As with any sport gliding is all about teamwork, whether within an individual Club or when different Clubs work together to help their members. So it was great to find, on arriving at North Hill today, that we had some Dartmoor Gliding Society members joining us for the day, as we continue to build the teamwork between our two Clubs. With a flying list already quite long before 9:00am, it was then a question of deciding whether the airfield had dried out enough to allow winch launching as being able to do so would allow more flights to be completed during the day. Whilst this was being decided both DSGC and DGS members organised getting the K21 and DG505 out of the hangar.
 |
| Winching again (Mike Sloggett) |
With a number of instructors present and all keen to make the most of the opportunity to retain/regain flying currency this enabled a group discussion on what would be the best decision for the day, particularly taking into account the anticipated ‘Blue Card’ conditions at the launch point in the South West corner of the airfield.
 |
| Stu Procter and James Hood getting back in check (Stu Procter) |
With all the various instructors having contributed their views and opinions the decision was made to complete daily inspections on the two-seaters and set up for winch launching on the basis that the field was continuing to drain and dry well in the strong wind and that the cable retrieve runs could be varied to avoid unnecessary damage to the field. Meanwhile the Pawnee was brought out of the hangar and with everyone keen to get into the air gliders were soon being walked down to the other end of the airfield.
First launches of the day were taken by instructors keen to get back into the air after various unflyable days and then it was on with the flying list - with enough instructors and ground helpers a decision was made to continue flying through lunchtime.
With various optimistic views re potential strong wave to the West of the airfield a Junior was brought down early afternoon but the potential strong wave remained just that.
First launches of the day were taken by instructors keen to get back into the air after various unflyable days and then it was on with the flying list - with enough instructors and ground helpers a decision was made to continue flying through lunchtime.
With various optimistic views re potential strong wave to the West of the airfield a Junior was brought down early afternoon but the potential strong wave remained just that.
 |
| Small puffy white clouds (Mike Sloggett) |
By late afternoon the flying list had been completed and after a check to make sure everyone who wanted to fly had flown, hangar flights were soon being completed.
With a total of 32 winch and aerotow launches today a really good day when everyone, whether from DSGC or DGS, ‘played their part’ to get others into the air - thank you everyone! - Mike Sloggett
With a total of 32 winch and aerotow launches today a really good day when everyone, whether from DSGC or DGS, ‘played their part’ to get others into the air - thank you everyone! - Mike Sloggett
 |
| Wyn and Trevor in Wales (Wyn Davies) |
And Wyn Davies had sneaked off to Nympsfield to fly the Brecon Beacons with Trevor Stuart.
