That's more like it, our first flyable Thursday since 11th December and only the third since the end of September!
We have been stuck under the influence of an Atlantic anticyclone, off to our south west, for the best bit of two weeks. Fronts have been skirting round the north of it, each one bringing various amounts of moisture through North Hill. Wednesday was one of these days, damp, grey, not very nice at all. Overnight a cold front passed through which cleared the air, but still moist with cloud bases at about 2000', and a moderate, cold westerly wind.
The remnants of the cold front cleared as we set up the field, expecting a reasonable ridge day, however first launch contacted thermals which continued through to midday. The ASH26 and Discus used the cloud streets to venture as far as the motorway to pick up decent wave to allow good trips to Exmoor. Back at the ridge this wave stifled the thermals but did produce a large area of "extended" ridge lift up to 1200' way out into the valley. Then late in the afternoon when everything seemed to be dying two of us latched into gentle smooth lift at 700' just off the end of the airfield, up to the base of the airway. This wave bar lasted for, at most, an hour. With its area of sink coinciding with the ridge and circuit a few up, round and downs ended the glorious day. I am sorry to the few who only got an u, r & d.
In total 7 members shared the one available instructor and K21, 6 flew one or other of the Juniors and 4 private owners flew ASW20, ASH26 and Discus.
Thursday thermallings (and wavings) 26th February
That's more like it, our first flyable Thursday since 11th December and only the third since the end of September!
We have been stuck under the influence of an Atlantic anticyclone, off to our south west, for the best bit of two weeks. Fronts have been skirting round the north of it, each one bringing various amounts of moisture through North Hill. Wednesday was one of these days, damp, grey, not very nice at all. Overnight a cold front passed through which cleared the air, but still moist with cloud bases at about 2000', and a moderate, cold westerly wind.
The remnants of the cold front cleared as we set up the field, expecting a reasonable ridge day, however first launch contacted thermals which continued through to midday. The ASH26 and Discus used the cloud streets to venture as far as the motorway to pick up decent wave to allow good trips to Exmoor. Back at the ridge this wave stifled the thermals but did produce a large area of "extended" ridge lift up to 1200' way out into the valley. Then late in the afternoon when everything seemed to be dying two of us latched into gentle smooth lift at 700' just off the end of the airfield, up to the base of the airway. This wave bar lasted for, at most, an hour. With its area of sink coinciding with the ridge and circuit a few up, round and downs ended the glorious day. I am sorry to the few who only got an u, r & d.
We have been stuck under the influence of an Atlantic anticyclone, off to our south west, for the best bit of two weeks. Fronts have been skirting round the north of it, each one bringing various amounts of moisture through North Hill. Wednesday was one of these days, damp, grey, not very nice at all. Overnight a cold front passed through which cleared the air, but still moist with cloud bases at about 2000', and a moderate, cold westerly wind.
The remnants of the cold front cleared as we set up the field, expecting a reasonable ridge day, however first launch contacted thermals which continued through to midday. The ASH26 and Discus used the cloud streets to venture as far as the motorway to pick up decent wave to allow good trips to Exmoor. Back at the ridge this wave stifled the thermals but did produce a large area of "extended" ridge lift up to 1200' way out into the valley. Then late in the afternoon when everything seemed to be dying two of us latched into gentle smooth lift at 700' just off the end of the airfield, up to the base of the airway. This wave bar lasted for, at most, an hour. With its area of sink coinciding with the ridge and circuit a few up, round and downs ended the glorious day. I am sorry to the few who only got an u, r & d.
In total 7 members shared the one available instructor and K21, 6 flew one or other of the Juniors and 4 private owners flew ASW20, ASH26 and Discus.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
Flying blogs
Last year I tried to keep a blog going for events at the Club on Thursdays.
Could we try to get something similar going for every flying day?
I know that this forum has a very small readership with only 37 members, but more might join once they know that there are regular features.
Could we try to get something similar going for every flying day?
I know that this forum has a very small readership with only 37 members, but more might join once they know that there are regular features.
Just a little story about each day would suffice: what the weather was and conditions on the field, who was there, what the flying was like, who achieved what.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
The latest EASA nightmare
The BGA have just drafted it's response to the latest EASA consultation document about it's proposals for pilot licensing.
