Hi all
So the forecast today was for sunshine, warm temperatures, and an 11 mph easterly.
EASTERLY! That means flying the Crest! Woohooooo!
I do love flying this huge, crescent shaped cliff, however, the rotor can be just as huge as the lift, and today was no exception.
The wind speed on the lip was showing 23 mph but the lift was like double that and when I launched the FVK Signal, I had to add about 6 clicks of down elevator trim, just to stop the plane from continuing upwards forever.
When it came to landing, I had to walk back at least 100m before the wind stopped blowing on the back of my head and onto my face instead.
Anyway, take a look at the video and you'll see what I mean about the rotor when you see the grass blowing towards the slope, instead of away from it.
Enjoy.
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Friday, 25 September 2015
PSSA Fly for Fun Review - The Bwlch
Hi all
Well last weekend saw the first PSSA Fly for Fun weekend take place at the Bwlch in S. Wales. The weather conditions were far from perfect, but I think all those who attended had a good time.
Friday evening saw me checking out XC Weather and being totally dismayed at what I was seeing.
Wind speed at Cardiff Airport 4 mph northerly, moving to north east, then south east, then to westerly. What the heck was I going to do with that?
Day 1
The Bwlch is over 1000' above sea level so I was hoping that the wind speed would be around 12 mph up there. I was also thinking that the best option was to begin on the southern end of the Crest, facing north east, then move with the shifting wind along the slope until we reached the most northerly point which faces south easterly, as long as the forecast was correct. Then when the wind shifted to westerly, give up flying for the day rather than hump all the models over to the westerly face of Mickey's.
So early Saturday morning saw me sat in the car at the Wrecker lay-by with the windmills across the valley pointing and turning, albeit very slowly, in a south westerly direction, which actually pleased me in as much as it made the choice of slope simple, but so much for the weather forecast. Which just goes to show that you can't look at the forecast a week or more before a flying event and confidently know for sure that the forecast is going to be correct.
I drove down to the Ice Cream slope lay-by and met up with Andrew and Shona Meade and David Gilder, and we decided to take a walk along the gravel track up to the south west facing slope of Mickey's, where there was hardly a breath of wind. Fortunately we had pre-empted the conditions and brought along light wind and electric powered gliders, and it was obvious there would not be any PSS models flying that day.
We walked back down to the lay-by to collect our models and we were joined by Olly P and a couple of local lads, Roy and Alan, who had seen my posts on this blog, and we all headed up to Mickey's.
Considering the grass was barely moving in the pits, there was more lift than any of us expected, which just goes to show the quality of the slope, and models were duly launched.
The para gliders also decided to join us on the slope that day, fortunately they kept away from us, and we kept away from them. I'm sure the chat I had with their Heath & Safety Officer last year has helped with that enourmously as previously they would have had no qualms about flying along the ridge right in front of us. My thanks to the para glider pilots for this.
As the morning progressed, so the wind slowly began to increase, and with it the thermals as the ground warmed up in the glorious sunshine. We were also joined by Clive Jones, another local flyer who had brought along a couple of foamie models.
By the afternoon we had 12 mph winds, which doesn't sound like a lot, but the lift produced on this slope is much more than you would see from other slopes. The electric powered models were put away and the pure gliders were batting along the slope nicely, and getting great lift in the booming thermals coming through. We even had a visit from a passing RAF SAR Sea King as it flew up through the Ogmore Valley.
Day 2
Sunday saw us meeting up once again at the Ice Cream Slope lay-by, and it was obvious that the forecast was correct this time, 9 mph south westerly at Cardiff Airport. However, there was a good deal of clag heading up the Ogmore Valley and up and over the Bwlch, but I was confident that the sun would burn this off.
This time Saturdays flyers were joined by Phil Cooke, Phil May and his son Josh, and we headed back up to Mickey's, where we could see that the clag was becoming patchy and beginning to dissipate.
We measured the wind speed at about 11 mph and Phil Cooke, undeterred, threw his Jet Provost off the slope, and although he had to keep it very tight to the ridge from time to time, in order not to lose sight of it in the clag, he had a good long flight back and forth along the ridge, looping and rolling as it went.
