Harting 12th December

Sunday at the place of worship 4 members of the congregation spent an hour on their knees waiting hoping and praying for the wind to pickup as apathy and the bottom field beckoned Nev legged it down the hill in search of the mince pie and the lift was more than enough (although if he had eaten the pie first it wouldn't have been) having been shown the truepath we followed for a cruise down to cocking and back 8 to 10 mph NNE cold but sunny now we have seen the light alleluia TK

To Cold To Bother Sunday 28th Nov

Woke up after little sleep (children) and made an expert judgement on the weather from beneath the warmth of my duvet - it obviously wasn't flyable!

So set about spending the day designing and building the next generation of hang glider. See the photos below.

Marvel at the latest frameless wing technology (no that's not the same as a PG) and integrated basebar and uprights constructed from the latest plastics technology.

Due to go on sale in 2011, get your order in now!

All patent pending....

James

tuesday 23rd November

Devils Dyke north north westerly 10 to 20mph later at times cold damp but good winter ridge soaring aroundthe dyke and up to tru

Harting 20th november

wind 12 to 15mph North flew for an hour up to cocking gap and back came back to see all the HGs rigging and ready for a nice november day went for another hours flight up to Treyford and  visited the PG's Thermals seem to work from the village to the east or from the farm and spur just to the west back to harting just after every one had derigged and gone home TK

Harting Sunday 7 Nov

Much aviation took place on a lovely winters day. Sometimes it was good, sometimes not so. Many hangers out.

Bust an upright, must have been down to metal fatigue I guess.

James

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Flying on my Birthday!

Well as it was my birthday and it was flyable, I think it would be rude not to fly don't you? For a bit more excitement I thought I would fly from Winklebury to Monks Down (flying sites in Dorset) and practice some low level flying. Apart from misjudging the lift on the way back to Winklebury and doing a down wind crash landing in the bowl at the bottom, I don't think that it went too badly. I have uploaded it to Vimeo and Youtube so you can choose your poison... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmv_TOFkclo

http://vimeo.com/16341494

Richard

Harting sunday 24th october

Harting down  northerly 10 mph launched 1230 having seeen PG's doing well at Treyford picked up some lift at Beacon hill and cruised past Treyford and on to Cocking but failed to get enough to comfortably cross the gap Pg's now found a thermal so came back to them and got up to 2200 asl Came back to ridge after a while to find a sailplane wandering around with engine/sustainer running looking for lift flew back to harting and landed to see what was holding up Bruce and Grant who promply dissappeared towards Beacon threw a Graham and Tony off the hill.  nice flying  and landing Graham Flew again for another hour and got a cloud street to 3000 some bloke called Jim was there Had something to do with filming "only fools and horses" borrowed my glider and i didn't htink i wa going to get it back nice flight Mr Chairmen Tim King

Westbury 20th October

Sky surfers secret day out to westbury nice cold night followed by a bright morning was going to give a good days flying slightly to much wind meant that going upwind was going to be difficult but several cloud streets helped although they seemed to dissipate and build quickly very good climbs to 4500 asl helped me to just short of Trowbridge before i turned back for westbury although Tony S carried on past the town to the Kennet canal Got back to the white horse and found myself another street and cruised round a 20 km triangle and a 3 hour flight great for october and good to see low airtime pilots having some good flights too Tim King

Windsor, London 9th October

Paid a visit to Windsor today and was shocked to see this guy paragliding. Does he not know he is within controlled airspace on the main approach to Heathrow? Totally irresponsible.

Also, and Im no expert, but Lego is probably not a good construction material for a paraglider? Im guessing his wing is not BHPA certified.....

James R

Mercury Friday 8th

Arrived at 12.30 to find a few PGs and a few hangers, one PG in the air. Quickly rigged and stood on launch, it was that annoying wind speed that was right for both disciplines.

Waited an hour then launched, seemingly at the same time as a few PGs so a bit of weaving about. Only lasted 10 mins and they got the better of me (thanks to Ian for the retrive). Just as an observation there is not enough looking before turning going on - not exaggerating - I'm seeing your hands go down to execute the turn before your head turns to look.

