Christmas Greetings

Hello fellow slopies.

It's Christmas Eve, eve (Friday) and my last morning in work. I just have to get through the morning and then finish off doing a few chores this afternoon before heading over to Michelle's in Cardiff, where I shall be spending the whole of the Christmas holiday.

The weather forecast for the weekend, should you fancy flying, isn't great, so I should sit back at home with your favourite tipple and enjoy the festivities.

Paul from Slope Soaring Sussex will be visiting family next week here in S Wales and so Big Phil and myself will be meeting up with him at the Bwlch, probably on Wednesday 28th.

Tuesday also looks like it could be a reasonable day for flying also, so there are some opportunities to fly.

I've also booked a few extra days off immediately from New Year, so I have the possibility to fly on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so some company would be nice if anyone is available.

The Valenta models Inteco L-213A that I ordered in August was finally delivered to my work yesterday, so I shall be taking it home today and having a quick peak, and I shall look forward to putting it together after the festivities are over.

And talking of the L-213A, my friends James Clark in Cornwall, Martin in N Devon and Paul Watkins in Staffordshire, all have L-213A's so we're going to try and all get together sometime at the Bwlch for a L-213A fly in. It should be fun!

So it just remains for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Happy flying
Steve

Flying Forecast 17th/18th December

Hi all

Our autumn/winter so far has been very unusual this year. Apart from one week when we had sub zero night time temperatures, our climate has been very mild, with temperatures up into double figures (°C), and no sign of the autumn gales that once were common, or the frosts for that matter either.

This weekend isn't looking much different with day time temperatures around 10°C, however there isn't much wind in the forecast.

Saturday - South Easterly and 3 mph doesn't make for good flying, but if you wanted to chance your luck then a walk over to the far side of the Crest could produce some results. That forecast looks like there is too much east in the wind direction for Back of Wrecker to be any good.

Sunday - Westerly and 6 mph, so Rhossili would be a good bet, or Mickey's and Meio.

Personally I think that with such light winds forecast, I'll give it a miss.

Have a great weekend whatever you're doing.

Steve

Flying forecast 10th/11th December

Hi guys, it's that time of the week again when I look at the flying possibilities for the weekend ahead.

Saturday - A very wet start but drying in the afternoon with a south west to westerly breeze of 8 - 10 mph. Your slopes of choice will be Mickey's at the Bwlch, Meio Common or Rhossili.

Sunday - A dry day with a light westerly breeze of 8 - 10 mph, so your choice of slope is the same as for Saturday.

As Saturday is going to be wet, and the winds light for Sunday, I think I shall get some other things done.

Have a good weekend all.

Happy flying
Steve

Bwlchfest 2017 Update

Well I never thought I'd be writing an update so soon, but my hand was sort of forced by my German friend Robin who wanted to book his accommodation, and also his friend from Slovenia. So I've had to confirm the date, which is the 10th & 11th June.

 I've been notified by others from across the UK of their intentions to attend this event, and there has also been interest by others from Scandinavia and even the USA.

 Now I know that people always have the best intentions of attending events, but life sometimes gets in the way and you can usually reckon on losing 25 - 30% of those that have intended on coming. So I'd appreciate it if you would spread the word around your own model flying groups and direct them to this blog or to the Facebook group page, Slope Soaring in Wales, where there is already a very lengthy thread going on.

 Now I've tried to post this event on the BARCS calender, but for some reason it didn't like it, but I'll keep trying. I'll also be posting wherever I can to sread the word. So watch this space as I'll be updating along the way.

 Until next time.
 Happy flying

Bwlchfest 2017 - A teaser

So I had this idea about holding a slope soaring event at the Bwlch, S Wales for next summer and I created the following teaser of a video and popped it on YouTube and various Facebook groups, and the response has been amazing.

The idea is that like minded glider guiders come along to The Bwlch for a weekend of informal flying on a "Fly for Fun" basis.

It doesn't matter if you fly foamies, crunchies, mouldies, F3F, scale, PSS, aerobats or sport models, all are welcome.

A preliminary date of June 10th/11th looks likely, and from the feedback I have received already, A European contingent from Germany, Austria and Slovenia are already making plans to attend thes event, including a guy I know from Germany who writes for a aeromodelling magazine there called, Aufwind. So this could become a truly international event.

I will look into organising this event in more detail once the Christmas and New Year festivities are over and finalise the date.

Watch this space.

Decembers Featured Post

Hey guys

Take a look at Decembers featured post which is taken from the 18th December 2015 when the usual locals had some fun on Meio Common.

Enjoy

Happy flying
Steve

Combat Weekend and your weekend flying forecast

So this weekend is the combat weekend, and the organisers have decided that Sunday is the day.

With a 22 mph easterly forecast for Cardiff airport, you can easily expect 30 mph plus at the Bwlch, and an easterly means flying on the Crest.

So the meet up point is the lay-by at the Wrecker, (see the Flying Sites page for details), at 10:30 am.

I was hoping to go along and take some video at least, but unfortunately I can no longer make this event.

All are welcome, just turn up on the day.

If you are not going to take part and you are looking to do your own thing?

Saturday is an easterly of about 14 mph, so your slope options are the Crest at the Bwlch or Manmoel, or possibly Fochriw, although this could be a liitle off face.

Sunday is much the same as Saturday but with higher wind speeds.

I have to go to Cornwall on Saturday and normally I would take along a couple of models and have a couple of hours flying at Aggies. But an easterly is the worst possible direction for flying in Cornwall. But I may just take along a couple of foamies, just in case.

Happy flying guys.
Steve