maiden time!

Eric gets his big one out.....

off the flat

There aren't that many hills over in sunny Holland....

The wind never did manage to blow directly onto these lovely dunes, but this man-made

promontory was just about enough to scratch around on. This is looking downwind. 

Off with the Radian for a dawn sortie.

Careful not to go too far back when setting up for arrivals...

Attack from out of the sun!

bendy wing

hmmmm, another dawn, another lump to try.

Though it's all motor assist at this site.

The view's not bad though!

the perennial problem...

Latest attempt at in-car glider storage.

4 hand clamps, one at each end of a length of electrical conduit.

The clamps can be forced into the end of oval plastic conduit and secured with a screw.

The oval conduit then runs inside a length of round conduit for added rigidity. This also allows it to 'telescope' to different lengths so that the rack can be accommodated in either the Bentley or the Lamborghini.

This setup has the added bonus that no models are visible to passersby when the car is parked.

meanwhile in Holland....

There's not a great deal of wind....

but there are a few points of local interest....

the local full-size club!

but even they're not bothering on a blue day like this.

lost and found

Have you misplaced your transmitter? Maybe left it on Thurnham's grassy rise?

Use the comment link below to contact us (confidentially) with the details, Charlie is keeping it safe

and is keen to reunite it with its rightful owner.

By the way, it isn't the one shown above!

a day on the dyke

We decided to give the Dyke a chance to redeem itself.

More wind should equal less paragliders, so on a cold and breezy

late winter day we headed off to Brighton's free flying mecca....

Simon strafes the lookout point just to make sure everyone

knows who owns the slope today!  

hmmmm, slope side entertainment!

bloke chucks himself off

meanwhile in the pits...

Henry is ready.....

Simon is on launch duty....

....in between flights that is. Here he performs an exemplary emergency landing  

....in order to clear the airspace for a passing chopper.

Makes a change from the multitude of paragliders that

usually creep across this side of the hill!

Once the all-clear is sounded, Lloyd chucks off

his foamie aerobat. It's currently up for grabs

if anyone is interested.

a solid performer

The Devils Dyke redeems herself, and the novelty

faces of Simon and Paul head home with their

flying boots full!

Charlie's combat bash

"Park on Birling Hill at the junction with Holly Hill.

If you are facing up gradient, the slope is on your left.

Please park considerately and tuck your vehicle well

into the verge . Despite having the appearance of quiet country lane,

Birling Hill can see a lot of traffic with many drivers

showing little regard for safety.

Please bring an empty carrier bag or bin bag and collect any

litter in the vicinity before leaving, whether you dropped it or not.

It may also be wise to bring some light weight rope and / or roach

poles (or similar) to help retrieve any models that decide to 'nest'.

detailed directions about half way down this page"

Please note that attendance and participation is entirely at your own risk.

This is an informal gathering and not in any way an organised event.

It is not affiliated to this website, or any person appearing in, or

involved with this website......fly safely, take responsibility for your

own actions and behave like a grown-up. Most importantly though- enjoy yourselves!

bracing stuff!

Mark busy experiencing all four seasons in the space of an afternoon.

Full report to follow at some point....

weather not looking too clever....

We'll try again next weekend for the belated Easter combat bash!

Fingers crossed, I've bought a model especially!

due to lack of wind....