Category: Trips

The weekend started on Friday for most that were there, as I was one of the campers the first thing to do was set up camp.

Once done we headed for the Great Orme where we met up with Robert and several other model flyers who were also there for the weekend, hailing from Northampton.

The weather was overcast but the sun showed through sometimes, as the wind direction was northerly we flew our models from the “tank track” site but overlooking the café.

Saturday morning arrived and I was invited to Twilton Manor for a bacon sandwich, but upon entering the vastness of the tent I quickly became lost and so unable to find my sandwich found my way out and had to go hungry.

It rained for most of Saturday morning so we stayed in camp, it stopped midday so we went to the slope, there were even more flyers there as those that couldn`t make it on Friday arrived including Adrian.

The wind had become a south westerly so the more landing friendly site could be used at the “tank track” location.

Conditions were good for flying and a good time had by all.

Sunday was the best day of the weekend for flying with almost perfect conditions for most of the day, the wind moved around to the south during the late afternoon and eventually became unflyable from the “tank track” site, but by then most had already left.

I think these are Barry`s feet, maybe he is still being small

Steve`s dog Megan spent the morning looking for rabbits and eventually caught one which she would not let go of, and was a source of amusement to everyone.

For me Monday was spent packing up and travelling home, after a very enjoyable weekend, my thanks to all who came and to the Northampton group who were most friendly, also to the locals that joined and gave advice.

Here`s looking forward to the next trip.

After visiting St Agnes Head earlier this year and doing a little slope soaring there I came away thinking that it was a great place to fly, so I thought I would suggest a club trip down to Cornwall for a few days.

Three of us drove down there on the Sunday, the rest followed the following day.

Day one, Barry, Adrian and myself decided to travel on Sunday, we all arrived at about the same time but as Barry and me were camping we had to put up our tents before meeting Adrian at St Agnes Head. The wind direction was good and we had a good couple of hours flying from the cliffs.

This was our campsite after Steve and Campervan Dave had arrived.

Sunday afternoon flying.

Day two, the wind direction was still westerly so we spent the day at St Agnes again, waiting for the others to arrive, Mike Leek was first followed by Steve Bowdler, then Robert and Mike Payne who were travelling together.

The wind was quite strong so I decided to erect my small wind break in the hope it would provide some shelter, which it did at first but slowly the wind speed increased and the shelter couldn’t take the strain so it was taken down, or to be more accurate screwed up and stuffed into it`s bag.

Day three, the wind today had shifted around to the south so flying at St Agnes was out, instead it was decided that we travel to Dodman Point on the south coast, after miles of narrow country lanes and single track roads we arrived to find the coast covered in sea mist, only Robert and Mike Payne were brave enough to fly. The rest of us just watched until boredom set in and we left them to it, this was a little unfortunate as an hour or two after we left the mist cleared and Robert and Mike had a few hours of clear conditions.

Back at the campsite Steve and me thought we would have a go at flying our DLG`s, mine broke after the first throw, Steve was a little more successful the only thing was he lost it on the other side of the hedge that surrounded the camp site, after trying to find a way around to the other side Steve thought to climb over/through said hedge, plane rescued he had to climb back.

Day four, Wind stayed southerly but had moved around to the east, so it was back to Dodman Point, we had found a better looking site to fly from the day before also a shorter route to walk from the car park. Once again the dreaded sea mist prevailed, but the better site encouraged more of us to fly, it was very misty and visibility poor but we flew foamies as best we could, there were quite a few collisions and crashes as we were all flying quite close to each other.

However by early afternoon the mist lifted and we had quite a decent afternoon flying,

The last day was spent back at St Agnes Head, the wind direction was good at the start but slowly moved more southerly as the day went on so by late afternoon it become more and more difficult.

However there were several of the local flyers there and they turned out to be a friendly bunch, lots of story`s were swopped and advise given.

I was a bit dubious about camping but I quite enjoyed it, the thing about camping is that there is always something that has to be done so you are kept busy, a large tent and comfortable bed is a must though.

I think everyone enjoyed it, and we will have to do it again.

Subtitle: You take out two models but return with only one.

Barry suggested we go to Leckhampton, which is just south of Cheltenham, to try out the slope there. The slope is listed on the Slope Soarer guide as usable with a north to north-westerly wind, which as it happened was the wind direction for the day we went so all set and off we go.

Barry brought along his light glider (the name of which escapes me, new brain needed), also a larger similar model of his own creation and the famous “Nobby”, I took along my Wild Thing and the Vagabond.

There is a walk from the car park to the slope, we guess about 3/4 mile, but it is level, you can`t see the slope until you are on top of it the footpath being quite wooded and there are quite a few trees and bushes around, as it turned out they were not a problem.

