Monday 30 June 2014

Friday afternoon Kilspindie and West Lomond Saturday


The reasonable forecast tempted me to take my Ascot to work and have a half day on Friday. 12:30 saw me heading for Kilspindie.
The wind was bang on the slope and my Ascot was flying well with 400g of ballast in the wings. Only about 8mph but reasonable lift. Grumpy buzzard tried to give chase couldn’t catch my Ascot and he gave up. Quite thermally at times and the model was going well.

After about an hour the wind had dropped and keeping in the air became the challenge. After a break for a cup of tea I launched the Ascot into dead air and scared myself as it plunged, fully stalled, down the front of the slope. Airflow restored it soared out from the slope and soon back up to launch height. My wimpy launch technique requires improvement.

Saturday saw Dave and me meet up at Craigmead car park and head for the north east slope.
Tame robin in the car park
We had a quick fly there but found it weak and bumpy so we headed up to the slope beyond the gate. The lift there was much smoother and better. Dave then brought his Needle in to land and despite a reasonable landing the nose broke off. Again! Dave had to resort to his swift Cyril.
Dave and his Needle before the rain
However just as Ian Stewart arrived to join in the fun the rain came on. Heavy! Sportbrella in the car! Sitting in the rain with my back to the wind wasn't the nicest lunchbreak I have ever had! 
Shelter from the storm!
Where is Ian?
Then the rain eased but the wind dropped and swung away to the east. Eventually we decided to give up and had just set off back to the cars when Peter arrived. We watched Peter try a slope with a bit of east in it on the way back and his FS4 was going quite well. It was now looking brigher so we all headed back to the first slope Dave and I flew on earlier. Much better there. Unfortunately Ian had a technical issue with his new Ceres and was unable to fly.
 
Peter's FS4 scoots past
My Ascot was going pretty well and the lift was the best I have seen on that slope although still a bit bumpy.

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