BIg Collin and Dungiven West again.

Tues 23 May 2017

Forecast looked a bit uncertain. I went out to Big Collin and was soon joined by student Trevor Fisher. The wind was well round to the SW and becoming strong and gusty. That meant the only practical exercises to be done were PLF practice and reverse launch practice with the Firebird Trainer.

Given that the wind was strong and gusty 14-21mph Trevor manfully tackled the gusts with the Trainer and succeeded in taming the beast, keeping it relatively steady overhead for extended periods.


Wed 24 May 2017

Off to Dungiven W on the strength of a report from Colin Dowey who was with others at White Mountain and reported light WSW wind. ON arrival I found the wind 12-14mph straight on to the west face - perfect. I called my beginning CPN student Paul Cunningham to get out for some flying. When Paul arrived I got ready to go up for a flight to check out conditions. But as usual the wind then increased and became gusty - too strong and gusty for any flying. Time for some parawaiting.

We were joined by refugees from White Mountain - Danny Young, Colin Dowey, Colin Lown, Donal Hamilton and Dermot Lagan. After a while the wind died down to 12-14mph. Danny was the first to launch on his Skyman Heartbeat wing, immediately climbing and getting very high off Benbradagh headland.  I took a short flight on my Firebird Raven M, finding good lift with some very light thermals going through. Considering it suitable for Paul for his first soaring flights I top landed.

With Paul fitted with radio so that I could reassure or avise him if necessary he took off and followed the flight plan we had agreed, ending with his first (and excellent) standup slope landing. His second flight was again soaring but the slope landing was a bit untidy - he fell over. When the wind dropped he finished with a forward launch flight with soaring beats and standup landing near the windsock as planned.

The day was rounded off by Donal who legged it for a high speed virtually nil wind takeoff on his hang glider, demonstrating the superior glide that took him most of the way to Dungiven, then turning back to make a standup landing in a field he had selected earlier.

Dungiven West

Took a speculative trip to Dungiven site this afternoon. On arrival, wind appeared to be slightly off to the NW and was a light 8-10mph. A large shower was approaching from the west and when it was over the wind died to flat calm then over the next hour the windsock went through a cycle of calm, westerly, south westerly, northerly, easterly and calm again. I got fed up and went home.

Robin Young's Hill

Calm at home all morning. Decided to go out to Robin Young's. Just as I was leaving home, Martin Bates rang from Agnew's hill to say the wind there was well off to the NE.

I joined Martin at Young's and we climbed to the top takeoff with our gear - only to find that the wind was off to the East and gusting to 21mph. Meanwhile Dermot Lagan and Paul Cunningham had arrived in the car park but a quick phone call to Dermot saved them the trouble of coming up to join us.

After heading back to the car park and hanging around for a while and entertaining Dermot with tales of the early hang gliding days, there was no sign of the wind dying down so we gave up and went home.

Good day at Agnew's Hill

Light winds forecast so we thought it might be a case of chasing the wind. I met students Keith McGeown and Gerry Johnston and we headed initially to Robin Young's hill. Finding the wind too far off to the east we tried Agnew's Hill.

The usual steep climb was a bit easier as the long spell without rain meant it was dry underfoot so no slipping and sliding this time. Wind was very light - 8mph occasionally 10-12mph. Fully expecting some hard work to stay up, I took off to check conditions and was immediately hoisted up. I flew about half way along the cliffs and back, then headed out from the hill to lose height prior to coming in for a top landing.

That was a mistake in that there was steady lift all the way out past the farm so I had to resort to Big Ears to get down. Heading downwind back to the hill took just as long as the upwind leg so lift was almost entirely thermic with little downwind drift.

After top landing I set off Keith on his Firebird Raven S. Following my earlier flight path he got higher than he has ever been before much to his initial alarm until he settled in to enjoy the experience. After some 10mins boating about he came in and made an excellent standup slope landing beside where he had taken off from.

Gerry then took off and soared. The wind had moved a bit more NE and he eventually lost the lift by flying too far out from the hill. He flew down to a good standup landing in front of takeoff.

Keith had two more flights - making an excellent slope landing on one and suffering Gerry's fate on the last one, landing in the same area.

I then flew down after soaring the hill for a bit. The wind had by now gone NE and approach to the landing by the cars was rather choppy but a tiptoe landing was made near the windsock.

As we were packing up, Ken McConnell arrived with a couple of his students, having started them off on Skeagh earlier and they headed up the hill to fly as we left.

We headed back to Robin Young's but by then the wind had died away. We were treated to a flypast by Norman Surplus in his gyrocopter.

Friday 28 April 2017

 Flying at Dungiven West.

Slipped after inflating wing and sat down with wing flying overhead. Phil Barron grabbed my harness and got me airborne! Soaring with Graeme Moseley - got high. Good lift on a line from takeoff to the McVeigh farm. Top landed. Owen Rea, Willie Kane and two of Phil's students flew as did late arrivals Ian Cross and Colin Dowey.