Last meeting at the field saw Campervan Dave arrive with a brand new model, a E-Flight Radian XL no less, and very nice it looked too, well for a short time anyway.
After some stalling by Dave as he spent some time messing with his transmitter, off he set along with Adrian to commence the maiden flight, which went quite well and was uneventful.
It wasn`t until the third flight of this wonderous model, that disaster stuck, the result ending with the plane parked quite nicely in a tree.
The rescue mission was led by Barry and Dave, they crossed fast flowing streams, barbed wire fences and knee high nettles before they reached the site of the incident, our correspondent managed to capture the final few minutes of the rescue on video.
Nice work chaps.
Here is a second short video of the perilous crossing of the barbed fence, watch your wedding tackle gentlemen.
I am happy to report that all ended well, apart from a little embarrassment which was suffered by Dave.
A short summary of the clubs visit to the Lleyn Peninsular North Wales.
After a long (in time not miles) journey I arrived at the campsite on Saturday afternoon and pitched camp, Martin and Robert also travelled on the same day but they had rented a cottage for the week, and after a stormy night I meet up with them the following day, when I was invited to the cottage for a cuppa, no flying as it was still raining.
Barry and Steve arrived Sunday afternoon, just as the rain stopped and Barry and me walked down to the cliffs and flew for a short while over the beach.
As the wind direction suited this flying site we all spent the day there on Monday, weather was a bit mixed but we flew, however this area had a bad rotor so landing was challenging.
Tuesday was a bad weather day, until 3 o`clock when the rain stopped, as the wind direction was now westerly we travelled the short distance (about 1 mile) to Mynydd Cilan which over looks Porth Neigwl or Hells Mouth. We had a good 3 hours or so here and I came away thinking that I had had a good day.
Wednesday was by far the best day of the week, no rain at all we even had some sunshine, winds were still westerly so we flew from Hells Mouth and an excellent day was had.
Martin had brought with him a model which had the electronic kit needed to fly autonomously, so during Wednesday morning a route across the bay was plotted and amongst great interest and anticipation this thing was sent on it`s way, and after disappearing from sight (as expected), we all sat and waited for it to return, and we waited…..and waited, it would be nice to say that it did eventually appear but alas it was never seen again, which is a pity, but thank you Martin for giving it a try.
Martin sat with binoculars waiting for the return of his model.
Here is quite a long and maybe bit boring video of me flying my Aquila over Hells Mouth.
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.
“Here what you looking at” Photo credit: Steve Bowdler
The wind had become a south westerly so the more landing friendly site could be used at the “tank track” location.
Photo credit: Steve BowdlerHere is Barry doing his best to be small, so that “Twilton Manor” would seem to be even bigger!! Photo Credit: Steve Bowdler
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.
Photo Credit: Steve Bowdler
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.
Photo Credit: Steve Bowdler
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.
Barry and me visited a new flying site on the Long Mynd, as the wind was north easterly we thought that we would try the Reservoir site.
The site is at the head of the Carding Mill valley and is quite picturesque, with a small reservoir.
It took a few attempts for us to find the correct place to fly from, initially the flying conditions were very turbulent and great concentration needed to fly for any length of time, we moved further around the valley head and found that it became a lot smoother, the wind must have moved around more south easterly so coming straight up the valley.
The flying was quite good then but still low down turbulence making the landings quite eventful, I think we both learned a lot about slope soaring during the day.
Here is a short video of what the place looks like from my M60, I`ve kept the video short as I know these films can become a bit boring.
And finally a photo of Barry with his new Typhoon, that’s the glider not the hat.
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.
The PSSA organised a mass build this year the subject chosen was the Sky Hawk, last weekend was the day when all of the models were presented and flown.
Steve Bowdler decided that he would like to build one and here are a few photos that were taken at the great day of judging, as you can see the standard was high.
Time for the maiden, Steve told me there was a good blow so plenty of lift available
Steve took his model down to Cornwall with the intension of doing the maiden flight there, but the conditions were just not right for it.
I took the opportunity to photograph it, here are my pictures so you can see Steve`s model in greater detail, I think you will agree it looks smart.
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.
