Sunday 11th August

Overnight rain and a decent NW breeze shook up the lower atmosphere enough to make the day interesting to everyone who came. It was much less obviously busy than Saturday, but there were 45 launches nonetheless, ranging from newcomers and a couple of "walk-ins" through to several private owners who rigged and flew.

It looked as if the pattern of Saturday would be repeated - development and overdevelopment until conditions died. But it was much better than that. The window of opportunity lasted longer, and delivered a bit more than Saturday's.  In all 20 flights were longer than half an hour, and of those, 11 were over the hour mark. Pete St  Discus(230), Ron J ASW20 (611), Simon M ASW20 (SM), Pete and Jill Duo Discus (OL), Eric ASG29 (G29) all set off in pursuit of turnpoints with varying degrees of success. Pete St completed the Club 100, whilst Simon ended up in a field near Crewkerne.

Closer to home, Paul S and Mike S were testing out their newish Instructor ratings and keeping things moving at the launchpoint.

A good day was had by all. Thanks to everyone who made it work, and kept it going.- Jonathan

Saturday 10th August

A throng of members - several of them new - and a long long flying list greeted the duty instructor, Mark C. Conditions were not great for soaring - the vast majority of more than 70 launches were short to shortish, but the wind was benign and one flight set a new record for DSGC - our youngest solo pilot, our first 14 year old since the minimum age was lowered: Peter B.

Mark congratulates Peter on his first solo

Other pre-solo pilots continued to make progress, and there was plenty of circuit practice for everyone. By lunchtime the gaps in the clouds allowed enough sunlight on the ground to extend flight times - in all 6 people managed flights in excess of an hour, with both Phil G in his B4 and Matt W in M5 going for just over 2, and Eric A in his brand-new, but not at all squeaky, G29, being airborne for almost 2.5 hours.

Sea air south of Chard much lower than the almost 5000' base inland

Although the cloud cover returned quickly after lunch there were odd areas of lift, or minimal sink, and some people managed to stay up - including Heather C looking more and more at home in her K6, DQS.

Roly briefs and Jimbob dozes off holding down the tail

The flying list was gradually whittled away by Mark C, James H, Rowan S, and later Simon L, who was dragged back by text SOS from a family day in Sidmouth, and everybody flew before we put the kit away at 6pm.- Jonathan

Friday 9th August - Course week

Last day of the course and it was hoped for some nice gentle conditions, but instead there was a rather brisk and gusty north-westerly, but again it became good and soarable, with the ridge sort of working, nice looking streets and  wave interference.

The course members enjoyed both launch failure practice, circuits and long soarable flights, with flights going outside their normal familiar area. 

Chris C, following completion of Bronze flying tests yesterday to complete his Bronze, flying the Junior in the morning, went on a field landing exercise with Ian M in the Rotax Falke. (The fields are in short supply at the moment with the long crop waiting to be cut). 

A very successful course with only one day lost to the weather with a total of 84 launches and about 20 hours flying. Thanks to Instructors Pete H and Chris W and helpers William, Gordon and Jill. 

 

The August Course

Pete St in Discus 230 flew Dulverton and Molton, and Eric enjoyed his first flight in his new toy.

Eric's ASG29 or is it an ASW27-18?

In the evening, a large group from Honeywell and Westland,  with family Bennett enjoyed good flying and a barbeque. 

Thursday 8th August - Course week

A lovely clear morning , and with the eager course members assisted by the Thursday regulars first launch was at 9:30am. The launchpoint was a dream of organisation with one queue for the course and one queue for club members and private gliders. Lunchtime rota was planned to precision to ensure maximum use of the course 2-seaters for the Thursday regulars. From lunchtime onwards, everyone was soaring with strong thermals.

John enjoyed his first mini- cross country flight with Wooly

Paul also enjoyed his soaring flight with Wooly

The private owners  played up on Exmoor, - 'Persistent 8/8ths and then sea air prevented tasking to the East so had some fun in our local playground. A mix of sea air(bad) and convergences(good) kept it interesting. 611, KMV and W7 played along.' -Pete St
In the evening, a group from the Met Office enjoyed some pleasant evening soaring, and the Course members, helpers and hangers-on visited The Drewe Arms in Broadhembury for the enjoyable traditional course dinner.

