Topic: South West Slopers

Are you flying tomorrow goeffers?
I was thinking of going up to the 'wolds, looks like Frocester could work well.

Excellent video again
John.

Are you flying tomorrow goeffers?
I was thinking of going up to the 'wolds, looks like Frocester could work well.

Excellent video again
John.

may see you at Froster tomorrow, but won't be there until the afternoon 

Hi Geoff, that looked marginal! if you see gary? flying his paraglider again..tell him to raise his hands a little, he was flying with too much brake, he looked a little nervous on take off, is he a newbie? Safe flying.

chaz@2b

We had a good days flying in Salibury yesterday, but seem to have brought back most of Wiltshire's countryside, on the side of my car..................

hi Geoffers, was nice to meet you at middle hope a few weeks back. Hope your ships repaired ok. You didn't mention that the praglider guy was not only heavy on his brakes!
I was well pleased with the bee and ended up trimmed out lovely so it flies inverted with only a little down stick.
Some older dudes with a hang glider arrived and were doing little hop flights off the top. I had to watch out for being knocked over. What a terrible spot to urine about on a hang glider in a NW!
I returned a week later in a NNE but froze solid in only 20minutes. Lovely spot though.
I checked out your very helpful map, thanks. Good to see i'd sussed a few myself.
Cheers for now, see you about.
Ben

Hi chaps. Flew at Whitesheet rifle range S/SE bowl this week. The wind was about 10ishmph SSE-SE. It was pretty good. Lift all the way to where you stand. Only had a combat wing to test it but landing was easy enough as long as you did'nt go too far back!
How does this slope rate to the SW and NW slopes in a good blow? I know it's the para slope so would'nt want to waste a journey.

Also regarding the blinkin' huuge puddles at the top. Anyone know if they are deep enough to stall an engine after it's rained? I was slowly trundling through and the last 2 (just before the resevoir gate) looked ominously deep.  I bottled it and reversed back then walked, which was very enjoyable.

Hi Moosey not had a problem with the puddles in my car but slow is definately the way to go!
I have flown the rifle range a few times in a good blow and found the lift superb you can push forward away from the slope for an awfully long way and still be in strong lift!


Steve 

Wotcha Steve

I really enjoyed walking over but am forward planning in the event of a good blow and armful of gliders.
i've not been able to ge up there all winter for various reasons but am rearing to make up for it this spring.
Catch you up there.

Mike

hi Geoffers, was nice to meet you at middle hope a few weeks back.
 ......
Cheers for now, see you about.
Ben

Ben/Dave : shame I didn't have my Venom up on Dundry NE slope this arvo, to mix it with your BEEs. Looked like fun 

Looks like the wind's going to be NE for the next few days, so could make use of the light evenings for some combat action one day this week maybe?

I'll PM you my phone number - give us a call if you're heading up there..


 Geoff

Looks like the wind's going to be NE for the next few days, so could make use of the light evenings for some combat action one day this week maybe?

Great stuff, and a first for me : 4-way combat up Dundry NE slope this evening (2 Venoms versus 2 Bees) - surprising how difficult it is to have a mid-air when when you're actually trying

Looks like there's a going to be some fun flying in the coming weeks 

JohnnySixT or tired tim fancy joining us sometime...

Great stuff, and a first for me : 4-way combat up Dundry NE slope this evening (2 Venoms versus 2 Bees) - surprising how difficult it is to have a mid-air when when you're actually trying

Looks like there's a going to be some fun flying in the coming weeks 

JohnnySixT or tired tim fancy joining us sometime...

Funny enough, I had to drive to Pilton today and was wondering where Dundry was what it's like.
Point me in right direction and I'll see you there 

....and was wondering where Dundry was what it's like.
Point me in right direction and I'll see you there 

Tim - I've updated my Brizzle soaring sites
>here< : zoom in and you can see a number of sites on Dundry

Tim - I've updated my Brizzle soaring sites >here< : zoom in and you can see a number of sites on Dundry

 

Hi all, do you have to be a member of any club to fly from these site? I was thinking of going down to Dundry - Maes Knoll or NE slope...

Hi all, do you have to be a member of any club to fly from these site? I was thinking of going down to Dundry - Maes Knoll or NE slope...

I don't think you have to be a member of a club (though I could be wrong) but you should have some sort of insurance i.e. BMFA or similar.

... do you have to be a member of any club to fly from these site? ...

No problem flying here: no active clubs and only occasional fliers, it seems - though you might find a few peeps flying combat (so beware of getting ambushed  ) Just respect the farmer's land & livestock: it's private land, but the owners seem mellow.

Just come in from a pleasant hour flying the SW bowl at MaesKnoll...

Yeah, the Maes Knoll SW is a really nice small slope and lots of fun for combat etc. It takes a westerly reasonably well too and has a lovely view over N Somerset. Some kids came to watch us on monday and nicked a coat from our pile of gear when we moved round the slope a bit when the wind swung a tad. So watch your stuff as this place borders on a fairly deprived area of Bristol. They dropped the coat when we ran after them at least. There apparently is a history of car vandalism that you might want to know about too, and very limited parking. I usually park at the bottom of the hill and walk up.

