Gron commits aviation 2010.

[Norris]

Hi Gron, parabollocks indeed!!! All good stuff mate, I didn't know you were a "proper" flier too!! I taught myself to hang glide in the late 70's and only gave it up in about 94, but learning to paraglide whet my appetite again so my old flying mate blagged me a Mk4 Vision from Joint services and I gave it a go but never got on with the glider. It is only when I got the Target that I really got back into HG, and doing my tow conversion was the realisation of a dream that started back in 1980, when my mate Schwabby and I decided to do some towing on the hang glider using a three point bridle. It attached to the corners of the control frame and the nose of the glider and seemed to work okay until Rob got locked out at 300ft and dived into the ground. He survived with minor injuries but my La Mouette Atlas was wrecked. I re-built it but it never seemed the same after that. When the chance came to do the towing properly came I jumped at it. Like you I think that a towing section of the club would be a good project, maybe share it with the SEW club if a suitable venue could be found. I did my para towing conversion at Airways airsports, which was brilliant fun. It is an excellent way to learn to fly too, lot less walking back up hills. At the moment I have not flown the Mosquito, lack of suitable weather means that I have not had the opportunity to gain enough currency with the HG to go powered, but as soon as I have I will be dusting it off for its maiden voyage! Lots of people think that flying a paraglider and a hang glider means that you get more air time but that doesn't always work. If it is strong enough to paraglide it is almost strong enough to fly the Target, and if it picks up steadily, I tend to keep flying my P81 as I enjoy a bit if high wind flying, then by the time I land I am usually too tired to get the Target off the camper. I think the reality of it is that rather than getting in more airtime, I miss more, cos when I am paragliding I am missing out on HG, and vice versa. It will be interesting when I get to fly powered HG to see how slowly I can fly it, the Target is a basic glider and is more of a floater, so with luck I can fly at a speed that will let a PPG keep up with me! At the very worst I can fly in circles!!! Regards Gron, see you sometime soon!!

[Gron]

Hi Norris!
Thanks for your comments!  Yes - you're right,  "bi-wingual" should perhaps refer to HG and PG, ..................and I can proudly say I am that as well! I was a stiffy who converted to floppy around the year 2000.  (Carrying a hang glider up to the Pimple at Rhossili was fast becoming definitely not my idea of fun!! - so I went for the lighter option!  No regrets, - the sheer portability of a PG is just amazing.  I think we sometimes forget how fantastic it is for us free flyers to stick an actual aircraft in our rucksacks and go off and aviate, like those lucky sods did at Fan G today!!  Going abroad with a PG is a doddle compared with travelling with a HG.  In 1994, I went on a HG trip to Lanzarote with Tony & Rona and several of the Norfolk Hang Gliding club.  You should have seen me carrying my Avian Clubman through Gatwick airport!!!   Believe me, slinging my PG on to EasyJet for France, Spain and Slovenia on several occasions has been bliss in comparison!
Mind you - I could now start talking parabollocks on a cold, dark winter's night like this - and claim that I am bi-wingual in the 2 PGs I fly, as well!  One is an Advance Sigma 5, and one is the fully reflexed Dudek Reaction 29m wing for power.  Most would argue that these are 2 VERY different wings, and handle very differently.   PGs are lifty & floaty, while reflex wings just cut the air better.
Incidentally, I had meant to write previously to congratulate you on your excellent article in SKYWINGS - "Hanging on the Line."   It brought a tear to my eye - especially when you started to talk about old friends at the Norfolk Tow (Well - it wouldn't be "Hill" over there, now would it??!!)  Hang Gliding Club, like Bob Cogman.   Bob was a first rate guy - typical of many of the great characters I have met through flying.  I think towing has a great deal to recommend it as an excellent way of getting airborne.   Sometimes, I find myself wishing that all us SWWSC flyers could meet up at the same field for a change, & fly together on the tow, rather than have different people go off to different sites all the time, as tends to happen.   The atmosphere on the tow site Norfolk was great when I was there, and that's how I got my HG CP.  I have masses of respect for Tony Webb as a flying teacher.  When I flew at Algodonalez on our Club Trip in 2003, it was great to meet up with Tony again, as he now teaches HG out there for most of the year.  I even went flying with him out there on his flexwing trike microlight!   Your article made me want to go back to Norfolk for a visit sometime, and do some hangliding again.  There is still something aesthetic about hangliding, and I like the greater ability to alter airspeed.  You just can't dive a paraglider like you can a hanglider.
Yes - you must bring your Mosquito along when we propellor heads take our buckets and spades to Aberavon Beach again!!   There were actually 2 powered HGs at the annual British Paramotor Nationals where I was a marshall this year.  It was awesome to see those guys taking part in the low level tasks!
Happy flying - Gron.