Second flight was better as the wind had picked up and had a pleasant 45 mins at height, some thermic activity but it was slightly off to the SE so a bit rough.

Weekend looks good!

James Roy

Ringstead - Wednesday 22nd September

A lovely warm, sunny morning as Brian C. and myself set off for Ringstead with the promise of some gentle coastal soaring.  We arrived early afternoon to a gentle 12-14mph SW – and the news it had been stronger earlier!  Several PG and an ATOS present, all making the cliffs without difficulty.  However, the light wind and low cloudbase limited height gains.  By the time we finished rigging, orographic cloud had blotted out White Nothe. 

We waited it out and sunny spells appeared on the horizon as Portland emerged from the clag.  I launched for a short 10min run along the cliffs, gaining 300ft before entering the mist.  (Enough height to get back to the hill for a comfortable top landing.)  A further wait, then another 30min flight.  The cloud ceiling limited height gains but fun was had nevertheless.  (The hill was working nicely without the usual rough thermals from the farmyard below – no sun, you see!)

Another surprisingly comfortable top landing – I expected more rotor from the hedgerow. The mist descended further as everything became damp.  We decided to pack up and head from home.  (It was refreshing to "play around" on the glider in the smooth conditions; more height next time, please?)
Brian P.

Westbury HG 12th Sept and 17th Sept

Novice under direction of Wayne.
 
12th Sept. Thermic? Rough at times. 15mph
Brilliant day for me with 3 flights of 20+min each with top landings. PG traffic thinned out with an increase in wind and allowed me to enjoy 3 significant flights,
Every take off provides a learning opportunity but equally enjoyable is the like minded company who all share their experience and flying wisdom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW8xEPAYs2w   all comments welcome!
 
17th Sept. Light. 10mph
 
I still have hesitation to get back far enough over the ridge to stay in the lift by the time I have completed the turn. I think some of it is related to concerns about being bumped in  the turn. Anyway the first flight was 4min to the bottom and then I put it down too far out. At least the t/o was ok!
Several pilots waited for the wind to increase as a couple soared above. Then in text book form a squadron of swallows arrived feeding on insects carried up with thermal activity. Within 5 minuets everyone launched.
With some prevarication we decided to go for it and I did the most appalling launch ever, nearly stalling it. I believe I was not prepared for a gust and just got lifted before I was ready. I have never had to think about launch, it just seemed natural? Anyway, got on with it fighting to stay up in the back end of the thermal and followed Alex to the bottom for 8-9min. Just hope it won't freak me out next time.
 
Ian P
 

Westbury 12 Sept

Loooovely day at Westbury today.

Hangers out in force.

Good conditions, last of the summer wine....

James R

Mercury Friday 3rd Sept

 

Mercury Friday 3rd

Arrived at Mercury to a couple of PG’s flying and absolutely no hangies. Rigged and flew as soon as some good clouds came over and immediately headed north for Abingdon…

Perhaps a bit over ambitious for a 2PM start as the blue hole beyond Basingstoke caused me to hesitate tried to carry on but got low only finally recovering over the A34 north of whitchurch which was well west of course. Toyed with giving up and flying home to Andover but instead decided to try and get back. Unfortunately should have hung around in the last bit of lift a bit longer as I was 200 feet to low to get back on top in the non soarable SE so ended up landed at the bottom and get a lift back from a generous PG pilot who kindly came down to fetch me…

Mercury - Sunday 5th Sept

Having just got back from a beautifully sunny week in the Swiss Alps (no flying) I was disappointed to wake up to grey and wet sky. I had even loaded the glider onto the roof on Saturday night in anticipation of a day on Mercury.

So I canned it fairly early in the day but couldn't resist a quick round robin text at lunch time to see if anyone had headed out. Obviously that was silly as I was informed that Grant was flying so of I headed only to receive a second text, 10 mins from Mercury, to say that it had gone way off to the South.

I carried on and arrived to see Grant flying in a SE, Tim was there drying his Atos.

Headed home.

