Hanging out at Carbis

What a super day was had at Carbis Bay, is not always the way when you postpone the Frostbite it turns out nice, just like last year!

With a few tandems on the cards we headed off mid morning arriving to find new Hangy convert Chris H already up and flying in the fresh conditions.  Kaz rigged whilst I got the Tandem sorted before getting the T2 C out of the bag in the hope of some flying before work began.

With the wind well off to the east Kaz decided to wait a while so I took the opportunity to get some airtime in.  Conditions in the air were good with nice thermic climbs to 1700 as and the wind drift set for lands end ......... retirement beckons ;)  However the launch was one that took a bit of experience and those on the ground made the right decision to wait.

Sure enough the wind backed and pilots began to launch and have fun whilst I landed to get the Tandems going.  By now there was a good crowd out and the sky filled with hangies including Kaz who did a fine job  with a super take off and equally good landing.  Down on the dunes someone looked like they were trying wipe not only themselves out but also a few passers by as they presumably taught themselves on what looked like a Green Ozone Zero ........

Kaz takes off in fine style

Carl R dropped by and headed for the dunes with his Zero and by the time we got back in the air he was having fun and looking sweet.

Callum gets set to go

Callum T was first up on the Tandem and having been suitably wound up by the terrible twins (Dad Shuan and "mate" Matt) was nicely nervous as we stood at launch.  He did a great job resulting in a nice take off and we were soon mixing it with the others as we soared the cliffs and got some amazing views in the clear air.  His nerves soon disappeared and it was good to hear his enthusiasm
 for flying as we chased the seagulls.  A nice top landing and it was time for number two.

Hangies having fun

Paul B who had fortunately called up only a few hours before to see when he could book in and was amazed when the reply was "well about14.00 would be good!" was next up.  With conditions staying perfect we soon climbed away from launch and into the blue.  Paul has done a lot of things but nothing quite like this and loved every minute of it as we chatted away.  Another nice landing and it was time to play again :)

Paul gets off on the Tandem

A lovely afternoon with a total of 9 hangies out all of which flew  most several times giving total of around 30 flights and not an incident between them, nice.  The Critique committee did a fine job of analysing everyones flying and it is interesting as to the difference between the disciplines as to what is accepted as 'normal and OK" in one whilst in another nothing but perfection is strived for ;))

One to look out for ;)

If any one would like to pick up a radio controlled model from the bushes give me a call and I can give you a very good description of where to find it, yellow with red tips ........

Quote of the day "

Floopies, Stiffies and smiles

Forecast looks good but experience shows that it may or may not be accurate, however we are pretty sure we will fly something, somewhere at sometime !  Late morning and we are off to Perran with a full compliment of toys on board, just as well as it turned out.

Arrive just as a large cloud passes through  and whilst some had had scratchy flights in the morning  nothing missed.  Roy S and son Sam arrive from Plymouth hoping for Tandem flights but with conditions light and off they head to Perranporth for a coffee whilst we wait it out with a few others.  The clouds are WNW but the wind stays stubbornly SW hmmmmmmm.  Roy and Sam return and their timing is excellent as the wind veers and guys start to fly on Pg's despite a quickly strengthening breeze. We rig the Hangy to cover all bases and by the time we have it done it has eased back.

Roy gets into the PG harness then out again as the breeze drops again so it's Sam (11) to go first saving a full 6 !/2 stone :)  We have a super flight with a mixture of ridge lift, sea thermal, sink cycles and lift cycles before coming in for a nice landing.  Sam was great and enjoyed every minute of it being as cool as a cucumber, a nice lad.

Sam gets into the air

and loves it ;))

The wind fills and the lift increases so perfect for Roy and we waste no time in getting in the air for another cracking flight. Again the sea thermals played ball and we had a ball with Roy getting to fly the glider whilst dodging the steadily filling skies.  A sink cycle saw and extended flight before back came the lift and up we went having to burn off lots of height to land.  Good to see Father and Son having such a good time together.

scratching as a sink cycle comes through, but all turns out good 

Nigel E arrived with his extended family and it's Ella who is up for a flight on the Hangy.  With James R already up on his Hangy it's not long and we join him just as conditions improve yet again making them idea for Hangies.  Ella was a perfect passenger as we played around soaring and swooping before circling up in the thermals for a stunning view along the coast.  A lovely landing rounded off a great days Tendeming and lots of smiley faces.

Pops, Ella and Phippsy with Big smiles

Good to see a nice crowd out having fun, shame you went home Frank!  And the coastguards were on an exercise so nothing to do with us ..........

Quote of the day "he likes not to be normal"  can't imagine who they are referring to ?

Goal fields, new gliders, lazy pilots and wise ones !

After being in a pond on Dartmoor with Tim J all day Sunday in near zero temperatures Monday seemed pretty warm even at 07.00 in the morning.  Tim and myself had promised ourselves a  "day off" so after a mornings work it was off to St Agnes to meet up and hopefully get our feet off the ground.  Whilst the wise guys (and fitter ones) went to Carbis where the wind was smack on the older and lazier met at St Agnes as we were joined by Kaz and Pat B.

A quick chat and we rigged despite the wind being well off. Tim rigged his Talon and his "new" T2 C so he could fly both and feel the difference ....... Kaz opted to give it a miss as the wind was well off, fair decision.  As it turned out steady lift from take off made the flight along the cliffs to the more NNE ridge pretty easy but you still needed to be wary. Once there the lift was good and with gentle sea thermals drifting through there was plenty to keep you amused.  pat finally launched followed by Tim just as I circled back in a smooth 2.5 up and drifted away at 1200 ATO watching them soar the cliffs.

It was a typical St Agnes thermal mellowing as the Beacon passed below then reforming over the Porthtowan valley but only just.  a quick glide to the west found a zero and another drift but there was just not enough heat around to get a proper climb. The best I made was1650 ATO  and that was over the Beacon but cloudless was way higher.  Illogan and an easy retrieve beckoned so after a circle of the village it and nice landing in Illogan Park football field where I met someone I had not seen for over 8 years yet had thought about whilst on the flight as I drifted over their parents house, spooky.

Illogan Park and a nice view of Carn Brea 

There was a lot of going around in circles !

Wyn D calls and lets me know that all is well at Carbis and that himself and Chris H had had a couple of super flights with good height gainsand even offers to come and fetch me, well done guys.

Tim new baby in a field over the back

Tim J calls in and even sounded excited as he relays his position in a field near to North country so getting in an XC on his first flight on his T2 C,  and mistaken for me, ideal.  We sort out the retrieve and its not long before we hearing a blow by blow account of his flight over several cups of tea.  Thanks to Kaz for picking us up and to Patrick for de rigging Tims abandoned Talon at St Agnes in the biting wind.

3 cups later and we are just behind take off ;)

Quote of the day "what's that on your face"