini-Nimbus for 55 minutes. After David Moorley had racked up a total of six flights with the Duty Instructor it was time for Alasdair to fly in GDK.  Then, after a bit of instructor re-validation in the Puchacz for Mike (Ed: I think that's who was evaluating whom!), Peter turned his attention to John Smith who wished to make some conversion flights in the Puchacz

We were visited by recent DSGC (Ed: North hill) member Andy, who hails from Lydford.  He wanted to explore our set up and he was interested in flying with us under the reciprocal club scheme (Ed: Andy you are most welcome. We look forward to seeing young again soon).

John Smith prepares for some conversion flights in the Puchacz

Wings level

Airborne

And up he goes

When John Smith finished sampling the delights of the Puchacz Steve Fletcher and David Archer took some solo flights before Dave tried the Puchacz.

David Archer gets acquainted with Puchacz while Duty Instructor Mike enjoys the fleeting sunshine

Hugh Gascoyne prepares to take David David Moult aloft as part of his rehabilitation programme

Alasdair relaxes before his second launch in K-8, GDK (Ed: Another solo flight for his log book)

John Allan's Mini-Nimbus contemplates the darkening sky (Ed: What's wrong with this picture? Answers on a post card to the CFI, please)

I came up to the launch point after finishing in the hangar to find that we were on the countdown to the end of the day.  The Puchacz and K-13, FSD, had both been launched for hangar landings. Final cables had arrived and been allocated for the K-8 and the Mini-Nimbus.  All I had to do was watch the last launches of the day then FSD landed....at the launch point.  Hugh had misunderstood the plan so another cable was summoned from the winch.  Hugh, keen to get his hours up and practice from the rear seat needed some front ballast.  So I enjoyed the unusual experience of being a non-handling pilot in the front seat of a K-13.

What of John Allan on the last flight of the day?

He reports "I tucked in under a nice dark black cloud street to Burrator and back at around 3000ft. These photos were taken at 1740hrs."  John landed shortly after this having had 1 hour and 4 minutes aloft thereby taking "Man of the match".

John making good progress under the street towards Tavistock on his homeward leg

John returning to Tavistock after visiting Burrator (Ed: Note 3 knots of climb at 1742.  The days are getting longer)

After a certain amount of hangar juggling all the gliders, including CCY's fuselage and wings, were tucked up safely which allowed the CFI and Flight Instructors to discuss membership issues with David Moult who had submitted a paper on the subject following a survey of our members.

David "Hipster" Moult reflects on his enjoyable return to gliding

This was a Wednesday where we flew some 30 launches.  Normality is almost restored to DGS.  Duty Instructor Mike "Noah" Jardine must be losing his touch and the days are turning to dryness as opposed to wetness (Ed: Hurrah).

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 20th April 2024

The forecast for today looked great. No rain, wind light(ish) from the east going around via north to eventually settle to the west. This would mean a change of ends but in the event the westerlies did not arrive while we were flying so flying was from the west end all day. RASP was very encouraging. The only possible downside was that the day was almost certainly going to remain blue; ie no cumulus to mark the thermals.

Blue sky to the NW

The view to the east from the launchpoint

We had 4 visitors today. Phil Proyer, Julie Nottig, Don Gillbarty, and Judith Starks all of whom had soaring flights with our assembled instructors,

Judith and Scratch flew in the Puchacz

Don flew with me in CCY

Julie flew with Rick in CCY

Right from the off it was bouyant. It was the usual scratch away from low down with thermals steadily getting bigger and stronger the higher you went, with 6 knot+ climbs available to about 4000ft QFE (4800ft above sea level). The solo pilots made good use of the conditions with lots of soaring flights best of which was John Allan 3 hours 52 minutes in his Mini Nimbus. Other notable flight were Steve Fletcher (Open Cirrus) 1:39, Malcolm Wilton-Jones flying the clubs Astir CS77 2:17 and Adam Hoskin in his bright yellow K6 1:33.

Rick's view of Tavistock from 4000ft QFE

Back seat view from the Puchacz still climbing at 4000ft

John's view of Burrator Resevoir and ...

... his view of the NW corner of Dartmoor

Adam took this view of the Tamar Estuary and Plymouth

Elsewhere the refurbishment of FGR's undercarriage moved on with just the new vinyl skirt to refit. FSD had it's new hook fitted and was rigged and taped ready for a test flight and to rejoin the fleet.

The day finished with the committee holding their routine meeting.

A great day

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 14th April 2024

At last another Sunday when flying could be done at Brentor. With a light wind straight down the strip the Puchacz, a K13 and a K8 were readied and towed to the east end launch point. Early flights would be check flights for those that needed followed by training flights.

First flight was Steve Fletcher with me for a re-acquaint of the Puchacz ready for our visitors during the day.

Steve brings the Puchacz smoothly down.

Next to fly with me Adam Hoskin who after a quick launch failure and circuit was cleared to fly solo again. Adam was followed by Ed Borlase who was also cleared after a short soaring flight and launch failure.

Ed's view of the Puchacz sharing a thermal.

The Puchacz view of the K13.

Our first visitor arrived. Steve's neighbour John Siewruk was flown by Steve and enjoyed a 33 minute soaring flight.