The wind speed was averaging about 12 mph when we arrived and the lift was not bad once away from the edge, and several sorties were made, as the day went on the wind speed dropped and so the flying became more difficult.

There is a nice landing area behind the slope, quite large with the odd bush here and there, however it is a popular place for walkers and their dogs so waiting for it to clear could be a problem, not to bad today but at the weekend it would be more difficult.

Barry and his new creation (you can just about see it if you look closely), it flew very nicely I think he was quite pleased.

To explain the subtitle; my Vagabond has always been a pain to fly I just can not get it set up as I would like it.

The problem is with the C of G, I had it to far back, so I started to adjust it bit by bit. We were losing lift by now but I persevered, and found myself flying below the ridge line, I know, I thought, with a little speed and using what lift there was I should make it back up,… wrong my poor Vagabond is now sitting all alone half way down the cliff face.

Of course our old friend Hindsight suggested afterwards that I could have landed at the bottom of the cliff,… we does he always say that when its to late.

Well never mind.

We both enjoyed our day at Leckhampton, with a stronger wind it would have been better.

I made a video using my Wild Thing so you can see what it is like, nice views of Cheltenham.

We thought it would be nice to visit Haresfield Beacon last Sunday, the forecast said the wind would be 16 to 24 mph and southerly so off we went.

Well it was a bit windier than predicted, Barry looked at the data from the weather station at Cleeve Hill which is just a few miles to the north and that said it was blowing 40+ mph.

Here is a short video of Barry braving the wind.

We found a small hollow which offered some protection from the wind

Mr Warrow arrives at the hill,

The day ended well though, we decided to go for a pint down in the village.

This last weekend Mel and Adrian organised a trip to the Great Orme in Llandudno for a bit of slope soaring.

As novice soarers, Scott and I joined the trip to get some flying hours in, although we would be going only for the Saturday and Sunday where Adrian and Mel stayed for an extra day.

The weekend certainly was a game of 2 halves. Saturday after sitting on the M6 for rather longer than anyone would want to, we arrived to find a wind swept Mel and Adrian enjoying themselves on the Orme. This was one of the new planes that Scott and I bought, the Wraith (mine didn’t fare so well)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9EwY2U2vTc

but then as the weather closed in a little we headed back to the B&B for the night

The next day the wind was very light from the south east, we went up the mountain, but there just wasn’t enough wind to fly anything really, certainly not novices like me.

We will leave it to Colin to describe what he is doing here

Mr Adrian did explore the area with his bird of time trying to find any lift. Keeping with the post this is also in 2 halves…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrupFpQDWPk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFCVcHsIoo

But didn’t find any.

So we found something else to do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64t51-jafGw

All in all a good weekend, so thank you to Mr Adrian and Mr Mel for organising the trip and thanks to Scott and Colin for making it such a fun weekend.

A small group of intrepid SMFC flyers ventured up the Great Orme, Llandudno over the weekend of 11th /12th April to try some slope soaring. One intrepid biker (me!) followed to keep an eye on them and learn how to soar on the slope!

Day 1 (for me!) was to be Sunday 12th when I was told that many flyers would be there with a eclectic assortment of slope soaring craft. I got there at 14:30 to see what was going on –

So – not much happening then!

Apparently the word had gone around that it was too wet and windy for the intrepid flyers. Winds had been measured at over 100mph – and it was raining!

So, I set a satnav route to my hotel and set off. Got to the hotel and removed my soaking bike gear and had a shower.

The band of SMFC flyers eventually got in touch that evening thanks to some sterling work by Campervan Dave who apparently hacked in to Adrian’s phone and found my mobile number! The wonders of modern technology. (Or is that just extremely lack security on the part of Adrian?)

So – at the planning meeting that evening it was decided that the following day would be much better. Thanks again to Campervan  Dave and his weather forecasting phone! Sustenance was taken and everyone eagerly looked forward to the morning.

The next day, Monday 13th April, I went back up the Orme and met a couple who seemed intent on flying something-

The weather, as predicted by Campervan Dave, was much better. In fact it was so calm at one stage that many thought sloping would be impossible-

To cut what could be a long story a bit shorter, it turned out to be a great day. Much flying and retrieving was done and the weather stayed fair. The wind did increase during the day. In fact some saw fit to wear eye protection-

Others, despite their apparent skills with a phone,  were still trying to work out what to do with a transmitter-

There were some near misses – a stone wall will have to be rebuilt after Adrian ran through to retrieve a model-

Some spent every available moment sloping!

Others just wandered about aimlessly-

All in all it was a great day! My thanks to all who helped make it so! I thoroughly enjoyed it!