James R

Mercury - Thursday 2nd September

An unpleasant day for me, personally. For a weekday, surprisingly busy with 4xHG, a bevy of PG (some visitors?) and several models. A gentle E-ESE wind promised much and Wayne B. had an impressive tour of the valley on his ATOS before I arrived at midday. Some PG got away during the afternoon from Whitewool and Mercury when the gentle lift patches came through, (well done!) but it was not consistent despite the breeze.

I had a horrible experience on my first launch, got a nasty wing up just over the fence. (Later, a PG suffered a minor collapse in the same spot.) Luck smiled on me and somehow I recovered, but the remaining 15min flight was just as nasty. The air was jumbled and difficult to work. (The southerly component probably didn't help.) Then the sky filled with PG which made it impossible to navigate safely and I had to land.

It was a long wait for a spell of clear, lifting air to attempt another flight. Once airborne, the sky filled with PG again. Like Dementors, they sucked the joy out of the flight. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the improving conditions, I spent the entire time dodging canopies and pleading loudly for others not to launch. I guess my shouts were heard, but not before half a dozen or more had packed out the 150ft lift band. Matters weren't helped by the wind direction which prevented access to the bowl. We were all operating in a very confined space, altogether far too risky.

This is not the excitement we fly for, is it?

Wayne was coaching a couple of CP red-streamers. With no room to explore the ridge, they inevitably ended up at the bottom. Experienced pilots may be able to cope, but we are doing our novices a disservice with this density of traffic. It just ain't safe, folks.

Brian

Photos not uploaded

Strange eh? My photo's haven't made it to the blog!

Simon Vacher

Motion Graphic Designer & Digital Video Editor

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Harting - Monday 30th August

A lovely looking day.  Started blue but Cu started forming early.  The previous day's strong winds appeared to persist so I didn't make a move until lunchtime. On arrival I thought I'd blown it as the wind had dropped significantly.

The car park was very busy with folk out for the day enjoying the scenery. A HG top landed as I was getting the gear off the car – this spurred me on!  At the top Dean ? from TVHGC was finishing off rigging. Mark B. was in the bottom field having just had his second flight of the day – after a 2-year break!

Dean launched, gained around 100ft for a while but ended up at the bottom as well.  Not so encouraging. The sky became overcast at times with occasional sunny breaks.  The lift definitely improved during the sunny spells.

I launched around 3pm with Mark B's help. (He had walked back up – character-building stuff!). Lovely!  Scatchy at times but workable thermals to 800ft ATO.  Best lift in front of the Beacon in the N breeze. Played with a group of buzzards for a while. Got some nice height behind launch so worked forward towards South Harting village – and lost the lot! Elected to top land after 35mins, a surprisingly gentle affair.

Second flight around 4pm produced height gains of around 1,200ft ATO and more organised lift above the Beacon. The wind strengthened, backed NNW and the air became lumpy.  The lift faded so a second top landing.  The third flight was entirely at ridge height. At one point I had resigned myself to a "downer" as I was scratching half way down the hill.  Not a pleasant place to be as the trees created all manner of turbulence.  I flew east towards the lower tree-covered slopes and was rewarded with some weak lift. Working this for several minutes I gained sufficient height to slide in for a top landing.

Phew!  Time to pack up and head home – a better afternoon than anticipated! 

Brian

Westbury, Monday 31st August

 
Westbury, Monday 31st August
 
Left the hill once a few Cu's appeared after midday. Flight downwind to behind Bell (nr Dorchester) quick and uneventful, then turned around and started the trip back, but at Shaftesbury the overdevelopment appeared, meaning I had to fly westwards towards Gillingham/Wincanton just to stay airbourne. 2 sailplanes below me landed in the flat lands, I lucked out near A303, back to base (typ. 4300asl) and faced with spreadout cloud-flew to 5000ft for height advantage. Continued north, flying west of the ridge near Bruton, thought I could make it back but downed at Frome in the spreadout, 6 miles west of Westbury. A nice 4 hours soaring though........
 
