SteveJ's flying diary

[SteveJ]

Cwmafan     Wednesday   28 Oct 09

With lighter S'ly winds forecast decided to give Cwmafan a try. Went there with only boring-soaring in mind, but was pleasantly surprised to find the last few thermals of summer. Enjoyed an hour and a half's flying gaining little more than 600' ato, about level with the top of the mast on top TO. The sun even made a glinting appearance at about 2pm which made it even more enjoyable. Best area of lift was above the trees in the middle of the forestry plantation near the lower TO; this being only a gentle 1 m/s. 
Roll on South Africa in January

[Jeremy]

Hi Steve,      read some of that report, and as you say scary stuff !
I can revise my original guess of 300kts up to 450kts now. It seems incredible that at between 300' and 400' above ground level a 15 metric tonne aircraft could lose a wing and both its' pilots and STILL have the momentum for the remaining fuselage carry on for another 1.5km ..... hmmm !
These are agile aircraft and well trained pilots but the fact still remains that they are relying on visible identification of anything in front of them and flying at those speeds through a group of paragliders which may have little visible presence depending only on the pilots reaction to what he may see in front of him leaves very little room for error.
Food for thought .

[SteveJ]

Hi Jeremy,
Only just figured out who HB was and then all change
Concur with everything you mentioned, though I think that a curious 'closer look' as a result of a logged Notam is the better option than the motor cycling adage, 'sorry mate I didn't see you' - see my blog of 9 Sep 09; again at Heol Senni - this was post-Notam.
More out of curiosity on the aircraft type (didn't see much of an outline when it was pointing straight at me ) than wishing to file a complaint, I contacted Wing Commander Sinclair, the RAF Operations Liaison Officer for Wales, who, although friendly enough, didn't seem too concerned about the near-miss 
For more reading on the collision I referred to over mid-Wales go to
www.aaib.gov.uk and click on >publications (banner) >formal reports > formal reports archives >1992 > report no.2 (Aug 1991)     Scary stuff.

[AndyH]

There were 2 Harriers Steve, one on my left at the same alt. as myself, followed by one at the same alt. on my right, that was the one between me and the hill and above you.Way too close for comfort, but my own fault as I should have NOTAMed this morning.

[Jeremy]

This Notam thing is quite interesting: We have a requirement to do it if we know in advance that we will fly at a site (mid-week) ,but; it doesn't seem to deter military activity at all.
Quite the opposite. They seem to come and have a look (I had a close call with a tornado below ridge height on the "Skirrid" a couple of seasons back.
It would be interesting to keep some sort of diary of when a site had been "notamed" and if any military activity took place subsequent to that!

Of course they will argue that they have the right to fly where they want under military low-flying rules (and they do pretty much have that right) ; but they also have an obligation (as all of us do) to take all necessary steps to avoid any collision, and flying by at 300 kts when you know there may be gliders there at 20kts is plane silly !

[SteveJ]

Heol Senni   Thurs    8th Oct 09

Arrived at TO at 13:30 hrs after a long drive up from N.Devon.
Launched but found the breeze too weak so slope-landed.
At around 14:00 hrs Chris D. pointed out that Ivor, who had just launched, was getting higher. Andy, Chris and I then 'scrambled' to join him. Straight away I connected with a thermal which took me to cloud  base at 4,500' amsl with 4 ups at times. Maybe I was lazy, or just feeling a bit cocky, but drifted over the Fan G. bowl without wanting/needing to top up my altitude. Paid for this further down the valley when I failed to find any other lift. Landed between Graig y Nos and Pen y Cae for 10.2 Kms.
A short 30 mins flight but I enjoyed the views of Penwyllt quarry and the old railway line, where, incidentally, some scenes from the film Young Winston were shot - only watched the movie the other night.
Thanks to a friend who lives nearby, caught a lift back to the hill for a second bite of the cherry. Got to the summit at about 16:00 hrs in time to witness a Harrier  fly at about 100' ato directly over- head. I was on the ground, but Ivor and Andy, who were aloft, had a near miss with the jet - a good reason for all of us to get into the habit of Notam'ing our Beacons sites during week days. A few years back 3 people lost their lives in mid-Wales when a Jaguar ploughed into a Cessna.....it does happen.

[SteveJ]

September 2009

7 Sep 09 Cwmafan
After a month without flying the evening looked promising. Headed for the hill behind my house and waited...and waited....for a brief 30 mins when the wind eventually picked up to a just-about-soarable breeze. Made it over the tree line and up to the top TO level where I buzzed a bemused fox in the heather from a few feet. However with the increase in wind came low cloud and at 8pm darkness. Apologies for enticing Rhun out to play in the light conditions.

