Topic: South West Slopers

I thought it was time that my area was on the map so to speak!

Anyone else wanna sign in that regularly fly in Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire and Hampshire regions?

Dave

Devon & Somerset too?
or is that too far south west? 
(and Cornwall is on another planet anyway  )
Phil.

I'm up for a bit of that. I live in North Bristol but regularly visit that way with work. Where do you tend to fly? I've been to Beacon Hill a few times 

wash your mouth out, the SW stops at zummerzet 

 

Devon & Somerset too?
or is that too far south west? 
(and Cornwall is on another planet anyway  )
Phil.

Somerset yes,  Devon seems along way away.  Maybe you should have a Devon and dartmoor region?

I'm up for a bit of that. I live in North Bristol but regularly visit that way with work. Where do you tend to fly? I've been to Beacon Hill a few times 

Well we've a fairly good choice.

Wiltshire: I fly mainly Roundway and Milk/Knap Hill

1. Roundway (Olivers Castle- Nr Devizes) -  SW, W, NW
2. Milk Hill and Knap Hill - (Between Marlborough and Calne off the A4) - SW, S and SE
3. Westbury White Horse - (Bratton) - N, E, NW
4. Uffington White Horse - I beleive N, NE, NW
5. Martinsell (Nr Pewsey)  NE, E

Berkshire: (RobbieUK's neck of the woods)

Beacon (SE?)
Kingsclere (NW, NE + others??)
Ladle (can't remember)

Somerset:

Whitesheet - SW, N + others

I'm sure others will add to this list.

I'm up for a bit of that. I live in North Bristol but regularly visit that way with work. Where do you tend to fly? I've been to Beacon Hill a few times 

+1 for North Bristol - I'm now a member of WMSA flying at Crook Peak, but here's my map of locations round the
> brizzle areal (sic) <

Oorah for the Wessex slopers!

I fly Whitesheet and Westbury.
Need to get around the locale more but busy, so busy this year.

+1 for North Bristol - I'm now a member of WMSA flying at Crook Peak, but here's my map of locations round the > brizzle areal (sic) <

Most excellent dude! I'm also a member of  WMSA and SCSA so will probably see you up t'hill. 

wash your mouth out, the SW stops at zummerzet 

 

 Surely the SW stops at Lands End

Berkshire: (RobbieUK's neck of the woods)

Beacon (SE?)
Kingsclere (NW, NE + others??)
Ladle (can't remember)

 This can't be SW as its directly North of Southampton

I guess you must be on the border between SW and SE then?

Well done Dave, signed in
John

How about Avon and Somerset slopers (and other areas as necessary)? Maybe just Brizzle and district glider guiders?
 

Hi eyeboy,
 I live in Bristol but mainly fly wiltshire, Whitesheet etc, was going to start a thread for this area ( Avon+ ) and would of included the areas that Dave ( rumbey ) has included in his. Almost a South M4 corridor between Weston and Reading, sort of West country to South Eastish.
I think it's probably 'cause we're too laid back and slow on the uptake of starting a thread before now
Have been talking to Moosey about maybe a few roadtrips next year down your way, possibly Bossington first, should be good.
John.

Hi eyeboy,
Have been talking to Moosey about maybe a few roadtrips next year down your way, possibly Bossington first, should be good.
John.

I'm no longer "right down west" having moved to Gloucestershire about 5 months ago. Still head down to Gods County once a month and usually take a plane or two with me. There's a wealth of good slopes within an hours drive of here including some of the slopes you've mentioned. I just need to get out and about and enjoy them!
Good luck with the regional thread.
 
Talking of which, how about "The Brizzle and like surrounding area and that init" regional thread?
 

Talking of which, how about "The Brizzle and like surrounding area and that init" regional thread?
 

You hum I'll sing it innit yeah but no but.

Your right though, Avon and Somerset, or Bristol and surrounding areas would be a good thread just surprised no-one has started one,  seemed to slot in with rumbeys started thread anyway.
I for one should use Bossington more as I'm only ten minutes from the M5 in South Bristol and used to fish out of Porlock
Catch up with you soon hopefully.
John.

Too much chat : not enough flying 

I was lucky to have today off work (after all the recent cr*p weather), and with the wind in the north a perfect day for Sand Point/Middle Hope flying my Venom & Fox.

The wind on the edge was 30++ so launching was a handful, to say the least  - two hands required to prevent the plane being ripped out of gloved hands, then a frantic grapple for the TX so several "interesting" launches (first one was a classic: landing 2 yards in front of my feet  ).

