30 December 2018

cobwebs blown


A big thank you to Charlie for motivating us to get our turkey laden
backsides off the sofa and up the slope. A record turnout this year
with as many as 20 foamies in the air at one point.

Great to see a mix of regulars, old friends and new faces
(if the truth be told, maybe not so great to see some of the regulars).




lining up on the starting grid




With true British politeness, everyone waits their turn...




and queues patiently until.....





oh f##k it's a no deal slopexit!




point camera randomly in the sky and this is what you get....





.....see!



The hearty thwak of foam on foam.




An exit poll indicated that 75% of the UK's total
slope soaring fraternity was in attendance. Let's see
if we can beat that next year!


05 December 2018

28 November 2018

heady days


August last, the sky never looked so blue, the grass so well groomed
and the bellies so full











This was the correct tool for the job; lightly loaded and a good insurance policy in the nose. 








We fried eggs on it.




Javelin launch with a 70 deg climb straight up to 250 metres immediately
after this photo was taken




Still didn't help.... like everything else without a motor on the day,
it ended in an outfield landing!


21 October 2018

Success!


A great maiden up on Bo Peep!


08 September 2018

and the award goes to....


Two strange new additions to the skyline at Thurnham....



What at first sight appears to be a mobile phone mast....




reveals itself to be two Gormley-esque spiky sculptures!
Work should be completed early next week.





A prize will be awarded for the first glider to be permanently impaled.

Perhaps we could speed our way to that event with a bit of pylon racing
around the two new erections. 





07 September 2018


ISA NOSTALGIA DAY


postponed 

new date- 15th Sept



06 September 2018

nostalgia day


A relaxed fly-in orientated around the more historic sloping designs....
subject to Friday's weather forecast-




Gentlemanly behaviour and proof of BMFA membership required.


29 August 2018

meanwhile in Wales....


Dusting off the 26+ year old Miniphase for a bit of very light (and very tightly buttocked) coastal soaring.
Loading the Go-pro on-board was a step too far in the marginal lift!




30 July 2018

soaring selection


Scrapings from the cutting-room floor.
Be warned- it's 18 minutes of your life that you'll never get back again!


25 July 2018

Hero!


A good citizen was spotted today breaking a car window when he
noticed a Gentle Lady on the back seat with badly sagging Solarfilm.

Please stay aware in these extreme weather conditions
we are currently experiencing. Models need to be kept in their
natural environment, preferably in the cooler air of slope-side
lift or climbing out in a thermal to altitudes exceeding 400ft.



21 June 2018

super solstice


In anticipation of a northerly air stream, we celebrated a day early this year.
The gods rewarded us with a lovely floaty evening and what do
you know..... the blog is 10 years and three days old too!

Imagine all that could have been achieved in that time
rather than producing a decade's worth of pointless nonsense!



the farmer was good enough to trim the lawn for us





a good crowd of excellent company








ASW wants an early night







Graham gets his 1:1 rc Charlie to prep the Ahi




slope shaman's 'more wind please' dance




by the time you read this, it's officially summer!




...here it comes :-)




but for tonight, there it goes



an undisclosed awkward moment finds everyone
avoiding direct eye contact




one minute to sunset




with 30 seconds to go, they're ready for a mass launch 



and they're off!




no fatalities




Charlie tries to remedy the situation with a close
pass at the cameraman




the sun's gone.... time to pack up




night-night.... and a big thank you to Eric and Pam for the superb strawberries!


08 June 2018

missed misdemeanour




Simon vs. fullsize





slope police move in to check his credentials...




....all seems in order, though they do recommend that the camera lens gets a proper clean.


spotted in Maidstone


Lidl is stocking up in readiness for the new EU / Home Office
regulations that kick in at the end of July.

Weighs less than 200 grams and is small enough to not
be visible beyond the 400ft altitude restriction....perfect! 



special delivery


Breaking news from Charlie up on the hill.....




....Cookham Wood Hill that is, just in case you were getting in a flap!