Forecast was for a high pressure / light wind sunny day. Rumor of inversion around 3000ft so a 'Blue Day' to make things interesting.
Reports from Broughton for the 19th with quite spring conditions were contrasted with Dungavel being frustratingly light. Having negotiated the day off I agreed to meet up with DaveH and do some tandem practice. Had a few interesting discussions regarding suitability of flying tandems on a thermic day but as both me and Dave are (relatively) grown ups we decided we'd take the concerns on board and make an assessment on the hill based on the actual conditions and not those of a different hill and different day.
Got to the Hill around 1ish to see 2 gliders in the air scratching about. They eventually got high but it took a long time. Several people (inc Sean) were sitting on the hill. Not inspiring conditions but pretty good for what me and Dave were planning.
Dave arrived and after much faffing we got up onto the hill with Dave's tandem. The plan was to take off, have one or two soaring beats (if possible) then slope land so we didn't have far to walk back up.
We took off (I was passenger) and got in the air then a couple of beats down the hill but Dave wasn't hugely happy landing higher so we landed a tad further down the hill than planned. Landing was good. Quick debrief, water, then walked back up with the glider bunched up.
By the time we got back to where we had took off we were both knackered so took a wee break (it was hot and sunny for scotland) then set up for another flight.
Second launch was initially ok but I think as we hit the steep bit of the slope my feet came off the ground briefly (Dave is a head taller than me) while Dave was still running. I think I then stumbled and the launch was aborted as we slid down the hill. I looked like a scarecrow when I stood up with all the dry bits of grass covering me. We set up again and had another go (after a brief rest). This launch was more controlled and we were off. Another soar down the hill to land at the bottom.
Sean was packed up and ready to go. He'd had a frustrating day on the hill and wasn't hugely happy. 4 or 5 people had got up and away but he wasn't one of them.
2 tandem flights done so after packing Dave's kit up we headed back up the hill with my tandem. We could have just swapped pilots and I could fly Dave's glider but I want the practice on my tandem as it is a different brand (Swing Twin 4 v Dave's Nivuik Takoo) and they do handle slightly differently.
Got up on the hill and the wind was pretty cross. More NW than W or WSW so we looked for the best place to launch. After pondering launching, jumping the fence and then flying back over the fence and down we decided to cross the fence and assess the other side for launching. Wind was straight up the face. There was even a smooth grassy patch that Dave said looked like a runway. So looked good.
Set up. All ok. Decided to do a practice launch. Glider came up and I was happy ground handling it (with Dave connected as passenger). I could feel Dave pulling on the risers as if to say.. Are we going? So I said Run, Run, Run and we were off. Nice smooth launch. Left turn over the fence. Sink all the way. Pondered landing on the slope to have another go but decided I was getting tired so we flew down and landed near to the car. Nice flare on landing killed our speed although I didn't manage to swing to the side so that we could come down next to each other (less chance of kicking heals/tripping up)
Did some ground handling with the tandem then packed up.
It may have been a frustrating day for some but it was exactly what me and dave wanted. Ok a bit more of a breeze would have been nice but we were both pretty happy with the practice we had put in.
There was a wee issue with an LLSC pilot and a horse/rider. My views on that were covered on the forum.. f____it
Jamie
