deryck does the dyke

Deryck heads down to the Dyke for a pre-Christmas session. Traction control and white stuff combine to produce a rare day at this renowned site where the sky isn't heaving.

Mr Parateddy arrives for a go in the light, crisp air

bloomin' lovely

drift depth plus manhood length conspire against bladder emptying

glorious lighting

in the snow

The gate's locked, the hill's blocked. Alan and Paul creep up on the hill, one sneaking up from the base, the other bringing up a rear guard action across the top.

They're rewarded with smooth, light lift in the crisp dry air and have a mighty fine afternoon on the Downs. The only challenge they face is stopping their landing roll-outs along the ice.

the Fusion heads out

After the physical strain of the ascent, Paul tries to

silently cack one off. It doesn't escape the wily eared Alan

and the misdemeanor is duly noted in his little black book

winter test flight

Simon bravely offers up his Tiger Shark to the mercy of the hill

merry christmas

Wishing you all a Goodwind Christmas

we have a hostage situation

after a three day dead lock, some focused action is required.....

the fence line

Afternoon play is interrupted by a heavy shower, it's blowy and Alan gets in the zone and flies the fence line in a Wildthing/F3F juxtapose.

no lull after

rip the lip

grippy or groovy?

coming in 2010

line and lights

fine set of men bond whilst trying to acheive a common goal:

get the plane out of the tree

catapult, bungee and fishing line, in the end a 5m surveying rod

and 8m roach pole did the trick

nav lights

getting ready to rumble

goooowarrn!

Trev prepares for a discus launch

health and safety officer stops the fun

like a rabbit frozen in the flash light

whoooooosh!!

in a demonstation of quantum theory, Steve's Wild Thing

exists in two locations at the same moment

trick or treat?

Mist shrouds the hill all morning, and after a quick jaunt round the county for something below cloud level, a fair crowd reconvenes at Thurnham. The mist has passed, the wind has gone, and to top it all it's getting dark!

clear sky, but running short on light and wind

ornithopter flaps past

mist creeps in

see...it does show up in the dark

Simon fiddles.....

.....and launches out into the night air




....only to have to dodge an attack from a patrolling Tie Fighter

Deryck stays under the radar












but also has to take evasive action!

sod all that, let's go apple bobbing

nil all draw

It's a nil wind, nil lift, nil sun day on Wednesday. Still there's a good turn out on the hill, doesn't anybody work anymore?

It's DLGs and electric all round, one flyer is a new arrival who after only 7mins of flight time with his first model, is doing loops and low passes. The whole affair even ends with a hand catch!!

the only sun glass requirement of the day

Alan tries to get a bit of lift off Paul's garlic breath

deciding the E-Hawk might fly better with the aerial attached




.....................................................................................hooorah!

short days, long shadows

It's a blustery, but mild day and there's a mahoosive turn out up yonder hill today. The sun's sat low on the horizon reminding us all that summer is now but a distant memory. The lift is strong out in front, but the sky is mighty crowded.

a mixed bunch of partakers

Colin gets the Flamingo away

it chooses to pose jauntily for the camera

Michael Portillo regrets leaving his shades at home

Ray gets ready for a launch in an 'Allen The Soarer' stylie

bull charges the camera, sign post jumps up at the last moment

impaling the hapless beast

Rob dreams of New York

blurry plane, blurry moon but good focus on the fence

launch officer Steve


remember Ray, there is no Fight Club