Eye in the Sky - Aug 2008
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Sun 31 Aug 2008
Report by Neil Mccain
One way of looking at it is that despite the dodgy-looking forecast,
cloudbase at ground level and rain all morning, we persevered with thoughts
of flying and were rewarded in the afternoon with a steady 12mph north-westerly
at Bell. Tada! The other is that conditions were quite variable, ranging
from gale-hanging to awkwardly light and off to the west. Still, you don't
know if you don't try, and we got to try/practice all sorts of manoeuvres
to make the most of the conditions. It was never going to be a classic,
but after this summer, well it was just good to have some fun.
Report by Shamus Pitts
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We got to the hill and slowly climbed to the top, which was a killer, to find the wind on the hill and blowing 18 €“ 20mph. A few people had a fly before the briefing, then after the briefing we all took off.
The sky was overcast but thermals came through fairly regularly but they seemed to be quite broken up and every time I tried to 360 in them I lost them then struggled to push back out from the ridge. Some of the thermals were pretty rough, pitching my wing back quite sharply (at least, that's what it felt like!). At one point I was 800' ATO, about 50' behind the ridge and I must have lost 780' trying to push forwards, ending up about 20' above a dry stone wall and going backwards. I didn't want to use the speed bar (I should have used it earlier but I was hoping either for a lull or for the wind to be less strong lower down), but in the end I needed 75% bar to creep forwards and get back out in front of the ridge.
I'd been in the air a couple of hours by this point. I'd decided that I wasn't going to try going over the back anymore, I wasn't having any luck staying with thermals, and every 360 ended with an agonisingly slow push back. The sun had been out for a while but now the sky was just a blanket of grey. I decided to push as far out in front as I could and to my surprise found that I kept going up. After a while the lift dried up a bit so I tried a 360 and was back in the lift. I pushed forward again until the lift dropped off, turned and found the lift again, so by the time I drifted over the ridge I was 1200' ATO and in reasonably strong, consistent lift. A few turns later and the ground disappeared and I realised that at 2000' ATO I was just above cloud base! I used my compass to aim south and put big ears in and flew out of the front of the cloud, the ground appeared again and I turned back under the cloud . As soon as the ground started to fade away I turned and flew out from the cloud, lost a couple of hundred feet and flew back under it.
I carried on flying the edge of the cloud for a while, until I saw another paraglider not too far away and below me. I decided to lose more height this time so that there would be no danger of disappearing in to the mist with someone nearby and I was getting a bit worried that the drift of the cloud would take me towards airspace. I followed this other paraglider for a while but he didn't seem to be finding any lift so I headed over to a village that was in the sun in the valley. Apart from a couple of farms it was the only sign of civilisation as far as I could see, there were just big hills and remote valleys everywhere. I saw a couple of people head off over the next ridge but I couldn't see what was on the other side and I wasn't in lift anymore I decided to try and soar the hill at the end of the village and wait for another cloud to come along! I still had stacks of height but I think €œcivilisation-suck€ had started to set in! There was a nice field In the village where I could see a few people packing up their paragliders and I thought a retrieve would be easy to arrange.
The hill at the end of the village didn't seem to be working €“ the valley winds were making things a bit odd €“ so I decided to head back towards a big grey cloud that wasn't far away. I was sinking all the way towards the cloud and before I got there I realised that if I went much further I might not be able to get back to civilisation so I turned around, glided to the field and landed for about 10km.
It turned out that there were six of us in the field, no-one had a mobile phone signal or radio reception! A kind old man walked with us to his house and let me use his phone to try and arrange a retrieve. I had a list of about eight telephone numbers, seven of which didn't have a signal and the other one was engaged for ages! The old man's wife made us a cup of tea and I eventually got through to Sean Staines who said he'd pass on my GPS co-ordinates to Richard the retrieve driver. We decided that the pub would be a better place to wait, so we had a beer and eventually saw the mini-bus drive past. Luckily Richard spotted us and took us all back to the hill!
Fri 29 Aug 2008
Report by Alastair Florence
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Thurs 28 Aug 2008
Report by David Franklin
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Report by Shamus Pitts
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Mon 25 Aug 2008
Report by Simon \jones
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Although I ended up going on my own, I had been in Italy little more than 24 hours before I got a text from Keith Burridge advising me of his imminent arrival! Keith stayed for two days and managed to get seven flights in, compared to my meagre 10 flights in four days.
Apart from Keith and I there were no other English pilots in Bassano, which made my first flight quite interesting. I managed to get some sort of site briefing in slightly broken English from some local pilots at the South-facing take off (although their English was many times better than my Italian) and coupled this to the advice offered by Luigi over a beer the previous evening. My forward launch turned into a reverse launch about halfway through, but I did manage to get airborne in the end. The length of flights ranged from 25 mins to about 1 1/2 hours. The thermals were quite strong, and Luigi advised that I shouldn't fly in the middle of the day, at least for the first day or so.