Shortly afterwards, the clag had gone, the para gliders had arrived again, but they were struggling in the ever increasing wind, and we were flying everything we had carried to the slope. By midday the para gliders had given up and gone home as the wind was too strong for them.
By early afternoon we had about 17 mph, but no thermals as there was a lot of cloud cover, and there were several models which had their maiden flights. We were also joined by Roddy from Bath who had seen my posts on this blog regarding the event and brought his Vulcan Bomber along. This I believe was built from the same plans as the Vulcan owned by Peter Garsden. Mark Williams, our local Kamikaze flyer, also joined us with his Race M F3F ship and his usual brand of humour.
Phil May had bought a Jet Provost from Andrew Meade and he threw that off, along with another version of the MB-326 Aermacchi Impala built from correx. Andrew maidened his Horton, and what a superb looking model that is, and he was obviously enjoying flying it. I maidened my recently acquired Hawker Typhoon, which flew so brilliantly and easily. I know I'm going to enjoy flying that at future events, dropping bombs and rockets as I go. David Gilder also had great success flying his FedEx A380, which looked superb in the air.
After everyone had had their fill, we packed up and walked back to the car park.
I think everyone who came along and flew enjoyed themselves, and the flying, and feel that the Bwlch is a venue that they will be happy to come back to for future PSSA events.
Well last weekend saw the first PSSA Fly for Fun weekend take place at the Bwlch in S. Wales. The weather conditions were far from perfect, but I think all those who attended had a good time.
Friday evening saw me checking out XC Weather and being totally dismayed at what I was seeing.
Wind speed at Cardiff Airport 4 mph northerly, moving to north east, then south east, then to westerly. What the heck was I going to do with that?
Day 1
The Bwlch is over 1000' above sea level so I was hoping that the wind speed would be around 12 mph up there. I was also thinking that the best option was to begin on the southern end of the Crest, facing north east, then move with the shifting wind along the slope until we reached the most northerly point which faces south easterly, as long as the forecast was correct. Then when the wind shifted to westerly, give up flying for the day rather than hump all the models over to the westerly face of Mickey's.
So early Saturday morning saw me sat in the car at the Wrecker lay-by with the windmills across the valley pointing and turning, albeit very slowly, in a south westerly direction, which actually pleased me in as much as it made the choice of slope simple, but so much for the weather forecast. Which just goes to show that you can't look at the forecast a week or more before a flying event and confidently know for sure that the forecast is going to be correct.
I drove down to the Ice Cream slope lay-by and met up with Andrew and Shona Meade and David Gilder, and we decided to take a walk along the gravel track up to the south west facing slope of Mickey's, where there was hardly a breath of wind. Fortunately we had pre-empted the conditions and brought along light wind and electric powered gliders, and it was obvious there would not be any PSS models flying that day.
We walked back down to the lay-by to collect our models and we were joined by Olly P and a couple of local lads, Roy and Alan, who had seen my posts on this blog, and we all headed up to Mickey's.
Considering the grass was barely moving in the pits, there was more lift than any of us expected, which just goes to show the quality of the slope, and models were duly launched.
The para gliders also decided to join us on the slope that day, fortunately they kept away from us, and we kept away from them. I'm sure the chat I had with their Heath & Safety Officer last year has helped with that enourmously as previously they would have had no qualms about flying along the ridge right in front of us. My thanks to the para glider pilots for this.
As the morning progressed, so the wind slowly began to increase, and with it the thermals as the ground warmed up in the glorious sunshine. We were also joined by Clive Jones, another local flyer who had brought along a couple of foamie models.
By the afternoon we had 12 mph winds, which doesn't sound like a lot, but the lift produced on this slope is much more than you would see from other slopes. The electric powered models were put away and the pure gliders were batting along the slope nicely, and getting great lift in the booming thermals coming through. We even had a visit from a passing RAF SAR Sea King as it flew up through the Ogmore Valley.