Wednesday 7th August - Course week

It was an early start, but with some thick cirrus cloud suppressing the heating, the cumulus clouds were just a little too far away in the morning for soaring.

After an early lunch caused by a winch snarlup, it became highly soarable in the afternoon.

Members of the course progressed well, and we welcomed two new members returning after their recent trial lessons.

Lasham VGC Rally

With conditions forecast to be very good the vintage gliders (and lots of plastic) were out in force. I think everything was soaring including the Primaries!

Eagle BBB flew several times and even managed a couple of short x-countries.

  Rons ASH replacement. He liked this - says it goes with his Panama hat!

Beautiful Jaskolka - Danish registered but Polish built from the 1950's

                   

Liam tries out his new dream machine - the Danish 2G from 1950

                      

                   

Tuesday 6th August - Course week

The day dawned bright and sunny with a chill in the air, and the grass was wet underfoot and had started growing again already.

Just before we got going, there was an interesting cloud formation in the valley. A towering cumulus developed as we watched and then it's source (a fire) stopped and the cloud was cut off from its thermal generator and spread out a little before disappearing.

Artistic impression (MF)

2 minutes later

The course flew all day, the clouds looked good out of range but within reach they were disappointing. Some short soaring flights were possible for most. Robin flew ASW27 JPT taking off just before lunch for 2 hours.

Monday 5th August - Course week

The forecast rain was a little daunting for the first day of the course, although in actual fact the low cloud was more of a problem. There were met talks to explain the weather outside, NOTAM briefings and launch failures. In the hangar and workshop, briefings on DIing the Junior and a look round a derigged K13. Jack was introduced to driving the Disco, and new member Rob was shown round all the club equipment. The sky cleared miraculously at 1630, although the airfield was still running with water after the last heavy shower.

Total rainfall for the day was 8.4 mm with half of that falling just after 1600 at a rate of 73.0 mm/hr!

Saturday 3rd August

Another quiet morning with a fairly short flying list.  It was great to welcome some new members - Mike, who is keen to polish his skills and go solo following the July course week; also Rob and Zed who had their first glider flight last week and already admit to being a bit hooked!

By late morning the cumulus were looking really quite attractive, and a healthly queue of private-owned gliders appeared.  Unfortunately most were washed out of the sky by a large lunchtime shower.  Only  Wyn in W7 managed to dodge the deluge by heading out to Wellington, only to be rewarded with more field-landing practice.

Despite a few more showers most members enjoyed some local soaring.  Congratulations to Paul M for his first K13 solo, and thanks to Pete St for un-U/S-ing the K13 this morning to make it possible. - Ruth

The Eagle arrived safely at Lasham for the start of the 40th Vintage Glider Rally - just getting a little wash and brushup on the way, with the rather heavy showers.

Thursday 1st August

The low cloud cleared quickly, so that launching could start before 10:30, the two-seat list was gi-normous again- thursdays are so popular!

Unfortunately it was not soarable in the hot air, and the wind veered from south east to south west at lunchtime causing a slight delay for changing ends.

Ian H went to the Park with Mark C in the Rotax Falke for his navex. 

There was a great evenings flying tonight, 19 scouts from Newbury all flown and Pete Sm first T/L evening, he was grinning all night, thanks to all of the helpers for making the evening run so smoothly!

From Lisa:

Had a lovely evening tonight flying 19 scouts from Newbury with Pete Sm  and Stu, all well behaved and one lad I flew had never been in any Aircraft, I asked him what his hobbies were and he replied 'I don't do many things because I don't want to make my sister jealous' I said 'why would that happen' to which he replied ' because she is 8 years old and in a wheelchair and could never do things that I do' - Makes you think how we all take things for granted!. Dear little chap!!! - LH