[Norris]

THE FAMOUS FIVE AT ABERAVON BEACH ................. WITH "LASHINGS OF GINGER BEER" - OF COURSE!
17TH OCTOBER 2010.  Looks like Steve Milson of Axis has been busy training - with two new BI-WINGUAL members! 

Hi Gron, I see you are using BI-Wingual to refer to people flying power and free, I always took it to mean people who flew para and hang gliders!! I enjoyed reading your article though, I have flown the dunes several times on my PG. I have a power unit (Mosquito) for my hang glider, I haven't flown it yet as I am still getting current with my hang glider, but when I am ready I may come down to the beach and fly with you there!! That should be fun. Regards to all the other petrol heads!!

[Gron]

Sunday 7th November 2010
Very early start.  Stu, Wattsy and I get some nice Autumnal flying high over the lower Towy Estuary.  We took off from a small microlight field in Upland Arms, near Llandyfaelog on the Carmarthen to Cydweli road.  After the easy air of Aberavon Beach, the take offs here were a good bit more challenging.  The ground was sopping wet, but it was worth the effort for the flying.  I even managed to get back in time to take Barbara and my 3 daughters out for Sunday lunch in Swansea  - after all, it was Barbara's birthday!!     

[Gron]

THE FAMOUS FIVE AT ABERAVON BEACH ................. WITH "LASHINGS OF GINGER BEER" - OF COURSE!
17TH OCTOBER 2010.
Well it's very heartning to see SWWSC growing, with some enthusiastic new blood!!  Looks like Steve Milson of Axis has been busy training - with two new BI-WINGUAL members!  First, there was Wattsy (Nick Watts) qualifying in both PG & PPG disciplines, and now, we have another from the same stable!  On Aberavon beach we had the pleasure of meeting Mike Gaylor, his little boy, Max, and also his lovely and very pregnant wife, Louise!  The Gaylor family have lived in Cwmgwili near Cross Hands for the last 8 years or so  (That's only a few miles from me in Llanddarog!) - and both Mike AND Louise have their PPLs!     As Ray Gravell used to say - "West is Best", and Carmarthenshire is up & coming, what with 4 Paramotorists - Stu Kelly, Wattsy, Mike & myself - and even Tom G in Llanfynydd is showing an interest!  (Nickorobs - Mike promises to get in touch with you via the web site to send his membership fee.)
By some telepathy, Stu and I arrived at the sand dune end of the beach at about 1.30pm, and Nick & Mike arrived shortly after.  There was a light breeze coming in directly from the sea - SSW.  The tide was a fair way in, so we carried our kit over towards the sand dunes - giving us some extra beach to play with, to maximise the safety for light wind launches.  We all got in two flights, with Stu getting the longest airtime with 2 hours.  The light conditions demanded the more tricky forward launches, but everyone got away OK.  We were well away from the most popular part of the beach, and once some height was gained and throttling back was done, the noise was minimal - certainly FAR less than that made by a few jet skies going up and down the surf!  I did not opt for the "Mumbles Run" this time,, and just enjoyed two local flights with some high bits, and some low down skimming bits. (How I enjoy these David Attenborough shots on nature documentaries when you get right over a huge flock of birds (seagulls sitting on the mouth of the River Neath as was the case this afternoon)  - and see them all suddenly take to the wing - dramatic!!)  Stu and Nick went up to cloud base - for spectacular views of the South Wales coast line.  Gareth too got in some lovely flying, and I must say that his Simonini engine sounds quiet and refined as it just purrs along.  Gareth's wife, Sheila and 2 grandaughters looked on.  For Mike - this was his first paramotor outing since getting his CP PG with Axis - so a big day for him, and managed just fine - much better than me on my first few PPG flights - which would have made really good comedy videos, or something from "You've been framed"!  Louise & Max sat having a picnic and watched him. 
For our second flights, the wind had strengthened and gone to the West (from Mumbles Light House for our perspective) and the lads did reverse launches, but I thought I'd stick with forward for the practice. Nick, Stu and I flew low together near the mouth of the Neath estuary and that was geat fun.  A trike Microlight from somwhere came to have a look at us! 
As the sun was getting low over Mumbles, it was time to pack up - but it wasn't quite all over for Wattsy, who did some showing off with some very nice touch and goes on the sand!
We bid farewell to Gareth & Mike in the car park, and Nick, Stu and myself somehow found ourselves in the Old Inn, Penllergaer, for some liquid refreshment and a de-brief.  (Mine was a pint of Buckleys Reverend James - after all - it was Sunday!)
To crown it all - Stu and I saw an OWL close up on the road on approaching Llanddarog, - and it DIDN'T fly away.  I think a fellow aviator was greeting us!! 

