A very busy day in the DSGC Clubhouse with the BGA Maintenance Course led by BGA Chief Technical Officer, Gordon MacDonald, but a very quiet Airfield after a cloud covered start. All the Trial Lesson visitors enjoyed their flights and there were a couple of other flights as well - as it was rude not
too!
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| Lisa Humphries and Phil Grant in the sunshine to the west of North Hill (Lisa Humphries) |
Thanks to Andrew Logan for arranging the Course and to Gordon for the excellent presentation, I am sure all that attended appreciated it! - Lisa Humphries
Why was it so quiet today at North Hill? well with 21 DSGC members taking part in the 1-day course, a bunch of Junior members and their Mentors starting their half-term expedition to the Long Mynd, a few members just returned from Portmoak and there was something going on over Dartmoor....... J&P
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| Matt Williamson in 611 searching for wave over Mary Tavy (Matt Williamson) |
Brentor
Following a trip to Mendip last week, Matthew Williamson continued his relentless search for the best gliding conditions in the country on any given day, by a visit to Dartmoor Gliding Club. This site is known for wave in an easterly wind and an east wind was forecast. I was 'dragged' along (as Matt would put it), but truth be told I needed little persuasion. It is 5 minute drive from my house and why I've not visited before is a mystery. Brentor (as it's otherwise known due to it's location next door to the famous tor/church combo) is a smaller club than DSGC, but a very friendly welcome awaited us complete with log burner and cups of tea being offered the second we arrived. After a few technical glitches with tractors and winches, the club K13 was launched. Some rotor/wave like conditions were found which enabled a flight slightly longer than a circuit.
Following a trip to Mendip last week, Matthew Williamson continued his relentless search for the best gliding conditions in the country on any given day, by a visit to Dartmoor Gliding Club. This site is known for wave in an easterly wind and an east wind was forecast. I was 'dragged' along (as Matt would put it), but truth be told I needed little persuasion. It is 5 minute drive from my house and why I've not visited before is a mystery. Brentor (as it's otherwise known due to it's location next door to the famous tor/church combo) is a smaller club than DSGC, but a very friendly welcome awaited us complete with log burner and cups of tea being offered the second we arrived. After a few technical glitches with tractors and winches, the club K13 was launched. Some rotor/wave like conditions were found which enabled a flight slightly longer than a circuit.
Matthew
was patiently waiting his turn in ASW20 611, so was more than happy(!)
to see myself launched before him, flying with club instructor Mike
Jardine in the K13. This was mostly to test out the new (to the club)
winch, the operation of which was still being fine tuned. Due to the
lack of senior instructors to run the site, this was a 'ride along'
only, but served a purpose to gain some level of familiarity with the
field layout. Matthew was launched just after us, and we had a fun 15
minutes competition trying to find the 'good bits' of sky.
Unfortunately Matthew won. An hour later and feeling slightly sick from
almost continually turning in small patches of rotor/wavey lift which
faded at just over 2000ft, Matthew decided he should land. Or maybe he
should after just a minute or two? Maybe if the right patch of sky was
found, the lift would continue past that ceiling? An hour and 15
minutes later he decided that this wasn't to be the case! On exit from
the glider there was a few seconds where vomit looked like a real
possibility. I'm guessing it was worth it for the 'longest flight of
the day' badge?
The
general consensus from the locals on the lack of wave, seemed to be
that the upper air wasn't moving in the same direction as nearer the
ground. Wave or no wave, a splendid day out was had at a gliding club
with unique character and some unique characters. It's definitely worth
a visit if you're ever in the area as they're always pleased to see new
faces. - Tim Peters
