For any glider pilot it is not always easy to explain the “fun and enjoyment” from being launched into the air very quickly on the end of a long rope and then the excitement of finding a thermal to keep a glider aloft - and not forgetting the disappointment of being unsuccessful and having to land to have another flight. Similarly it is always interesting to see how visitors to the sport of gliding are evidently feeling as their turn to fly comes around.
Today we welcomed some visitors from Devon Youth Service (DYS) Space - a youth charity based in various Devon locations - the Club having extended an invitation to DYS Space as part of DSGC’s commitment to supporting the local community and junior flying in particular.
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| DYS Space from Tiverton (Jenny Lindlow) |
When the morning group were asked who wanted to go first one of the visitors quickly volunteered and it was evident that the rest of the group were suitably relieved that they would not be first. However with a comprehensive safety briefing including an emphasis of enjoying the visit and having fun soon the morning visitors were at the launch point and being shown the gliders in which they would be flying.
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| Ready to launch (Mike Sloggett) |
Despite a brisk Northerly wind, launch heights were such that if one took off at the right time it was possible to get away on the evident thermals and show some visitors the fun of finding helpful clouds - but as ever it was also as easy to find the areas of sink meaning just circuits for some visitors. All of the morning visitors had two flights with the group helpers also being encouraged to try gliding.
During the morning Andy Davey took an aerotow with a Junior and blew the cobwebs away with some aerobatics. Just after midday with all of the morning group having flown and with the thermals evidently over-developed, it was time for a lunchbreak for the hard-working Club members who had quietly but efficiently been launching gliders all morning.
Then early afternoon as the afternoon group arrived, then so did brighter and sunny skies start to appear - and with a slightly smaller group of visitors a decision was made to complete some Club flying.
During the morning Andy Davey took an aerotow with a Junior and blew the cobwebs away with some aerobatics. Just after midday with all of the morning group having flown and with the thermals evidently over-developed, it was time for a lunchbreak for the hard-working Club members who had quietly but efficiently been launching gliders all morning.
Then early afternoon as the afternoon group arrived, then so did brighter and sunny skies start to appear - and with a slightly smaller group of visitors a decision was made to complete some Club flying.
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| Improving skies (Mike Sloggett) |
And as the afternoon progressed, then so the skies continued to improve with pilots reporting strong thermals straight off the winch launch up to a cloudbase of circa 3000’ above the airfield.
The good areas of lift enabled us to show our afternoon visitors the fun of flying across different parts of the local area with good visibility providing views of South Wales and the South Coast all the way to Portland Bill.
The good areas of lift enabled us to show our afternoon visitors the fun of flying across different parts of the local area with good visibility providing views of South Wales and the South Coast all the way to Portland Bill.
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| Great visibility (Mike Sloggett) |
And various Club members also had afternoon fun with Hans Jenssen taking a Junior to cloudbase, John Borland (DG300 FAJ) getting away third time lucky after a couple of morning circuits and Peter Smith/Rob Rand staying aloft for an hour - and whilst Stu Procter/Martin Woolner and Mike Sloggett/James Flory took advantage of the unused Perkoz and K21 respectively to also enjoy the thermic conditions all around the airfield.
As ever today could not have happened without the excellent teamwork from Club members on the ground to help get others into the air - thank you all - Mike Sloggett
As ever today could not have happened without the excellent teamwork from Club members on the ground to help get others into the air - thank you all - Mike Sloggett
