Topic: Cotswold Slopers!

Please don't go to any trouble, just a couple of pointers would be great.
 

The SCSA map is close enough, we like the little dip it is out of the wind.
I tried DSing and got scared, I dont like the trees on the south side


Phil
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=377400&y=199555&z=3&sv=377400,199555&st=OSGrid&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

It looks like the girlfriend has given me a pass to fly all weekend!

Now, if only there was a bit of wind . . . .
 

It looks like the girlfriend has given me a pass to fly all weekend!

Now, if only there was a bit of wind . . . .
 

Modern gliders only need 2 MPH on the slope to stay up, if the sun is out you can thermal up to a dot and come screaming down. Much more fun than flying backwards and forwards across the slope
Phil

Modern gliders only need 2 MPH on the slope to stay up, if the sun is out you can thermal up to a dot and come screaming down. Much more fun than flying backwards and forwards across the slope
Phil

I'm sure you're right. i just wish I had a hangar suitable for thermals. Thing is most of my kit is PSS related and i really don't like the idea of bunging something like that out in just 2mph.
I'm sure the flying wing will do the job this weekend. Might try and recover the Wildthing tonight so that it's a bit more slippery in the air. If nothing else, i'll i've got a multiplex Fox!
 

Friday
The wind was north East, the one direction we don't have a slope for, a little too east for Cam Long Down and too north for Rodborough.
I went to Leckhampton (GL53 9QL) and wind was square on, a 20 minute drive and a 10 minute walk. The lift was good, very smooth with a good view of Cheltenham see
http://www.ebley.plus.com/photo/leckhampton1.jpg

Gloucester cooker

Phil  

Do you park at Daisy Bank road, Cirencester Road or Hartley Lane? Also, there appears to be two "bowls" there - are both flyable?
Also, is the landing zone any good or is there a mass of rotor and a tight spot?

Is this the missing NE slope from the SCSA compass?
 

Think I may head up there tomorrow unless anyone has any better slope suggestions?
 

I wish I'd come Phil - much more fun than my gardening chores. You'd better reply to eyeboy (Andy??) as I know where to park but cannot derscribe it. It's on the left before Hartly farm!

I don't know much about the site, this is only my third flight there.
landing is like harefield, I land on the edge of the slope.
have a good day
Phil

Thanks for the info Phil. Much appreciated.

Looking forwards to a good sesh tomorrow.
 :colm:

Eyeboy - one car park is in a quarry, the next one along is big and open, use that!
Guy

Thanks for the info. Gonna spend an hour or two recovering my Wildthing this morning so will hopefully get out this afternoon - weather permitting. May even turn out to be Selsley this afternoon.
 

Saturday
The wind was blowing west at 9.00AM, while driving back from Wotton Under edge I spotted the wind was blowing  NW at 10.30.
I went home and got a model and flew at Selsley from 11.00AM till 1.00PM, during that time the wind had picked up and gone NE. I had managed to get a good height and was able to fly between the areas of lift without needing the slope lift
Phil

Thanks for the info. Gonna spend an hour or two recovering my Wildthing this morning so will hopefully get out this afternoon - weather permitting. May even turn out to be Selsley this afternoon.
 

Hi Andy, did the wind pick up at selsley this afternoon? Thought I'd leave you to take that long walk on your own. Looks like it will be similar tomorrow but if there's a bit of a breeze would it be ok if I tagged along? Hope you don't mind. Cheers, Ben.

Hi Andy, did the wind pick up at selsley this afternoon? Thought I'd leave you to take that long walk on your own.  Looks like it will be similar tomorrow but if there's a bit of a breeze would it be ok if I tagged along? Hope you don't mind. Cheers, Ben. 

Ben good to see you on here and at the slope again. The wind did pick up - just. Stayed until sunset playing around in the scratchy lift. Loved it! Will be on here tomorrow to let you know what's on (if anything).

Will hopefully have enough puff to play. Going to charge loads of kit just in case  . . . .
 
Anyone else playing tomorrow?

Stayed until sunset playing around in the scratchy lift

I though I might meet some of you guys up Cam Long Down late this afternoon - the lift there was excellent (though I was flying my lightweight miniFireworks DLG) and I don't think I've done so much formation flying with so many swallows before 
Blimey - the landing area does leave something to be desired though!! .

Spent the final 20mins flying Peaked Down itself, with the sun setting over the Severn - quite magic - then walked/flew the plane back down to the car.

Quite an excellent end to the day....

CLD was the place to be today and again tomorrow. I'll be there in the afternoon, if I can.

Yes, the views are magic, in this clear air.

Guy

I flew my EG at Leckhampton this afternoon, plenty of lift and PGs. Finally plucked up the nerve to maiden my scale model of the Fauvel. It outsoared the EG easily, very quick and precise response to control inputs. (Beginners speak for twitchy flying ) Looks a bit odd, but she flies like a beauty.
I shall take SWMBO for a drive out tomorrow, to that big hill you see as you drive past Swindon towards the M4. It seems to face roughly North to North/east. I think its called Smeathes Ridge.
If I remember to take my camera I wil try to get some pics of the new model, airborne.