This totally overbearing,sleep inducing document is hard work to read,even the BGAs clipped version,and compiling a response to it,even harder.
However,for the future of gliding it is vital that we all make a response in our own words and let them know of our concerns.The BGA response will provide guidelines to help with this.
This document is not only concerned with pilot licensing,but also medical requirements,training and endorsments for various other aspects of gliding.
The Devil is in the detail,so please take your time to read and respond - it has to be done by the 15th December.
EASA have just published the revised document re:registration and maintenance,and gliding has regained a lot of the priveleges that we were to lose under EASA regulation,so responding appropriately does work.
This totally overbearing,sleep inducing document is hard work to read,even the BGAs clipped version,and compiling a response to it,even harder.
However,for the future of gliding it is vital that we all make a response in our own words and let them know of our concerns.The BGA response will provide guidelines to help with this.
This document is not only concerned with pilot licensing,but also medical requirements,training and endorsments for various other aspects of gliding.
The Devil is in the detail,so please take your time to read and respond - it has to be done by the 15th December.
EASA have just published the revised document re:registration and maintenance,and gliding has regained a lot of the priveleges that we were to lose under EASA regulation,so responding appropriately does work.
More details are on the BGA website.
A post by pete s on the old DSGC forum
I think that judging from the lack of replies of any sort to my post,and chatting to people around the Club,that most of you do not realise the implications of the latest EASA NPA(you should - the BGA have given enough notice and GPN is full of discussion on this topic), don't care(pretty bad),or are leaving it to somebody else to respond to the NPA(even worse).
The NPA covers many items which cause serious concern to gliding,although many of them we can live with even though they will be a headache and will require money to be thrown at them.
However,there is one item in there which if allowed to pass unchallenged will mean the end of soaring,and especially cross country soaring as we know it.
The priveleges that we have enjoyed with respect to cloud flying have been removed.Now,you may think that "I don't cloud fly ayway so it won't affect me"
WRONG - the removal of this means that gliders will only be allowed to operate in VMC - that is 1.5km clear of of cloud horizontally and 1,000' vertically above 3,000'QNH and in a flight visiblity of 5km.
So you won't be able to fly from thermal to thermal,follow a cloud street or climb in front of a wave bar.
Please respond to the NPA,by e-mail if nothing else,to npa@easa.europa.eu to register your protest against this piece of european legislation - you have until the 15th December to do it.
Plenty of additional info on the BGA website including their responses and notes for guidance to compiling your own rsponse.
Aren't you glad we joined Europe
A reply by pete s on the old DSGC forum
Thursday thermallings 21st August - congratulations
We have had a happy event. One of our Thursday band has gone solo. During last week's course Simon and Mark had applied much pressure, but he did not crack and on a beautiful still Thursday evening Ian Hunt was off by himself, watched by his wife and daughter and the evening trial lesson group that he had organised. Then off to the end of course steak and chips provided by H in the Clubhouse. Not the quietest of solo celebrations!
Whilst chatting over dinner we learnt that Cheryl also soloed during the previous course.
Whilst chatting over dinner we learnt that Cheryl also soloed during the previous course.
Well done to both, now the real learning starts.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
Thursday thermallings 14th August
Hi all,
At last something to write about for a Thursday!
And at last a day when it was not raining, for a while anyway.
Lovely bright start and gentle south westerly breeze, but a bit short on numbers which meant a slow start. During the day we had a few periods of non activity due to the showers, the heaviest and most prolonged coincided with lunch. There were a few problems with the winch, but ably sorted, yet again, by Mike. It was soarable and I believe that everyone who wanted to had a decent flight. A good job that there were not many people, as we did only just fly everyone and used all the available day. Two K21s, DG505, Junior and one Discus were active.
The highlight of the day, for me, was giving an air-ex to a gentleman for his 90th birthday. His last flight in a glider had been 64 years ago in a Horsa during the airborne attack on Arnham in Operation Market Garden, brought to the cinema screens in "A Bridge Too Far". Once in the air and climbing away he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Devonshire countryside, the rain showers and rainbows. He started to remember the views he had out of the Horsa windows as he was towed across Holland all those years ago. His supporting group of family and friends were entertained by those on the ground, and all left with many thanks and nothing but a good impression of the Club. The press were also present and the event will be covered in Friday's Express and Echo.
