The last day of our long weekend visit to Brentor airfield, home of the Dartmoor Gliding Society, with the three days having ‘flown by’. The weather forecast suggested a day similar to the previous couple of days, with thermals not likely to be marked by fluffy white clouds so it would be a question of understanding/finding out where the local ‘hot spots’ might be working.
DSGC Sunday team (Mike Sloggett)
After a morning brief for the four DSGC pilots who had not flown at Brentor before, it was on with the flying, the SupaCat winch capably launching KEK to around 1400’ in the light Easterly wind.
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| DGS launchpoint (Mike Sloggett) |
As ever with gliding and particularly looking for thermals in a very blue sky, it was a question of trying to find some lift for the first climb of a flight - some pilots were successful, some not but with good teamwork on the ground between the local and visiting pilots KEK and DGS gliders were being regularly launched into the blue all looking for the elusive lift.
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| DGS Launchpoint (Mike Sloggett) |
During the morning with James Flory and Nicholas Johnson airborne in KEK, a DGS K13 was borrowed by Mike Sloggett and Chris Woodward for a flight before the glider was needed for local trial lesson visitors.Then gradually during the day the thermic conditions improved ensuring that Trevor Russell, Chris Woodward, Stirling Melhuish and Nicholas Johnson all had some soaring in KEK by the time the day came to a close - late afternoon Nicholas was also able to enjoy a soaring flight with Mike in a DGS K13 during which flight the Red Arrows were spotted to the South West of the airfield as they flew across Plymouth heading for the Torbay Air Show.
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| Different view of Devon (Mike Sloggett) |
With all three days of the long weekend having had good weather the DSGC members who had made the trip were rewarded with several flights each, with flights providing great views of the surrounding countryside and also allowing pilots to gain experience of flying at another site, where the landing areas are a tad smaller than what we are fortunate to have at North Hill.
Our visit was only made possible through the great teamwork prior to our visit, and in turn on site help and support, from a fellow gliding club keen to get our members into the air, Thank You all at Dartmoor Gliding Society. - Mike Sloggett
