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 3hours 52 minutes in his Mini Nimbus. Other notable flight were Steve Fletcher ( Open Cirrus) 1:39, Malcom 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 

Dartmoor Gliding News - Sunday 24th March 2024

For the second time only this year, aviation was going to be committed on a Sunday this year. What seemed to be continuous wet weather and low cloud every Sunday gave way to a forecast possible 2500ft cloudbase, light north/north-westerly wind with some possible soaring conditions. A K13 and the Astir were DI'd and towed to the east end launch point.

Astir & K13 ready for aviation.

First to fly with me was Junior Toby Irons. Very keen Toby has been itching to get back in the air and progress with his flying. After the first three flights, he was spot landing the K13 opposite the bus. Later in the day he had another three flights during which he completed his first complete flight from take-off to landing.

Toby itching to get back into the air.

We were joined today by One Day Course student Hannah Delaney. Hannah arrived with mum, dad and sister and has career ambitions to join the RAF. She enjoyed her day with us with 50 minutes in the air including a 23 minute soaring flight.

Hannah with duty BI Phil.

And off they go...

Next to fly with me was David Morley. David was getting back up to speed after the break due to weather and committing time to training a puppy to eventually become a guide dog.

K13 getting ready for another flight.

Astir pilots Steve Fletcher, Andy Davey and Phil Hardwick took turns to try and make use of the soarable conditions. Longest flight was achieved by Andy with 38 minutes and he only returned to return to the winch. Thanks Andy.

Not to be left out, Howard Irons (Toby's dad) was treated to a trial flight with Steve Fletcher. I wonder if this could lead to Toby's flying fund being cut.

Howard and Steve.

Thanks to all at the field today all messing in to keep things moving. Only 19 flights achieved, but all flew, some soaring and achievements made.

Peter Howarth

Dartmoor Gliding News - Wednesday 20th March 2024

Once again the day started grey, gloomy with low cloud and everyone arriving at the airfield was expecting the field to be too wet to fly. Then the Duty Instructor, Mike Optimist Jardine arrived and  having inspected the airfield and consulted the met forecast and stood watching the Tors slowly appear said the magic words ’Lets give it a go’.

John and David in the hangar wondering if they heard correctly.

The usual Wednesday band of  happy folk then quickly set up the field and got two K13s out to the launch point ready to fly.

K13 on it's way to the launch point.

The club secretary arrived with the first set of cables felt it appropriate to Salute ’those who are about to fly’. …. sorry about twisting the Roman Emperors words.

The cables arriving.

The cloud base continued to rise and the first flight took off at 11.06.

Mike Bennet and Mike Jardine took the first cable and Mr B expertly found the gaps between the clouds.

Mike up in the clouds.

Above the clouds.

Peter Howarth, our recently appointed BGA instructor of the year, offered to do check flights and instructing alongside Mike Jardine, allowing us to get through the flying list quickly. Due to the fragile state of the airfield accurate landings were required, otherwise you would end up with a glider stuck in the mud. Out of the 22 flights only 2 ended up in the wrong place.

This is where they should have landed.

Everyone flew and we had a great time. Around 1400 the cloud started to come down, but there were large gaps, but you had to time the launch well. 

It was all going well….. 

…..but on the very last landing of the day CCY decided to deflate its main wheel …..

Never the best of places to change a wheel!

13 members flew, Colin and Gavin worked all day in the workshop. It was good to see Guy Balmer and David Morley back in the air after a long break. The conditions didn’t allow soaring but the Flight of the day of 9 minutes went to Malcolm Wilton-Jones  who found a little lift with two Buzzards joining him at the end of the day.

At last we got some flying in, yippeee!

Steve Fletcher