Nev

Sat 28th Aug

Ian Parker & I arrived at Westbury to find conditions suitable for Ians soaring flights to complete his CP!
Ian achieved the two flights required each with a top landing-not bad as it was only his 3rd & 4th soaring flights!
Conditions in the air were as Brian described, however on occasions I found myself being bounced about quite roughly-which is disconcerting on an ATOS!
Top landing was also on the bumpy side as the wind had a westerly component.
Just one moment in the air which caused me a lot of concern. I was  at about 350ft ato on the westerly end of the ridge. The other pilots were high at the White Horse . I checked  before turning back towards the Horse & got a shock! Grant appeared about 50ft below me! 'Where the F### did he come from?' were my initial thoughts!
Grant was returning to the ridge low & fast from an upwind glide. I never saw him as the glider bended in with ground!
Hang gliders & rigids are difficult to see in the air-all I can advise is stay vigilant & expect the unexpected.
Stay safe

Westbury - Saturday 28th August

Despite a classic sky, not the best of days.  A brisk WNW wind confined most flying to around the bowl and chopped up the thermals.  The threatened showers never materialised although we did see some dark clouds at times.

Very much a "Sky Surfers outing" with Grant C., Wayne B., Derek M. and Oleg already onsite when I arrived, (11:30am-ish).  Four HG launched just as I arrived – this added a spurt of enthusiasm!  Sky Surfer newcomer and novice Ian P. completed another soaring flight and top landing towards his CP-rating.

I eventually launched around 1:15pm.  Conditions looked good with respectable heights.  I got to 800ft ATO and felt quite pleased with the U2's performance in the stronger conditions. (Others commented on it being rough.)  The top landing raised a little apprehensive with the entire area covered with Kite Surfers and general public.  Got down safely after a good 45min blowout.  Grant showed us all a clean pair of heels, of course, (cloudbase?)

The second flight was less pleasant. Got bounced around a bit as the wind strengthened to 20mph+ and backed more to the west.  After 30mins, decided to call it a day.  Most were packing up and leaving as I drove away at 5:30pm.  (Mind you, Oleg was sticking around – sunset was another 3-hours away!)

Some hardy PG were in evidence, but conditions not to their liking.  (The wind did increase as forecast during the entire day.)

Brian.

Sunday 22nd August - Anna's First Tandem!

On a wet and drizzly day at Barton, we met Gary Puhl from the Mighty Wessex, who had kindly agreed to give Anna a tandem flight. The weather didn't look promising with rain the whole drive down, but it was forecast to clear in the afternoon. We got to Barton and it was cloudy and wet so decided to skip off for a pub lunch.  After that the weather wasn't much better so we sat in the car to wait. Every so often the rain would stop, but only for long enough to get the gear out and wet!

Eventually, with the weather not looking like improving, Gary set the tandem up in the very light drizzle and strapped Anna in. With me as anchor man and Anna briefed, the wing was soon above them, but the wind appeared to be too light, typical! After a little bit of a ground handling master class from Gary, the wind seemed like it had picked up a tad, so the command was given to run. Off the edge with a scream of excitement and they were away. Gary hugged the cliff scratching his way back up and managed to turn and fly back past us just above cliff height. Within another beat they were at a comfortable height and could relax.

I filmed a bit and took some pictures from the ground for a while before deciding to join them in the air for a bit of aerial filming. I couldn't seem to find somewhere to park the wing that was in the airflow, but with the help of my ground crew holding the wing up my launch was not bad at all (even if I do say so myself!). It was quite refreshing flying around with the drizzle in your face in the lovely English summer weather. After around 40 minutes of boating around the rain increased so we all decided to land. 

Anna was over the moon and can't wait to start learning to fly herself. I have lost a retrieve driver but gained a flying partner!

I can't thank Gary enough for taking Anna up on the tandem, just need to save up for a new wing and training for Anna now.

Oh and you don't realise how big a paraglider is until you try to spread it out indoors to dry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAaQ9srWl2g

Richard

http://dukeofted.wordpress.com/

flying sat 28/8

No flying for myself at Westbury today like everywhere else blown out for us floppies, but it was good to see the skysurfers hangies out in force and having fun. New skills learnt nose man, well it gave me something to do for five mins.

