The planned flying session was cancelled early on yesterday morning given the very light winds and variable direction. Myself and Ian didn't really have a clue where to fly from as the wind was all over the place. To save anybody the wasted journey to who knew where we scrubbed the day.
Myself, Ian and Will where all at a loose end as we had nothing better to do with our time so it was decided we would give it a go and see where we ended up.
We met up at Ditchling Beacon to be met with no wind. Not even a gentle breeze. We all got out a DLG and wandered over to the NE bowl. We found gentle lift off the North face but bizarrely what little wind that you could feel was coming from the South. So we moved to behind to the small South / South East facing bowl for some more weak thermal flying with the DLG's. Will tried to kill Ian with a wayward launch into the deck. His poor old DLG took a right bashing and I suggest is not used as a DLG or the wings might just part company with the fuselage. Anyway after a good half an hour of gentle soaring and the wind feeling it was strengthening to about 4mph from the SW we decided to move onto Mill Hill.
Once I squeezed my Discovery between the gate posts and the bollards (what a stupid idea!!) I got out my trusty Blaster 2 DLG for a few more launches. Lots of strong sink, virtually no slope lift but the odd thermal off the slope and behind the slope. Time to move on........
Up the road to Beeding Bowl. Ian and myself armed with the DLG's tried the main bowl, the Northerly bowl, and the field behind the main bowl. We had about an hour of clinging onto tiny thermals and flying nearly to far away and behind tall bushes until the rain came in and it was time to retreat to the pub with some food and a pint and time to reflect on a very weird day.
We flew both sides of Ditchling, both sides of Mill Hill and every direction around Beeding bowl.
I suppose that's the beauty of a DLG. If you haven't got one yet, its worth getting one!
Have safe trip abroad Will and keep away from the Goat.......................
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.
Thanks for the flying update Paul, interesting to hear that it was almost impossible to fly yesterday wherever you went.....
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