Steve J's 2010 Diary

[SteveJ]

Abernant   Monday 13th Dec 10

Arrived at 1:30 and noticed gulls, ravens and kites thermalling above the tip. Wasted no time in kitting-up and launching. Flew out in front of the hill into the melee and was rewarded with 3 m/s climbs to 350' ato . Looking up I could see other gulls way up at about the 1,000' mark, but  after about 30 mins of fun the bright sunshine went behind the clouds and things got lighter.
The sun re-appeared 30 mins later to stir-up  another cycle of lift, though by this time the wind was slightly in the NE and max height was just above TO.
Totaled just over an hour's airtime. Not bad considering that I'd only gone out to check my wing prior to migrating south at the end of the month.
Nice to get one's feet off the ground.

[SteveJ]

Cwmafan       Monday 25th October 10 

Took a long time to decide whether to take a few hours off work to try Cwmafan.
It paid off and enjoyed an hour's pleasant flying in the weak autumnal thermals; looks as if summer's over and time to bring out the heated-gloves.
Got to 1,200' ato to enjoy views from Aberthaw, Pen y fan.....and the new turbines at Seven Sisters.
Time to look forward to my annual migration south in January.

[SteveJ]

Rhiw Wen   Sunday 26th Sep 10

Had a lift to the hill with Rhun as he was passing thro' P'Talbot. Got to the hill to find Jon M aloft and gaining good height in what seemed breezy conditions. Wasted no time in kitting up and getting airborne myself only to find the wind drop. Conditions were 'off' and 'on' all day and during the 'on' times saw ht gains of just under the grand mark (for me any how). All in all had about 5 X 30 mins flts, but not breaking the 1,000' ato mark. An enjoyable day with both old and new faces. Always good to see new people joining the club.
At about 3:30 pm spied a pg way off to the east from the Llyn y Fan Fach escarpment; thought for a minute that it was Nick after he went XC, but he returned a few minutes after I'd spotted the mystery PG.
Autumn must have arrived as it was quite cold at around 5ish when the sun fell out of the sky.
 

[SteveJ]

Cwmafan & Mynydd Dinas   Wednesday 8th Sep 2010
 
Forecast was S, backing SW later. Ideal for some local flying around P'Talbot. Headed first for Cwmafan at around midday. Arrived to find Gerry & Barrie already airborne. Flew around for just over an hour gaining just under the 'grand' ato mark, but no higher. At 2:30 ish decided to give MD a try. Similar conditions here, but on gaining the 'grand' ato  mark (cloud base) hopped over onto Mynydd Margam and did a 9.5 Km ridge run (just under the site record !) to Pen y Bryn near Pyle. While flying over Margam Castle I spied small cu-nimbs making steady progress inland from off-shore away to the south, mmmmmm time maybe to call it a day. Flew along the old flying site in the Park, avoiding the airfield at Park Farm, and found that the ridge, although covered in trees, extended quite some distance to the south towards Pen y Bryn. Landed a km or so short of the open-cast site near Cefn Cribbwr. Picked up by the misses a short while later and on the way home got caught in a heavy shower - got down just in time.
No big height gains, but enjoyed flying along the M4 corridor just under cloud base and hopping along the ridge. 

[SteveJ]

Cwmafan   Tuesday   31 Aug 2010
 
En route to Bryn Caws Chris D phoned to say it was off to the S. Luckily I was only a few hundred yards passed Cwmafan and so was able to TO at about 1pm; thanks for that, Chris.
After TO climbed straight up to just over 2,000' ato in some stonking 6 m/s  lift and convinced myself that I'd be heading for Llandovery.....mmmm.
Sadly, within 20 mins it was game-over as my vario wound its way back down to earth over Tonmawr. Limping back to civilization I was able to reach Cimla and landed in a playing field minutes before a B-17 Flying Fortress took off; OK it was only a model, but very impressive to look at.
Marvelled at the model flying about in the sky for a while before my beloved arrived to give me a lift back to the hill. Met up with Nick & Viv, who arrived at the same time.
2 pm saw me launch again, hastily, as I'd already had a taster of the conditions. But there was a distinct change to the air, lift being a bit sparse and thermals not so potent. After 25 mins of play and getting to just below a grand, the wind seemed lighter, so headed back to TO, where Viv & Nick were waiting for the wind strength to pick-up.
A short time later I was fooled into launching in the light breeze and paid the price, landing near Nick on the field below the forestry.
How conditions can change in such a short space of time.
Good fun while it lasted.   
 

