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.


Tuesday 30 May 2017

Bwlchfest 2017

Hi all

Well Bwlchfest is almost upon us, and I am just hoping that I have thought about everything that I need to, to make it all run smoothly. Although this is a Fly For Fun event, not a competition, so it is basically a, turn up, fly, chat with like minded people, and have fun kind of day.

I know Robin has the T shirts and caps that were ordered, and he is due to arrive in Gods playground on Saturday with his Austrian friends. I am hoping to meet up with them either on Monday evening after work or, on Wednesday after work at the Bwlch.

On Thursday the 8th I will be glued to the weather forecast and posting on here which of the seven slopes we are likely to be flying, so please keep coming back to check for updates.

I am hoping to have the forestry gate key for access to Mickey's, (the south west and westerly slopes) but that isn't guaranteed at the moment. Fingers crossed eh. However, the problem with having the key is that the gate MUST be locked at all times, and so that means that if you arrive after we have proceeded to Mickey's, or need to leave early, then you will have to take the 15 ish minute walk up there. Do you know I've never actually timed how long it takes to walk up there.

So if you are unsure of which each of the slopes is, and what wind direction they are, then please look at the Flying Sites page on this blog, that way, you will know where we are on the day.

When I was at the Bwlch last weekend, I was chatting to the guy who runs the snack van up there, grabbing a bacon butty and a cuppa whilst waiting for the weather to clear, and he said to me, "oh, you're one of these guys that flies the model gliders eh"? " Do you know there's a big do on here next month, Bwlchfest I think it's called"? Word gets around eh.

So if you are unsure where to go, ask the guy in the snack van and I'll leave details with him, I'm sure if you buy a butty and a coffee he will tell you all you need to know.


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