Club news 2020s
Extracts from S&G February 2020 to date
February 2020 - March 2020
Congratulations to Alex Schmarsel on being sent solo and to Henry Ford on passing his Bronze written exam. Members October expeditions provided some different soaring and gliding for members. A group of six junior members, with instructors and mentors, spent the half-term week at Midland Gliding Club in Shropshire. They took a DG-505 and the K-6 DRE single-seater. The more-experienced juniors, who had flown at Long Mynd last year, enjoyed some good flights in the K-6, whilst those visiting for the first time started to build their hours in the two-seater. Earlier in the month, members travelled to Denbigh GC and enjoyed some great wave to over 10,000ft, and on one exceptional day climbed to nearly 20,000ft. Others visited the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak and flew most days. Our thanks to all hosts
Jill Harmer
April 2020 - May 2020
Thanks to the Chairman Nick Jones for being particularly active at spotting good weather days. There have been some , sunny, winter days, sometimes with aerotow only and when the airfield could cope, with the winch. The simulator has been well used on inclement days.
Congratulations to all the DSGC Trophy winners, after the AGM, with most of the usual pundits sharing the cross-country honours and Pete Bennett making his first appearance. Team Hender were voted for best contribution by a member poll, and the best progress award was shared between Emma Kendall, Mark Worsfold and Dan Hender. The member vote for best Instructor went to Pete Harmer.
Jill Harmer
June 2020 July 2020
The almost instant change from wet field, low cloud and howling winds to lockdown has caused great disappointment for members. Prior to the Club stopping flying, there were a couple of pleasant days with some soaring. The Juniors held a trailer washing day to support their planned Junior expedition to Long Mynd in October. At time of writing, we look forward for a return to normality, and in the meantime enjoying the BGA webinars and practice with Condor.
Jill Harmer
August 2020 September 2020
As soon as we were allowed, the DSGC return to flying started with solo flights for those who met with CFI approval, and just a couple of 'same households' benefitting from the two-seater rule. Initially, everyone stayed local, and then the super cross-country weather enabled some good tasks to be set with really high cloudbases. Ad-hoc days were called where possible and many thanks to those members for running the operation but still unable to fly yet. Meanwhile the Condor on-line racing group has been building some useful experience for those who haven't yet enjoyed real solo or cross-country flying. BGA webinars and the FRTOL course have been supported well by DSGC members - many thanks to those who organised them.
Jill Harmer
October 2020 November 2020
Solo pilots took advantage of the high cloudbases after lockdown and gathered Silver heights a plenty for Mike Harris, James Smart, Tim Petty, Josh Funnell and David Cowley. The 500Km days saw John Burrow finally get his 3rd Diamond after a wait of something like 40 years. Andy Davy and Eric Alston claimed Diamond Goal. Paul Medlock completed his Silver at the second attempt at 5 hours.
As soon as the 2-seater training / check flights resumed, there were first solos for Ashley Thomas, Charlie Broderick and a resolo for Dave Perriam.
Jill Harmer
December 2020 January 2021
Commercial Pilot members who have come back to gliding have been making progress, with Stewart Henshall and Tim Butler both resoloing on their respective Summer Courses. James Smart completed his Bronze, and has been coaching on the FRTOL courses, whilst Stewart has been leads the Condor racing sessions.
We ran three summer courses, with a mixture of members and new members. Normal club two-seater training resumed in October following nearly 3 months of restricted booked training slots.
The Autumn Denbigh expedition was shortened by the Welsh lockdown, with the Long Mynd and Portmoak expeditions cancelled . - but a Juniors week was planned for Half term.
A marquee is providing some additional socially-distanced space for groups of six.
Jill Harmer
February 2021 March 2021
Members maximised good weather in October staying current and converting to other gliders. The last day before national lockdown was one of the busiest non- soaring days we've seen. Congratulations to Mark Wallis for completing his Cross-Country Endorsement,
November's lockdown saw a rise in Condor Racing, with various Alpine tasks led by Stewart Henshall. Local North Hill flights on Sunday evening also proved popular with Stewart also leading expeditions to Denbigh, Long Mynd and Nympsfield. Members have been achieving Silver, Gold and Diamond badges in Condor. Congratulations to Dan Hender for a good performance in the Junior Gliding e-Winter Series on Condor, and to Stewart in the Norwegian Cup.
Jill Harmer
April 2021 May 2021
We made the most of the flyable days in December to get as many members flown and current as possible, including a welcome return by Liam Vile who resoloed.
Lockdown 3 saw another increase in Condor Racing, with mountain tasks in a variety of countries led by Stewart Henshall. The regular local North Hill flights on Sunday afternoon / evening also proved very popular. Stewart and Dan Hender are competing in various Condor competitions and providing lead and follow and spectator coaching on Condor. This will hopefully lead to more cross-country pilots at the Club. The sun is always shining in Condor.