Things I learned: How to use roads when flying - they can generate lots of lift if it's 30 degrees C all day! How to reverse launch in nil-wind (with help from a very steep take off).
How to thermal! Just! If there is lots of lift, there is a huge hole of sink somewhere.
The altimeter on my vario doesn't work very well, if at all.
Whether or not you get clobbered for the sports baggage surcharge depends entirely on how nice you are to the check-in lady.
Overall, a great experience, and I will be going again! I would like to thank everyone who offered me help and advice before the trip - here are some photos, as promised. Keith took off very elegantly shortly after one of the photos was taken, only to realise that he'd left something on the hill - can anyone work out what it was?
Sun 24 Aug 2008
Report by Shamus Pitts
After a bit of a blustery day, the wind finally dropped down enough to warrant a walk up Cowdown. The wind was blowing 9 €“ 13mph at the top and was slightly off to the north west, but on taking off I found it pleasantly smooth and quite lifty. I didn't get more than a couple of hundred feet ATO, and was down to about 45' below takeoff at one point but it was all good fun! The highlight was seeing a deer that must have thought it was completely hidden curled up between two clumps of gorse, before it eventually got up and wandered off down the hill! I landed after 50 minutes because the sky had gone a bit grey and the air was starting to get a bit less smooth at times, but it was good to get my feet off the ground for the first time this month!
Sat 23 Aug 2008
Report by Grant Oseland
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Report by Craig Byrne
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The early birds (Gary Puhl, Roger, Brian) had a good quick fly. Then when we arrived late the wind had picked up, but it was still just flyable for 30 Min's on the tandem. The passenger is Jeff Effrinton and the rest of his family are now waiting for a less windy day to fly soon. We had a good fly up to the cafe and back to golf course, then did some wing overs, and nearly loops, then some pitch pendulum before bottom landing. Thanks to Gary Puhl for the help launching.
Fri 22 Aug 2008
Report by Alastair Florence
I had a full days leave booked up today but due to my dedication to my
employers decided to complete some admin work early today, Bell seemed
a good place to do this hence early Sitephone message.
Wind was lightish and base about 50ft over the hill with very wet grass
so carried on with admin until Derek S arrived and had a go. I soon followed
and we both had a nice boat about finding base had risen to 350ft ato.
A good crowd arrived and enjoyed pleasant enough conditions although base
still hadn't risen much over 1800ft ato.
There was then some confusion over a NOTAM which grounded us until with
some research we decided it didn't mean you couldn't fly, just if you
got hit by a Tornado not to go whingeing. Only one fly past would have
maybe swiped a few of us out the sky but as the wind was now about 30mph
this wasn't really an issue.
Thu 21 Aug 2008
Report by Alastair Florence
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Spent 40 mins at or above cloudbase this evening on Kimmeridge. In fact
it was difficult not to fly at cloudbase as base varied between 200ft
ato - below t/o. visibility ranging from not that good to not at all.
Still had good fun for a bit dodging the claggyest bits and making 300ft
ato top height by choice not necessity. Gave up when the whole ridge clagged
in as I couldn't really see what was going on anywhere.
Nigel B and Chris B arriving a little to late for any action.
Report by MikeAdkins
Russell called me to say Ringstead was on, but by the time I got there
it was a bit light, though several pilots were playing around and sitting
around. Those who had been flying the cliffs returned. Poor old John A
chose the wrong time to set off on his Firebird Z One (I think) and was
rewarded with the long sweaty walk. However, it picked up again and Roger
E, Gary P, Ian ?, Gazem, and others, myself included, took advantage.
Congratulations to new pilot J P Bonello (whose Forum page you have doubtless
all been following) who flew his Skywalk very competently, and, sensibly,
did not attempt the cliff-run - though I don't think it will be long before
he does!
Report by Gary Pocock
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Fri 15 Aug 2008
Report by Simon_jones
A day of parawaiting at Ringstead. Arrived at noonish to find the wind
slightly off to the west and slightly on the strong side. Two of us launched
and one got to the cliffs, to be joined by Russell W, Gary M and some
others. The pilot on the yellow Z-One persevered, finally being rewarded
with a good stint at White Nothe - third time lucky! The wind then strengthened,
forcing most to land. Russell, Keith B, Jim, Nicky, John, Ian, Neil, Gary,
Gail, Darren and Stewart M then whiled away the hours chatting about flying,
the weather and nothing in particular.
Stewart's tandem ballast turned up at about 5ish and had a lovely long
flight at the cliffs with John and Jim for company.
Report by Jon Harvey
Eype from late morning, but blown out by 2. 30pm.
