Seems no end to this atrocious weather - wind, rain, more wind, more rain...
Only consolation is that the hills will still be there when the weather improves!
Friday, December 18, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS!
Bad News
This atrocious weather just keeps on happening - high winds and rain.
Good News
Following the recent achievement of Elementary Pilot rating by Richard Neill and Yueming Wang I am pleased to report that Miguel Ramirez has just achieved his BHPA Club Pilot Novice rating and is looking forward to lots of airtime when he shortly takes up his new job in northern Spain.
Despite his name, Miguel is a native of Greece and has offered to help if a flying trip there is contemplated. Coincidentally, I had a 'phone call from Olympic Wings in Greece offering fly-guide trips so this might be worth exploring.
This atrocious weather just keeps on happening - high winds and rain.
Good News
Following the recent achievement of Elementary Pilot rating by Richard Neill and Yueming Wang I am pleased to report that Miguel Ramirez has just achieved his BHPA Club Pilot Novice rating and is looking forward to lots of airtime when he shortly takes up his new job in northern Spain.
Despite his name, Miguel is a native of Greece and has offered to help if a flying trip there is contemplated. Coincidentally, I had a 'phone call from Olympic Wings in Greece offering fly-guide trips so this might be worth exploring.
Saturday, December 05, 2015
A BIT OF AN UPDATE!
Having forgotten yet again to keep this blog up I suppose it's time I said something!
Wednesday 2 December 2015
A rare break in the bad weather saw a few pilots out at Dungiven West in the afternoon in very light winds - only just soarable. My CPN student, Gerry J, got some more soaring beat practice on the Firebird F1rst L, including a good slope landing after late lowering of undercarriage! He followed this up with another flight but the wind died and he nailed a spot landing at the bottom by the windsock.
My old friend Simon Murphy (Simon Murphy's flying circus) had sent me a demo Skyman Heartbeat M paraglider to play with. I took it for a short flight in the 6-8mph wind and managed to stay up but had to work at it. I liked it's speed and nimble handling, although the speed coming in for a slope landing was a bit faster than I'm used to. The wing, lines and risers are light - topping the scales at 4.15kgs and 14.5kgs all up with my normal Mowenpik harness, reserve 'chute, helmet, gloves, flying suit, flight deck with instruments with camera, and large stuffsack. I think there was a 500ml bottle of water in there as well.
Colin D had a soaring flight on the Heartbeat too and liked it. This is his comment:
"I did indeed like the Heartbeat, conditions were not perfect for a demo flight, as Bertie says very light, but you can only fly the conditions you're given.
Tom C also had some good soaring flights and more slope landing practice with a trip to the bottom field when the wind died. Dermot L also got airborne and some soaring that he also had to work for.
A look at the sky seemed to indicate the possibility of some wave lift a bit out from the hill. Ian C and Colin D caught on to this I think as, after getting high over Benbradagh they were both able to sail across to the south headland without loss of height.
All in all a lucky break and proof that if you don't go out you don't get to fly. The only one disappointed was Martin B who, in his rush to get out, had lifted the 'wrong' rucksack so had brought his mini wing and left the rest of his flying gear behind. Doh!!
Sunday 22 November 2015
I went to Skeagh to check out a new Niviuk Skin 18 paraglider . This wing is unusual in that, apart from five inflatable cells, the rest is single surface. I spent some time ground handling part way down the hill as it was over 20mph NE on top initially. Reverse inflation in a bit of wind can be done without holding the front risers - just step back smartly and get ready to brake as it comes overhead.
When the wind died down to <10mph on top I took off for a low groundskimming flight. No noticeable difference from a normal paraglider takeoff or steering. Skimming down the hill at speed, application of some brake resulted in the wing slowing and setting me on my feet. I expected that putting more camber on the wing would lift me away from the slope after speeding up but this did not happen, leading me to remember that an online review had concluded that it did not retain energy as a 'normal' wing. Looking forward to a decent soaring flight.
Wednesday 2 December 2015
A rare break in the bad weather saw a few pilots out at Dungiven West in the afternoon in very light winds - only just soarable. My CPN student, Gerry J, got some more soaring beat practice on the Firebird F1rst L, including a good slope landing after late lowering of undercarriage! He followed this up with another flight but the wind died and he nailed a spot landing at the bottom by the windsock.
My old friend Simon Murphy (Simon Murphy's flying circus) had sent me a demo Skyman Heartbeat M paraglider to play with. I took it for a short flight in the 6-8mph wind and managed to stay up but had to work at it. I liked it's speed and nimble handling, although the speed coming in for a slope landing was a bit faster than I'm used to. The wing, lines and risers are light - topping the scales at 4.15kgs and 14.5kgs all up with my normal Mowenpik harness, reserve 'chute, helmet, gloves, flying suit, flight deck with instruments with camera, and large stuffsack. I think there was a 500ml bottle of water in there as well.
Colin D had a soaring flight on the Heartbeat too and liked it. This is his comment:
"I did indeed like the Heartbeat, conditions were not perfect for a demo flight, as Bertie says very light, but you can only fly the conditions you're given.
In that case I can say it's very
floaty, stayed up no problem, faster than my Sprint Evo at trim speed
and lovely to turn. Super lightweight design also could be good for my
old back :-)"
 |
| (Photo by Dave Tweedie) |
Tom C also had some good soaring flights and more slope landing practice with a trip to the bottom field when the wind died. Dermot L also got airborne and some soaring that he also had to work for.
A look at the sky seemed to indicate the possibility of some wave lift a bit out from the hill. Ian C and Colin D caught on to this I think as, after getting high over Benbradagh they were both able to sail across to the south headland without loss of height.
All in all a lucky break and proof that if you don't go out you don't get to fly. The only one disappointed was Martin B who, in his rush to get out, had lifted the 'wrong' rucksack so had brought his mini wing and left the rest of his flying gear behind. Doh!!
Sunday 22 November 2015
I went to Skeagh to check out a new Niviuk Skin 18 paraglider . This wing is unusual in that, apart from five inflatable cells, the rest is single surface. I spent some time ground handling part way down the hill as it was over 20mph NE on top initially. Reverse inflation in a bit of wind can be done without holding the front risers - just step back smartly and get ready to brake as it comes overhead.
When the wind died down to <10mph on top I took off for a low groundskimming flight. No noticeable difference from a normal paraglider takeoff or steering. Skimming down the hill at speed, application of some brake resulted in the wing slowing and setting me on my feet. I expected that putting more camber on the wing would lift me away from the slope after speeding up but this did not happen, leading me to remember that an online review had concluded that it did not retain energy as a 'normal' wing. Looking forward to a decent soaring flight.
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