Crad's Flying Diary 2007

[Crad]

11th July Rhossili
Forcast looked promising last night, so the wing came to work with me today.
Knowing Rob and Lee were at Rhossili for the day, meant I had actual site conditions on the speed dial!
Things weren't looking flyable well into early evening, by which time my Bolero and i had earnt a day's wage and were heading to Sennybridge to pick Ivor up. I had decided to commit to a journey down, if not to fly to maybe to groud handle and say farewell to the Guys who were heading home from a v long weekend.
As if with a sense of perfect timming, we arrived at the car park to find Rob, Lee, Chris, Jan and Clare emerging from the Caf' having noticed Gareth Pawan launching from the pimple.
Great to see another 2 guy's from my CP course had taken the time to come visit and share this low air time Mecca, confirming once again how lucky we are to live where we do.
Had a good launch in near perfect conditions and headed out for an hour of lovely soaring in great company, landed close to the steps on the beech in weekening winds.
Couldn't ask for more.....except perhaps the same tomorrow please?
Thought for the evening.....trousers with zipped pockets work, i drove home from Rhossili in the same vehicle i took there.

[Crad]

7th July Rhossili.
Got down to Rhossili late morning to meet with Rob' Mansley, Lee and some fellow low air time C. P'ers, with a view to getting some smooth hours under our belts.
Conditions were a little too strong for me, but was pleased to see it was flyable for the more expierienced pilots.
Saw Gareth Pawan's 28mph down wind landing, looked worse than it actually was and reminded me that I could easily be there myself at this stage in my development. Great to meet Gareth and find out he was okay.
Stayed at the pimple untill our hunger took us down for some well earned lunch and a spot more ground handling.
Met Nick and told him of the mad fixed wing light aircaft who had dive bombed the hotel twice that day under many hang and para gliders!
Got back to the pimple for 1830ish to find perfect conditions, my flying buddy from our CP course in Spain, Chris Hayler got a great 1st launch and headed slowly out and up. My 1st launch on the other hand saw me whipped off my feet, spun 'round a spat back on the ground!
Why is it that eyes of others takes away those hours of ground handling?
2nd launch with super strength determination and concentration was text book (Phew!)
Spent the first half hour well above the ridge (No equiptment guessed about 300 ft) trying out ears and speed bar. Then headed down to the raised beech for an hour or so of great fun, scratching back and fore untill my luck ran out and I was able to land safely at the bottom of the steps.
Learnt an awful lot for just 1 1/2 hours air time and because the conditions were so good managed to use the radio a little and get some advice from the ground.
Day was spoiled a little when I realised I had lost my van key!!!!!! Ran back to the pimple before the light faded but no luck. My new bestest best friend Chris sacrificed his evening to run me home. All I had to do then was convince my wife that Sunday seemed like a good day to take the kids to Rhossili beech! Oh and pick my van up with the spare key.
My thought for the weekend....Zipped trouser pockets....I can see why!

[Crad]

17th June Moel Feity.
Well, it had to start somewhere I suppose.
Having returned some 5 weeks ago from a very enjoyable week in Algodonalles with Rob Mansley, CP in hand and some fantastic flights in the bank, I was ready to join Gareth D, Ivor J and Steve W in the skies above my home land.......... In fact the reality was crap weather or catching up on the dreaded workload!
Until today that is!!!! A previous trip to Moel Feity the week before, after a couple of phone calls to check the suitabillity of the site for my low hours and inexperience, had ended with me packing away in the rain after 1/2 hours ground handling and not enough confidence to launch.
But today was the day, having returned from the swimming pool (A father's day treat from my 3 sons?) I had noticed the promised southerly 6-8mph was in fact an easterly-ish so being fortunate enough to see Moel Feity and the surrounding area from home I decided to GO FOR IT!!!
All in all it was pretty uneventful, which I should be grateful for really.
A simple top to bottom to break my UK virginity. On reflection perhaps I should have been more patient and waited for a good day to fly with some experienced guy's?
I was very pleased to have had a  good clean launch and a nice spot landing not too far from where I wanted to be!!! And very grateful to Rob and Lee at Fly Spain for giving me the skills (Which I'm glad to say flooded back when required) and confidence to fly.
So there it is, a very short hop, but the first one is safely in the bank.
My thought for this evening......even the longest journeys start with just 1 step.