The past week saw a solid week of training at the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club, writes Jill Harmer.

With the wind coming from the south and east this week, there have been less opportunities for flying cross-country, but the local training operation continues apace.

However, Wednesday morning did provide some limited soaring rising to a 5000ft cloud base and a few of the private owners flew their gliders. At times, all the club and private gliders were airborne leaving an empty launch point.

Tim Johns and Joe Scaife both had flights in their ASW19 and Robert Lee from Exeter in his Astir all enjoyed the local soaring. Whilst Matt Wright from Washfield 84 km, Pete Startup from Ottery 63 km and Eric Alston from Coombeinteignhead 70 km explored East Devon flying round some of the local turn points from Chard to Cadbury Cross, Tiverton to Taunton, but in very poor visibility.

During the afternoon, although the visibility improved, the sky became overcast and the soaring diminished.

Thursday gave us a very unexpected pleasant day, in contradiction to the forecast. The flights were generally under 10 minutes long, until the very last flight when Pete Harmer (Chief Flying Instructor) from Tiverton was checking out Malcolm Vest from Wellington. They found a very big black cloud developing over North Hill airfield. This allowed them to cruise back and forth to the M5 a couple of times between 3000ft and 4000ft.

At the weekend, the conditions were very pleasant but hazy and not soarable, although John Pursey and Matthew Williamson (both from Plymouth) flew the Club DG505 along the ridges to Hembury Hill. Liam Vile from Exeter flew with Mark Eatough from Crediton practising for his Instructors rating.

Adrian Phillips from Cullompton had the perfect day to fly his IS-28M2 motorglider for the first time.

Interested in gliding with us at Devon and Somerset Gliding Club? Visit our website dsgc.co.uk - for details of how to book a trial lesson.