Had forgotten about this blog for a while. Only one more flight in 2013 - at the SW face of Agnew's Hill in strongish wind. First flight in 2014 was on 11 January at Dungiven. Had an excellent flying trip to Algodonales with Simon Murphy being well looked after by Johan and Jackie of FlyAlgo - highly recommended.
Some local flying and training back home then off with Alastair McMaster and family and Simon Murphy (again!) to Rose Valley Lodge in Bulgaria in July for 8 days' flying with Gavin of Rose Valley Lodge. Gavin and his wife Lucy (a couple from Belfast), with Texan Charles Austin have started a fly/guide business based in the village of Kliment where they now live and which is convenient to the main Bulgarian flying site at Sopot. We had some excellent flying for all but two days along the massive mountain range in big easy thermals. Unfortunately Alastair had a heavy landing the first day which spoiled things for him and the family but he is now back in action. Accommodation, food, guiding and transport were excellent and all included in the package.
Managed to get the dust shaken out of the Magnum tandem at Big Collin on return, with Martin Bates as ballast! Flying since then has been at Dungiven and Big Collin where we currently seem to have a spell of SE winds and I have had some students out. Visiting Romanian pilot Cristian Negrisanu has a ball on Big Collin and managed a series of slope and top landings, which he had never done before.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Two days in a row!
Monday 14 Oct 2013
Ian C dragged me away with him to Slieve Gallion on Monday. Arriving after lunch we found a brisk wind on the hill, slightly to the east of NE. We walked down the hill a bit and flew. I watched as Ian hooked a thermal and started climbing over the back. Meantime I was steadily climbing but making very slow progress into wind. When I looked for Ian I saw that he had not made it to cloudbase and was on a glide back to the hill. Due to the strong headwind he landed well back. Meantime Danny had arrived and was soon up to join me - even if a bit lower most of the time :-).
After some 25 mins I had had enough gale hanging and managed to get in for a good top landing in a bit of a lull. I went back to the car for some lunch where I was joined by Ian after his second flight. It seems that the wind was picking up as he said he had landed going backwards. When we returned to takeoff, the wind had increased to over 20mph and Danny was packing up. We did the same.
Tues 15 Oct 2013
Things to do at home so I didn't go out until after 3pm, more to go for a walk on Shane's Hill than anything as I did not expect it to be flyable. I parked in the bottom layby and saw that the wind was blowing fairly lightly straight up the road. I thought I might as well take the paraglider with me on my hill walk so, leaving instruments behind, I climbed to the headland between Shane's and Agnew's. When I got there the wind was Easterly and around 12-14mph. I soon persuaded myself that it was indeed flyable, although the top of Agnew's was in orographic cloud.
For the next 25 mins I soared around in smooth lift, using big ears to stay out of the intermittent orographic cloud as well as flying across to the dip between Shane's and Agnew's as it was lower and therefore cloudbase was higher. Cloudbase then gradually crept lower and forward progress was slow so I flew out to land by the layby. I flew through a fairly turbulent patch on the way down that I expect was wind shear as there was hardly any wind in the landing area. Not having instruments certainly expands awareness and reminded me of all those years hang gliding without them.
No massive airtime on the two days but pleasant and interesting flying nevertheless.
Ian C dragged me away with him to Slieve Gallion on Monday. Arriving after lunch we found a brisk wind on the hill, slightly to the east of NE. We walked down the hill a bit and flew. I watched as Ian hooked a thermal and started climbing over the back. Meantime I was steadily climbing but making very slow progress into wind. When I looked for Ian I saw that he had not made it to cloudbase and was on a glide back to the hill. Due to the strong headwind he landed well back. Meantime Danny had arrived and was soon up to join me - even if a bit lower most of the time :-).
After some 25 mins I had had enough gale hanging and managed to get in for a good top landing in a bit of a lull. I went back to the car for some lunch where I was joined by Ian after his second flight. It seems that the wind was picking up as he said he had landed going backwards. When we returned to takeoff, the wind had increased to over 20mph and Danny was packing up. We did the same.