Wind gradually eased to the middle twenties, so some very pleasant flying in glorious sunny weather

This was also my first attempt at videoing with a head cam, so here's some pretty amateurish footage (turn your sound down, unless you like hearing the wind...)
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1DxaRRXINk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1DxaRRXINk</a>
or on vimeo:

Middle Hope video

Hi geoffers,
That was mint, lovely site too. Where are you in Bristol?, can't believe I haven't found that site yet. How is the access and parking? I must be less than half an hour away being in Southville.
Your right though, too much chat and not enough flying Bloody weather ( and work)
 What do you reckon about an Avon and Somerset thread? A while ago I thought about Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire thread as is seemed to fill a gap just don't want to tread on Rumbeys toes now as he has taken the plunge.
Definitely let me know if you go there again though need to maiden a 'modified new stuff' Venom. Warped like buggery 'cause I didn't rear spar it Black foam blues Got rid of the body too, burying all in the wing.
Cheers John.

Hi geoffers,
That was mint, lovely site too. Where are you in Bristol?, can't believe I haven't found that site yet. How is the access and parking? .......
Cheers John.

Hi John - yep: it's one of my fave sites: check out my
>brizzle slopes< link - Sand Bay's north of Weston super Mud. There's a National Trust carpark at northern end of Sand Bay  (with loos too - v. civilised): walk to the back of the carpark field (away from the sea) and you'll find some steps through the woods, leading up to the headland. Cross the field to the high point of the ridge. Sometimes sheep or cattle on the fields, but the farmer's happy for gliders on the NT land. I've met a couple of hang-gliders there too, but they seem a friendly bunch.

Maybe see you there sometime...

BTW - I'm in N. Bristol : Henleaze

Details

Hi goeffers,
Cheers for that, I gather from the pic that the car park is near the end of Beach Road. Will see you there on a windy day
Nice route for me too being at the bottom of the 370.

If the weather looks good will post up on here to see who's around and fancies going.

If anyone else in the area is interested will be putting an order in with Leading Edge Gliders in the next few days, have a browse and let me know.

Leading Edge Gliders: Manufacturer of High Performance EPP Power Slope Scale Gliders

Looking at getting a Fat Albert ( ooh err missus ) and a P-51.

Cheers John.

If anyone else in the area is interested will be putting an order in with Leading Edge Gliders in the next few days, have a browse and let me know.

Leading Edge Gliders: Manufacturer of High Performance EPP Power Slope Scale Gliders

Looking at getting a Fat Albert ( ooh err missus ) and a P-51.

Cheers John.

I bought a LEG P-51 60" over a year ago and am still to cover it! The build is relatively straight forwards but I'm not sure the hype that "The instructions have been called by many builders as the best foamie instructions they have ever read" lives up to expectations. Whichever model you opt for I would strongly suggest you go for a pre shaped Fuz.
 
If I were to buy a model again (which I'm seriously tempted to do), I wouldn't go for somethign as obvious as the P-51. I'm very tempted by the U2, the Skraider and the F6F Hellcat.
Do I need another EPP PSS model. HMMMMMMMM . . . . . . . . .
 

If I were to buy a model again (which I'm seriously tempted to do), I wouldn't go for somethign as obvious as the P-51. I'm very tempted by the U2, the Skraider and the F6F Hellcat.
Do I need another EPP PSS model. HMMMMMMMM . . . . . . . . .
 

Now you tell me. I've ordered Ben a P51 from LEG for Xmas. Mind you, that was a month ago and no sign of it yet.
I have the plans for you for a U2. Tis a very nice model me thinks.

Do I need another EPP PSS model. HMMMMMMMM . . . . . . . . .   Hell yes 

BTW - I'm in N. Bristol : Henleaze

Details

Hi Geoffers,

I'm in Downend which isn't a million miles from you!

Hi Geoffers,
I'm in Downend which isn't a million miles from you!

Tim - true, not so far away : have you ever flown the SE facing slope by the obelisk at Pur Down/Lockleaze (next to the M32) which must be your nearest slope and actually does work quite well with the right wind

We'll have to get a brizzle slope sesh going at some stage... MaesKnoll (E.Dundry) could be a poss for Saturday 

Looks like I may have to wait a little longer before I order then, happy days
Come on lads never too many gliders in the fold! Not in a particular rush anyway, just pickin for next years epp 60 racin
 tired tim where do you mainly slope? Gonna have to get us all together sometime hopefully, I know its's not the best time of year with the cold and that but nice sunny day overlooking Barry nice
Thanks for the heads up about the pre-shaped fuz Eyeboy. At the mo am deciding whether or not to contact jack about buying 2 51's or parts of as I always fancied modeling the '82. Watch this space as they say. Be fun to launch if nothing else
Also be handy havin some one local to show me how to put pics in
See you all soon John.

