Wed 24th April

 Easterly and claggy, and with a few exceptions, short circuits. But Pete Startup 230 and Stewart Henshall HMS were hopeful of something....

 

Pete Startup 230 (BGA Ladder)

"NH2 Bampton Beaminster NH2 114km
Nearly 14:00 before the clag cleared at NHL. Then a good run round until BEA where the clag hadn't really cleared at all. Went round low and with no prospect of a climb used the height I had to run South to Bridport in the hope of the sea breeze convergence working - it was!" -Pete Startup  

Stewart was not so fortunate and landed out near Culmstock. - J&P

Wed 24th April - Portmoak

 Usual alarm at 6am today so we could be at the club for an early start to clean and DI before the 9am (sharp) briefing. The SGC cross-country development week had their usual 40 odd gliders ready and waiting as we arrived at the club!
We (DSGC) mere mortals along with the Kent Gliding Club had our own briefing in a separate room, all very calm and stress free, stress levels slightly higher a few yards away as they planned huge tasks, several 500ks and 300ks . The grid started to launch at 12 by 1:01 all 40 gliders were on task! 

A very busy airfield first thing (Mark Courtney)

 All possible because of the super human effort of Reiner Kipp (airfield director) our very own Sally Hender (log keeping) and Paul ( keep that tow rope tidy) Summers. 

LogKeeper of the week (Sally Hender)

 Three tugs were provided, a Pawnee, a 120hp Eurofox and the star of the show out performing the other two by a large margin a beautiful Supercub 180 with a special “towing prop” wow! 

SuperCub with Towing prop (Mark Courtney)

 Ron and Dan launched the ASH25 and quickly disappeared to the North. The DSGC members launched their single seaters, Andy Davey, Gordon Hutchinson, Guy Adams, and Dave Perriam, they all had fantastic, very long flights. 

A shorter grid for the visitors (Mark Courtney)

Mike Sloggett flew with Rob Hender then Stuart Thomson, cloud base was reported to be 4000ft from the start. The views were amazing across to a snow capped horizon in the distance, Portmoak is a very, special gliding site, very easy for newcomers but with huge potential.

Sally Hender and Paul Summers (Sally Hender)

 Sally was rewarded for helping both Portmoak and our group with a flight in the DG with Paul Summers at 4pm, straight off tow and then climbed to 5000ft above site, she was ecstatic on her return.
I think there will be another Hender name going on the flying list very soon at North Hill, watch this space! 

Penultimate flight of the day at 5 pm was myself with Rob, off tow and again to 5000ft, by now the wind had not looked at the forecast and was westerly. It would have been rude not to have a “close look” at the main ridge “The Bishop” to finish a fantastic week at this amazing gliding club.

Parking (Mike Sloggett)

Mike Sloggett and Dave had the final flight of the week, unfortunately the ridge had become rather busy with many parascending pilots taking advantage of the favourable conditions.
DSGC would like to thank everyone at The Scottish Gliding Club for their hospitality and friendliness.
Anyone for next year???  - Mark Courtney

Tues 23rd April - Portmoak

A good day was predicted for Tuesday, so MOST of the visiting DSGC pilots were there for the 9:00am briefing. The first launch  in DG505 was taken on the winch by Mark Courtney and Rob Hender at 10:42am, but they went too early and only managed 4mins. 

Grid ready (Mike Sloggett)

By this time the  SGS course week were ready to start launching, so with the grid ready they started at 11:30am, by 12:40pm the whole grid was airborne and the visiting pilots could then take their turn. Mike Sloggett and Stuart Thomson took the next aerotow and promptly found lift managing a flight of 52mins. 

Loch Leven (Mike Sloggett)

 They were followed by the private gliders, Ron and Dan (711), Andy Davey (M), Gordon Hutchinson (JDP), Guy Adams (CEC) and Dave Perriam (DG1).

Lake Monteith (Dan Johns)

Ron and Dan flew over the only ‘lake’ in Scotland, Lake Monteith. Mark and Paul Summers then had an hour in JZK getting out to the coast, coming back so Mike and Rob could then take a launch. They took a flight out towards the wind turbines. Then headed back with the remains of the grid landing at 5:22pm. 