Tues 15 Oct 2013
Things to do at home so I didn't go out until after 3pm, more to go for a walk on Shane's Hill than anything as I did not expect it to be flyable. I parked in the bottom layby and saw that the wind was blowing fairly lightly straight up the road. I thought I might as well take the paraglider with me on my hill walk so, leaving instruments behind, I climbed to the headland between Shane's and Agnew's. When I got there the wind was Easterly and around 12-14mph. I soon persuaded myself that it was indeed flyable, although the top of Agnew's was in orographic cloud.
For the next 25 mins I soared around in smooth lift, using big ears to stay out of the intermittent orographic cloud as well as flying across to the dip between Shane's and Agnew's as it was lower and therefore cloudbase was higher. Cloudbase then gradually crept lower and forward progress was slow so I flew out to land by the layby. I flew through a fairly turbulent patch on the way down that I expect was wind shear as there was hardly any wind in the landing area. Not having instruments certainly expands awareness and reminded me of all those years hang gliding without them.
No massive airtime on the two days but pleasant and interesting flying nevertheless.
Friday, September 06, 2013
Worth waiting!
Went to Dungiven yesterday having been delayed by a necessary visit to my sister in Magherafelt. Arriving at the hill I found the usual suspects there with many of them having flown but the wind had now dropped away to a trickle. As we got well into our parawaiting, we watched the windsock doing a dance round the pole as the wind switched all over the place.
Some people gave up and went home and a few headed for White Mountain to check conditions there. After a while the wind came on to the hill at Dungiven at around 14mph. I took off after being unceremoniously dumped on my back by a sudden lull as I left the ground. I got back on my feet by the simple expedient of obeying my own "hands up" advice. On takeoff I was immediately in lift and as there was a slight NW bias to the wind direction I headed to the headland to the south over the road. Lift was moderate and steady, taking me to over 750ft above takeoff and out over the farmhouse at the bottom.
The wind then noticeably shifted to the NW which explained why nobody else was preparing to fly, so it was time to land. It took a while to fly now crosswind back to the hill and into wind towards the top landing area. Approaching the cars I became a bit wary of any turbulence that might be heading my way from Benbradagh headland as I was now directly downwind of it and my approach was taking me over and close to a couple of fences. I therefore flew back beyond the top gate and landed about 100yds from it directly facing Benbradagh summit, being surprised to find the approach there smooth, enabling a tiptoe landing.
Getting back to the car and the others it seemed clear that the wind had settled in the NW direction. I then headed over to White Mountain where I could see that Donal and Michael were by now flying their hang gliders and Ian C, who was depending on me for a lift home, was there with them. I assumed that the wind was too strong for paragliding until I saw Ian take off on his paraglider with no problem penetrating away from the hill. It did not take me long to join them.
Lift was plentiful all round the NW bowl with a couple of places where small gentle thermals were popping up at intervals. That showed up the advantage of a paraglider in such conditions as I was able to slow down and work the small patches of lift that the hang gliders, being faster, flew through. Unusual to be sharing the air with hang gliders and getting above them most of the time.
Since Ian and I had a meeting as members of the Sperrins Outdoor Recreation Forum in the community centre at the bottom of the hill we packed up around 6pm. I flew round to the W side of the hill and landed by the car. Ian landed lower down and the two hang gliders landed in the bottom landing area on the other side of the main road by the gate. All agreed that it was one of the best flying experiences in a long time.
Some people gave up and went home and a few headed for White Mountain to check conditions there. After a while the wind came on to the hill at Dungiven at around 14mph. I took off after being unceremoniously dumped on my back by a sudden lull as I left the ground. I got back on my feet by the simple expedient of obeying my own "hands up" advice. On takeoff I was immediately in lift and as there was a slight NW bias to the wind direction I headed to the headland to the south over the road. Lift was moderate and steady, taking me to over 750ft above takeoff and out over the farmhouse at the bottom.
