Sun 30th January

The morning started with clear blue skies and a touch of frost, but with a scrubbed day yesterday and Thursday, there were a lot of members up bright and early emptying the hangar at 9am!

The flying list nearly filled the page, so five Club gliders were taken out, with the K6, DRE rigged too with Josh Funnell, Dan Hender, Charlie Stuckey and Jack Raybould taking turns. However, once launching began, and members were still arriving (late due to delays on the M5) the decision was made to get out the other Junior as well, so the whole fleet was then in use. 

Clouds moved in during the afternoon (Sally Hender)

Well done Dave Perriam on passing the Bronze flying test with Mark Courtney. 

Well done Dave Perriam (Mark Courtney)

 

With circuits the name of the game today there was no winch launch that lasted longer than 16 mins. We struggled to get everyone airborne but just about managed to by 4pm. Thank you to everyone who turned up early and stayed all day, the Instructors that stepped in and helped with training, and the very effective DLM’s, Dave Weeks and Dave Cowley. - Sally Hender

Wed 26th January

 A grey start to the day but the weather showed potential. The field was inspected and considered plenty dry enough which prompted us to ‘get the toys out’. Both K21’s, the Junior and the DG505 were DI’d & Launch Control was setup in the North East corner. 

A bit grey to start (Julian West)

With around a dozen members present, the first launch took place just after 10:00. Instructors outnumbered students by 3:1 to the great benefit of the only student!

Improving sunshine (Julian West)

 Morning flights were relatively short & conditions remained calm. Everyone was kept busy and launch point operations ran smoothly.

Period of sunshine in the afternoon (Stewart Henshall)

 Numerous cable breaks after lunchtime slowed the launches but after some skilled repairs normal business resumed. Better conditions followed with a short period of sunshine, 1700 feet was achieved in the Junior. Visibility deteriorated as the afternoon progressed although the wind picked up a little.

 

A pleasant winter flying day (Julian West)

 Flying continued right up to around 16:30. All in all a surprisingly pleasant flying day was had by all with 33 launches in total. - Julian West

Tue 25th January - Condor Racing

An interesting zig-zag route from North Hill to Halesland which most did in K21s, with good but sometimes sparse thermals. 

 

A good turnout, out of the 8 who started, 7 completed, with 1 bravely doing it on his own as he got disconnected due to computer issues - well done Kevin Fairburn. Some of the group had flown this route on Condor over a year ago, but thought it worth another go, particularly as it was without PDA so we had to navigate with maps and the mark one eyeball. Kevin who has only recently joined the group of online racers, had never done one of these before so he was definitely thrown in at the deep end. 

We run Condor races online on Tuesday and Sunday evenings  if you would like to join in,  fly, or watch a live stream and listen to the banter, then Stewart Henshall has written some useful notes to get you started - Chris Warnes

Sun 23rd January

There was quite a good turn out of members this morning, considering how many were at the club yesterday, so all the toys were got out and taken to the west end. The first launch was taken at 10.40am which Ron Johns ended up pulling off at 600ft due to low cloud, so the decision was made to pause for coffee and try again an hour later.
We tried again at 12.30, but again having to pull off early due to cloud, so the flight was turned into a hangar landing, and the decision was made to put everything away. So with the instructors taking the gliders back via hangar landings there was a total of five (very short) flights!
The kit was then packed away and we returned to the cafe for more teas and coffees. Thanks to everyone for at least trying! 

Model flying (Sally Hender)

Once all was packed away, Kevin Fairburn produced two radio controlled aircraft to fly, which drew quite a crowd on the airfield! - Sally Hender

Sat 22nd January

 Well highlight of the day……Andrew Broderick converted to the Junior- well done Andrew.

 

Andrew Broderick converts to Junior (Andy Broderick)

Other news, - the Eurofox  demonstrator arrived, fourth time lucky! DRE was rigged again (ever hopeful). With a great turnout of members the airfield was set up early and the first winch launch was taken just before the 10am cheap deadline, with Martin Woolner the duty instructor. 

Eurofox 140 demonstrator (Stuart Procter)

 With the arrival of the Eurofox shortly after 10am the airfield cleared with interested parties wanting a nose! We then had a busy morning, with a mixture of winch and aerotow launches, with lots of positive feedback heard in the Launchpoint. We even had a weak link break behind the Fox, when it was being put through its paces, with James Flory and Stuart Thomson in the Perkoz carefully dropping the rope in the triangle for collection, very considerate.
With a total of 10 launches behind the Eurofox and lots of data collected, Roger Cornwell left at about 2pm to head home, thanks for your visit.