John enjoying silent flight.

John receiving his certificate.

Close on John's heels was our next visitor Simon Grainger. Simon came from Copplestone near Exeter to enjoy 2 flights with Steve. The second was a 28 minute soaring flight.

Simon and Steve ready to go.

My next trainee was Sean Westrope. With only one flight in the last 6 months Sean needed to brush off the cobwebs and get back into the swing of things. His first flight was a wake up call. A cable break at 500ft which was well handled in accordance with his eventualities. After a few name calls he realised it was actually a real break and nothing to do with me. Further flights including another real break and a hangar fight at the end of the day should see him back solo on the next flying day.

Sean being launched by enthusiastic junior Toby.

Last trainee for the day was Toby Irons. With his last flights three weeks ago, today was used to refine and polish his launches, circuits and landings. Two complete flights with little prompting sees him well on his way through his training.

Solo pilots Adam Hoskin, Ed Borlase and John Allan all enjoyed flights in the K8. They were also joined by Gavin Short who came to the launch point for a couple of flights after working in the hangar with Colin Boyd.

John's view of Tavistock.

John claimed flight of the day with 44 minutes. Thank you to all at the club today. A successful day getting back into the air with some soaring added in as well.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Friday 12th April 2024 - The Met Office goes to print

Last year one of our members,  Ed Borlase, spent a considerable effort working with the Met Office to get Aidan McGirven and his team to Dartmoor Gliding Society for the day.

Organising such event is always weather dependent which is rather apt considering who the visitors were.

This was achieved on Tuesday 22 August 2023 which fortuitously was one of the few good days in August last year.

This is the blog covering the Met Office's visit.

The Met Office visit Dartmoor Gliding 

Off they go

Today the Met office published their blog about the day and their explanation of gliding weather, and the final video (Ed:  Apparently they have been busy with the autumn, winter, and spring forecasts.  I could have summarised that for them "Rain"! Of note the south west reservoirs total storage was at 99.2% on 7 April 2024).

Enjoy Ed's Story

Ed Borlase's story

Ed in his K6

and the video

Gliding weather explained - In the elements - Met Office

Aidan enjoying the launch

I think it was worth the wait.  Thank you Ed and the Met Office.

Gavin Short

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 13th April 2024

After the incredibly wet start to 2024 it was nice to see a forecast for today that did not include any significant rainfall. The airfield has dried out sufficiently so it was game on. The forecast winds showed southerly initially swinging to the west and strengthening somewhat, and that is pretty much what happened.

Wind nearly down the runway made for an easy day

We fielded two K13s and a K8. Club members were keen to get flying some making use of the K8 and some checking out with Instructor Mike Jardine.

I had a quick flight K13 flight with Mike before flying our visitors

We were visited today by three scouts from Crownhill in Plymouth who flew and received the briefings required for their Gliding Badges. Also starting out with us today was Viktor Skochko who kicked off his flying training with a One Day Course.

Scouts Connor, George and Henry with me after flying.

Right from the first flight there was some bubbles of lift to be found around the circuit which did not go to any great heights but allowed for a little entertainment and extended circuits. Longest flight was just 13 minutes shared by myself (K13) and Malcolm (K8) but very welcome after the winter layoff.

The view from circuit height

Several pilots reported sharing thermals with the local buzzards

The K8 as seen from a K13

CFI Rick Wiles was also on site today. His time was used doing BI / IFP re-validation flights.

By late afternoon the weather suddenly changed with the wind strengthening significantly and the cloudbase lowering to tree top height over about a 15 minute period (was this the forecast front passing through?) so the gliders were returned to the safety of the hangar. As the winch was on the airfield we took advantage of this slightly early finish to replace one of the cables. By the time this was done the weather had recycled again and we left the airfield under a largely clear sky.

Good to be flying again.

Steve

Dartmoor Gliding News - Saturday 23rd March 2024

Finally a Saturday when It is not raining and the airfield has dried out enough to fly. It was windy but more or less straight down the runway so the option was taken to get some flying in.

A pair of K13's waiting for action

Not the most encouraging sky but flyable

The day progressed with everyone flying with CFI Rick. The flying was interrupted from time to time as passing showers moved through bringing quite turbulent gust fronts with them. There was signs thermal lift but the very strong upper winds were tearing them apart making them pretty much unusable.

Passing showers treated us to a rainbow or two

Sheltering in the bus.

Three flights shared longest of the day with just 8 minutes. Alasdair Barclay, Andy Davey both with Rick in the back and Scratch with Valerie in the front seat.

Rick and Andy getting ready

And off they go

Valerie waiting for her flight

Meanwhile back in the hangar Gavin, Adam and I took advantage of the conditions to add  Dartmoor Gliding Livery to both the Puchacz and Astir CS77, Gavin and I then carried out a review of the Puchacz factory weight and balance adding the BGA concession allowances and then simplifying the cockpit Placards and loading charts. 

Bit of team work to get the decals on straight
( Gavin is supervising from behind the camera)

The finished job

And here's one we did earlier

The day finished with the gliders getting a wash and returned safely to the hangar.

A determined day.

Steve