9 Sep 09 Heol Senni
A welcome change to fresher conditions and wind direction. Went to HS with Andy, Chris & Ivor. Disappointing post-frontal conditions.
After scaring the living daylights out of the fox at Cwmafan on the 7th, it was my now my turn for a few scary moments. Even after Nick notam'd the site the previous day, an inquisitive Tornado pilot decided to take a close look at the hill. From far out in front of and below ridge level, the jet made a sharp turn and pointed straight at my nose. Having observed the jet turn towards the hill I assumed that the pilot had seen our conspicuous-coloured wings
and didn't worry too much. However the Tornado, like a charging bull, headed straight past me at a breath-taking distance of 200 yards and at the same altitude, before disappearing over the summit of HS .
Later got to 1,200' ato, but no higher.

11 Sep 09      Heol Senni
Another disappointing day with poor thermic activity; again only gaining 1,200' ato.

12 Sep 09     Heol Senni
A bit of Deja vu really.

19 Sep 09     Seven Sisters
A change of site, but conditions were a little on the cloudy side.
Only made 200' ato, but Andy, Rhun and I were able to soar along the 3 km ridge to the E of TO. A pair of Peregrine falcons joined us for some of the time. 

20 Sep 09      Fan G.
Para-waited all afternoon under a brilliant sky in nil-wind conditions. Packed up at about 5pm. After only taking a few steps towards the car looked up to see Andy, Chris and Nick being hoovered up in a thermal.
Unpacked and was airborne again in record time. Floated about for 30 mins, sometimes way out in front of the hill. A bit of restitution perhaps.

24 Sep 09     Seven Sisters
Yet more overcast skies, but still boated about with Ivor and Andy all afternoon with the odd glimpse of the sun which stirred the light conditions up now and again. Chris had left the hill earlier in one of the rare thermals of the day, but failed to connect up with Mynydd Pen y cae above Cwmgwrach. Just before 5pm Ivor landed at the bottom after having had his fill. Andy and I were about to join him when the breeze increased a tad and I found myself in a thermal. Climbed up to 1,000' ato....then 2,000' before  making the dash across the valley. Made it onto Mynydd Pen y cae, a first for me, and climbed up in the abundant lift. Carried on up over the summit to some height in another thermal. While admiring the great views from aloft heard Stevie G over the radio (assuming you were at Rhossili  ). Ever mindful of the sun's decreasing strength,  darted along the ridge attempting to do Chris's 'milk run' to Aberdare. Got stuck on a small promintary where I thought I'd be decked, so headed for the ridge to the E of Tower Colliery. Made it onto the ridge, but there was no wind....bummer, just over 10 K and the end of play I thought.
On contemplating my options a breeze developed so I decided to re-launch and carry on. Got up above the Rhigos ridge, but with only dynamic lift and a now darker sky decided to call it a day, landing close to another mine on the road down to Hirwaun at about 6pm. Andy and Chris where prompt on the retrieve and we all headed home.
An unexpected short XC and nice to see the world from up high again.

Total flying time for Sep - 11 hours    

[SteveJ]

   11th August 09   Lletti Siac

Arrived at about 2pm and TO into a fresh breeze slightly off to the WSW, though cloud shadows were perpendicular to the hill. Nick arrived a short time later.
Got up to 800' ato on a number of occasions and spent much time on the bar getting back to the ridge.
Then at about 3pm hooked into something substantial and drifted off the back of the hill at only 1,000' ato. Climbed all the way to cloudbase, which was only 600' higher, and drifted on the breeze. Didn't get any other climbs and hit the deck at Clyne 6 Kms away.
A change from ridge soaring at Mynydd Dinas I suppose.
Got a lift back with Rhun, who was on his way to LS.
Thanks, Rhun.

[SteveJ]

  Sunday  9th Aug 09 Mynydd Dinas

Got out a bit earlier today, 5pm. Spent just over an hour in the air; getting up to 500' ato in the breeze, which later on veered slightly to the W.
Good visibility in the clear air, ideal for taking pictures. Took some photographs of a friends house perched on the side of MD & of Port Talbot's industrial landscape.

[SteveJ]

Saturday  8th Aug 09

Didn't get out until about 7 pm, so headed up to Mynydd Dinas for an evening flight.
Thermalled around with a variety of birds including about 200 gulls who seemed to be feeding on flying ants in front of the hill; almost like a snow storm. Managed to get out over the hospital at 400' ato in the abundant thermals/restitution.
Though it doesn't seem a patch on the day at Merthyr, it was a pleasant 40 mins of evening soaring before everything shut off.
Sickening to hear of Steve's fate at Long Mynd.

