bubba1 Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 It was a beautiful morning here in Caversham today.A friend of mine was up in his balloon.Wish I had taken the morning off work and gone for my first solo away from the Membury nest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 Yes, sunny to start at Membury before it clouded over. But ,you're right it was still dry in Reading when I got back just after lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsquared Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 8 weeks between flights!.....that hurts just thinking about it. Thanks for posting Pat, lets hope you can get a few touch and go's in next time you can fly. Good to see you haven't let your enthusiasm wane. Cheers. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 (edited) Day 25 23/11/13 Flight 11 http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2456698 A crisper day today with brisk 7or 8 mph breeze from the North West. I had in mind to try the flight I'd had planned for last weekend to the East but after an easy 1st time reverse launch and away in a couple of paces I just hung in the stiffening wind. So letting the trimmers out fully I started to make a little way. Going downwind too far was out of the question, so I decided to head into wind over Ashdown House and onto Ashbury. It was a beautiful clear day with fantastic visibility, but pretty cold , so despite plenty of layers, it was going to be temperature that would limit the length of the flight This was my first time flying in significant wind , so my first opportunity to experience reading wind direction by observing ones track across the ground. I was also flying for the first time with a small flight deck and some gizmos. Garmin GPS map 60C. Set with big text fields for Alt, bearing, time https://www.google.co.uk/#q=garmin+60csx Satmap Active .http://www.satmap.co.uk/about.php Lumix camera In addition I had the GoPro on the chesty mount. It is some use in that position, but better when easily grabbed (still in the elastic harness) and pointed where you want. After over 30mins slogging into wind to get over Ashbury I turned and raced back to the airfield by curved route to the East. On arrival over the field I got my housekeeping done and packed and zipped the flight deck and got the trimmers back in. Learning another lesson for a windy day- in no time I was too far downwind and making no way back, so had to get the trimmers out again to make progress. Once over the field my descent was slow and nearly vertical as I hung in the wind, although another lesson learnt was that my forward progress increased as I descended into lesser wind. I did not capitulate to my usual seated landing, but I still flared too high and stumbled forward onto my knees. It was a perfectly flared landing - just 6ft too high!! Some useful lessons learnt on flying in wind, today and still more to learn on hanging on to the flare in landing. https://vimeo.com/80176177 [vimeo] [/vimeo] Edited November 27, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsquared Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Hey Pat, liked your video.....nice and clear, looked like a great day. I wanted to see more. Good honest post, learning all the time.....as we all are. Cheers. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Thanks, Rob. There was plenty more footage , but there's only so much Wiltshire countryside slipping by that you can watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weesplat Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 I'd forgot about the conversation at the end. Made me laugh all over again. Col.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 I'd forgot about the conversation at the end. Made me laugh all over again. Col.. If I can't provide some entertainment, what can I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Over 4 weeks since my last outing, so going rusty again I expect, and unable to make the Boxing Day Fly In Still it's Christmas and look what Santa brought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 DAY 26 29th December Flight 12 http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2533693 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsquared Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Thanks Pat, I enjoy reading your continued progress. One question....now you have experienced some decent headwinds and played around with your trimmers....I noticed you haven't got your speed bar attached, that is also useful in windy conditions and good to "play around" with so you can get to know what added effect it has on your ground speed and glide path. Safe flying Have a Happy New Year Pat. Cheers. Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 You are correct, Rob, no speed bar attached. It's not come up in training, not sure what my instructors view on them is. Certainly early on I'm sure they're considered an added complication that a beginner doesn't need, but now as you say, something that should be thought about. Thanks for advice Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Happy for us to fit it now matey Bring it with you for your next visit. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Right, Thanks Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) DAY 27 11th January Flight 13 http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2569340 Everyone saw this one coming, it was being talked about on forums, picked up on Facebook and bemoaned by those stuck at work - A perfect flying day in the unrelenting sequence of storms rolling in from the North Atlantic. And so it was, wall to wall clear blue sky with a 6kn Westerly breeze. Just perfect for a plan I had to fly from Membury back East to home in Pangbourne and land away from my training base for the first time. The logistics needed sorting a bit , drop car at landing field, cycle home, pack another car, drive to Membury, fly, land, pack up and the most challenging part - persuade Sally to drive me back to Membury to pick the car up. We won't discuss the carbon footprint of this sport! image.jpg[/attachment] Edited January 13, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ppgnovice Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 How was the turbulence? It looked a bit bumpy. A first flight went up and looked a bit sporty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 The odd bump here and there, but pretty laminar elsewhere, a good 15mph of wind at 1500ft. I did get a bit of a side to side oscillation on climb out but it smoothed out very quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppgwings Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Nice one Pat! Shame about the go pro. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Wonderful stuff Pat, adding to a great blog. Pity to have missed you at the NEC, I was there on the Saturday Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks, all. Sorry to have missed you, too, Alan. You're safely back in France now, I suppose. You getting the same weather down there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Not quite as bad, still wet and windy though. Looking forward to a break in the weather for the first flight of the new year Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Well blow me, the first flight was the same afternoon - Tuesday. I was checking the motor over in the garage thinking "it's brightened up somewhat, the sun is shining". Looked at the forecast and the wind was dropping as well, so straight up the field. The grass was dry on top but a little soft underneath, no problem. Laid out for a forward, there was a little wind to help, wing came up beautifully and with a normal run I was up It's been 10 and a half weeks so although it was cold I was well chuffed. Just a little pootle about 25 minutes and then a great landing, a couple of steps to come to a halt. Well timed with the daylight as well. Back home for a celebratory beer Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Well blow me, the first flight was the same afternoon - Tuesday.I was checking the motor over in the garage thinking "it's brightened up somewhat, the sun is shining". It's been 10 and a half weeks so although it was cold I was well chuffed. Just a little pootle about 25 minutes and then a great landing, a couple of steps to come to a halt. Well timed with the daylight as well. Back home for a celebratory beer Alan Nice one. That checking the motor thing..........ditto.......if I'd flown as many hours as I'd spent in the garage " checking" I'd be a veteran pilot by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Day 28 19/01/14 Today the wind direction and strength was right for the XC South to Savernake Forest. As I drove over from Reading it was a beautiful clear morning after another night of rain, things were looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Sounds to me link you need a good old period of sulking mate. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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