A470 Soaring: February 2018

About A470 Soaring

This is the blog for a few guys who spend their time flying radio controlled gliders, or slope soarer's, from the many and varied slopes around SE Wales.

This usually begins at the northern end of Cardiff, driving north up the A470 up to the Heads of the Valley's and the southern fringe of the Brecon Beacons. But the A470 road continues its windy way all the way to N Wales.

There are many slopes available for most wind directions, the most famous being the area between Nant-y-Moel and Treorchi known as The Bwlch, which has some of the best slopes and flying in Europe with many F3F competitions being held there each year and visited by many fliers from Europe and around the world. At 1500 feet (450m) above sea level, there is usually more wind than not, and certainly more than at sea level.

If you require any further information, are new to slope soaring or are visiting the area, please contact Steve at steve.houghton59@gmail.com . I look forward to hearing from you.

Take a look at Page 2 (look below and to the left here) for Google maps of our most popular Flying Sites.

Friday, 23 February 2018

Weekend flying forecast 24th - 25th February

I think this last week has been one of the driest weeks we've had in a very long time, and it is looking like this weekend is also going to be dry with cloudless blue skies. Perfect for flying you may say, but it is going to be bitterly cold with the easterly wind that is forecast, so expect wind chill temperatures of -5°C easily on the higher slopes, such as at the Bwlch or Fochriw. So let's take a look at what is in store.

Saturday - a dry, sunny day with an easterly wind of about 16 mph

Sunday - a repeat of Saturday

So your slope choices will be the Crest at the Bwlch, Fochriw, or the Garth, which actually flies very well in an easterly, but it is a bit of a walk for those hardy souls that don't mind that and car parking isn't easy.

My personal choice would be Fochriw as with car parking on the slope it is easy to warm up once you've had a fly. Hopefully the wind will also be strong enough to deter the para gliders also.

I shan't be out this weekend as I am away in the Lake District. So have fun guys and don't get too cold.

Happy flying 😄

Friday, 9 February 2018

Weekend flying forecast 10th - 11th February

Hi guys. It has been one hell of a week weather wise, I think we've had it all. Rain, wind, snow, hail, you name it, we've had it. So unless you have some work flexibility, or are retired, then you probably haven't had a chance to get out and fly this week, and next week is looking pretty much the same. So let's see what the weekend looks like.

Saturday - looks like being a rainy day with a SSW wind of around 13 mph. So your slope choices will be any SW facing like Meio or Mickey's.

Sunday - looks like being a better day, and possibly even flyable with sunny intervals and a WNW - NW wind of about 17 mph. Your choices of slope will be the Ice Cream Slope, Abertwssyg or Meio, so plenty of choice there. The beauty of Abertwssyg is that it is a park and fly slope, so if you do get cold, or there are showers, you can easily get into your car for protection and to warm up. Oh, and don't forget to take a flask of hot choc with you.

Until next week peeps, keeeeeep flying 😃

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

South Wales Soaring Association website

Hi guys. Just to let you know that the SWSA website is now up and running and ready to view. The info on there is only basis at the moment but this will expand as the year and the club progresses. Check it out by clicking HERE.