At last something to write about for a Thursday!
And at last a day when it was not raining, for a while anyway.
Lovely bright start and gentle south westerly breeze, but a bit short on numbers which meant a slow start. During the day we had a few periods of non activity due to the showers, the heaviest and most prolonged coincided with lunch. There were a few problems with the winch, but ably sorted, yet again, by Mike. It was soarable and I believe that everyone who wanted to had a decent flight. A good job that there were not many people, as we did only just fly everyone and used all the available day. Two K21s, DG505, Junior and one Discus were active.
The highlight of the day, for me, was giving an air-ex to a gentleman for his 90th birthday. His last flight in a glider had been 64 years ago in a Horsa during the airborne attack on Arnham in Operation Market Garden, brought to the cinema screens in "A Bridge Too Far". Once in the air and climbing away he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Devonshire countryside, the rain showers and rainbows. He started to remember the views he had out of the Horsa windows as he was towed across Holland all those years ago. His supporting group of family and friends were entertained by those on the ground, and all left with many thanks and nothing but a good impression of the Club. The press were also present and the event will be covered in Friday's Express and Echo.
Pete
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
Thank you.....
Just to say a BIG thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my birthday at the weekend!
The barbecue went really well and I hope everyone who attended had a great evening - I certainly did! After all the worrying about the weather - it was the hottest weekend of the year so far!
Thanks to Simon (Minson) the barbecue king, who slaved over the hot coals cooking a ton of meat to perfection. And to Steve, who provided entertainment later in the evening on the guitar (easily forgiven for not always remembering all the words!! & thank you for the Eagles song, one of my favourites).
Thanks also to Andrew Muggleston for taking me up for my aerobatic flight on Sunday (sorry I swore a bit... - well, probably quite a lot actually - but it was awesome), and to Pete Warren for my very first aerotow.
Thank you for my cards and presents and good wishes.
If you weren't there - why not???.......
See you all soon
Cheryl xx
A post by cheryl on the old DSGC forum
The barbecue went really well and I hope everyone who attended had a great evening - I certainly did! After all the worrying about the weather - it was the hottest weekend of the year so far!
Thanks to Simon (Minson) the barbecue king, who slaved over the hot coals cooking a ton of meat to perfection. And to Steve, who provided entertainment later in the evening on the guitar (easily forgiven for not always remembering all the words!! & thank you for the Eagles song, one of my favourites).
Thanks also to Andrew Muggleston for taking me up for my aerobatic flight on Sunday (sorry I swore a bit... - well, probably quite a lot actually - but it was awesome), and to Pete Warren for my very first aerotow.
Thank you for my cards and presents and good wishes.
If you weren't there - why not???.......
See you all soon
Cheryl xx
A post by cheryl on the old DSGC forum
Sunday 22/06/08 Turbulent flying and Instructor rescue
After having a brilliant day flying in Blue card conditions and getting used to thermalling in turbulence, Simon Minson (Who sent me solo last weekend) required assistance in a field near Exeter. How could I refuse to 'help'. Guy and I went to the rescue :)
A post by hrf on the old DSGC forum
For the few of us that were flying in those fun conditions, did you notice that all those wonderful cloud streets went a bit soggy round about the M5? (Simon obviously did).Jill and I had to resort to a 30hp thermal towards the Exe valley. Two minutes later we were off up the street again to Crediton. On the way back I had a look at the cloud shadows - a good way to assess the sky when at cloudbase - and I could see that the six cloud streets, from south coast to Tiverton, thinned a bit at around the M5.
With a 25 knot wind blowing over Dartmoor, wave was the obvious culprit. So back east of the M5 we started to explore the thinning in the streets from the downwind side. Fairly easily, but patiently, we climbed up in front of quite scrappy cumulus. Things improved, our cloud 'ridge' became more defined. Lift increased from 2kts to 4kts and we left the climb at FL62 about 3.5 miles southwest of North Hill, with the base of the airway approaching fast.