Day 2
Sunday saw us meeting up once again at the Ice Cream Slope lay-by, and it was obvious that the forecast was correct this time, 9 mph south westerly at Cardiff Airport. However, there was a good deal of clag heading up the Ogmore Valley and up and over the Bwlch, but I was confident that the sun would burn this off.
This time Saturdays flyers were joined by Phil Cooke, Phil May and his son Josh, and we headed back up to Mickey's, where we could see that the clag was becoming patchy and beginning to dissipate.
We measured the wind speed at about 11 mph and Phil Cooke, undeterred, threw his Jet Provost off the slope, and although he had to keep it very tight to the ridge from time to time, in order not to lose sight of it in the clag, he had a good long flight back and forth along the ridge, looping and rolling as it went.
Shortly afterwards, the clag had gone, the para gliders had arrived again, but they were struggling in the ever increasing wind, and we were flying everything we had carried to the slope. By midday the para gliders had given up and gone home as the wind was too strong for them.
By early afternoon we had about 17 mph, but no thermals as there was a lot of cloud cover, and there were several models which had their maiden flights. We were also joined by Roddy from Bath who had seen my posts on this blog regarding the event and brought his Vulcan Bomber along. This I believe was built from the same plans as the Vulcan owned by Peter Garsden. Mark Williams, our local Kamikaze flyer, also joined us with his Race M F3F ship and his usual brand of humour.
Phil May had bought a Jet Provost from Andrew Meade and he threw that off, along with another version of the MB-326 Aermacchi Impala built from correx. Andrew maidened his Horton, and what a superb looking model that is, and he was obviously enjoying flying it. I maidened my recently acquired Hawker Typhoon, which flew so brilliantly and easily. I know I'm going to enjoy flying that at future events, dropping bombs and rockets as I go. David Gilder also had great success flying his FedEx A380, which looked superb in the air.
After everyone had had their fill, we packed up and walked back to the car park.
I think everyone who came along and flew enjoyed themselves, and the flying, and feel that the Bwlch is a venue that they will be happy to come back to for future PSSA events.
Weekends Flying 26/27th September
Hi all
Well another weekend is upon us. My apologies for not putting up the PSS review with video as yet but I have been busy with holiday preparation and Cardiff Half Marathon training. Maybe I will get chance to complete this later this evening.
The weather forecast is looking good this weekend with a high pressure over the UK and the wind at Cardiff Airport on Saturday easterly 9 mph and easterly on Sunday 14 mph.
I have things I need to do on Saturday so I can't make the Bwlch but I may just try the big bowl that overlooks Upper Cwmbran, which flies on E - SE, then head up to the Bwlch on Sunday to fly the mighty Crest. Woohoo!
So I hope to see some of you on a slope soon.
Happy flying
Steve
Well another weekend is upon us. My apologies for not putting up the PSS review with video as yet but I have been busy with holiday preparation and Cardiff Half Marathon training. Maybe I will get chance to complete this later this evening.
The weather forecast is looking good this weekend with a high pressure over the UK and the wind at Cardiff Airport on Saturday easterly 9 mph and easterly on Sunday 14 mph.
I have things I need to do on Saturday so I can't make the Bwlch but I may just try the big bowl that overlooks Upper Cwmbran, which flies on E - SE, then head up to the Bwlch on Sunday to fly the mighty Crest. Woohoo!
So I hope to see some of you on a slope soon.
Happy flying
Steve
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Hawker Typhoon PSS on Mickey's
Hi guys
Well Sunday saw wind speeds high enough to fly my latest acquisition, the Hawker Typhoon.
So without further ado, here is the video.
Well Sunday saw wind speeds high enough to fly my latest acquisition, the Hawker Typhoon.
So without further ado, here is the video.
Monday, 21 September 2015
PSS Event 19th/20th September
This weekends PSS meet took place and although the conditions were far from perfect, particularly on Saturday, we did get some good flying in.
I shall write up a full report soon with pictures and video, but until then here is a taster of what occurred.
Thanks to Phil Cooke for these pictures.
Monday, 14 September 2015
PSSA Fly for Fun Event
Hi all
Well, we are on the final countdown to the Fly for Fun event at the Bwlch this weekend, and I hope to see a good few people there on both Saturday and Sunday.