Local Hostelry (Sally Hender)

 After an excellent and tiring day the whole group of 12 headed to the pub for a well deserved drink. - Sally Hender

Mon 22nd April- Portmoak

 After yesterday was scrubbed due to weather, today was being approached with suitable optimism that it would be flyable, the only question was whether thermals, wave or ridge flying would be possible. As it happened all three were possible today!

With the Scottish Gliding Centre Development Week morning briefing with their 40 participants underway, and likely to be continuing until lunchtime, the DG505 was brought on line together with DG1 (Dave Perriam), CEC (Guy Adams), M (Andy Davey), 711 (Ron Johns and Daniel Johns) and JDP (Gordon Hutchinson). Soon Mark Courtney and Rob Hender were airborne albeit having requested an aerotow to Benarty ridge they were soon rather disappointed to be towed to Bishops with limited flight time as a result. 

Two ridges to choose from (Mike Sloggett)

 Meanwhile Andy Davey took an aerotow launch to 3000ft and was soon reporting climbs in weak wave so shortly afterwards Mike Sloggett and Paul Summers were airborne in the DG505 with Dave, Guy, Ron/Daniel and Gordon all taking to the skies with varying success - 711 getting to 5000ft in wave to the West of Kinross being the most successful before the wave deteriorated resulting in everyone landing.  

Loch Leven (Mike Sloggett)

As the day progressed Mark and Stuart Thompson took to the skies in JZK followed by Mike and Rob Hender who found that Benarty ridge was working in places, so after they had landed Mark and Paul had the last flight of the day, glad that they had decided to ask for the DG505 to be returned to the launch point rather than being put away for the night as had been the original plan. - Mike Sloggett

Sun 21st April

It’s finally nice to see a few days in a row of sunny, slightly warmer (extremely arguable…) and most importantly, flyable, weather! Something we have all grown not used to after the last few months of mostly dismal conditions.

Unpacking the hangar (Dawson Panter-Wray)

 The day started with the hangar being unpacked bright and early under the completely blue sky before a thorough briefing took place from James Flory in the clubhouse with a great turnout and variety of members, ensuring we were all aware of any potential threats of the day, especially with quite a strong and gusty at times breeze coming from the NNE for much of the day. We quickly made progress in moving all gliders to the west end of the field and began launching shortly after 10am. Those who arrived in shorts and minimal layers I think quickly realised their mistake as there was certainly a huge wind chill despite the deceiving sunny weather and blue skies! 

A strong northeasterly (Dawson Panter-Wray)

 A huge thanks as always to everyone who helped throughout the day; experienced, juniors & new members alike who all worked well together to ensure that the day was able to be as efficient, smooth and well-run as possible. Everyone got involved and helped where they could to ensure we made full use of the time we had available to us, the launch rate, and as always most importantly, making sure everyone got something useful out of the day learning new skills, both in the air and on the ground. 

Waiting to launch (Dawson Panter-Wray)

Special mention to our superb instructor and stand-in Duty Instructor for the day, James Flory, for ensuring that we all got to maximise the value of our sometimes shorter flights due to some fickle thermals while still making sure we were all learning valuable skills and lessons, and of course for ensuring the slick operation of the airfield, all at the same time as per usual! Our thanks extend to the other instructors who helped to lighten the load of the two-seater flying list and Tom Sides for taking care of our trial flight visitors who we hope to see again soon. 

Getting artistic (Dawson Panter-Wray)

Overall, with 37 launches in total today, and many more on Saturday, hopefully this weekend was just a preview of the nicer and more settled weather to come over the coming months and we can all return to enjoying some more long-lasting sunshine, thermal activity, and warm weather at DSGC at some point soon. - Dawson Panter-Wray

Sat 20th April

 As Duty instructor on a swap with the CFI who is on a sojourn to Scotland, I was heartened to see a lot of faces at the club by 8:30. The TV weather promised sunshine and it was a classic good gliding day start with equipment unpacking under blue skies. James Flory kindly delivered a morning brief on the plan at 9:00 and field was laid out for the forecast E to NE wind. 