[SteveJ]

Graig Fawr   Wednesday   11 Aug 2010

Arrived just after midday to find the ridge to myself. TO at 1pm and went up to nearly a grand ato in a matter of minutes in the 4 m/s thermals, but it took me nearly an hour to gain as much ht. again. This time I stuck with the lift and worked the thermals all the way to 3,500' amsl; just below cloud base. Thermals becoming gentler with altitude; averaging only 1 m/s. Drifting in-land, I started to lose ht, so headed for an old faithful; plum-pudding hill between Craig Cefn Parc and Trebanos.
While over Grendal Matthews's old house near Mynydd Torclawdd, I couldn't help but wonder what he would have thought of this modern mode of flight; PGs probably being immune from his 'death-ray' experiments of the 1930s.
Plum-pudding hill didn't work for me today and I landed on the deck after only 7 kms from GF.
A phone call to Nick, who was at home in Glais, sorted my return trip back to the hill for a second bite of the proverbial cherry.
The second flight was to prove more fruitfull.
TO with Nick at around 4.15 pm. Spent a frustrating 30 mins watching Nick high up in the heavens, while I could barely maintain ridge ht. Later I would watch him drift away at cloudbase while I managed to get to the one grand mark. At 1,000' ato staying aloft seemed easier and sitting under a ribbon of cloud, sometimes travelling up-wind, I gained base at 3,800' amsl over the DVLA.  Following the ribbon of cloud, a continuous cloud street, I could see that it started to veer off into Swansea Bay. Not wanting to take a dip, I stayed on the landward-side of the street, falling out of it over Llansamlet.
With the northern-end of Aberafan Beach in my sights, it was onto the speedbar and full steam ahead.
Getting low near the Towers Hotel, I made the opposite side of the River Neath with a few hundred yards to spare and landed on the beach at 5.45 pm for a TP flt of 22.6 kms. Minutes later I could see Nick coming in to land further along the beach; over 3 kms further along actually. Needless to say he was well into his first cup of coffee at Remo's beach bar before I arrived to ponder over the flight.
We enjoyed another hour in the sunshine before Sabina picked us up on her way home from work and took us back to Garnswllt.
No big distance, but an enjoyable flight.

[SteveJ]

Mendip Hills         Thurs  29 Jul 10

Took a day off work, only to be disappointed to see the wind strength increase through the morning
Decided to take a trip out on the bike; Weston super Mare for some reason came to mind.
From a previous 'jolly' in my friend's light a/c remembered over-flying the nearby Mendip Hills and the flat Somerset levels.
To get a good panoramic view of the area headed for the Mendip Gliding Club perched on the hill top above Cheddar.
Within 5 mins of parking up the BM got an invite to go aloft in one of their sailplanes  thanks to the very sociable crowd at the club. Enjoyed 30 mins of fun at 1,500' ato, with views all the way up the Severn Estuary to the two bridges, across to Cardiff and down to Exmoor.  Even got to have a go at the controls. 
Coming in to land the pilot gave a fascinating display on the use of airbrakes, allowing him to put the glider safely in to a dive almost all the way to the deck 
Drove home with a big grin on my face.

[SteveJ]

Merthyr   Sunday   11 Jul 2010

Wind forecast to drop off early PM, so headed for Merthyr. Sunnier than predicted and arrived to find only Norris and visiting pilot, Rod, on the hill. Looking back at Fochriw I could see a few wings in the air, the wind being slightly WNW. TO in a cycle at around 1:30 and spent about 20 mins climbing up to just under the 1,000' ato mark.  Landed due to the wind shutting off.
Back in the air after a short break. Gained some significant height, some thermals at 5 m/s; with as many m/s in sink and a few 25 % tucks to boot! Made it to 4,500' amsl and decided to dift back with it.  Focused on a nearby cloud, but failed to make it without losing precious altitude Got low near Deri and ended up scratching along the wooded, westerly-facing ridge above the village. Despite some help from a seagull didn't make any progress before the wind dropped and ended up 5.4 kms away from Merthyr. Hitched a lift to Fochriw, where pilots were about to leave and head for Merthyr; good timing here. Thanks to Evan for the short trip back up to TO.
The wind had now dropped to only a few mph, the wind sock at Merthyr rather limp. Decided to call it a day and head for home.
A bit disappointing as the sky was indicitive of a good XC day.
Happy though to fly somewhere different than MD !

