Flight Logs

Wanted to get out of the house so headed up to tinto for an evening walk and fly down.

xc weather suggested southerly breeze so. Wind off to SW at the bottom as I arrived. no wind as I walked up. Northerly breeze at the top!

A windy day,but it was slowly dropping away so Rob,Dave Lyal and me ended up walking up Bridend at about 4.30,still blowy on the walk up and we stopped short of the top and set up for launch,we sat for a bit sucking air through teeth,or at least me and Rob were cos Daves fell out in 1937.

Quite a long one for me yesterday as I started out for Anoch Mor at 8am looking at a nice Ayrshire sky wondering what the day would bring. The drive up was uneventful until I passed through Ranoch Moor a big black cloud loomed above me and at the Buchaille the car was hit by a large snow shower hmmmmmm! I then started to wonder whether or not I had made the best decision. Minutes later I had passed through the Coe and it definitely looked a lot better north. So I bashed on to get to Aonach Mor car park whole journey taking 2.5 hrs.

Met Mike Jardine and Grahame Saunders in the car park and learned that apparently we were not going to be alone. It ended up that a small group of SMPC, another from Highland and then there was Matt Church and Jules with 3 others from Aberdeen with Gordon Smyth and myself completing the full compliment of a mini Scottish nationals meet. When I arrived on top Trias was already out front trying to negotiate a large snow shower across the Valley.

Working away this week in wantage so headed to combe gibbet for some evening soaring.

Only 5 people there (including me) which is almost unknown for combe. Suggested it was a bit overcrowded but that was ignored ;-)

Wind was strong but not particularly lifty. but some nice soaring along the hill and pushing out (a tiny bit) over the trees.

Straight to the pics.  Straight to the video.

So,to cut to the chase.We arrive at White Corries car park in great time after a luxury drive up the road in the BEAST.

Its not as busy as I thought it would be after hearing reports of a busy mountain bike comp,and very few pilots going about. We had a seat in the cafe for a bit and flying faces are starting to appear,so off we go up the lift, arriving at the top we can see a good number off gliders already laid out.

At take off the thermals are already making there presence felt, pilots are starting to launch as we set up and a few folk are taken by surprise on the ground as the thermals are fairly ripping through.

Its launch time and we wait patiently for a good time, and then its time to go, please let there be lift, and there was.

OH YES.

Arrived at TINTO at 10.30am to find swarms of cars,after a wee chat with some folk we wandered up to find a good breeze,but no one flying,I think it had been a bit strong but was nice when we arrived.

  The sky looked good but it was never going to be the predicted 5 on rasp,nice easy launch and a sniff around to get the feel of things and back in for a top landing,feeling good,maybe of to the NNE a bit but It was due to come good.

  Off again,and to start with it was fairly easy going with lots of space but this was to change later when everybody was in the air,it was ok when it was working and gave plenty of separation,but in between cycles it was getting dangerous.