Fw: sunday 15th aug.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Wayne Bevan <waynebevan23@yahoo.co.uk>
To: web06@wessexhgpg.org.uk
Sent: Tue, 17 August, 2010 10:25:13
Subject: sunday 15th aug.

Sunday Aug 15 @ Harting.

 

At 0730am it was soarable apart from the mist being in which cleared by 10am. This allowed Ian (red ribbon) to achieve 2 soaring flights. The latter being 20mins before landing at the bottom!

It then picked up to a NNE gusting between 15-20mph! It didn't get any better with height!

The 'home ridge' was quite bumpy & I indicated to Graham (red ribbon) to land which he did.

Progress to Beacon was easy on the Atos. Beacon has a NE'ly wooded bowl which normally works but was rough!

Progress east means a glide across a low section before connecting with the ridge at Treyford & then on to Didling. From 1000ft ato it was easy!

I headed for Cocking with the intention of crossing the gap-but not today as the wind had picked up & gusting to around 30mph!

Thermals were rough, broken with some heavy sink! Being within 200ft of the ridge meant the Atos was being bounced about!

I saw Sean's hang glider safely on the ground around Elstead-good decision as one doesn't want to get low there as landing options are interesting!

The glide back from Beacon to take off was interesting so after a 40minute flight I landed & called it a day!

safe flying

Wayne

Atos VR

Westbury 16th August

Nice afternoons flying at Westbury today. Wind was NNW backing to the west as the day went on, 20 - 25mph, rough at times. Four hangers in total.

First time out in a month so life is feeling good again!

James R

Ringstead Bay - 8th August 2010

Well Sunday was promising to be fantastic at Bell Hill, then the good weather moved to Combe, and then in the morning the good weather seemed to have disappeared! After looking at RASP hoping for somewhere that maybe, just maybe might be flyable, it was looking a bit pants. Hmm the south coast looks like it has a breeze and it is looking like WSW or maybe even SW. After talking Neil into a 2 hour drive to Dorset we decided to head to Ringstead rather than St. Albans as I hadn't yet made it to the cliffs despite flying there twice already. Neil had never been to Ringstead so it was going to be a new one for both of us.

The whole drive down we were looking at the trees not moving a bit and thinking that we have made a horrible mistake. But we pulled up at Ringstead to a 14mph SW breeze!

Neil was off first and after boating around the bowl for a bit went down for a slope landing. I took up as the wind picked up again and the air was surprisingly thermic and rough. I gained quite a bit of height and pointed towards the cliffs. I flew over the trees giving me a lifty line and made it to the houses where I did a few beats to gain back some height. Once over the main cliff the lift band was massive and the air the smoothest I have ever flown in (hence the large amount of photos!). Neil soon joined me on the cliffs and you couldn't drag us away from the cliffs. Flying out over the sea and doing spirals before racing back to the cliffs to climb back up, what a laugh. It was lovely to be able to kick back and enjoy the view for once without worrying about going down or keeping the wing above your head in rough thermals. I certainly wouldn't trade thermalling to base for this, but why not have your cake and eat it!  

My vario battery died about two and a half hours in and a bit later the call of nature decided it was time to land. An easy glide back into the rough(er) air of the bowl and straight into the back field for a nice touch down next to Shamus.

Richard

Harting, Sunday 8th Aug

 
Harting.
 
Arrived late at 11pm, as Lasham weather guru prdicted thermals wouldnt get going until midday.
By Midday it was just me, one modeller and no wind. Mostly zero, sometimes 2mph, but from any direction, it wasn't looking good (although the sky did!)
I was so confident I would go down I only put a ski vest & thin gloves. No birds, no indicators, took a chance at 1pm and circled to 4000ft, reaching base above the top landing field.
I spent and hour or so going 3 miles here, 4 miles there, but there were obvious routes. Flew back to the coast and played with the sea air (lower clouds at 4000, base now 4600), flew back inland an then west towards Buster & Mercury, finally arriving at the hill west of Mercury faced with a great line but airspace. Moved NE, and then a monumental street appeared, from north of Petersfield to what was probably newbury.....I flew to near Popham (West of Basingstoke), where base exceeded 5500 (could have been 6k, didn't look, eyes peeled for sailplanes) and then back to Harting via a few miles from Midhurst, to land in the 8mph south sea breeze at 4pm. Light clothing is usually a guarantee for getting a thermal, luckily it was just a bit cool at base.    
 