[SteveJ]

 Wednesday 5th Aug 09     Nany y Moel

Went with Andy & Rhun to NM, arriving there at about midday to find it howling at 25 mph; yet there were some Joint Services pupils aloft 
Some odd conditions prevailed; a HG pilot launched into the strong breeze only to bomb-out through an apparent lack of ridge lift.....
With lenticular clouds in the sky, we waited for some time with Mary Ann (who had travelled from Hereford ). At 3:30pm the wind eased to just under 20 mph and we all TO. A few beats later saw Andy and I up at just below the 2 grand ato mark . Though there was evidence that the sea air had pushed past NM there still seemed bags of thermals about. In a futile attempt to catch up with the cumulus clouds inland I made the transition over to the Treorchy ridge at a snail's pace, topping up as I went; while Andy used the full speed ahead method. This paid off for him because as I was nearing the ridge, I saw his wing climb and he  shot off to the east; leaving me to ridge soar for nearly an hour with very little gain. Landed on the outskirts of Treorchy at 5pm, hoping to make it into work at 6. Thanks to a number of car lifts I made it in time. Nice one Andy, glad you coaxed me out and well done on yet another fine piece of flying.

[SteveJ]

16th June 09   Nant y Moel

Arrived at TO at just gone midday. Mark Coussens (SEW) and I having the ridge all to ourselves. After a few short flights to adjust my bar, spent the following 1hr 30 mins thermalling up and down. Thermals seemed broken, possibly due to the sea air which even at 1pm was starting to envelop the ridge. Did get to over a grand, but the thermals pettered out shortly after (or more likely, I lost them ). The breeze increased significantly by about 2pm which heralded the arrival of the usual mid-week crowd.
My last flight for a while as I'm off to Freshwater West to do my bit in the new Robin Hood film. I'm a British archer, and a French invader; the latter means getting very wet while 'surfing' into shore in a long boat (non-swimmers) had the better deal, they arrive  by 'medieval' landing craft.
Stevie G also stars

[SteveJ]

14th June 09   (Sunday)  Mynydd Dinas

Went first to Nant y Moel and watched a few pilots in the strong breeze. One of them, Nick, managed to make the break and headed off down wind; eventually making Monmouth.
Para waited for 4 hours hoping that the breeze would die down; it didn't 
Gave MD a go for an evening flight and did an hour in the moderate breeze. Didn't do much bombing about the sky as my new & poorly adjusted speed bar was unworkable - too short. Had to stay airborne as MD is not the best of places to put down on especially in a howling wind.

[SteveJ]

 4th Jun 06 Mynydd Dinas
Wind eased PM so made the trek up MD. Rewarded with an hour's thermalling in the light breeze. Max alt. 600' ato. Enjoyed 60 mins of fun with the gulls in the strong sunshine
Wind shut off at 6pm.

[SteveJ]

 2 Jun 09  Heol Senni (again)

Slightly better conditions than yesterday, though it was hard work gaining height.
Arrived at 1ish with Andy to find Chris D already up at TO; nice to see him out on the hill again. Chatted for a short while before taking off. Flying was frustrating with much hard work to make any altitude. SP arrived and we all made for over a grand.
Just before 4pm Nick & Viv arrived and things got livelier with the wind sometimes coming from the NNE. SP made the break, and away he flew.
Patiently climbed on a thermal from this direction and got to over 3,000 ato (took about 20 mins), before making the break myself. Followed shortly by Chris.
Arrived over Fan G at 5,000' amsl with cloudbase over one grand higher. Not many clouds about between glides. Picked up a save near the lime stone outcrops above Penwyllt before booting it over to the Seven Sisters ridge; glancing behind saw Chris who seemed very low, I even thought he was a goner when he reached Banwen.
Over SS waiting for a thermal to trigger off the recently tilled soil on the landscaped slopes. Drifted over the summit on a climb to just over the 5 grand mark.
Wind farm at Glyncorrwg gave away the prescence of the C-breeze (w'ly). Decision time ?? Thought about turning SE onto the ridge above Cwmgwrach to head along the C-breeze front, but opted to boot it on to Cwmafan (home) which I could see within striking distance.
Booted it on the speed bar through the C-breeze to land just short of the Foel at Cwmafan for 32.8 kms.
A 20-minute walk over the hill saw me in the house.
Any idea of the ID of the mystery flyer (on the hill earlier) who parked his car in the middle of the track ?