The wind then noticeably shifted to the NW which explained why nobody else was preparing to fly, so it was time to land. It took a while to fly now crosswind back to the hill and into wind towards the top landing area. Approaching the cars I became a bit wary of any turbulence that might be heading my way from Benbradagh headland as I was now directly downwind of it and my approach was taking me over and close to a couple of fences. I therefore flew back beyond the top gate and landed about 100yds from it directly facing Benbradagh summit, being surprised to find the approach there smooth, enabling a tiptoe landing.
Getting back to the car and the others it seemed clear that the wind had settled in the NW direction. I then headed over to White Mountain where I could see that Donal and Michael were by now flying their hang gliders and Ian C, who was depending on me for a lift home, was there with them. I assumed that the wind was too strong for paragliding until I saw Ian take off on his paraglider with no problem penetrating away from the hill. It did not take me long to join them.
Lift was plentiful all round the NW bowl with a couple of places where small gentle thermals were popping up at intervals. That showed up the advantage of a paraglider in such conditions as I was able to slow down and work the small patches of lift that the hang gliders, being faster, flew through. Unusual to be sharing the air with hang gliders and getting above them most of the time.
Since Ian and I had a meeting as members of the Sperrins Outdoor Recreation Forum in the community centre at the bottom of the hill we packed up around 6pm. I flew round to the W side of the hill and landed by the car. Ian landed lower down and the two hang gliders landed in the bottom landing area on the other side of the main road by the gate. All agreed that it was one of the best flying experiences in a long time.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday 10 August 2013
Good flying at Dungiven W. Then the rain came on and cloudbase dropped to the base of the hill. By this time nearly everyone had gone home but Colin D, Deri and I decided to wait to see if it cleared.
We headed to Dungiven and found the coffee shop closed but Dungiven Castle came to the rescue with large cups of the warm brown liquid as we listened to an instalment of Deri's life story, with frequent hopeful glances out the window.
Colin had a look outside after a while and pronounced the hill clear.
We drove back up to find the rain had gone and a high cloudbase. It was now 7pm. The three of us had a ball - soaring the entire ridge to heights over 850ft above takeoff in smooth air. I suspect there was wave lift in front of Benbradagh as heading out encountered very smooth air and steady moderate lift. This notion was further reinforced on finding that there was a bit of turbulence at the takeoff and top landing areas - perhaps the tail end of some wave rotor. Deri wisely decided to land at the bottom. We eventually packed up and left for home around 9pm having had probably the best of the flying. Just goes to show that having a bit of patience can sometimes pay off.
We headed to Dungiven and found the coffee shop closed but Dungiven Castle came to the rescue with large cups of the warm brown liquid as we listened to an instalment of Deri's life story, with frequent hopeful glances out the window.
Colin had a look outside after a while and pronounced the hill clear.
We drove back up to find the rain had gone and a high cloudbase. It was now 7pm. The three of us had a ball - soaring the entire ridge to heights over 850ft above takeoff in smooth air. I suspect there was wave lift in front of Benbradagh as heading out encountered very smooth air and steady moderate lift. This notion was further reinforced on finding that there was a bit of turbulence at the takeoff and top landing areas - perhaps the tail end of some wave rotor. Deri wisely decided to land at the bottom. We eventually packed up and left for home around 9pm having had probably the best of the flying. Just goes to show that having a bit of patience can sometimes pay off.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Hope and Desperation!
Ryan and I went out this afternoon more in hopeful desperation than any expectation of flyable conditions. Arriving at Big Collin mountain around 2:45pm we found the rain had gone and the wind was 12-14mph at the top but off to the East a bit.
Not a problem for Ryan who got three excellent top to bottom flights to finish off his Elementary Pilot tasks, while Mervyn G was seen groundskimming further round the hill on his miniwing for a while.
Not a problem for Ryan who got three excellent top to bottom flights to finish off his Elementary Pilot tasks, while Mervyn G was seen groundskimming further round the hill on his miniwing for a while.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Due to change in family arrangements I managed to get away to Dungiven yesterday afternoon. Arrived on the hill to join Ian F, Danny Y, Dave T, Colin D and Mark W in a light but flyable wind. Got my wing and harness inspected and ready for flight, then noticed that the wind had dropped sending Ian to the bottom landing field.
