The return to White mountain (2012)

I saw a message to the UHPC mailing list that several members were heading to Dungiven this morning. I didn't think the wind directions would suit Dungiven, but there are several sites not too far way that would suit the wind direction. After a quick phone call to my boss I was able to secure the rest of the day off. I then jumped into the car and headed out.

Just after getting onto the motorway I realised that Bertie (the guy that was my instructor) was behind me. So after he had passed me I tucked myself in behind his car and travelled in convoy safe in the knowledge that he would probably have the latest information on which site in the Sperrin mountains would be best suited for flying.

Photographic evidence of me flying above my instructor (briefly).

We arrived and to find there were already four pilots willing the wind strength and direction to improve. It was not to be, so they suggested we change site to White mountain. I have only flown at White mountain a couple of times and it hasn't yet had what I can call a good flying day there. With this in mind I followed the crowd but didn't have any real hope that things were going to be any good.

We arrived and everyone enthusiastically got changed into their kit, so I followed suit. Climbed the small bit of a hill and set about my daily checks. Previously I would have been slow to set-up because I would want to see others flying before I got my wing out but I have now released that getting the daily checks out of the way is a good way to spend the time waiting for everyone else getting airborne and you can't over check your flying kit.
Others took off and gained height, so I got myself ready and was third into the air (I think). I got about 8 minutes flying and then came in for a top landing.

Mark and Dave

I took a breather and and calmed myself as things were really looking up. I took off again, this time for over 40 minutes (my longest yet) I was up so long that I had time to try and sit back in my harness and try an relax. Along with trying to slow down while I fly by applying more brake than I usually would, I also started to really try to think about areas of lift when I encountered them. Then I top landed because my phone had been ringing only to find it was nothing important enough to stop me flying.

After a sandwich I took off again, I tried more concentrating on what the wing was telling me, which side of the wing was getting more lift than the other and which way I should be turning (at times this was only a mental exercise as the hill was beside me). I actually spent some time flying out from the hill trying to keep where there was lift. I got another 20 odd minutes air time eventually landing by the cars.

At this point I was feeling a bit tired but I thought I should make good of my opportunities. I took off and again tried to tune into the wing and the lift I was flying through. This last flight was another 20 minutes and I slope landed just a little way down the slope from the cars.

In total I have clocked another hour and a half airtime today and I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out especially because I thought initially there might not be any flying at all today. It just goes to show that you can't tell and you just have to put the time and effort in to get these days. Improvements for the future will be:

• Try to get a continuous hour in the air.
• Get more in tune with the lift I am in (device that will work as a vario/GPS is on order)
• Try to use today's gained confidence to get ready a bit quicker
• Get back in the air a bit quicker between flights to maximise my airtime.