Surprised I was the only one there with such a good sky................
 
Nev

Bell Hill 25th July 2010

A beautiful day in rough conditions at Bell Hill.

Spent most of the day floating around Bell in fairly bouncy conditions, sometimes lots of lift, sometimes dashing quickly back to take off! The wind was fairly strong so anytime a thermal came through you had to be very committed as you were past the point of no return very quickly indeed. This kept me tethered to the hill until 4pm when I picked up a thermal to the west of take off in a very blue sky. I overflew Neil Withers (skysurfer) and shouted for him to join me as I thought, sod it I'm staying with this one!

After circling over the back field very low in this pitiful climb it finally picked up and took me right up to a little cloud, the only one for miles! I floated around under this for a while watching Neil skimming the ground behind Bell but somehow still in the air. Once the lift died off I turned downwind for what I thought would be a glide to the deck, sometimes hitting the odd bubble but not enough to stay up.  Having read stories of tractors kicking off thermals and thinking it would be nice to land near to someone in case I have a bad landing, I pointed at a nice brown field with the farmer ploughing. I arrived over the field with what seemed like only a few hundred feet and on cue the glider pitched back and the vario started making the right noises again. The thermal was so rough I was struggling to stay in it and gain height but slowly I creeped up until it smoothed out and shot me to base again.

I was starting to get close to Poole harbour now and a quick check on the gps showed my path heading towards airspace so glided cross wind in an attempt to avoid it. The wind was more westerly here and the sea breeze front was just in front of me. If only the airspace wasn't in the way I could surf the front to the east. As I flew through the front my ground speed went from 60kmh to 5kmh and I got tossed about a bit!

With the lift and my forward speed gone I spotted a nice big field next to Sandford and put down next to a load of kids playing football who all wanted to know where the plane I jumped from was.

25.4km and a new PB! http://www.xcleague.com/xc/flights/20101683.html?vx=06

Neil somehow managed to scratch his way to 7.1km for his first ever XC and then came and picked me up from Sandford, top man!

Richard

New marker post Butser

Hi, There is a new white marker post at Butser West which hopefully will help you to identify the different airspace.(See pic) the modellers and ours. Make your turn just before the post to avoid infringement except when flying in very low to land .

As the landing will be in the modeller's airspace paragliders will need to gather their wing and return to SSC take-off area. Do NOT launch from that area.

Pass the word around please.     Shippo

Perranporth, Cornwall

Holidays are FANTASTIC.....

My 1st entry into the British Clubs Challenge - Sat 19 June

A last-minute decision to enter the comp late Friday evening after a long week in London led to a panic pack early Sat morning and long drive to central Wales (including getting lost a couple of times). The organisation was marginally sub-optimal and most of the entries only got up to the flying site takeoff Hundred House at about 1-ish.


It was beautifully sunny with perfect looking clouds, but it was also gusting up to 30 mph at times. A few brave/desperate/delusional pilots proceeded to fly backwards though some admittedly managed to make headway to be rewarded by being bounced around close to the hill - so perhaps they weren't so bad! It did gradually smooth off a bit and the strong gusts came less frequently giving me a chance to takeoff at about 1645 - rather a late start for a typical cross country flight (the goal being to get as far from takeoff as possible today), but the days are long at the moment...


I managed to hook into a few little thermals, but couldn't keep with them and get enough height to set off. That is until Simon who was hunting around a little below me and out in front of the hill found a core. I joined him and we shot up. Simon, (perhaps a little over-keen!) promptly headed off South, I decided to keep at this thermal though it was weak at times and eventually managed to get to cloud-base which was approximately 5300 ft, and 3822 ft above takeoff, drifting back from the hill all the while. Its cold up there - about 9 degrees with a constant breeze on my face (why is that!?) and my fingers and nose were getting a bit chilly, but the view more than compensated!