Seems like today was a good one all round. Lovely day topped off by a great sunset. Just uploading a couple of photos now of the evening. Will post when I can.

Can't believe so many spots seemed to work today. Think that if the wind is in the same direction as today, and the wind is as predicted, i'll be back up to Selsley with my Spitfire which i'm absolutely itching to fly again. Last time she went out was back in Cornwall on a cracking day . . . .

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8v0UyWmLU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8v0UyWmLU</a>

Couple of images from Saturdays sunset at Selsley


and my fave . . .


Was it the end of summer? Hope not.

Me and Andy George are planning on coming to Selsley in the morning, armed with thermal soarers. Hope it's better than last Sunday! Now it's time for bed!

Me and Andy George are planning on coming to Selsley in the morning, armed with thermal soarers. Hope it's better than last Sunday! Now it's time for bed!

I will be there when the mist clears.

Last week the wind was blowing from the south, that why Selsley was poor.

Phil

I will be there when the mist clears.

Hope to be heading up there for 10:30ish - just as the wind picks up  . . . . . 

Looks like it will be similar tomorrow but if there's a bit of a breeze would it be ok if I tagged along? Hope you don't mind. Cheers, Ben. 

Ben, i'll take the buddy box so that you can have a fly if you want. If you can't make it today, no worries - stay in touch and we'll arrange another time.
 

Decisions, decisions, I am going to go to CLD this afternoon!
Guy

Decisions, decisions, I am going to go to CLD this afternoon!
Guy

Probably a good move. Although the wind strength was good at Selsley, the direct was too far East for it to be any good. Just got back and it still feels fairly easterly. Will CLD handle that?
 

IMHO as far as NNE for CLD but some say NE. When I looked earlier XC said it was going almost N but now it says NE Grrr.

The only safe bet is Leckhampton and I can't be fussed to go out there.

I'll try CLD, take a compass and make some observations...

IMHO as far as NNE for CLD but some say NE. When I looked earlier XC said it was going almost N but now it says NE Grrr.

The only safe bet is Leckhampton and I can't be fussed to go out there.

I'll try CLD, take a compass and make some observations...

Think I'm gonna faf around at home for an hour or two and jnust hope that the direction changes a little . . .not much chance of it happening though.
 
Saying that, the XC wind map is showing that the pressure system is moving across the country from the East and MAY bring a decent Northerly later. Who knows.
 

Well, I went to CLD to find I'd left part of my plane at home. Not a good day!

Someone was flying a big white scale job up there, seemed to be going well.

Saturday pm at Leckhampton, plenty of lift but no LZ.
Sunday went travelling, ended up in Kingsclere. Strong wind, a bit blustery at times, loads of lift, hours of flying, even landed on the wide enough LZ.

Saturday pm at Leckhampton, plenty of lift but no LZ.
Sunday went travelling, ended up in Kingsclere. Strong wind, a bit blustery at times, loads of lift, hours of flying, even landed on the wide enough LZ.

Whereabouts in Kingsclere??? Maps please!!

Hi Gordon,

Search near Newbury, Berks.

Guy

Whereabouts in Kingsclere??? Maps please!!

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=Kingsclere&countryCode=GB#map=51.31334,-1.25364|15|4&dp=os&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.32491:-1.24329:14|Kingsclere|Kingsclere, Newbury, Berkshire, England, RG20 5

South side of the M4 according to Google Maps. I presume from the "normal" slopes that Kingsclear would be about an hours drive?
 

On another note, does anyone have any suggestions for a good thermal sloper? Am looking for a decent second hand model to add to my collection. Had a bit of a realisation when the best thing i had for the lift on Sunday was a Wildthing!!

On another note, does anyone have any suggestions for a good thermal sloper? Am looking for a decent second hand model to add to my collection.

My thermal soarer is a 3.1m Graphite. However, I was quite impressed with the lightweight gliders that the two Mikes had. Haven't a clue what they were, or who makes them though!

Think i may well have to give Leckhampton a try at some point today with the wind still coming from the NNE/NE. Will let you know how it goes. May even see one of you up there!
 

I will be very interested to hear how you got on! How was the lift and landing?

I will be very interested to hear how you got on! How was the lift and landing?

Just got back. It was blowing a hooli up there but the lift wasn't as good as i'd anticipated. Flew all right across the main slope which has a fantastic outlook. I can only assume that the wind was too great for the slope. The landings zones are not quite Selsley but nor is it as tight as Frocester. Will defo try it again but in lighter winds.
 

My thermal soarer is a 3.1m Graphite. However, I was quite impressed with the lightweight gliders that the two Mikes had. Haven't a clue what they were, or who makes them though!

They both own Weasels and Highlights, there is a Highlight for sale on the BMFA, now called a Betty

Phil

The slope I was on yesterday at Kingsclere is the Watership Down slope, bottom left corner of the map Phil the fridge posted. Really only worth the journey if you make a day of it, but what a day

They both own Weasels and Highlights, there is a Highlight for sale on the BMFA, now called a Betty

Phil

Picked up the Highlight tonight. Hope it's what i need for the light winds that we're predicted to have this weekend?
 

Any suggestions for a lightweight 35mhz receiver and battery pack?