Flying continued with a greatly reduced membership on the airfield, James Flory and Stuart Procter finishing the two-seater flying list by 4pm when with dropping temperatures we finished for the day. With 56 flights, a great day was had flying, thanks to everyone for a good day. - Sally Hender (a very chilly logger and blogger)

Thurs 20th January

Thursday started cold with a clear blue sky, and a crosswind from the north, initially there seemed to be a hint of west (contrary to the forecast), and the Duty Instructor opted for the wrong end. So after 2 winch  launches  and 2 aerotows there was a change of ends.......

Launching to the west (Mark Layton)

With a more "into-wind crosswind" the winch launches achieved greater heights and flight times were extended with the help of some weak lift. 

Long wintertime shadows (Mark Layton)

 George Sanderson held the record for the longest flight (19mins) from the winch for most of the afternoon,  until  the  Junior hangar flights when John Borland also got 19 mins, and  Pete Startup claimed  20mins. 

Shuffle down a bit Ron (Mike Sloggett)

 Chris Wool was busy with IFP / BI training flights with Andy Williams and Robert Lee, and Ron Johns managed to squeeze into a Junior. 

Setting sun (Stewart Henshall)

 With no misting canopies this week, and the low setting sun not causing any issues on approach, flying continued until very close to sunset. 34 winch launches and 6 aerotows - Thanks to everyone, great teamwork - J&P

Wed 19th January

 Glenn Turpin was standing in for John Sillett, and suggested that the forecast would give an afternoon of flying. 

Frontal clearance (Stewart Henshall)

 Meanwhile Julian West took advantage of the poor weather in the morning to practice cable breaks in the DSGC simulator and found the automated random generator very realistic and helpful fitting in with training progress. 

 There was an early lunch for the patient few, and flying started at 13:30 following the frontal clearance. 

 Just nine launches, but well worthwhile given the limited flying recently. - J&P

Sun 16th January

Almost 60 DSGC members showed up at the club on Sunday. We’re guessing it was the hope of experiencing the Eurofox 915 demonstration that Chairman Nick had arranged. 

Rigging K6 DRE in the orographic fog (Mark Courtney)

  The ever-optimistic Juniors, led by Dan Hender, rigged the K6 DRE,  but Mother Nature (and the North Hill micro-climate) still showed that she has the upper hand by enshrouding the hill in orographic fog. Despite the forecast, the fog didn’t start dissipating until after 10 am, and by then, the Eurofox dealer (who was also experiencing weather issues at his airstrip) notified us that that he would have to cancel the demonstration.

Ever hopeful for some currency circuits (Mark Courtney)

  So with so many “willing” bodies milling around, chores and projects were hastily arranged. A minor repair to the tug hangar, a gear box oil change on the mower, rigging HCX after its annual inspection and of course de-rigging DRE were all completed along with endless cups of tea and coffee.

Repairing the minor modification to the Tug hangar (Tom Sides)

 

 It wasn’t until 1pm that the skies started  to openup sufficiently for any potential flying, but by then, many of the members had given up and gone back home. Mark Courtney and Simon Leeson managed to utilise a 1 hour window to fly Rotax  Falke, primarily to maintain currency.  Another date for the Eurofox demo is being arranged. - Tom Sides

Sat 15th January

There were only a handful of keen members at the Club by 9:00, with others possibly being put off by the less than fantastic forecast. However, it was soon clear that the cloudbase was above 2,000 feet and the visibility was good, all with a very light westerly wind. Where was everyone, possibly waiting to try a tow behind the Eurofox tomorrow?

 

8 aerotows today (James Flory)

The next challenge was whether we would have enough people to winch. Mark Courtney was unable to make it as Duty Instructor so James Flory stood in and by 9:30 we had a tug pilot in the form of Stuart Procter.  Thus the decision was made to fly aerotow only. The kit was soon unpacked and what followed was a very pleasant few hours flying with just two gliders - a K21 and a Junior. The flights weren’t long but the conditions were silky smooth and the views were great.

James checking out Blackborough (James Flory)

  By about 13:30 everyone who wanted to fly had done so, so the kit was safely returned to the hangar, with eight flights in total. All in all, a good morning’s flying, with people being able to regain currency and enjoy a nice flight.