Later analysis of the atmosphere put a bit of 'up' where we were with vertical speeds up to 200fpm between 4500' and 14000' AMSL, and a corresponding bit of 'down' just a bit further west down to ground level. Just downwind of the peak of Dartmoor there was lift at 200fpm between 8000' and more than 26000', and 300fpm between 13000' and 21000'.
Slightly further south, and directly downwind of the Dartmoor peak, there were two large areas of lift, one over the west shore of the Exe estuary and another just west of Sidmouth.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
Simon Leeson and I got to Credition and back in the DG-505. Was a very good flight in brilliant conditions!
I would of liked it if it was not as windy!!!! I could of soloed then!
James Hood
A post by jhood on the old DSGC forum
Thursday thermallings 19th June
A good day for a change. The overnight cold front did not produce a classic clearance. Most of the morning was a lot of heavy, sometimes wet, cloud with a base at 2000QFE, but it was soarable. The cloud started to break about lunchtime and through the afternoon good thermals to 4000QFE were abundant. I left the club at 1840 and the evening group were still soaring.
Club flying was only two K21s and a Junior, but there were a lot of private gliders out. Those flying cross country had an interesting time with a 17knot westerly to struggle against - perhaps someone would like to report in.
Club flying was only two K21s and a Junior, but there were a lot of private gliders out. Those flying cross country had an interesting time with a 17knot westerly to struggle against - perhaps someone would like to report in.
I think that everyone left the field happy.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
I jokingly mumbled something like North Hill-Okehampton-Sherborne-North Hill,hoping it would street in the wind,go round in either direction. Before I knew what was happening we were off!
Matt(477) and I(230) went West first and Ron/Woolie(711) went East.
Conditions going West were ok with climbs being fairly consistent to about 3,000',but in the 17 to 18 knot wind it was quite slow going.Dartmoor looked fantastic.Matt came back as far as Honiton,I went a bit further to Chard before calling it a day.Further East I could see it was spreading out a bit mixed with sea air and decided the flog back from Sherborne through that air in that wind was probably a bit much.I know that 711 struggled at times under spreadout after going that way and also called it a day after struggling to get beyond the M5 going West.
Local soaring was reported as mixed with some stonking climbs and a few struggles.
Robin W-F got caught low over Honiton for a while.His ASI was stuck at 80 knots so he had to multi task and try to fly at the right speed and still climb to get back!
A better day than recently only marred by the strong wind but at least we got away from the site.
Next reasonable day for soaring-a ridge of high pressure on MONDAY - why isn't the Club open 7 days during the season?
A post by pete s on the old DSGC forum
Going flying with a time dead-line sucks. Despite my fear of messing up and landing in some remote part of Devon and then being late for the school pick-up, I set off on a shortened version of Pete's task only just uploading the declaration to the logger before "All clear above and behind". Climbed to cloud base at 2500’ QFE over NHL and headed west only to be back at launch height before I was half way to the M5. I was soon joined and promptly overtaken by Pete but I managed to keep him in sight to Okehampton. He makes a great thermal marker by the way. The return leg was a breeze at 95kph as opposed to 35 on the way out, with stunning views over the moors and the south coast. Spent a bit of time playing around over the club and posted a few pictures which you can check out at,
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690060650#/photo_search.php?oid=2411863512&view=all if you are really bored.
Thanks to the Thursday gang for getting me in the sky and not getting too bleak when I went home early. The grin is indeed cheesy.
A post by matt on the old DSGC forum
Thursday's thermallings 12th June
Have you noticed? We are getting about one flyable Thursday per month. And yesterday was one of those days - so where was everyone
Post cold front instability made it soarable, albeit in a stiff northerly breeze. Two pre-solo, four post-solo and two trial lessons in the K21s, one flying a Junior, three private owners and three instructors made up the numbers. Everyone had a soaring flight (except one trial flight), most of over an hour, the last one forced it down from over 3500QFE at six o'clock because everyone had gone home.
We are still a bit thin on the ground with regular Thursday people, which does mean that there is not a lot of time to stand around chattering to keep things going. So why not join our fun flying days.
A post by pharmer on the old DSGC forum
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)