Danny was busy chatting up some spectators and the others were attached to their wings so I drove down and retrieved Ian. Taking off in a slightly increased breeze I found fairly consistent pockets of light lift to the north of takeoff and eventually made my way on to Benbradagh headland where I reached 500ft above takeoff.
Flying across to the headland to the south resulted in the loss of some 300ft but there was more lift there. On the way back I decided to apply full speedbar, having never done so on the Medium Firebird Raven. I was most surprised to find that even with significant increase in airspeed there was no change in sink rate and I must have flown into some rising air as I crossed the road as the wing started climbing. Removal of speedbar input resulted in a climb back up higher than when I first applied it!
During the later part of my 45 minute flight the wind got lighter but I noticed that it had backed slightly towards the SW so that best lift was to be found to the north of takeoff where the ridge was more into wind. I easily got back for a top landing. My vario showed the temperature at height was 2 degrees C which explained my numb fingers even with gloves on.
Colin went up on the Raven for a flight after waiting for wind to take off in. Surprisingly he managed to soar for around 5 minutes before coming in for a slope landing at his takeoff point.
A good day in a bad weather week.
Danny was busy chatting up some spectators and the others were attached to their wings so I drove down and retrieved Ian. Taking off in a slightly increased breeze I found fairly consistent pockets of light lift to the north of takeoff and eventually made my way on to Benbradagh headland where I reached 500ft above takeoff.
Flying across to the headland to the south resulted in the loss of some 300ft but there was more lift there. On the way back I decided to apply full speedbar, having never done so on the Medium Firebird Raven. I was most surprised to find that even with significant increase in airspeed there was no change in sink rate and I must have flown into some rising air as I crossed the road as the wing started climbing. Removal of speedbar input resulted in a climb back up higher than when I first applied it!
During the later part of my 45 minute flight the wind got lighter but I noticed that it had backed slightly towards the SW so that best lift was to be found to the north of takeoff where the ridge was more into wind. I easily got back for a top landing. My vario showed the temperature at height was 2 degrees C which explained my numb fingers even with gloves on.
Colin went up on the Raven for a flight after waiting for wind to take off in. Surprisingly he managed to soar for around 5 minutes before coming in for a slope landing at his takeoff point.
A good day in a bad weather week.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Good day at Big Collin, although it needed hard work to make the most of bubbles of lift drifting up the hill in the light and sometimes variable direction wind. Managed almost 2 hours airborne for a change, with the best conditions arriving for myself and the two Fermanagh pilots after most people had gone home! Weather not looking too promising for the next few days though.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Robin Young's came good.
Yesterday (Sat) there was much dithering and to-ing and fro-ing of texts about the weather. I eventually drove out to Agnew's Hill in the late afternoon but stopping on the road, saw that the wind was more north-easterly. So - quick text to Colin D as arranged and off I headed to Robin Young's Hill. On the way I saw what I thought was Ian F's car diving off towards the roundabout at Larne. I stopped at the end of the road he had just entered, hoping that he would see my car in his mirror - but I guess he was concentrating on the approaching bend! Never mind - I'll ring him. But, being a good driver he does not answer his phone when driving nor, it appears, stop to find out who called him until he gets home.
Anyway, at Robin Young's the wind seemed fine so I climbed with my wing to the top takeoff (taking a belated return call from Ian on the way) and prepared to launch. The wind was very light and soaring seemed questionable. However, the arrival of Colin D and Dave T in the car park did the trick. The wind came up to around 10mph and I took off as they started to climb the hill. There was little lift until I got to the far end of the ridge in front of the cliffs and slowly worked my way up in the intermittent but smooth surges.
I was soon joined by Dave and Colin and then of course my 'phone started ringing in my pocket. After a few more beats I top landed and let Ian F know that it was soarable, having told Alastair that it was flyable.
