Neil's flying diary.

[Neil Parry]

Rhossili.       17^th December 2006.

Snuck out early from work to enjoy a bit of airtime.
Apologies to anyone who thought I was ignoring them, just in a rush as usual.

Neil

[Neil Parry]

Rhossili.      5^thNovember 2006.

Great to see so many people out on the hill.

Enjoyable couple of hours boating around once the wind eventually arrived.
I hear that Steve Jones has got hold of a Sigma 6.  Perhaps it's time to rename the club, maybe something along the lines of,  "The Advance Owners Club" or "The Advance Appreciation Society" ??

Neil.

[Neil Parry]

Lletti Siac.      Wednesday 4^th October 2006.

Launched at 12.00 in company with Chris D to a nice looking sky downwind but increasing cloud cover approaching fast from the west.
An early commitment to going xc was made whilst only 900' ATO before slowly drifting over the A465 and a good view of the new wind farm from base at a lowly 3200' AMSL.
Took a more northerly track to Chris chasing a nice looking cloud street which typically I failed to make contact with.
Sunk out into the Glyncorrwyg valley before finding a gentle climb whilst setting up to land only 100' from the bottom of the valley.
An interesting few minutes followed thermalling up the east side of the valley, it was strange following the thermal as it moved slowly up the hill barely allowing me to climb as quickly as the contours of the ground. 
Made a dash over the trees at a ridiculously low height for a final glide and fairly turbulent landing near Treherbert for 18.4k
Started packing up to see Chris gliding overhead.

Bus to Treorchy, train to Cardiff then another train to Neath where it was pouring with rain took bloody ages. 
Thanks to Steve for fetching us from the train station and driving us back to the hill.

Guess that's it for another year

[Neil Parry]

Rhossili. 16^th September.

Knowing that Nick, Steve J and Chris D were heading for Fan G, tried hard not to be grumpy when the wife wanted to go to the beach.
Took my wing anyway and learned that sandals are not the footwear for fresh wind take off's.

Does a 6k out and return ridge run mean that I am now above Steve J in the club xc league ?

[Neil Parry]

Rhossili - NNW. Monday 21^st August.

Looked out the window about 8.00pm to see the wind had dropped.  Zipped over to Rhossili to launch from the pimple by 8.15
Nice bimble around the cliffs before showing off to the people in the beer garden with some spirals and pretty dodgy wing overs.

Better than sitting at home watching the telly I guess?

Neil

[Neil Parry]

Rhiw Wen. 14^th August.

Got to TO just as Nick and Steve had landed at the bottom of the hill.
Took off anyway and spent 30 or so minutes floating around under a sky which looked pretty grim and overcast. 
Max alt only 350ft ATO. (Cloudbase not much higher).
Landed by the car for the best entertainment of the day, a fast jet flying straight over take off with Nick and Steve in the air and looking decidedly worried.

Neil.

[Neil Parry]

Merthyr.  Tuesday 8^th August.   

Launched at Merthyr with Chris D, Ivor and Gareth about 1.00pm.
Quick and easy first climb with about 8 other gliders.  Slow drift over the paragliding school training on Bedlinog before slowly losing height and struggling along for about 10k with very Little height to play with.
Took a more northerly track than Chris and Gareth finally climbing well at Varteg to enjoy the view gliding onto the flatlands.  Easy to find plenty of working clouds which strangely seemed to be pushing in from the Severn Estuary at 90⁰ to the prevailing wind.
Didn't make base until Monmouth (4800 amsl) where I was joined by a white aspen from the original gaggle who had also taken a more southerly track. 
Got totally thrashed near Cinderford and lost nearly 500ft trying to make the Sigma fly properly again, flew out of lift to settle the heart rate and found myself in the sea air pushing in from the estuary.
Glided on to Churcham business park for a backwards landing next to the A40 for 71.3k
First XC this year owing to the restraints of my baby daughter and a new personal best to top it off.
Thanks to Chris and Steve for orchestrating the retrieve.

Neil.