Saturday's flying at Bo Peep

Yesterday a group of us met up on top of Bo Peep where we graced with a very nice NE wind. I wore a T shirt up on the hill in a Northerly wind which has got to be a first for this year. The lift was strong first thing and got better as the wind strengthened. Robin (our newest member) joined us with his own designed and build wing. He and his model flew very well in the strong wind and finished it all off with a nice landing. Then full of confidence Robin had a go at flying my Merlow F3F which he flew no problem. Rob P was tearing up the sky with his various models and also did lots of nice landings. Ian flew his Stingray and the Jedi. We all sat and watched as his Jedi ripped the slope at such a speed but with very little effort. I flew my Stingray but a little more sedately than Ian as well as the Merlow. I had the pleasure of two bumpy arrivals on landing with both models and ended up with two poorly models. The Stingray lost its elevator servo (came un bonded from the tail) and I snapped the aileron servo horn on the Merlow. It was one of those days that the model was a few feet above the ground when it suddenly got slammed into the deck. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. You wouldn't expect me to admit to two crappy landings now would you?

The wind then went more Easterly (ENE) as forecast and was now off the slope which meant the lift became lighter but the wind was getting stronger making it rough on landing. Time to pack up and decamp to the pub for a pint of Harvey's..........

Welcome to Another New Club Member

Hi All,
Today, we have welcomed another new member to our club..
He is Robin Adam, from Hurstpierpoint.
Robin has had some RC glider experience and is looking to maybe improve and move to DLG and thermal soaring too.
I know you will all join me in welcoming Robin to our club .


Rob Stanley

Ashdown Forest Today (Sunday 6th May)

Given the erratic wind direction and lack of wind strength forecast today, myself and Ian decided at the last minute to head off to Ashdown Forest for some light wind soaring. The wind when we got there was a little stronger than anticipated and was been given some added strength by the number of thermals coming through. We started with the DLG's well DLG! as I had somehow connected the battery when the magnetic switch was left on so the little battery was dead.
As we were wandering down to the slope we met a Forest Ranger who was Interested in the models (checking they weren't drones or a power plane) and asked to see our BMFA cards, which we did. If you do venture up to the forest, please remember your BMFA card and be courteous and polite to the rangers if you are asked to show them.
Back to the car to get the electric thermal soarers out. Ian had his Super Starlight and I had my Maxa 4.

Here they are enjoying the sun.
The lift was good at times and then almost disappear and then all of a sudden re-appear again. The ups and downs of thermal soaring. The landing was made easier by landing along one of the grass tracks that was long and wide enough to be safe and not risk damaging a model.
Again, well worth the effort and a very enjoyable trip out with Ian.

Bo Peep Slope Soaring

Sorry for the late posting regarding lasts weeks slope session at Bo- Peep. It was a chilly and windy affair but totally enjoyable. I was joined by Ian, Tony, Scott, Graham and Mark. I have not flown much at Bo Peep so it made a nice change from Ditchling Beacon.

Finally got around to maidening my X-Models Stingray. What a pussy cat! No real vices (as yet) but I still have lots to learn from her.

Here's a small video that Scott kindly took of the maiden take off. Virtually no trim needed and she went off like a dream. The landing didn't present any major problems.

Ian flew his Stingray (his is the heavy slope version) as mine is the standard one. His rocks the sky and does carry that little bit more inertia as its about a kilo and a half heavier. But Ian is the master of flying such a wicked beast and I am still learning.
Tony did very well with his foamy and got lots of stick time. Scott enjoyed some well earned time with his Dragon. Mark was barrelling around with his mouldy and what little I saw of Graham, he seemed to be enjoying himself too.