Good time, couple of hours, several making to Charmouth, and the return.
Wind from a good direction, around 12 to 15 mph, and first attempts at
crossing Seatown gap, all failing miserable, but around half hour later
crossings were made relatively easily, as wind direction moved more to
the south. Portland Coastguard helo, watching from a safe vantage piont.
A pretty reasonable time, and several pilots, at scene who usually use
the Charmouth take off, but which is closed for the summer.
Thu 14 Aug 2008
Report by Nigel Bourn
Thursday, arrived at St Aldhelm's just as Ali and Paul returned from
their adventures, lovely evening flight admiring the light on the sea
and the two wings I could just make out in the bright light over at Kimmeridge.
Very smooth lift over the cliffs up to a maximum of 400 ft ato but landed
when the thought of packing away in the dark encouraged me down.
Report by Paul Hawkins
First time over to Hans Tout from St A's today the crossing from St A's
to the 'Tout' came easy, as Ali says more right place right time (and
a touch of bottle) than skill. However I found the return from Eldons
Seat far more of a challenge and found myself scratching very low on Hans
Tout. Finding rotor low down aint much fun but dealing with it and scratching
hard to claw my way back up to the top was a valuable learning experince!
The flight left me with lots to think about and big smile! P. S as usual
Ali was 50ft above me on most of the technical bits!
Report by Alastair Florence
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Aldhelms this evening, over Chapmans Pool and up the coast together to Eldon Seat below Swyre Head and back.
Report by Keith Burridge
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One beat then flew straight to the lower cliff bowl and then almost directly to the main cliffs. We were soon after joined by John A on Hanglider, Gary M and Russell €œThe Office€ W. My GPS and Vario recorded just over 1000ft ATO out by the Nothe. One Hour 20mins of excellent lifty cliff soaring. On returning to T/O couldn't land due to abundant lift so the rear landing field was the only option taken by many.
Apologies for those unmentioned.
Thanks for the Sitephone message
Report by John Alder
Ringstead Bay. Ignoring gloomy weather predictions of heavy showers, arrived pm to find a clutch of PGs present, some airborne, some about to take off. The weather was actually superb: wind SW 8 €“ 16 mph. So I rigged the HG and (refusing to be put off by a Folland Gnat vintage fastjet sharing €œour€ airspace) took to the air myself. A lovely hour's soaring peaking 400m ASL and stretching from Bat Head to Ringstead village €“ idyllic - and culminating in a nice top landing too
Thu 14 Aug 2008
Report by Peter Robinson
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Thurs 7 Aug 2008
Report by Adrian Coombe
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The picture is of Grant enjoying the orographic€¦yummy!
Report by Paul Hawkins
Kimmeridge was fun this evening if not a tad on the strong side. Ali
and myself had the whole place to ourselves for an hour or so untill conditions
changed and my stomach told me it was time for some tea!
Report by Alastair Florence
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We went home but I reckon it probably settled down to a nice evening again.
Nice to hear we are flailing Bell again this year, looks like Smedmore hill could use it also, the cows seem to be eating around the ragwort here though at present.
Report by Grant Oseland
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Wed 06 Aug 2008
Report by Marc Hortin
Bowleaze / White Horse: Arrived at Bowleaze at 12. 45-ish to find RW
soaring just above the top, Keith B and Tyce's canopies being laid out,
waiting for a turn. After this no one managed to stay up and RW and Keith
B went for a well earned beer, Tyce heading off to White Horse as the
wind seemed a little more southerly.
By 2:30 I saw Tyce launch and begin soaring on the White Horse so headed
up to join him. By the time I got there RW had already joined him in the
gentle thermic condition so I joined them for a quick ½ hour soar. We
managed to make height gains of about 300' at times. As we landed by the
cars Keith B and Dr Charles turned up, conditions looking likely to improve.
Well worth it to get some flying in, in what has been a miserable couple
of weeks.
PS Not sure about how to spell Tyce
Tue 05 Aug 2008
Report by Stuart Martin
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Should you be wondering where all the sunshine and good flying weather is: it is currently over in Bassano. Stuart Martin and Gary Puhl had an uninterrupted week of i
Mon 04 Aug 2008
Report by John Alder
Ringstead Bay. I spotted a much needed opportunity for a flight this
afternoon €“ not having flown since getting back from a trip to Laragne
last month. Different conditions! Grey sky, strong westerly breeze, white
caps on the sea = HG! I had an hour of pleasant soaring topping out about
250m ATO and ranging over a good area. The downside was that progress
in a westerly direction was painfully slow unless one was prepared to
trade height for speed over the ground (the Climax doesn't lose too much
height, I must say). Although not as rewarding as Ringstead flights can
be, it was nevertheless good to get airborne again before the next bout
of wet weather arrives tonight.
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