Sloping weekend 28th and 29th Dec

Hi All,
As Paul is currently away I have been looking at the forecast for Saturday and Sunday. By far the most appropriate day would be Saturday with gusts up to 25 mph, but from WSW direction. I can only think that Itford hill would work in this wind, but as I too am busy this weekend, I hope that some of you can arrange to meet up and get some sloping in.
I might just be able to make Saturday for a while, but no guarantees.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year

Hi All,
Just a short message wishing all our readers a merry Xmas and happy new year - keep an eye out on the Shout Box for possible flying over this coming weekend.

Best wishes to you all and many thanks for your support during this year up on the slope - it's much appreciated.

Slope Soaring - Sunday 22nd December

STOP PRESS!! (Friday 20th Dec)

Sunday now seems to show a SW wind and not Westerly as previously forecast. There seems to be some rain around which could make this a non flying weekend - Sorry Guys. If anything changes I will email the regulars with an update.

Hope you are all looking forward to the Christmas break? Saturday is blowing a howler and pouring down with rain most of the day, so Sunday it is. 12 - 29mph Westerly. Good for Itford Hill. Early (ish) start - 10.00 meet at the bottom of Itford Hill (by the gate).

Anyone coming out to play?

Typhoon flies again!

We met up at Mill Hill today under a cloudy sky with the odd spot of rain but the showers held off. Initially the wind was there but the lift didn't seem to be. As the morning went on the lift picked up and it turned out to be an 'all right' sort of day.
I was joined by Tim, Rob, Phil and Graham together with a multitude of models. Mainly Phil's.
I was chuffed that my Typhoon flew and landed in one piece. I quickly de-rigged it and put it away quick as it had one successful flight. Here is some Video (I hope you are not getting bored of video clips?) showing Phil's two channel floater launching in what became a strengthening wind.

Phil flew his floaty plane (sorry Phil not sure what its called) his Ninja, Hawk and Gentle Lady.
Here's Rob showing us how good his takes off are getting - Well the second one anyway!!

I collected my second hand Valenta Dragon F3B  2.8m moulded glider which I won on eBay for just £100 - What a bargain!

Slingsby Kirby Kite (1/4 Scale)

This is my Slingsby Kirby Kite at 1/4 scale and built in 2002 from John Watkins plan. As with most of my models I don't follow the plan completely but as this was already a light design I only changes a few things. The model has a scale section and flies very slowly just like the full size which I have seen flying a couple of times at vintage rallies. The problem with this is that for slope flying the wind speed range is very limited and often lots of down is required to move forward. However I have winch launched it a few times very successfully and had many happy hours flying at aero-tow events. The photo was taken at Crookes Peak in the Mendip hills, Somerset just before the maiden flight at a scale comp. I was told that it would have won if I had brought along the scale documentation. It looks a bit tatty around the edges now but still flies well.

This weekends slope soaring opportunities (14th & 15th December)

I don't think at this stage there is much of a choice for which day to fly - Its Saturday!

Sunday offers 24 - 46mph SSW winds and rain showers.

For Saturday it's starting WSW and swinging SW 10 - 19mph.

This should be good for Mill Hill.

I would aim to get there around 10.00am. Give the wind a chance to swing more SW.

Temp getting up to 10 degrees, so nice and warm.

Hopefully see some of you up there?

Graham T's Fusion Rebuild

Hi all,
Go to 'Model Workshop' for pictures of the rebuild of GT's Fusion - it's now Very, very red !!!

Sunday Slope Soaring at Mill Hill

Wasn't sure about the wind direction today but I didn't need to have worried. arrived about 9.30 to be greeted with a good breeze blowing. Some of the locals had turned up to fly early and soon I was joined by Graham (a new comer to the sloper group - see below)) with his vintage slope soarer which flew very nicely indeed.

The wind was good but the lift was variable as I think it has some Westerly component in the wind.
Geoffrey turned up a little later with his Spectre. We got Geoffrey up and flying and spent some valuable time practicing take off, circuits and attempting some landings.

 

First attempt - Nicely positioned

 

 

Second attempt - So close, at least they bounce!

 

Slope Soaring this weekend (7th & 8th Dec)

A great turnout last Saturday with 10 pilots flying during a cold but pleasant slope soaring session up at Ditchling. I understand the flying wasn’t very good on the Sunday with very light winds.

Well what will the weekend bring?

Looking at various forecasts for the weekend (being that it’s only Wednesday) It looks like:

Saturday

8 – 12mph Westerly winds

Chilly @ 5 degrees and cloudy but dry

Flying site: Itford or The Long man, East Sussex 

Sunday

14 - 25mph WSW / SW winds

Chilly @ 6 degrees and cloudy but dry

Flying site: Mill Hill, West Sussex

Let me know if you Interested in either day.

In Flight Filming Anyone?

I am Interested in bolting on a 'GoPro Hero' to one of my slope soarers or a motor glider and get some inflight video footage. Here below are three examples of the wonders of filming onboard. Imagine the footage we could get on a lovely blue winters day during some combat flying up on the hill? I have tried the little keyfob cams that you buy from eBay for £10 but they are rubbish and the quality is pants but these video's below show what can be done with the right bit of kit.



 

 

I don't suppose anyone out there has a 'Gopro Hero' just sitting around doing nothing they would be prepared to bolt onto one of our gliders or even better one they would be prepared to sell at a sensible price?

 

It would be nice to capture our slope soaring sessions from the air as well as the ground.