The North side really needs a NE and is a bit ropey when it goes too North. Not such a good view but the lift has been really good over the last month. Watch out for the killer trees on the hill crest - took 2h to get a model down a few weeks back. Great stuff.

Definitely need to keep the land owners sweet.

See you all there!
Ben
Dave
Pete
Tim
& Geoffers

.....The North side really needs a NE .......
.......but the lift has been really good over the last month. Watch out for the killer trees on the hill crest.........

Epic lift on the NE slope this evening - wind must have been >25mph on the crest: chuffing chilly though. 
 
Landing was interesting to say the least: those trees looked hungry but didn't bite - seemed the easiest way in that lift was to crab in below the lip & try to splat it into the slope as gently as possible 

Geoff, we were up there (Maes Knoll) bank hol monday and the wind was too Northerly, so we crossed the road and went into the field facing the wind. The slope looked really unpromising as too shallow, but in fact we had lots of fun as the flight envelope was smaller. Probably had 10-15mph gusty. Might be worth trying if the direction's a bit out. I'm also keen to try Cam Long Down in a Northerly (as listed on the South Cotswold soarers website). - maybe not much longer than Dundry to get to from N Bristol
Ben

Geoff, we were up there (Maes Knoll) bank hol monday .....

....I'm also keen to try Cam Long Down in a Northerly....
Ben

Ben

I've flown CLD several times - last time I was there was one evening last year. A glorious late summer day, flying my Mini-Fireworks DLG in a light breeze but booming thermals, formation flying with enough swallows to make Alfred Hitchcock turn in his grave. 

When the winds in the N, it's always a toss-up between CLD & SandPoint (which normally wins ) as they're about the same distance for me, so I was actually down at SP on bank hol monday re-maidening my new improved "Venom-It", which is now minus the fuselage and much more agile.

Details

Have been up MK NE slope a few time recently....

I'll PM you my mobile number so we can message next time anyone's heading up there

Had my eye on this for a while, and it came up trumps this evening....

A clearance came through about 6:30 & the wind was west with a little north, so I thought it would be ideal to attempt soaring the Avon Gorge cliff edge on the Circular Path on the Downs, with my mini-fireworks DLG.

I figured that with the DLG I'd get enough height on the launch that if it all went horribly wrong I could easily get back to land, before losing it into the Avon or onto the Portway!.

Did a few trial chucks and there seemed to be lift there, so eventually plucked up courage to head well out into the gorge and was well pleased  .  As well as the wind-lift coming up the cliff, the fairly low sun was clearly heating up the rocks and throwing up pretty solid thermal lift, so I was managing flights of 10-15 mins (estimated) - excellent stuff.

Only downsides were: setting sun quite low, so flying straight into it; quite turbulent at times for landing; a group of chavs came & started kicking a football right behind where I was flying which made landing a bit awkward 

:

Just in case you guys missed this everywhere else
Bring your mates

The third round of the 2010 BMFA EPP60 Pylon Racing season is just around the corner on the 12th of June at White Sheet Down with thanks to the White Sheet Radio Flyers Club.
For a map of the area, please check out  http://www.whitesheet.co.uk/html/location.html

Could all competitors please advise me of two frequencies (unless 2,4gHz) and their BMFA number by email (clayts at landells dot com dot au), PM (clayts75 on RCMF and RCGROUPS) or message on our yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPP_PYLON_RACING/  by 9pm Wednesday 9th of June. Entry is 5 pounds. We will meet at the main White Sheet Down parking area at 10am with the aim of racing starting at 10.30am. I will let you know of any frequency clashes as they occur and finally by 10pm on Wednesday when I will publish the pilots list. I’m really looking forward to an exciting and action-packed event on another spectacular site, hopefully with more wind and higher numbers than HoH.

Please pass on this information to anyone you think might be interested.

Nice one Geoff!
I've been trying to pluck up the courage to lob my Alula over the rail there too. Very tempting now. How about fixing an abseil rope ready for retrievals?

Like the Venom mod, I've been trying to get Pete to do the same.

Had the Polecat out at Maes on sunday in about 20mph square on. Frighteningly fast. We had to leave when the cows decided the grass was tastier where we were.

Keep your phone handy, I'll text you when I'm heading out to play next time.
Cheers
Ben

Nice one Geoff!
....Had the Polecat out at Maes on sunday in about 20mph square on. Frighteningly fast. We had to leave when the cows decided the grass was tastier where we were.
...

Yep - those cows seem a bit frisky this year: they've only come out slopeside recently. I was up Crooks on Sunday afternoon with the Venom - boy was it windy: eventually plucked up courage to get my WR-Fox airbourne and had some great flying.

