Hann__ Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 .....this weekend is shaping up nicely for some epic flying opportunities. A nice big blob of high pressure is forecast for the whole of the bank holiday weekend, maybe not wall-to-wall sun for Fri and Sat but low twenties warmth for Sun and Mon. I`ve got some hours to catch up on after a lean winter/spring season. I hope to report back on Monday with some tales of long XC`s and other airborne adventures... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cianpars Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Current forecast looking epic from now until Tuesday PM. Excellent day today too. Wish everyone some wonderful flying over the next few days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 And I'm holidaying in Norway for a week from Saturday...........typical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cianpars Posted May 3, 2018 Share Posted May 3, 2018 Håper du har det bra i Norge Guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 11 hours ago, cianpars said: Håper du har det bra i Norge Guy. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mfly Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 It's really looking good! I will be in St. Ives, Cornwall through Monday with my kit but I'm not quite sure where to fly a motor. I know where to free fly. I would appreciate any advice, locations, etc. Let me know if you are down here so we can fly together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cianpars Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 5 hours ago, Mfly said: It's really looking good! I will be in St. Ives, Cornwall through Monday with my kit but I'm not quite sure where to fly a motor. I know where to free fly. I would appreciate any advice, locations, etc. Let me know if you are down here so we can fly together. Hayle beach? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 Phase 1 completed this eve. 17:30 take-off for a 2.75 hour / 74 mile tour of Hampshire. Skies were a bit moody but it brightened up a bit for the last half hour or so, it was clear on the coast but the wind direction was nothing like forecast which prevented me from heading that way, the air was smooth but was getting a tad chilly after nearly three hours in the saddle so landed with plenty of daylight still left (and i needed to jettison some fluids). To be continued... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 Last nights effort was just a 2.5 hr 64 mile jobbie on my `Circa Soton` route which i`ve now done four times after i used to think it was too ambitious a route for the limited time and fuel of a PPG but have now realised it`s quite achievable, wind conditions have to be right, though. Despite flying in a big circle i never seemed to have the wind in my favour at any time last night. Shifting high pressure centre? Take-off was again at half five in the residual thermals of the (very hot) day, it seemed for the first half hour or so i was forever battling sinking air without the benefit of much lift.. Calmed down thereafter but hit a horrible rough layer at 12 - 1600` (wind shear) in the last twenty minutes that made me think about diving down to my landing field (which was in sight) but instead hit the throttle and climbed over for the smoother stuff above. A bit uncomfortable but no dramas. Think i`ll go for a morning flight tomorrow.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregwatson Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 (edited) I've found the air really rough the last couple of days (Surrey/Hants border) despite the superb looking forecasts and the lack of cloud. So bumpy that I landed again immediately. Really gutted because the forecast looked so good. In fact I'm starting to wonder if there's something wrong or broken with my gear that's making it so unstable. Which is not a great place to be! Edited May 6, 2018 by Gregwatson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 I took off at 8.00 pm and it was still as rough as hell. At 8.45 I was at 1500 feet over my LZ and going backwards with trims in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregwatson Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 5 minutes ago, AndyB said: I took off at 8.00 pm and it was still as rough as hell. At 8.45 I was at 1500 feet over my LZ and going backwards with trims in! Lol. So it's not just me then.... I'll try again tonight but I'm not hopeful. Thing is a more experienced pilot would probably climb through it but I'm not confident enough to do that, and landing immediately if I'm not happy is the safest option. The launch and landing still count though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 30 minutes ago, Gregwatson said: Lol. So it's not just me then.... I'll try again tonight but I'm not hopeful. Thing is a more experienced pilot would probably climb through it but I'm not confident enough to do that, and landing immediately if I'm not happy is the safest option. The launch and landing still count though Yep, definately the right decision if you`re not happy, flights are to be enjoyed, not endured, and a take-off and landing is all good experience. Do you have low hang point machine - that`ll tend to jiggle you about more, one reason i`m sticking with my Bulldog which i`m fully content with. The Moster has done well these last couple of flight too, sub-4L/hr - just. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 Agree on the right decision. It's spring (? laugh) thermals that you have to be careful of, it's as if they have woken from a long winter sleep and are grumpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregwatson Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 My biggest issues with turbulence are: - I have no idea how bad it can get nor how quickly. - I know I can't "switch to manual" and fly actively if it gets beyond a certain point (and I don't know where that point is or what it looks like). So far - even when it's felt really scary - I've watched the wing and never seen any hint of tips collapsing or anything. It always looks solid on reflex. - I never know whether to dive to get away from it or climb through it. Climbing feels like I'm heading deeper into danger (although today I forced myself to climb through it with gritted teeth and it was better higher up) I guess every time I experience it I'll learn a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Well, what a spectacular end to the weekend i had this morning.. Decided to go for an early flight and took off at 7:15 landing some three hours and 80 miles later. Superb conditions. First on the `to-do` list was to climb to 10,000`. It was smooth up there and not too chilly, quite manageable. To be honest the view from 10K isn`t really that much different from 5/6k, and the effort to get there is something that i`ll not rush to do again, and with no cloud to look at it`s not that interesting... The beauty of PPG is that you can go from all the way up there one minute to skimming the ground the next.....or tree tops in this case; ...then some recently drilled large field chasing my own shadow; Next up, rapeseed is always good - so low you can smell it; There`s a local pilot i occasionally see in the air - `Nucleon Man` i call him, and i saw him again today. I never fly with anybody else so it`s really cool to see another PPG in the same piece of sky, and those older Nuc`s don`t half shift, don`t they? Stunning spring colour; I made the most of this weekends blindin` weather and it came just in time as it looks like it`ll be a few weeks before my next airborne adventure as i wait for the grass to be cut in my regular field. The one i used this w/e has still not been prepared for crops as yet (will start this week) - maize in May. I was hoping to make flying career 200-hour mark this weekend but didn`t quite make it, that`ll have to be crossed off on my next flight. I hope everyone else had as good a weekend in the skies as me, it`s been a very long day and is now time for a beer or two. Cheers, Hann. 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 (edited) Morning flights for the win! I`ve only done a few early flights but they`ve all been excellent - no bumps, no thermals, nice and cool when preparing for the off. It`s always difficult in the eve in potentially mid-twenties afternoon heat having to make the decision to don bulky flight suits to add to the drama of launching first-time.. Despite landing at a relatively late 10:15 today there was no evidence of the thermic stuff kicking off despite the car temp gauge saying it was 23 degrees already on what was to become the hottest May bank holiday since records began. A.M. flights mean you can fly for as long as you like or conditions allow plus there`s no worries about running out of light, and it gets warmer, not colder. Edited May 7, 2018 by Hann__ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Double post fail... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mfly Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 On 04/05/2018 at 15:48, cianpars said: Hayle beach? Hi, I actually went flying on Hayle Sunday evening just as the winds were dying down. It was a quick on before sunset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cianpars Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Mfly said: Hi, I actually went flying on Hayle Sunday evening just as the winds were dying down. It was a quick on before sunset. Lovely spot, along the beach, dunes, Godrevy lighthouse and across to Carbis Bay and St Ives. I fully intend to fly there one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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