Thanks to everyone who made it possible, a great team effort. - James Flory

Thurs 13th January

 Another blue sky winters day and this time for the Thursday regulars. There was a slight delay while the air warmed up after the overnight frost, but with light and variable  winds forecast,  the hangar was emptied  and first launch was just after 10:30am.

Launch point lineup (Mike Sloggett)

Launches were high with 1600 - 1700ft being reported, and the very still air gave some good flight times for circuits. There was a strong inversion with visibility hazy in the lower levels.

Sparkling inversion over Devon (Mike Horwood)

Andy Williams started some IFP / BI training with Chris Wool, and many took advantage of the clear skies to take high aerotows. Thanks to Tuggies Mark Courtney, James Flory and Robert Lee. Everyone enjoyed the warm sunshine after the recent run of grey days (especially on Thursdays).

Queuing for a wash and brush up (Mike Horwood)

 As the sun started dropping, the canopies misted and brought an abrupt end to proceedings, but everyone had flown. Thanks all - a lovely winter's day flying - 20 winch launches and 10 aerotows. - J&P

Wed 12th January

“What is that strange yellow glowing thing in the sky” said the Wednesday regulars. "It’s like nothing we’ve seen for weeks and weeks, and there’s not even a gale force wind to deal with.” After a quick check by John Sillett that the field could support flying activities, the enthusiastic pilots then make quick shrift of the daily inspections and walking the gliders up to the west end and getting on with flying. 

It was, to be fair, a light wind providing more of a gliding day than a soaring day, but that gave us all a chance for improving our currency. Chris Warnes had the honour of providing the 1st First Flight for 2022 and Mike Meatyard progressed to flying a Junior. Peter Field was able to exercise the Pawnee on several aerotows and we welcomed back Paul Davie, Dunstable Life Member who lives in Budleigh Salterton. - Tom Sides

Roly and Sally in G-CDSC

 Sally Hender enjoyed a fabulous flight in Rotax Falke with Roly Clarke, They flew to Dunkeswell then on to Sidmouth, following the coast down to Torbay,......

Teign Estuary (Sally Hender)

 .....then back to Crediton and back to North Hill via the roof of her house. The weather was great, lovely views over Devon with pretty good visibility, and lovely company. What a great way to spend a day off work!  - Sally Hender

Wed 5th January

 Happy New Year to you all!

 December saw the second least flying days since Tom has been taking records (10 years), but with a transient ridge of high pressure forecast for Wednesday, it was hoped that the field maybe just dry enough to allow flying.

John Sillett and Glenn Turpin spent some time inspecting the field, whilst members peered out of the “relatively” warm clubhouse, their noses pressed against the window like puppies waiting for their master to return.

It was decided that we could operate using the now familiar “north strip” launching to the west with a gentle NW wind and winching was possible! With the long winch run most launch heights exceeded 1400ft.

A briefing by John made it quite clear there were to be no wheel breaks used today unless absolutely necessary, also he pointed out we had to be prepared to move the launch point if the ground should cut up, thankfully this was not the case. The hangar was completely emptied in anticipation of a very busy day, much to our amazement there were very few members early on, the alarm clocks no doubt rusty with lack of use over the long holiday period.

Instructor checkouts CFI Stu Procter with Mark (Mark Courtney)

 As the morning wore on a few more members arrived having probably looked the webcams and seen that we were flying despite the recent very heavy rain. Glenn set about flying with any members needing check flights, it was clear to all who flew today that George Sanderson had replaced all the straps in the gliders with tighter ones, there also seems to be much less room In the cockpits for some reason………

With so few members needing instructing  it enabled the other instructors to fly with each other to blow away the cobwebs and regain currency. From the start extended circuits were possible, over lunch it became quite good, and pilots were able to enjoy rare winter thermals ( and not just not the ones they were wearing!)

Blowing away cobwebs (Mark Courtney)

The motor glider VG was flown all day by various syndicate members, some reporting weak wave in the valley, indeed throughout the day wave would  appear at various locations, sadly always out of reach.

In the end it was a very pleasant day indeed, cold at first but warming up quickly, sadly the good weather is not due to last into Thursday.  Fingers crossed for the weekend, especially for Sunday when members are encouraged to come along and have an aerotow behind a Eurofox tug which is due in for demonstrations.

I really hope George fits the old straps back in time…… - Mark Courtney