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.


Thursday 17 November 2016

Weekend Flying Forecast - 19th/20th November

Hi all, its that time of the week again where I look at the flying possibilities for the weekend ahead.

Saturday - A mostly dry day with a W to WSW wind of about 12 mph. So up on the slopes there will be more than enough wind to fly whatever you fancy flying.

Your choices of slopes could be Mickey's at the Bwlch, Meio Common or Rhossili.

Sunday - The weather web sites are give conflicting forecasts. XC says there will be rain with 30 mph winds beginning NE, but moving through N to NW and decreasing to 18 mph by early evening.

The BBC says it will be mostly dry with a 12 mph variable wind NE to NW.

I tend to find the BBC are more accurate when it comes to rain and shine, but XC better at wind direction and speed. However, we are all aware that the forecasters do get it wrong, so this weekend you may be better checking that piece of seaweed that is dangling outside your front door, wetting a finger in your mouth and then sticking it in the air to check the wind speed and direction.

I shall be missing from the slopes this weekend as I am away on a trip to the motherland for a 40th anniversary school reunion.


The Bwlch, (from Nantymoel), has its own micro climate . Photo courtesy of Mike Grey.


I hope you manage to get some good flying in.

Happy flying
Steve

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