three sites, one day

Soar Tour 2008 takes Deryck and Paul down south to try out an array of locations to round up the year

big blue

'High and Over' is our first spot. Paul arrives behind Deryck, the paragliders are packing up and the wind it pulling round to north east. From the car park we can see Bo Peep is working but as we're here we give this E-SE (I think) hill a go in the NE. It's working ok but the wind's light and you can tell it's off, so Beachy is the next target....

High and Over

Paul does battle with his vertigo as the whole world slides away

The coastal micro climate means Beachy is good, Deryck has found Mecca and gives the Toplight a good wringing out in the big air.

Peachy Beachy

Deryck celebrates Greek National Soaring Day with some traditional head gear

and a pointy, gitty goaty

Did I mention it was cold? Blowing upwards of 25mph any exposed skin is prone to frostbite, and the out of date self lighting BBQ gives us the proverbial two fingers and has a sulk. Next up Butts Brow...

Deryck's fore arm has withered and shrunk from being exposed to the raw easterly for no more than five minutes

Butts is jolly good as well, hairy landing on the eastern bowl and by the time we're done, the condensation on the wings has turned to frost!

Have a look at some of the action below....

soar tour- the movie

winter 08

mid winter

bizarre found object no.02

The last few days have brought a great run of usable air, and today is the shortest day so we're on the way back up chaps!!

Deep midwinter clothing itinerary from the skin up-

lacy g-string

thermal top and trousers (or tracky bottoms)

jeans and tee shirt

fleece

fleece

goose down body warmer

goretex fleece lined coat

fleece gloves (with just the very ends of the thumbs cut off)

hat

hood

a finite number of men take an infinite period of time to made a decision on a inconsequential matter

Jack maidens the bullet!

Saturday is rather good, there's westerlies afoot but the hill works and if you can hook a bubble altitude isn't a problem. Colin, Ray, Eric, Oil Rig Man and Jack get out for some pre-festive jollities. Good to see you back in action Jack! The immaculate bullet goes like any bullet does, even Paul has a go, recalling memories of 'park the bullet in the car boot' challenge.

dark days




mmm nekid carrrbon!!

Sunday is superb with a jolly good WSW. As the afternoon draws on the wind increases and the lift does get a bit 'blown out', but it's perfectly flyable all day. We have a visit from several fine chaps from the RCMF forum, there's 'Hairyflyer' and his posse form the flatlands, and 'Aeronaut' from the smoke. Locals include Jack, Eric, Paul, Ray and John. We also have a visit from Tonbridge Pike man who is on splendid form.

some splendid shots here
sexy fotos

good things on the hill

pre-maiden

sun, sky and stuff

oooh yes!

What a cracking few days, there's been a bit of carnage but if you don't want to crash 'em then don't fly 'em! There's plenty of footage to follow some time over the next few weeks....Now how is that forecast looking for Thursday?

a better cloud base

Thursday starts shaping up to be rather splendid, there's a fair southwesterly, sun and 10 deg C! Oh well we knew it wouldn't last, by the time we congregate on the top of the hill there's 100% cloud cover, still that's never stopped play before.

Deryck spends his remaining 1/2 day leave wisely and takes the opportunity to maiden the ebay purchase of the centuary...it's a winner!

Alan, Colin, Paul, Deryck, Taxi Driver, A.N.Other and Ray strut their aeronautical stuff in the dark December air today. No carnage to report, a successful maiden, and some jolly transmitter inflight switching takes place (who needs a buddy box!), but we're on the doorstep of the shortest day and there's a gloom that won't lift.

seriously......WTF is going on here?

It's a bit bumpy but the fair wind means we have a jolly good time, so how's the forecast shaping up for next Thursday?

Alan, Deryck says you might find this handy (do a right click and 'save as')

http://alt.icon-modelldesign.de/dwnlds/pdfs/wing_anleitung_eng_1_2.pdf

god damn...

misty south

Paul gets lured down to the South Downs for a Sunday session, the forecast is saying the murk will clear by the afternoon. However, after a convoy from Butts to Firle, it's back to Longman to see if we can fly below cloud base on the outer face of the bowl.

longman had his head in the clouds most of the afternoon

It's with trepidation that we chuck off and find the hill is working (if you can keep sight of your model that is!). As the afternoon moves on cloud base rises and the smooth lift gets better

not from round these parts!

the plane's in that lot somewhere!

ey up! the lift's getting good, and the mist is clearing....where you off to?

bouyant...

8th December turns out to be a buoyant winter's day. The air has a feel of high pressure and the horizon nestles in murk, there's a light breeze but no cumulus appear until sunset. However, the weak winter sun on frosty ground means broad and mellow thermals are plentiful on the hill.

Alan picked up this light weight wing at the BARCs do yesterday, site of it gets wingophile Paul worked up into quite a lather!

Alan, Paul and Ray make the most of the smooth conditions. All the time the sun's out the afternoon is rather pleasant.

sun goes in, and these two try some physical jerks to keep warm.

Alan keeps things well clenched, while

Ray indulges in a quick bout of testicular tennis

Paul keeps a safe distance, recalling his mother's advice about shifty old men




Oh well.....there's lift out there that needs using up!

coastal cold

NNW means one thing....Beltinge! but in the ravages of early winter, standing in an arctic blast only brings out the more discerning nutter. So it is that Deryck and Paul head down to the clay cliffs armed with an array of models, coats, and fleeces.

Amazingly there's a few locals out leaning seaward, and gazing up at the sky. The wind is a good 15-20mph and the coastal lift is typically smooth and glassy.

Such is the blow that Mr Simon 'golden balls' Thornton puts in an appearance, dialing in his new 'Ceres' in readiness for next weeks F3F in Wales. Just when we all thought we were getting a good lick-on, the Ceres screams through a series of runs and leaves us feeling like we're all floating around with Gentle Ladies.....oh well.

After a few hours the cold is cutting through, Deryck's feeling so rough he can't even face maidening the bargain ebay purchase of the century. The sun is low in the sky, and car foot heaters beckon us to make the journey home.

quick movie...