Well I have broken my duck for this year and managed to fly at tinto.
It was bright when I arrived around 11:30, and there was a reasonable breeze So it looked like a good day in prospect.
I hung around the stile listening to Dave Thomson going through things to consider when assessing the day with the LLSC new pilots group. At that point Dudley and Robert appeared.
Eventually we made our way up to the first bump on green hill.We sat about in the sun while some LLSC pilots tested the air finding it buoyant. In time we all got into the air. I was straight into a thermal and soon gained 800ft ato. People were spread out all along the ridge to big tinto. I began to notice my penetration falling to 2mph while still climbing and decided to push well out in front. A bit of speedbar still gave 8mph in the right direction. In the distance it was going to total cover and looked like we were in for some rain. Penetration went to zero and not being current I opted to push out over the trees to the road as it would be easier to land there in the strengthening wind and away from the school in the normal landing field. Big eared it down to about 20ft then ears out to land almost vertically.
Jamie had arrived and offered me a lift back to the van at the stile. Tommy apparently put in an appearance but was too concerned with protecting his loot from biggar classic car show. He never even stopped to say hi. I think Fiona may have had hold of parts of his anatomy to keep him under control.
All in all a good day. On the way back home the sky in the forth valley was 4/8 with well formed cumulus at ~5000ft but being inhibited by an inversion, a completely different sky from tinto.
Logan
Video:
http://www.vimeo.com/136449192
Pictures:
