Club News

Weekend flying 4-5/02/05

Saturday dawned with Watty the early bird getting the best of Ballaugh, enjoying some great soaring for about 90 minutes. By the time Goldie, Martin, Bill and myself arrived there were isolated showers out to the NW.  We waited in our cars as the hail and rain fell at the back of Ballaugh hill before deciding to try our luck down south, so Bill, Goldie and I headed to Cronk Ny Array Laa about 4ish. Wind was 16-20mph NNW seemed right direction but too strong with low cloud and some bigger clouds above.  Looked a bit rough but Watty claimed his flights were fairly smooth earlier on. We did notify air traffic of our impending flights and called to tell them we had decided not to fly. They were very appreciative of our contact. So no flying for most of us.

Sunday arrived dull and overcast however Watty had again sought some great soaring at Slieu Lewaige early on with another hour or so logged up (180M ATO (590 foot)). By the time I arrived Tony was setting up and Martin had just landed along with Watty. Tony and I enjoyed a half hour in 8-12mph in light rain at times, slope landing in the big field to the left just before the wind dropped. Nice pockets of lift especially on the eastern point. Tony’s first flight at Slieu Lewaige so well done Tony. My longest flight since October- same site. Hope there’s more flyable weather soon for those poor fellas who had their hand full of…

Paragliding 29/1/05

Well I was a little worried that we would not fly this month, so when Sat dawned light it was good to get out onto Ballaugh. Si set the pace in the morning grabbing a quick half hour and easily staying up. As usual the bulk of the club made it onto the hill a little later. First off Mike went for glide straight out to the No. field. Then Swalesey took off and managed to stay up…just. He was then followed by Martin ….who went down. Swales then gained a little and was followed then by Jamie, Keith and Bill and then a little later by myself and Gold. A bit dull and cloudy at times, but a great soaring day.

Meeting this week at the Farmers.

Flying at Ballaugh

If you have a fast internet connection at work or have a fancy pants ADSL connection at home then you should be able to watch the 2 clips below. Not the most exciting video clips but it will kill 5 mins if you are at work. (windows media player 9 required

 

Froggy, Dirty Harry and Bills Brother

Slieau Curn

Usual forecast, usual place, different names. (Just thought in case your all getting too bored/depressed I’d liven up the title a bit).

Forecast looked just about OK (WSW 20mph) provided took off by 11am as wind eased but before wind switched SW and increased yet again. As last week, cloud well above the tops–Until I got rigged of course!! Base fell right down to way below me– and then it poured down. What fun, soaking wet glider, wind getting up.

After sheltering under glider (not so good in this department- too high aspect ratio), got half unrigged and dithered around. Base started to lift a bit got re-rigged and took off just under base around mid day mainly to save carrying down. Anybody know how much worse these rigid wings fly when soaking wet, I haven’t seen any reports??

Not too bad. In fact I didn’t notice any difference at all! Careful to stay out in front of the cloud as last week, then over onto Froggy, lovely smooth lift, throwing height away as I wallied around out front, veering in and out of front of the orographic cloud as it came and went. Again on top front edge of cloud mainly around 550m above sea level and up to 1350 ft ATO at best. Smooth but certainly not making fast progress out front.

Froggys OK. Not long but perfectly shaped. Could have flown much longer and could have got to coast but it wouldn’t have done me much good and days are short.
Nice 1.5 hours and wanted to try out a new landing field that I have had my eye on for some time at Cooil D Harry. Where to complete the title I was met by Bills Brother!!! Apparently he did a Para course.  Tried probably without sucess to talk him back into flying Paragliders or even the real thing– Rigid Wing Hang Gliding. Its just so easy.

Martin