Airborne again for more soaring. Alastair arrived and climbed the hill with his gear. I turned at the high takeoff for one more beat and saw Dave very low on the cliff at the far end. I flew over the front ridge just maintaining height and moved closer to the cliff to let Dave take advantage of any lift on the front ridge. When I turned to follow him back I saw that he was getting no lift. Neither was I - the lift had suddenly switched off and I was forced to try to soar the front of the front ridge. No height gain but able to maintain and convert speed to lift as I approached the lower takeoff so that I had height to turn and top land there. Dave didn't make it and bottom landed. Colin squeaked in to top land by the car park.
I went up to Alastair at the top takeoff. Flat calm by this time but he made an excellent nil-wind forward launch and flight to the bottom landing field. My warning to Ian F when I landed that he need not come out now was too late but he kindly retrieved Alastair from the bottom field.
Hoping for more soaring soon.
Anyway, at Robin Young's the wind seemed fine so I climbed with my wing to the top takeoff (taking a belated return call from Ian on the way) and prepared to launch. The wind was very light and soaring seemed questionable. However, the arrival of Colin D and Dave T in the car park did the trick. The wind came up to around 10mph and I took off as they started to climb the hill. There was little lift until I got to the far end of the ridge in front of the cliffs and slowly worked my way up in the intermittent but smooth surges.
I was soon joined by Dave and Colin and then of course my 'phone started ringing in my pocket. After a few more beats I top landed and let Ian F know that it was soarable, having told Alastair that it was flyable.
Airborne again for more soaring. Alastair arrived and climbed the hill with his gear. I turned at the high takeoff for one more beat and saw Dave very low on the cliff at the far end. I flew over the front ridge just maintaining height and moved closer to the cliff to let Dave take advantage of any lift on the front ridge. When I turned to follow him back I saw that he was getting no lift. Neither was I - the lift had suddenly switched off and I was forced to try to soar the front of the front ridge. No height gain but able to maintain and convert speed to lift as I approached the lower takeoff so that I had height to turn and top land there. Dave didn't make it and bottom landed. Colin squeaked in to top land by the car park.
I went up to Alastair at the top takeoff. Flat calm by this time but he made an excellent nil-wind forward launch and flight to the bottom landing field. My warning to Ian F when I landed that he need not come out now was too late but he kindly retrieved Alastair from the bottom field.
Hoping for more soaring soon.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Cracker day at Big Collin
A good crowd of club fliers out from winter hibernation riding thermic conditions on Big Collin sunshine today. Three paragliding schools working too, so expect new club members before long!
I had a thermic soaring flight whilst waiting for a student to arrive. Looking down from my old Firebird Spider on a new Delta wing was surprising. Traffic hugging the hill plus a search for a thermal that had just left, meant a slope landing first time. Second flight was better, with a top landing that took about 5 mins as the entire hilltop was covered in lifting air.
Worked with my student for a few hours, resulting in Pete finishing all his EP flying tasks. The sky was buzzing with club pilots all the time. While Pete was packing up after his last flight, I went up to retrieve my wing abandoned earlier on the hilltop. Wind was 8-9mph and Andrew D and I took turns to fly. I managed to stay up for a while and landed just below the top to let Andrew off. No lift for him. I then took off again and soared, finishing with a cruise along above the lane halfway to the entrance gate and back to land by the windsock. Andrew flew down to join me. End of a great day. Hoping for more tomorrow!
I had a thermic soaring flight whilst waiting for a student to arrive. Looking down from my old Firebird Spider on a new Delta wing was surprising. Traffic hugging the hill plus a search for a thermal that had just left, meant a slope landing first time. Second flight was better, with a top landing that took about 5 mins as the entire hilltop was covered in lifting air.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Another frustrating weekend!
Sunday - reports from the hills said "stay at home": wind, rain, low cloud.
Saturday - cabin fever forced a trip to Mayobridge in remote hope of a flight and to introduce Ian F to a new site. Met a couple of fellow pilots, Colin D and Dave T, driving away from the site - "too windy" they said. And anyway the parking lay-by was occupied by a film crew. We all adjourned to a local hostelry for coffee/tea and scones.
