Steve Watkins 2010 logbook

[Steve Watkins]

31st May 2010 - Heol Senni

Arrived at top about 10am, after reading Nick Roberts tip off in the shoutbox. Arrived to find it coming through about 16mph constant. Spent a bit of time setting my instruments up and was joined by Ifor, and then Nick Roberts, Gerry & Viv. Andy joined later.

Everything dropped off for about 20 mins and then thermals kicked off again, so up we all went. Had a good fly around and then top landed. Launched again to find my speedbar line had caught around my instrument mount which eventually I managed to unhook in the air. Conditions were a but bumpy for my liking today. Hit a load of sink and didn't want to scratch so landed out at the bottom by Viv.

Thought bugger it, and was about to go home when Nick came on the radio that it had improved.

So trundled up (again  ) and just as I reached the top it dropped off and everyone landed. Gave us chance to catch up and my bloody radio is not working for some reason, won't transmit - where is Nasher?

Launched again and enjoyed a very thermic flight, watching Nick going over the back with Andy (who came back). Wing had 2 small collapses again on the right side, and it became noticeable that the wind had veered to the East somewhat, so with that in mind I penetrated out with Andy and Ifor and enjoyed a thermic climb into the valley until my vario told me I was sinking quick so I did a 180 and tracked towards Viv, coming into land was not easy with thermals triggering all over the place, but after a 360 the wing came in for a good landing.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V6d45WIsNw&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D22" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V6d45WIsNw&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D22</a>

Flying time - 90 mins

Total airtime 2010 - 3hrs 55 mins

[Steve Watkins]

22nd May 2010 - Ebbw Vale

Was a choice between Pandy and Ebbw Vale today with the forecasted Easterlies, I was put off Pandy with the problem with the parking ( I hope it's going to be sorted) so took my daughter up to find Ebbw Vale which I've never flown before. Found the place ok after taking a wrong turning in Cwm and was relieved to see someone in the air on arrival.

Sean from Suffolk was flying his Airwave Sport 4 but not really penetrating - I did a wind measurement and it was 15-16mph but feeling slightly gusty, I think it was very thermic (which turned out to be correct)

I launched and immediately hit a whopping thermal and climbed easily without much effort apart from controlling the pitch of the wing an awful lot and soon found myself about 1000' ATO

I was going back and fore and then suddenly my right side about a third collapsed and my wing veered off but I weight sihifted and by then it had corrected itself. Hmm, I thought, punchy thermals. After that I decided to top land to compose myself again and think whether the conditions were suitable.

After lunch I did about an hours worth of ground handling, the thermals coming through picking my weight up easily.

I then commited to another short flight in totally thermic conditions which I didn't really enjoy being bounced about quite low about 100-200' ATO and again top landed after about 10 minutes.

Have taken a video with my helmet cam and my daughter took loads of photos will upload later.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7vv2SSxNU&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D22" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7vv2SSxNU&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D22</a>

Flying time - 30 mins
Ground handling 1 hour

Total airtime 2010 - 2.25 hours

[Steve Watkins]

9th May 2010 - Heol Senni

Arrived to find Nick Roberts, Gerry & Viv at the bottom which was about 16mph.
Waited around about an hour and Nick walked up to see what conditions were like (thankyou Nick!) and came down to say it was flyable so we all trundled up.

Managed a 1hr 3/4 flight, first one since last year. Reached about 800ft ATO.
Conditions very good, but towards end wind coming more Easterly.
Good landing for me, next to my car and a big smile on my face!!

1 hr 3/4