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.


Saturday 3 May 2014

Dream Flight Libelle

Saturday 3rd May - Just sent an email off to T9 Hobby Sport to reserve a Dream Flight Libelle DLG. Well it just had to be done for some after work, flat field flying or those exceptionally light air days on the slope.


As for flying this weekend? I'm sure Mark and Chris will be out each day. Phil, Wayne and myself will be out on Sunday and it's looking like the venue may be Back of Wrecker at The Bwlch. Looking forward to seeing the guys and get some flying in.

6 comments:

  1. Hi Steve. How you doing? I have one of these and love it. I was out with it during the week down at our flying strip. The other guys where winch launching their 100'' floaters and I was flying my Libelle. Not much lift but it does float and very responsive. One little mishap mind. While I was making every effort to keep of the strip as a winch launch was in progress, flew my Libelle along and over the pits and straight into the windsock pole and the pole won. Big dent in the leading edge. Got home and it very nearly all came out with the use of a hair dryer.
    The servo's I used in my Libelle are Gening D531BB from BRC hobbies at 4.90 each. Digital servo's and they work fine. Anyway, let me know how you get on?
    A little vid clip of me flying the Libelle at our club a few weeks back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4QkIPg5fno
    Cheers, Paul.

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  2. Hi Paul. I'm getting my Libelle from T9 Hobby Sport who are offering a package including battery pack, Gening D531BB servo's and extension leads.
    I shall look forward to getting out with that.
    Cheers Steve

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  3. Hi Steve. My first thermic flight with the Dream Flight Libelle today off the flat. After many launches, I hooked myself into a cracker from about 75ft to about 400 - 500Ft then promptly fell out and back on the ground in 12 mins. What a fantastic DLG! I have thermal flap set up, so when a thermal is found it drops about 10 degree of flap and a little up elevator and up she goes. Let me know how you get on with your Libelle, Steve?

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  4. Well done Paul. One little query. When you drop the thermal flap, do you not have to compensate with down elevator, not up?
    I'm still waiting for T9 to get new stock but have my name on the list.
    Steve

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  5. Hi Steve. Just had a look at the Libelle and there actually is no elevator dialled in for either the thermal or landing flap. It stays neutral throughout. Rob flew his yesterday up on the slope when we had no wind (most of the time). He is a lefty so his peg is located on the opposite side to mine. Doesn't seem right hand launching it with your left arm. Hope you get yours soon!

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  6. Well thats useful information to know, about the thermal flap setting that is. T9 now has them in stock again so I have ordered mine tonight :o)

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