This being only my 2nd UK cross country flight, its a nerve-wracking moment when you need to decide either try to head back to the hill, or go with it. Dithering probably means the worst as you bomb out just a few km from the hill potentially faced with a long walk back! I hung on to the thermal for dear-life but it eventually died and after an agonising few moments indecision, I followed Simon, now below and South of me - now I'm truly on an XC!


It was hard work as the thermals were mostly weak (or I wasn't that good at coring them!) but perseverance was the key; try to stay in the thermal to cloud-base, when there, or having lost it, head downwind and towards a likely looking bubbly cloud on half speed-bar. And it worked! I watched a few other gliders doing better or worse but I was mostly on my own. Simon was scraping around what looked to be very low indeed over a wood, and soon had to land - in a lovely meadow I later hear!


Though weak, the thermals became wider and I seemed to be able to fairly reliably hop from one to the other, never getting really low. It's actually really relaxing now, I've no idea where I am or where Ill end up, but who cares with the fluffy clouds above to keep me up, and the beautiful Welsh countryside and river Wye below. The Brecon Beacons are gradually becoming clearer - that would be a nice goal (I don't think I've the guts to go over them!).


There is one solitary glider I can now see in the distance heading for the Beacons, so I vaguely and slowly follow, but ahead the sky is turning blue - nice and warm, but not lifty! I watch as the glider ahead lands just on the edge of the Beacons, and I also start to sink. With a fantastic view of Llangorse lake, I decide on a nice looking field by a village and land. 1 hr 15 min and 25 km - wow what a brilliant flight - next time Ill remember to turn on the GPS!


Greeted by a bunch of delighted children who were watching me land including one little lad dressed as Spiderman, I answer a myriad of questions; where I came from, how it works, is it scary etc. Once packed up, their Dad invited me in to use his phone - I did manage to land somewhere with absolutely no signal. Very convenient, but better still, once there I get to talk to an interested audience about flying, fed tea and scones (with butter and jam) made by the local head-teacher. And later when Dad's friend arrives and now safe in the knowledge that a lift is on its way (thanks Nick), some local bitter gathered from the pub in a plastic milk bottle - this has all worked out very nicely indeed!


Cheers, all guys in the SSC team for making it a great weekend!


Alasdair Jones
PG

sunday 20th june

Sunday 20th June. N/NNE

Conditions at Combe were a light & thermic with the usual crowded sky. PGs were enjoying the conditions.

It appears so much more relaxing when you can scratch around & land on the slope whilst waiting for a thermal!

Eventually got off & enjoyed a pleasant hour exploring the whole ridge. Well it was my first flight at Combe!

Had a few moments amongst the Pgs where I had to be very alert-please remind me about the rules regarding turning & thermalling! (And we think Mercury gets busy!!!!)

Eventually sunk out-looked at the top landing but having seen a HG pilot overshoot it didn't look inviting as he negotiated PGs taking off!

Good safe bottom landing in the 'bean field' below takeoff-it's the one where you can see the chalk through the crop.

(de-rigg in the top right corner & its a 4 minute walk along a hidden track to the road!)

Anyone for Ringstead this week?

wayne

Sunday 20th June - Westbury

 
Sunday saw a fair contingent of skysurfers at Westbury, with a forecast of better sun & thermals in the West. Unfortunately the wind was just east of north (not north as forecast), and being 5-6 mph this made it very difficult to get started. After two landings by the trig point (Yikes), I connected properley on the third flight and set off XC. The lift didn't feel quite as good as RASP precited, and at Warminster I nearly turned back, but the lack of clouds around Westbury and the seemingly better ones off to the south I continued.
 
The flight turned into a 74 miles out and return. 
 