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas   Thurs  8 Jul 2010

Busy in the morning, but had the oppurtunity to try MD at around 1pm. Launched, and immediately hooked into a thermal which took me to 1,300' ato in no time. Decision time, do I jump the gap and carry on along the ridge to Margam, or  go over the back to Cwmafan ? I chose the latter, as I'd done the ridge run some time ago. Made it to the mast above the Foel, but there was no lift ....mmm. On the deck within 15 mins of TO, but elated to get the chance to hop over to Cwmafan with plenty of height.
Landed in a field behind my house and had a neighbour run me back to MD for another 'bite of the cherry'.
Arrived on the hill to find spots of rain starting to fall and the cloudbase lowering out to sea; end of play.

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas  Wednesday   30 Jun 10

Air seemed a bit humid and despite a call from Nick to say that NM was flyable, opted for an evening flt at MD; feeling a little tired from work.
Arrived at TO with Andy at  just after 5pm. Plenty of breeze and thermals to mince about in, but it all stopped after about 40 mins. Glided down and landed in the playing fields. Max ht gain, 250' ato.

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas    Saturday   26 June 10

Went up to MD after work to meet up with Andy and ParaTom. Light conditions, but managed 300' ato at one time in a wayward thermal. The fun lasted for 30 mins before it got even lighter.

[SteveJ]

Fan G     Friday  25 June 10

Light conditions forecast, so headed for Fan G. Arrived with Andy and Steve Adams at around 1pm.
Plenty of swifts on the NW side of the hill, who then moved around to the NE bowl. To add to the confusion as to where to TO, the cloud shadows were from the SW mmm....
Nick, Jon M & Viv arrived a short while later and settled into some parawaiting.
TO at various times throughout the afternoon and had a few short flights above the bowl in the thermic activity which created the only lift available.
After much sweating and long snooze breaks in the lovely sunshine, TO at around 3:30pm with the intention of skimming around to the NW side, where the swifts seemed to be having a ball.
Climbed higher and higher until reaching 2,000' ato directly above the spot where I TO from ie. nil drift.
Headed out 4kms to the NE to just beyond the reservoir and managed to maintain ht flying between here and just short of the Heol Senni road. At this point the wind went round to the SW. Landed at the bottom gate after 40 mins of floating around in 'zeros' over the Cnwr Farm area.
A typical sweaty, light-wind day at Fan G with an unexpected reward at the end.

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas   Tuesday 22 June 2010

Went to Nant y moel with Andy late PM, but the strong breeze of earlier in the day was still making its presence felt. Headed for good old MD which came up trumps again.
Met up with Rhun and after some strategic car parking walked up the hill.
TO at about 5pm into ideal conditions with small thermals to boot.  Good views of Port Talbot and the Afan Valley in the evening sunshine, but after an hour the wind got lighter and  the ht gains became less.
Spotted a Red Kite on the hill as well as the usual gulls, buzzards and swifts.
Max ht 250' ato.
Time 1 hr 15 mins.
Getting pretty fit with all these walk-ups to MD.

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas    Monday    21 Jun 10

Opted to go to Merthyr with Andy. Arrived to see Nick, Viv and a few other pilots milling around as the wind was off to the S and a tad light. After 2 hrs of para-waiting decided on a giving MD a go on the way home. Arriving at just after 4 pm, TO, and enjoyed an hours flying in the SWly breeze; max ht 300' ato.
Plenty of gulls to mark the small and narrow thermals. Ever mindful of the need to get into work by 6pm, landed at 5:30 and had a lift with Andy's partner (thanks, Claude). I did contemplate hopping onto the Margam ridge above the M4 and gliding south to try and make it to within walking distance of the fire station, but thought of the consequences if I bombed-out along the way 
Judging by Nick's blog we should have persevered with Merthyr. If I remember, Nick did mention that the wind would come on the hill later; I just didn't have the option of hanging around.
Well done Nick.

[SteveJ]

Mynydd Dinas    Tuesday 8th Jun 10

The sky cleared up in Port Talbot at around 4pm, so headed to MD. TO at 5:30 and had over an hour amongst the gulls, buzzards and swifts. Had a captive audience below as the M4 was gridlocked as far as the eye could see in both directions due to a road traffic accident; caused prior to my arrival - honest.
Watched, and tried to catch, a small helium balloon which was coming my way, but only got close enough to read the logo.
Thermals a'plenty at 4 m/s,  but max ht gain was only 500' ato; a bit low to go jumping along the ridges to Margam. An enjoyable time in the strong sunshine. Dark and thundery clouds inland and to the north.