Met your bro' last Friday at the Lockleaze slope - SE'ly - flying my DLG with some really great thermals coming off the M32

We're planning a combat 'meeting' if the forecast NE arrives on thursday. Maes Knoll backside, 5pm anyone welcome but might need to be prepared for collateral damage if you don't want to join in.....
Ben

lads I've never flown coastal lift before. i live in warminster so the nearest looks to be Brean down (N/S) where would you go for Westerly?

lads I've never flown coastal lift before. i live in warminster so the nearest looks to be Brean down (N/S) where would you go for Westerly?

MooSey
Have a look at my
>brizzle area sloping< map - yes: Brean is excellent in N or S.

I was flying Sand Bay(Middle Hope) last night in a NE-ish wind, which was not quite "on" the slope (best NW to N), but still a superb location. Most of the other Bristol Channel slopes nr. Brizzle are mainly NW-ly (though you can fly the dunes on Weston beach & Brean beach in a strongish westerly).

You could try the WainsHill (Poets Walk) site south of Clevedon in a Westerly - quite a small slope but fun, and works SW thru NW.

I guess the best site suiting a W-ly might be Bossington, near Minehead (overlooking Porlock) or over SouthernDown / Nash Point way in S.Wales (near Porthcawl)

Geoff I've checked out your site. Good stuff
Brean downs look superb but N/S seem to be rare these days. What does Bossington do?

MooSey - flies W thru N:  I've flown there once and it was brill

Look at http://www.wbmgc.org.uk/flying-sites/bossington for details from the West Blackdown club

Thanks Geoff.
Bossington is a bit further than I wanted but it's got to be quicker to reach than the Bwlch.
I'll hopefully try them out this summer.
 

I've never flown coastal lift before ... ... but N/S seem to be rare these days.....

MooSey - sorry to do this to you  but the lift at Sand Point was epic this arvo - a little east of perfect, but still great at 15-20mph NNE-ish.

I was flying at the usual spot - the grassy knoll at Middle Hope (ST330663 on the map), but also gave the point itself a go (just west of the trig point) and even had a few tentative attempts at DS-ing my Venom. I'm sure this would be feasible here for someone who knew what they were doing 

Oh thats harsh. You must have sensed my frustration at being family and diy bound all day.
My frustration was complete when I took the dog and kids for a walk at Westbury White Horse. I told myself there would be too much E for decent lift or the jellyfish would be rife. So imagine my horror when upon rounding the horses head onto the north ridge I was assulted by the shreik of an Acacia barreling by. I had to walk past the regulars who looked puzzled at my lack of models then enlighted by the anklebiters in tow. 
Im hoping to get a quick fix tomorrow morning since it is fathers day

Im going to coincide a family picnic to Bossington to recce the slope.  If I have the odd model in the car it must be coincedental

Can't believe I've missed the amazing weather and westerlies this week! Am free friday pm so looking for flying pals. Wind is forecast to change (no doubt for the worse) but I was thinking of Frocester, depending on direction. Drop me a pm to meet up if you're free.
Regards
Ben

Thread needed a bump  , so seeing as I'm in Speedo mode at the mo. I thought I'd post some vid. from its "proper" maiden this morning at Draycott (SE of Cheddar) which is a lovely slope, taking winds from the SW thru NW.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a72b5cmOpo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a72b5cmOpo</a>

looks a nice spot, and the speedo certainly goes well. Did the rudder do wot it oughtta?

Well - what a great day, with the best part saved 'till last 

Wind was northish with a bit of east, so I started off at Sand Point which was good, but a bit too much East to be brill. So I decided to bite the bullet & head off down the meandering roads to Brean Down where the direction was absolutely perfik. I had a superb couple of hours in ace coastal lift, alternating between the WR-Fox & Speedo, until the wind died & I headed back to the carpark and a cornetto 

However, sitting on the sea wall I realised the wind was back, but now in the west and hey - those seagulls are cruising the wall with no flappy-flappy. Hmm - nasty looking boulders in the wall: shall I/shan't I? Well the feathered experts can do it, so why not me?

Launch out with the Speedo.... a few test flights (landing out on the sand) until I found the "sweet spot", then finished the arvo cruising the wall, until my transmitter low-battery warning called a halt. What an epic blast...

Thanks Geoffers - I visited your site at Dundree last week and had a fantastic couple of flights with my Ripmax Spitfire, lovely views with a gentle breeze, I'll certainly be visiting there again, hope to see you some time!

Thanks for the link!

Had a couple of excellent sessions at Maes Knoll, east Dundry this week. For a time we had 5 planes up and some brilliant antics going on.
We'd love it if more people came down to play, more targets the better.
All a bit hit and miss on timings at the moment, I'll try and find a way to alert folk - perhaps via this thread to start with so do subscribe.
Maes is a great bowl in S to W winds and has a back side that works in NE. Look for east dundry lane on google maps, terrain switched on and you'll find it.
Cheers
Ben & the squad.

Ben

Woulda been there...

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 ....... but ....

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.... I was here instead ....

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What,The Bwlch?Didn't see ya there