The flight downwind was uneventful, but I was wary that getting to Dorechester in an hour meant that there was quite a lot of wind at Height (showing 15-17mph in Bell hill area) and I nearly considered landing at Dorchester to the train back (even considered heading towards Exeter where the train line retruns to Westbury). Still, I set off back northwards, hoping I wouldnt land in boonie-land between Dorchester/Blandford. Once north of Blandford I followed the hills northwards, shadowing the A350 in case I needed to hitch back (wasn't confident about the day). Passing Shaftesbury the wind up aloft had dropped to beneath 10mph which was making life wasier, but with no clouds it was now roulette. I got low near the A303, and again adjacent to the gliding club near Mere, managed to glide on to Warminister where a landing seemed certain. Then, at 5:25-ish, lift started to bubble (I'm very low on the outskirts), and after 7-ish miniutes of the thermal growing and doing whatever they do, it then let rip and gave me the 4000ft I needed to glide the final 5 miles back to Westbury, landed 5 minutes short of 6pm, knackered after 5.5 hours in the air.

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Harting Down

Arrived just before mid day to see a rigid flying, as I walked up to T/O Nev landed reporting gusty and lumpy conditions. Wind was on and strong but flyable. Alan was also on the hill with his RIO but opting to stay put for now.

Just as I finished rigging a Lancaster bomber came past, probably only 100ft ATO and not far out, an awesome sight and sound.

I had a flight and yes it was lumpy, most I got was 1000 ATO, lift very broken by the wind. Landed and lunched, was going to go again when as I was ready to go the wind got up to hoolie strength so I parked the glider. This happened another couple of times over the next hour or so, as I had to be home at 4.30 I left. Wind was actually NNW on the face and NNE at height.

Til from Westbury arrived and Brian P turned up as I was walking back to the car. I spotted Oleg driving up as I was driving down, hope the late afternoon / early evening calmed down.

James Roy

Monksdown 17th June

Wind NNE-NE 10-22 mph   Steve Gale and I turned up with Jamie Cannon already there. His glider was out of action so brought his models along. The wind was quite off the hill but I figured the bowl section would be fine, Steve chose not to fly.   Soon after launch I found out why Steve kept his glider on the car, the wind seemed to be almost running along the hill. Well below take-off I figured that was the end of the day but got a blip to put me level with take-off.   Jamie launched his model and searched for thermals for me. What a help he turned out to be, after scratching then getting up to a more comfortable height Jamie found a good climb well out in front of the ridge. I headed to it and bingo, a nice steady 3 up.   As this was a consistent thermal I left the hill and went over the back. Climbing out I see Compton Abbas and light aircraft doing circuits to the North of me. Peaking around 3800ft ASL I headed off on a glide.   My route took me right over Okeford Hill which was directly into the wind (I guess we should have gone there) and then I continued to Bell hill.   Climbs were slow and broken with no Cu's for pointers, complete blue sky flying. At times I could see hazy stuff that can imply thermals and flew to them and they generally worked.   The coast was coming up fast despite cross winding at every opportunity. With thermal tops no more than 4000 ft ASL and often lower, it gave me little time to find a new thermal. I had 2 or 3 low saves as a result before getting low one last time that was just too much and I landed at Whitchurch Canonicorum, some 5 km NE of Lyme Regis.   The view was great looking at the coast line, especially fossil beach. Shame I was running out of land forcing me to crosswind it as it was hard enough doing a downwind dash. I recorded my first 'open' distance flight of the year with some 64 km.   Thanks goes to Steve Gale for retrieving me and Jamie Cannon for getting his model out and finding that thermal for me.   Tony

Double Dip

Forecast was NNE in the morning moving to ENE in the afternoon. I headed to Harting, arriving around 11am, it was indeed NNE and a nice 12mph at launch. Quickly rigged and had a flight out the the beacon, not a whole load of any lift, then it went like a washing machine and had gone East.

Julian turned up but had forgotten parts of his VQ. I decided to go to Mercury.

Arrived around 1.30pm, wind NE, swinging between NNE and ENE, not easy but I rigged and after a short wait had a fly. Pretty cra* to begin with, then I got a climb that allowed me to fly up to the N end of the ridge, still not a whole load of anything, windy at times. Ended up going down between cycles.

A beautiful day on the downs and I made a new friend....

James Roy