Suitably refreshed we returned to the hill. Film crew had gone. Of course the wind had no notion of easing off from the consistent 23mph, but Ian did a good job in assessing the characteristics of the site; how it could be flown and hazards avoided.
The others left for home after a while and we went on a short tour of some of the other Mourne mountain sites I used to fly in the early days when I was much younger and fitter before heading home on yet another typical 'flying' day!
Saturday - cabin fever forced a trip to Mayobridge in remote hope of a flight and to introduce Ian F to a new site. Met a couple of fellow pilots, Colin D and Dave T, driving away from the site - "too windy" they said. And anyway the parking lay-by was occupied by a film crew. We all adjourned to a local hostelry for coffee/tea and scones.
Suitably refreshed we returned to the hill. Film crew had gone. Of course the wind had no notion of easing off from the consistent 23mph, but Ian did a good job in assessing the characteristics of the site; how it could be flown and hazards avoided.
The others left for home after a while and we went on a short tour of some of the other Mourne mountain sites I used to fly in the early days when I was much younger and fitter before heading home on yet another typical 'flying' day!
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Here we go again!
Went out to Big Collin yesterday (Friday) more in hope than expectation. Wind southerly and varying from 14 - 25mph. Got some much needed exercise walking up and down the hill for an hour waiting to see if conditions would change. No such luck. Gave up and went to visit my brother in Ballymena!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
At last!
Great to get airborne after all the hopeless weather - even if it was a roller-coaster ride at Big Collin in the gusty SSE wind. After 25 mins I had had enough and landed by the lane. With the wind seeming to ease a bit I had high hopes of getting Ian F airborne but just when he was revved up, speedbar adjusted and ready to go, we had to abandon the idea as we watched Martin B on his miniwing getting bounced around in the strengthening wind. Even though it had been calm in the morning. the Met Office low level wind chart was again fairly close to the mark. Maybe better luck tomorrow?
Monday, January 09, 2012
Just when we thought we might fly!
Had a meeting in Belfast this morning but forecast looked promising for Dungiven in the afternoon. Got a text from Danny Y to say it was flyable. After getting home around lunchtime I collected Ian F who was anxious to complete his CP tasks and to try out some new gear that Santa had brought.
This being Northern Ireland, of course when we got there the wind was too strong and gusty and only Mervyn on his miniwing was flying.
We hung around for a few hours, commiserating with fellow flyers who had turned up - then went home! Typical day!
This being Northern Ireland, of course when we got there the wind was too strong and gusty and only Mervyn on his miniwing was flying.
We hung around for a few hours, commiserating with fellow flyers who had turned up - then went home! Typical day!
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Will it ever end?
This stormy and wet weather is getting depressing - nearly as bad as the blizzards last year! But it can only get better, can't it? Friends in Spain continue to make us envious by their reports of flying nearly every day in 21 degrees heat and up to seven hours in the air - grrrr....
Thinking of getting a group together and making a trip to Spain later in the year.
Oh! - just had a look at the charts and the forecast. Maybe the chance of a flight tomorrow.
Wishing anybody reading this, a Happy New Year!
Thinking of getting a group together and making a trip to Spain later in the year.
Oh! - just had a look at the charts and the forecast. Maybe the chance of a flight tomorrow.
Wishing anybody reading this, a Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Santa Claus!
Richard P and I did our Santa act yesterday - delivering 'thank you' goodies to flying site owners at Boviel and Dungiven W. No chance of a flight - low cloud, with wind and rain! Same story at Magilligan without the low cloud.
Considered sandyachting on the beach at Benone. Wind was strong but ok - but the sand was soaked and it was starting so rain so we adjourned to the Coffee Shop in Castlerock for a bite to eat and then went home!
Considered sandyachting on the beach at Benone. Wind was strong but ok - but the sand was soaked and it was starting so rain so we adjourned to the Coffee Shop in Castlerock for a bite to eat and then went home!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Neverending!
When is this awful weather going to end?
It's not just the weather that frustrates us. As a diversion, Ian Cross and I went off to defend UHPC interests at a meeting at the House of Sport, Belfast this evening. Of course, knowing our luck, when we got there we were told that the meeting had been cancelled - without the club being notified!!