Jill Harmer
June 2021 July 2021
More members have joined the regular Condor Races during the lockdown with flights in many countries around the world. The local tasks also included visits to Denbigh, Nympsfield and along the South coast. Some pilots are now also joining in with the Condor Cafe and Virtual Soaring Club flights. Congratulations to Dan Hender for winning the UK Junior e-Winter Series, and to Stewart Henshall and Dan for good performances in the Condor World Cup.
Instructor Recency flying and solo flying for current pilots has now resumed at North Hill with thanks to our local skeleton ground crew members. We're looking forward to getting all our members back in the air.
Jill Harmer
August 2021 September 2021
Our Summer courses have been snapped up, new members are training and trial lessons resumed in June. Early Cross-country flying has included tasks to Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire. A good clutch of Silver Heights and Duration, Bronze and Cross-country Endorsements have been claimed amongst the return to currency flying. Andy Batchelor resoloed after 27 years away from gliding, having returned to the sport last Autumn when son Josh joined the Club. Our new Launch Control is now in operation - designed, manufactured and kitted out by members.
Jill Harmer
October 2021 November 2021
There was a trio of first solos for Mike Meatyard, Josh Batchelor and Sam Slattery on the early July course – Congratulations to all. James Smart has become our first IFP and along with the Instructor Team, we are starting to make some headway with our outstanding trial lessons. We welcome some new members who have joined after taking a trial lesson. Our first expeditions have resumed to Camphill for the Vintage Rally and Milfield for Competition Enterprise with Team Eagle and DD3. Many thanks to Keith Vinning and Ashley for upgrading the NHL Flarm Receiver Ground station to Pilot Aware system.
Jill Harmer
December 2021 January 2022
Congratulations to Junior members Josh Batchelor for converting to the Junior and Dan Hender for Cross-Country Endorsement. Stewart Henshall made swift progress to resolo, and passed Bronze endorsement. Robert Lee, Chris Warnes and Josh Funnell have joined the IFP ranks to help our Instructors. Many thanks to Mike Groves from Skylaunch for helping us get the winch back up and running quickly. Many members made use of the reduced-price aerotows,whilst the winch was out.
Team Eagle and DD3 competed in the Two-Seater Competition at Pocklington , with Team Eagle retaining the best wood trophy (with help from guest pilot Mike Armstrong) and DD3 came 4th overall.
Jill Harmer
February 2022 March 2022
Congratulations to Andy Broderick (solo). Another successful half-term Junior expedition to Long Mynd, taking the DG505, Junior and K6DRE and 8 of our more experienced juniors. Our AGM was held in a hangar to improve the social distancing. There were updates on various ongoing projects, committee elections and thanks to all our volunteer members. Trophies were awarded and another fantastic feast was cooked by John Pursey. A raffle was very well supported to raise funds for the running costs of K6DRE for our juniors to fly at no cost.
The upgraded simulator had its first airing, with members queuing up to try it out.
Jill Harmer
April 2022 May 2022
A quiet period of weather over the winter, many days with high humidity and low cloud over the Blackdown Hills. A couple of good training and currency days in January enable Andy Broderick and Mike Meatyard to convert to the Junior. On the fourth attempt, the Eurofox 140hp demonstrator managed to fly over for the Club to evaluate its towing performance at North Hill.DSGC and other Clubs have provided input to Exeter Airport on its new proposals for airspace.
Jill Harmer
June 2022 July 2022
An unusually quiet start to the soaring season but despite poor weather ,congratulations Stewart Henshall and Hans Jenssen (Silver heights), with Andy Davey a Diamond height at Lleweni Parc. We held a day of BI training for Dartmoor Instructors. Following a trial of the new EuroFOX 915iS, an SGM was called for the members to vote on the purchase. We'll now run the EuroFOX alongside the Pawnee for an extended trial. Our first social evening for a long while was an audience with Sir Chris Coville, with his usual Liverpudlian wit, alongside a book launch. The field levelling team have completed the next 10 acres.
Jill Harmer
August 2022 September 2022
The Portmoak expedition enabled both Dan Hender and James Smart to complete 5 hours. Dan's finished his Silver with a 50Kms flight into Dorset. Stewart Henshall has been busy with Cross-country endorsement, Silver Distance and a fast 100km Diploma. James Flory is now an FI(S) TMG and James Smart FRTOL Examiner. Leading the latest group of juniors, Connor Williams has soloed - Congratulations to all. The club held the first Group sessions for 2 years starting with 20 Aerospace Students from Exeter College. There was also a trip to the seaside by the Club DG505 in April - that's the first time the weather has cooperated since 2016. To celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, a fabulous beacon was lit on the west ridge of the Blackdown Hills.
Jill Harmer
October 2022 November 2022
Kevin Fairburn has gone solo, and Andy Pincombe resolod after a break and change of club.
Competition Enterprise at Long Mynd gave DD3 some cross-country flights- well done to Phil Morrison and P2s for finishing 10th. Stewart Henshall completed his Silver Badge with a 5 hour flight on the day of the Club members party beer was waiting! The following week it was a well earned 300km flight.
DD3, 230 and K6cr took part in Sid's Task Week and Dan Hender in the Juniors' K6 DRE completed his 100km diploma with a fast 229kms flight. - Congratulations all. Group evenings and Trial lessons are proving popular alongside normal club flying.