Blue skies and a few cumulus (John Pursey)

With Simon Leeson helping in the other K21 and James Flory doing more funky stuff in the Perkoz we started before 10:00. I first flew with young Faber who was coming off a trial flight the previous weekend and having his first winch launch. With the wonder of youth , he was by flight 4 handling the glider like a pro - oh to be young again!
The cross-country team lined up at ridge edge with Simon Minson SM, Wyn Davies W7  Pete Startup 230 and Rich Roberts V5 all anxiously looking at the blue sky waiting for Cumulus to appear. RASP had been encouraging earlier and the Lashamites were already swarming out in various directions.
It was clearly unstable and my young P2s were, with prompts, getting the K21 to go up. In the blue and with spirited thermals, it is not surprising that for the early-days-pilots the motion proved challenging! Father and son team David and Arthur T did well, Arthur like Faber showing the skills of youth and lots of promise for the future. 

John Pursey with new member David (John Pursey)

Wyn led the cross-country gang off - ( not sure where!) once wispy clouds appeared nearby.
Pete Smith joined the instruction fray for the afternoon (thanks Pete) and apart from the fun distraction of rope retrieval from a tree the afternoon progressed well. Now 18yrs Connor was keen to exercise his new found responsibility by tree climbing to help with the rope but sadly for him it all came clear very easily- thanks to all who helped! 

With climbs to 4000ft now possible the Perkoz was able to address some members spincheck needs. Special thanks here to Ashley who worked hard helping others all morning but had to leave before the conditions allowed spins to happen.
Gliders packed away by 6pm after a long day, sunburnt faces and some happy people after the long wet months. - John Pursey

Cross-country must have been tricky as most of our pundits didn't enter flights on the ladder  with the exception of Stewart Henshall HMS  who enjoyed a  amble "After a terrible 2023 any start to the XC season was welcome, even a very modest 70km. Tricky conditions, 2kt thermals shielded by 10km of 4kt sink was the order of the day. Struggled up to Taunton, got a goodish climb at Wellington, then just looked West at blue… Only sheer dogged persistence got me to Bampton, after many attempts. A gentle amble back, followed by more airtime for HMS, nearly back to Taunton and the first decent thermal of the day (!) near Honiton.  Great to be back in the air." - Stewart Henshall

Sat 20th April - Portmoak

 After an excellent journey up to Portmoak on Friday and with JZK and DG1 successfully rigged, we set off to the Club early from the Cottage, for the morning briefing. The briefing included the Interclub League, DSGC and the Kent Gliding Club, so had to be very comprehensive! 

We then resorted to coffee, to wait for the weather to improve. At 11:00, we pulled the DG505 across to the aerotow line, and Dave Perriam managed to get his site checks done. 

 

DSGC at Portmoak (Mark Courtney)

Mark Courtney and Stuart Thomson took the first launch managing 48 mins, however they landed during the Inter Club League launching their grid, so we all took a timely break for lunch.  

Mark & Stuart Thomson ( Mark Courtney)

 

At 2.20pm the DG505 took its second launch with Mike Sloggett and Rob Hender, followed by Ron and Dan Johns (711), Andy Davey (M), Guy Adams (CEC) and Gordon Hutchinson (JDP). However, when Mike and Rob landed, the decision had just been made to swap ends. So even after repeatedly trying to contact them to advise, they ended up walking the length of the airfield twice!!! 

Being artistic (Mark Courtney)

By this time I had worked my way into the Launchpoint, and happily took over, ‘North Hill…. No sorry, Portmoak Base’! Mark and Paul Summers then took a flight, with only a short delay in launching, when I inadvertently sent the Fire truck on a retrieve! The last flight of the day was taken by Mike and Dave, which ended a very successful day. We did try to unsuccessfully interlope on the Interclub BBQ, so it was back to the Cottage for more wine instead… what a shame! - Sally Hender

Thur 18th April

 With the very gusty strong crosswind preventing flying on Wednesday, the Thursday crowd filled the flying list early on. The start was delayed due to fixing the mainwheel of the K21 - Thanks to Andrew Logan, Paul Medlock and Pete Startup.

There was a fresh westerly wind and cumulus clouds all morning and it wasn't long before the soaring started. Increasingly a line of convergence appeared from the South and sat over the airfield making it reasonably easy to get away from the winch launch (with no tug available). Only a few unlucky pilots missed out. 

North Hill in the sunshine (Peter Smith)

Private owners were represented by  John Borland FAJ, Andrew Logan FMS, Mark Layton 477, Eric Alston G29,  who stayed local and Pete Startup 230 and Rich Roberts V5 who set off to Salisbury, and JB who decided against following them. Having turned Salisbury,  Pete found the going slow and the sea air came in from the south to catch them both. Pete found the 15m strip  Middle Chinnock near Crewkerne and Rich was nearer Yeovil, so  2 retrieve crews - Paul and Tom - were dispatched.