It's not just the weather that frustrates us. As a diversion, Ian Cross and I went off to defend UHPC interests at a meeting at the House of Sport, Belfast this evening. Of course, knowing our luck, when we got there we were told that the meeting had been cancelled - without the club being notified!!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Grounded again!
Gales forecast for Saturday so loaded up the X-sail and headed to the 7 mile long beach at Benone, Magilligan. Met up with the Southern Irish sandyachting bunch with their mix of large sandyachts, Blokarts, Pottys and a few kite buggies. Strong offshore wind was turning back the tops of the incoming waves in spectacular plumes of spray. My old flying buddy Martin arrived with his X-sail but before I could get mine rigged it started to rain.
And so it continued, with intermittent light rain and strong wind as we huddled in the car and watched the braver souls ploughing on through the wind and rain. Another old flying buddy who lives nearby - Davy - turned up, but there being no sign of the rain easing, everybody packed up and we headed home.
More strong winds forecast for the next week or so - grrr...
And so it continued, with intermittent light rain and strong wind as we huddled in the car and watched the braver souls ploughing on through the wind and rain. Another old flying buddy who lives nearby - Davy - turned up, but there being no sign of the rain easing, everybody packed up and we headed home.
More strong winds forecast for the next week or so - grrr...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Rare Flying Day Sat 12 November 2011
Out at Big Collin mountain with thoughts of some tandem flying if conditions ok. No such luck. Wind fluctuating as if often does on this site. One of my students was on his way to the hill so until he arrived I thought I would attempt some aviation. So I took my solo wing and climbed halfway up where I reckoned there was enough wind for a soaring flight. Inflated the wing, turned to start my takeoff run; then a sudden gust tucked the front of the wing; wing dropped back in the lull; then suddenly reflated, jerking me off my feet and taking me for a slide along the soggy hillside for 20 yds or so before I killed the beast!
Returning to takeoff and having checked again that all was in order, including the security of the reserve parachute deployment handle - vital check if you have fallen over - I got airborne without incident this time. Lift was intermittent and patchy. I found myself halfway to the bottom of the hill skimming the grass but by turning in any little bit of lift that came through I eventually managed to get to 150ft above takeoff - and above other paragliders that were trying to follow!!
My student having arrived, I landed back where I had taken off from and spent the next couple of hours with him revising ground handling, daily inspection, pre-flight checks etc and getting him three good flights to the bottom of the hill. Contrary to the Met Office low level forecast (15kts at 1,00ft!), the wind had dropped to around 5mph by this time and since my paraglider was still up on the hill I went up to fly it down to the bottom landing.
Much to my surprise I was able to get 5 minutes working what little lift there was drifting up the slope before landing beside the car. A good and welcome day after the bad weather.
Returning to takeoff and having checked again that all was in order, including the security of the reserve parachute deployment handle - vital check if you have fallen over - I got airborne without incident this time. Lift was intermittent and patchy. I found myself halfway to the bottom of the hill skimming the grass but by turning in any little bit of lift that came through I eventually managed to get to 150ft above takeoff - and above other paragliders that were trying to follow!!
My student having arrived, I landed back where I had taken off from and spent the next couple of hours with him revising ground handling, daily inspection, pre-flight checks etc and getting him three good flights to the bottom of the hill. Contrary to the Met Office low level forecast (15kts at 1,00ft!), the wind had dropped to around 5mph by this time and since my paraglider was still up on the hill I went up to fly it down to the bottom landing.
Much to my surprise I was able to get 5 minutes working what little lift there was drifting up the slope before landing beside the car. A good and welcome day after the bad weather.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Airborne again!
Got some airtime again at Big Collin mountain on Thursday. First time out since my hospitalisation and surgery on 26 September. Got four soaring flights and one of my paragliding students got some more tasks done before the weather deteriorated - increasing gusty wind stopped play.
I hasten to add that the surgery was totallly unrelated to paragliding activities!
I hasten to add that the surgery was totallly unrelated to paragliding activities!
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