Jill Harmer
December 2022 January 2023
Congratulations to Ella Penny, Rob Hender and Julian West for their first solo, and Dave Perriam and John Borland who both did their 5 hour flights on the same day. Our Summer Course weeks have been very popular, with just the September course unusually suffering with bad weather. Dan Hender had a great time flying different high-performance gliders in the two-seater training at Junior Nationals.
Two Eagles and Duo-Discus went to Pocklington for the two-seater comp. Private gliders visited Portmoak, and a smaller contingent went to Denbigh enjoying some ridge and Diamond days. The CFI badge of office has changed hands from Stu Procter (after six years) to Mark Courtney.
Jill Harmer
February 2023 March 2023
Another three solos at North Hill, on the same day! Congratulations to Emma Flory, Mike Rigby and Stuart Thomson. Dan Hender took part in Juniors Winter Series at Long Mynd, followed by another trip to Long Mynd by several private owners. Our latest section of airfield levelling has benefitted from the incessant rain. We've started construction a club glider trailer shelter. At the AGM, the Club was described by the chairman as 'thriving'. Trophies were awarded with Stewart Henshall taking the Presidents Trophy for Best Progress. The gathering was used to kick start our new DSGC Charitable Trust. Plans for Competition Enterprise in July are coming together.
Jill Harmer
April 2023 May 2023
Dire weather over the winter months has put a dip in Club finances, but spring-like temperatures have lifted spirits and produced a rush to refresh currency.
Congratulations to James Smart who has progressed from IFP to BI.
The side-views on the Club Simulator have been greatly improved by our technical wizz Stewart Henshall with some help from Portmoak. Meanwhile the DSGC Condor racing team has been growing in numbers with regular local tasks, and competitions.
Construction of the new Club glider trailer shelter is moving on apace. Places on our Summer courses have been filling up well as have entries for the 50th Anniversary of Competition Enterprise.
Jill Harmer
June 2023 July 2023
A very wet March and the Pawnee on Annual has limited flying on many days.
Pete Startup managed a rare Winter's day flight across the Somerset levels in February, and Club gliders visited Tiverton in some great cloud streeting.
The Club Simulator has been further improved by Stewart Henshall with a new Trim and Wheel Brake, and more Instructors are realising the benefits of using Condor for some training exercises. Meanwhile the regular Tuesday evening DSGC Condor tasks are being streamed live.
Several members have passed FRTOLs with James Smart FRTOL Examiner.
Jill Harmer
August 2023 September 2023
Spring seemed to fluctuate between southwesterly wind/floods and northeasterly wind/parched ground at North Hill. In between we grabbed the opportunities to fly, but very few days with potential for cross-country flying. We got to be experts in removing wet/dry grass from the K21 wheelboxes.
Well done to Simon Jordy who has resolo'd in a glider some 20 years after last instructing at North Hill, despite being a regular Tuggie.
Expeditions to Portmoak and Denbigh also gave some reasonable but mixed weather. A long weekend to Brentor in their famous northeasterly failed to bring out the wave. But thanks as always to all our hosts
Jill Harmer
October 2023 November 2023
Congratulations to Chris Gill who was the clear winner of both classes of 50th Anniversary of Competition Enterprise at North Hill this year. Pete Warren was awarded a BGA Diploma for services to gliding, he has been a Tug Pilot at every Comp Ent held at North Hill.
Well done to our Juniors - Dan Hender has become an IFP, and Connor Williams Cross-country endorsement.
Congratulations also to first solos Nicholas Johnson and John Davies.
The Club took the DG505 for a popular static display for the 80th Anniversary event at Dunkeswell, which is where DSGC originated in 1953.
Jill Harmer
December 2023 January 2024
The weather hasn't provided the cross-country season we had hoped for, but we've fitted in a including 3 Summer Courses.
We congratulate Juniors Jake Stabb (16yrs ) and Joel Roulson (14yrs) for their first solos.
Dan Hender (18yrs) achieved 20th out of 42 at the Junior Nationals at Gransden Lodge.
Stewart Henshall came 15th out of the Condor pilots in the FAI Virtual Grand Prix in Italy.
Expeditions to Portmoak , Long Mynd and Denbigh also provided some good conditions. North Hill cafe has temporarily closed as Graham and Cheryl have decided to enjoy retirement. And our new Eurofox arrived ready for tug pilot training and introduction to the Club fleet.
Jill Harmer
February 2024 March 2024
Amongst the rain, low cloud and gales of the autumn , we have had a few decent days and the emphasis has been on keeping currency. Our Tug Pilots are all familiarising themselves with the new EuroFox and members are getting checked out on the back.
Well done to James Flory who has progressed to Full Cat Instructor, and to Dan Hender for being selected for the 2024 British Development Squad after his great , first-time performance in the Junior Nationals.
Our Club Simulator has had an upgrade to force feedback and is being integrated into the training syllabus. We welcomed new caterers to North Hill cafe following retirement of Graham and Cheryl.
Jill Harmer