Please remember that the Rugby World Cup begins this weekend with games at the Millennium Stadium, or should I now call it the Principality Stadium, on both days. This means that the roads, particularly the M4 in Wales, will be chokka.
My advice to anyone travelling along the M4 into Wales from J20 (M4/M5 Almondsbury Interchange at Bristol), is to take the M48 old Severn Bridge, heading towards Chepstow, as this should be less busy than the M4 Second Severn Crossing. Remember that this is a toll bridge and it will cost you £6.50 per car or £13.00 per van and you can pay by cash or card. This also applies to the Second Severn Crossing also.
For those travelling south down the M5, I would come off just after Strensham Services, onto the M50 and A40, then onto the A465 Heads of the Valleys road towards Abergavenny, then onto Hirwaun where you take the A4061, which takes you past the old Tower Colliery and onto the Rhigos Mountain Road, through Treherbert and into Treorchy.
We will be meeting at 10am on both mornings at the Ice Cream Slope lay-by where there will be a short briefing. For any late comers, I will try to post a notice somewhere prominent there so you know which slope to go to, and we will also try to post on the modelflying.co.uk forum, 3G signal permitting.
And all we need now are the weather Gods to be in our favour.
See you there.
Happy flying
Steve
Well, we are on the final countdown to the Fly for Fun event at the Bwlch this weekend, and I hope to see a good few people there on both Saturday and Sunday.
Please remember that the Rugby World Cup begins this weekend with games at the Millennium Stadium, or should I now call it the Principality Stadium, on both days. This means that the roads, particularly the M4 in Wales, will be chokka.
My advice to anyone travelling along the M4 into Wales from J20 (M4/M5 Almondsbury Interchange at Bristol), is to take the M48 old Severn Bridge, heading towards Chepstow, as this should be less busy than the M4 Second Severn Crossing. Remember that this is a toll bridge and it will cost you £6.50 per car or £13.00 per van and you can pay by cash or card. This also applies to the Second Severn Crossing also.
For those travelling south down the M5, I would come off just after Strensham Services, onto the M50 and A40, then onto the A465 Heads of the Valleys road towards Abergavenny, then onto Hirwaun where you take the A4061, which takes you past the old Tower Colliery and onto the Rhigos Mountain Road, through Treherbert and into Treorchy.
We will be meeting at 10am on both mornings at the Ice Cream Slope lay-by where there will be a short briefing. For any late comers, I will try to post a notice somewhere prominent there so you know which slope to go to, and we will also try to post on the modelflying.co.uk forum, 3G signal permitting.
And all we need now are the weather Gods to be in our favour.
See you there.
Happy flying
Steve
Sunday, 6 September 2015
Speedo at St. Agnes
Hi all
Well I'm back from my holiday and I did manage to get a little flying time in. I'm glad I took the Speedo, just in case.
I did manage to meet up with a couple of friendly faces, Roger and Martin, and met a few new ones also.
Anyway, here is some video of me flying it at St. Agnes Head in Cornwall. I guess the wind speed was about 18 - 20 mph and north westerly.
Happy flying
Steve
Well I'm back from my holiday and I did manage to get a little flying time in. I'm glad I took the Speedo, just in case.
I did manage to meet up with a couple of friendly faces, Roger and Martin, and met a few new ones also.
Anyway, here is some video of me flying it at St. Agnes Head in Cornwall. I guess the wind speed was about 18 - 20 mph and north westerly.
Happy flying
Steve
PSSA Fly for Fun
Hi all. Well there are only 2 weeks to go until the Fly for Fun meet at the Bwlch. It's the weekend of the 19th/20th September for anyone who doesn't know.
Everyone is welcome to come along and fly, even if you do not have a PSS model. The only thing you must have is BMFA insurance.
I'm sure there will be some fab scale models to admire on the ground as well as in the air. My latest acquisition is featured below, a WW2 Hawker Typhoon.
So I hope to see some of you there, and please drop me an email should you have any questions.
Happy flying
Steve
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