23/11/2013

Magilligan

Yesterday an email to our club mailing list started me thinking about where there would be flying today. After a quick look at the forecast it looked like my favorite site might just be flyable. I replied to the email saying we haven't flown Magilligan for a while. It seems I had piqued the interest of a few other pilots wanting to put some time in. By 11:00hrs this morning I knew of four of us that were heading out for the 80 minutes drive.

We left in the rain and there was plenty of rain on the way but as we got closer the sky began to look more promising. When we arrived we could see the squally showers out front over the sea. We checked out both the flyable faces and the wind seemed to be on my favorite side (NNW).

Orographic cloud forming over Binevenagh.
We met up with Dave and Danny and walked down to take off. We could see there was a break in the rain so started getting ready. I watched carefully as Dave (the most experienced of us) took off. As soon as he was out over the cliff he started gaining height so I know I shouldn't have any problems staying up (which is a concern as it is about a five mile round trip to fetch a serial bottom lander like me).

I managed two flights (in between showers). It is a rather difficult to explain what it is like being able to see all the way along this beautiful part of the coast. Whether is it the seven mile long beach of Benone strand, the Inishowen peninsula, a view over Mussenden Temple or Portstewart strand in the distance it is all stunning.


10/11/2013

Not bad for November

This weekend I managed to get flying both days.Yesterday I flew at Dungiven and today I flew at Knockagh which was especially rewarding because it is my nearest site.

It seems of late we have to try and get onsite when the wind is going from nothing to far too strong and snatch what flying we can. Sometimes this is a couple of hours and sometimes, like today you only get a short while.

I got a phone call from Ian letting me know that wind direction was good and the wind strength was not usable yet but getting there. I managed to get the missus home from the shops to watch the kids and drive up the hill (only 1.5 miles away from home as the crow flies but more than double that by road). By the time I was at take off the wind was just about usable. A few minutes later and just as I was doing my pre-flight checks I looked around to see how ready Ian was to see his glider tangled in a bush. So I bunched up my glider and put my harness on top (I didn't fancy picking my kit out of a bush too) and lent a hand. Fortunately I have never had to try to remove a glider from a bush but in next to no time we had Ian free. The wind was slightly stronger now so Ian moved to an easier take off spot a little further from the start of the cliff face. Ian launched and as I watched him steadily climb I rang my wife to let her know I was about to take off as she had mentioned bringing the kids up to watch.



The wind continued to strengthen until I found I was struggling to fly along the ridge so right on schedule my family pull up in the car park as I am heading for my chosen landing field. As my daughter bursts out of the car and shouts "Daddy" all I can do is respond with a wave and a shout that I have to land.