Slope Soaring Sussex is a friendly group of RC glider flying enthusiasts based in Sussex, UK. We slope soar at various locations on the South Downs and have a field for thermal soaring. ‘Slope Soaring Sussex’ is a BMFA affiliated RC Glider-only flying club. We fly many types of RC gliders from conventional slope soarers to Scale, DLG, F3B, F3J, F5J, PSS and more. Our aim is to encourage and promote safe, responsible and enjoyable radio controlled model flying. New and experienced flyers welcome.
After last weeks great turnout it was back to the same old three, me, Ian and Will together with a few from Mill Hill who were flying up at Devils Dyke yesterday (Saturday).
There were hundreds (well 30+) of paragliders and hangliders floating about over the Dyke. The wind was sort of on the slope but there seemed to be a shortage of hill lift but plenty of thermals first thing. I got to fly my Merlow and my M60. Will was flying his Ascott around very well, that was until the lift died suddenly and before we new it he was way down below the hill top. Ian grabbed the sticks as we all ran to the edge of the slope and watched the master climb back up from about 100ft below the top. It took some effort but Ian got it back and handed it back to Will.
The wind continued to swing from what was a NW round to virtually a W wind. The wind was coming around from the direction of Truly Hill. Will continued to stay up in the thermals with his mouldy. Ian luckily had brought along his Shadow. which proved to be the machine for the conditions. The cloud filled in and over developed and the paragliders seemed to be filling up the fields below the Dyke.
Here are a few video's of Ian flying his Shadow.
It has to be said that some of the flying undertaken by the Paragliders and the Hanglider boys was just dam right dangerous. I saw a Hanglider doing a beet up low over the car park and everyone standing watching. Pity I didn't manage to film it. That's the problem up there. No control over who flies what, where and when. Nobody to give out a bollocking when people don't fly sensibly or to the rules. Not my favourite flying site but in that wind direction we don't have a massive choice.
No respect from the other users on the hill with Paragliders flying into our piece of sky and right in front of us flying our models. You could imagine the up roar if we were to fly over into the bowl and share their airspace so why do they think its acceptable to fly into our airspace. So much for the gentleman's agreement of you stay on your very small bit of the hill (the rc glider pilots) and they (the paragliders etc) can have the rest of Sussex. End of rant !!!
What an epic session. Like a giant 3D game of snakes and ladders! A truly gut-wrenching moment when I tucked away my leading flaps on an overshot landing only to slide half way down the tail of a snake lying in wait directly in front of the slope. Still Ian demonstrated that panic should always be the last option as he got the airspeed back up and cruised around far below the ridge untill he grabbed onto another ladder and clawed the Ascot back up to eye level. Fantastic learning day and some incredible thermalling. Being able to read the sky as well as your glider is a true art and thrilling challenge and is a good example of what keeps me hooked! Just glad I didn't have to land in Poynings village!
What an epic session. Like a giant 3D game of snakes and ladders! A truly gut-wrenching moment when I tucked away my leading flaps on an overshot landing only to slide half way down the tail of a snake lying in wait directly in front of the slope. Still Ian demonstrated that panic should always be the last option as he got the airspeed back up and cruised around far below the ridge untill he grabbed onto another ladder and clawed the Ascot back up to eye level. Fantastic learning day and some incredible thermalling. Being able to read the sky as well as your glider is a true art and thrilling challenge and is a good example of what keeps me hooked! Just glad I didn't have to land in Poynings village!
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