230 in a 15m strip at Crewkerne (Pete Startup)

A few more instructors arrived early for the evening meeting and were able to help out with the flying list. While the DG505 was derigged ready for the trip to Portmoak.

Latecomer Stewart Henshall HMS took a launch at 4pm but still managed 2 hours soaring.  The late afternoon lift was described as stupendous  - 10knots -as the convergence set up from both coasts. - 35 launches in all, thanks everyone.- J&P

 

Sun 14th April

We had a rather good day at North Hill today. Many members were on site bright and early with many pieces of ground equipment being rather stubborn to move when we tried to get them out. After a briefing by DI James Flory the airfield was setup with the first launch at about 10:00. As the day progressed the sky got a bit more lively with some thermals of reported strengths of 2-5kts up to about 3500-4000ft. This prompted some flights from private gliders including SM, V5, 230, JDP, and DRE alongside the training flights and Junior soaring..  41 winch launches in total, a first field landing completed, and well done to our new caterers Vicki and Josh on their first full weekend. Overall it was a brilliant day out in some nice weather after the awful winter. 

230 and SM set off on  on the Club100 NH2 - North Tawton - Knowstone - NH2, well done to Pete Startup for completing, Simon Minson turned back short of Knowstone. 

Enjoyable day in the ASW20 (Simon Minson)

 "Thick high cover made for weak thermals and a slow slog in soggy mid-Devon but nice to be out with SM for company." Pete Startup 230 

Late afternoon light at North Hill (Stewart Henshall)

DRE: Following the discussions and briefings with Instructors yesterday about a potential flight today, when I turned up at the club this morning the forecast had gone downhill significantly, so after a chat with Simon Minson I decided to just go for some local soaring. I then took a launch and after about 15 mins noted that my electrics had died (upon landing I realised my leg had dislodged the battery connector) so was flying without an eVario. 

Sea Breeze Front (Connor Williams)

 After a quick pootle round locally to Tiverton for half an hour in brilliant conditions with Simon's words "if the conditions are miraculously better then go for it" ringing in my ears I decided to point eastwards and attempt a 50k. I was managing to keep nice and high up until Chard where I got rather low and had a field selected but luckily I managed to make a low save and climb back up.

A very nice large field  (Connor Williams)

 From here I managed to soar the sea breeze front for a bit but lost this which left me pushing for distance before eventually landing in a rather large field a few miles west of Beaminster. - Connor Williams

Sat 13th April

A character building day.  -  It was quickly apparent that the airfield was usable with care so Stuart Procter and James Flory swopped duty instructor and tug pilot roles as only Stuart is presently able to fly the Bumblebee. 

A bit overcast  at times (Stuart Procter)

 A longish flying list, three trial flight lesson bookings, and the DG505 away soaring over the Welsh mountains was fine with three 2- seaters, as Steve Westlake, James Flory and I were able to instruct as was Simon M although also anxious to fly his beautifully refinished ASW20.   Then the Perkoz was declared u/s.  So the plan became 2 flights all round in the K21s. John Allan and Mike Rigby did sterling service in DLM roles keeping the day running efficiently from beginning to end.

Late afternoon the Perkoz was declared OK to fly  with front seat P1 which enabled Simon Leeson to clock up two flights with Stuart P. Along the way the winch had a hiccup preventing launching for a while but the winch crew managed to sort a problem with the throttle cable.   So we were all kept on our toes.

 

Bumblebee on aerotow duty (Stuart Procter)

Backup syndicate-owned Eurofox Bumblebee saved the day for the trial lessons (which given the backlog that has developed due to the weather) is important and also did a couple of other tows.

 We welcomed potential new member Chris Stanton now resident in Exeter having spent some while in New Zealand enjoying soaring in the southern hemisphere.
  

The last flight landed as the drizzle started on time at 17:00 - but it quickly stopped so gliders were dry to put away. A successful and good humoured day given the challenges 35 winch launches and 5 aerotows in all. Belated congratulations to Joel Roulson for passing his Bronze theory exam on Thursday. Many thanks also  to Sally Hender for organising the sweepstake for the Grand National, thank you to all the runners and riders - we raised £100 for the DSGC Charitable Trust - Peter Smith