Hi geoffers,
Not so sure you can get up there anymore it was gated quite a while ago which was a shame. I work on Muller road and used to pop up at lunch every now and then, back in the day when our apprentices' thought it was a rally track
As for Dundry your reference to maes knoll is excellent for the southerly, I used to fly probs less than 400m directly NW from there overlooking Hartcliffe etc, really smooth lift and excellent views over Bristol just always a pain leaving the car in Norton Lane. Am fairly close to gaining secure parking close by which is safe. Would be great as it's only 15-20mins at most. Will let you all know in due course hopefully.
See you soon, John.

tired tim where do you mainly slope? Gonna have to get us all together sometime hopefully, I know its's not the best time of year with the cold and that but nice sunny day overlooking Barry nice

Hi JonnySixT. I tend to fly the South Cotswolds sites - Selsley, Froster picnic, Heresfield etc with Eyeboyor at Crook Peak. Mainly cos I don't know anywhere else (relatively new to this) 

Hi tired tim,
Well I definitely need to get to South Cotswolds and you definitely need to get to Whitesheet.
I think I've been close as I used to fly fullsize at Nymphsfield, always took a model and flew off the ridge at the closest car park to the club.
http://www.whitesheet.co.uk/   Whitesheet club, similar in scale to Crooks Peak, but you can park at the top and there is a decent pub at the bottom
I'll check the forecast Friday and post on here to see if, where and when people are interested in meeting somewhere.
Cheers John.

I'm always up for a weekday afternoon flying session,  Whitesheet or Selsey way is only 45 mins from me.

Let me know when you plan on a flying sesh

Hi tired tim,
Well I definitely need to get to South Cotswolds and you definitely need to get to Whitesheet.
I think I've been close as I used to fly fullsize at Nymphsfield, always took a model and flew off the ridge at the closest car park to the club.
http://www.whitesheet.co.uk/   Whitesheet club, similar in scale to Crooks Peak, but you can park at the top and there is a decent pub at the bottom
I'll check the forecast Friday and post on here to see if, where and when people are interested in meeting somewhere.
Cheers John.

Hi John. We've probably already met then. I've been a member at Nympsfield since 1995 and have been flying sailplanes since 1987. When were you there?
Anyway, definitely up for a visit to Whitesheet. Just let me know when.

Paraglided off Milk Hill, my local hill for slope soaring are Liddington and Hackpen, I'm in the process of creating something to throw off them.   

Hi brownie,

Always meant to stop off I suppose around the Hackpen area as I visit my family in Surrey all the time. What wind directions does the hill/ridge support and how do you get there?
What are you building at the moment?
Rumbey and maybe Robbie-UK may fly there it's close-ish to them ( I think ).
John.

Hi brownie,

Always meant to stop off I suppose around the Hackpen area as I visit my family in Surrey all the time. What wind directions does the hill/ridge support and how do you get there?
What are you building at the moment?
Rumbey and maybe Robbie-UK may fly there it's close-ish to them ( I think ).
John.

Never flown those slopes but would be interested in wind directions they fly and how to get to em!

I'm planning on a morning /early pm session tomorrow at Knap Hill weather permitting

Regarding Liddington, a few minutes off junction 15 of the M4, excellent information on this site can be found at tvhgc.co.uk - Liddington Castle, flyable in a NW and SW.

Regarding Hackpen, you can find it
HERE, the car park is just SW of the White Horse in the Sat Photo right on the top of the slope and a NW is straight on the slope. Haven't seen anyone else fly there mind, so I've no idea whether you can or not.  

We'll have to get a brizzle slope sesh going at some stage... MaesKnoll (E.Dundry) could be a poss for Saturday 

... wind's SW'ly, sun's out (-ish), rain not due 'till this afternoon: so I'm off up to Maes Knoll shortly

Lulsgate's showing Wind  from the SW (220 degrees) at 12 MPH (10 KT) 

Any of you lot interested in having some Pylon racing fun at the Bwlch (no more than 90 minutes from Bristol) on Dec 19th. Any EPP nosed and leading edge model will do. Zagis welcome. come and have some fun. If you have a Flying Fish, bring it too as I will be holding a race or two for them if the numbers allow. PM me or email me

Hi clayts,
Sorry mate away that weekend visiting family, will be at the next one.

Hi goeffers, where do you park for maes knoll, Norton Lane? Was it any good today?

Hi brownie, thanks for the links, may check out Liddington castle on the way home at Christmas.

Catch up soon, John.

Hi geoffers, where do you park for maes knoll, Norton Lane? Was it any good today?

Hi John

I turn off Norton Lane into Church Road (towards Norton Malreward) and park there: no problem at all.

Yep - it was really good this am. with the SW wind dead on the slope at 15-20mph. I shot some more vid here - all close-up stuff as the cam doesn't have a zoom, so if you get too far away you can't see owt 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXioguf6zI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXioguf6zI</a>

Weekend looking NE or possible North, anyone out to play?