[Wattsy]

Nice one Gron, It was a pleasure to meet you as well. Congratulations on your Cross country trip, the  pictures were awesome. Next time we will have to have a look at that field down ferryside.     

A.T.B. Wattsy

[Gron]

Mynydd Llanllwni, Nos Lun, Gwyl y Banc, 30 Awst 2010.
 
It was a pleasure to meet Nick Watts this evening, with all his new fangled flying gear!  He and Stu called for me late afternoon and we headed off to deepest darkest northern Carmarthenshire.  (CONGRATULATIONS to Watsy on getting his Club Pilot examination for powered paragliding, just last week, with Steve Milson of Axis, Abergavenny.)
True to forecast, it was northerly on the moors, about 8mph.  I was very impressed with Nick's launches - expecially for someone relatively new to the game!  (Although he has been on two foreign intensive training trips this year - to Morocco and to Dune de Pyla!)  Stu and Nick had 3 enjoyable flights around the area, with Stu doing his usual trick of getting really high. Fantastic views of South Wales  - and hints of Snowdonia were on offer in the evening summer sunshine.  I just did two flights - the second one being - "Oh what the heck - let's go for it!" - and I flew home to Llanddarog, 16 miles in 40 minutes.
Here's the story :  CLICK ON
 
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/doctorgron/LlanllwniILlanddarog30082010#5511338940659223634
 
This "flying home thing" is catching on - first Norris, then Nick Roberts, now me - but of course, I flapped my wings a bit!

[Ga Silver]

Hi Gron. Nice to meet you (in the last club meeting) the other day. I was talking to a guy down Pembrey earlier and he said his boss flies a paramotor around Llanelli and Gower (he's from Hungry, don't know if you know him). It would be good to have a paramotor section to the club. It's an area of flying that I want to persue in the future and it would be great to have a) reference material b) people to speak to who have experience in flying paramotors. Loved the pics BTW

[Gron]

Hi Wattsy!
Let us know when your paramotor arrives.  It would be great to form a paramotoring group within SWWSC.  It's all about free flying and aviation in it's most raw and real form.
Gareth P - glad you liked the mini album!
Gron.

[gareth.pawan]

Great pictures and hilarious captions! The club now has two nice pictures of the docks - yours and Nick's! Am trying to work out the distance we flew as it's only my second powered XC, (cross coast) flown so far this year.

[Wattsy]

Cool Pic's Gron! when I get my Paramotor can I come down and join you all?
Still waiting for delivery from Spain; its been months!! Roll on!


Wattsy

[Gron]

Sunday-School Trip to the Beach : 8/8/2010.
First things first, lads - a nice cup of coffee from the thermos!  That's how 4 of us started the day at Aberavon beach at 9.00am sharp, after an early start from home.  Stu and I arrived at exactly the same time as Gareth Pawan from Neath, but Dave from Merthyr had beaten us to it.  However, he had to brave a disappointment that morning, knowing that he would not be able to fly, as he had just discovered that his clutch (PAP with ROS 125 engine) had broken.  However, he was gentleman enough to then help us with our kit!  Stu and got out our Miniplanes (Top 80 engine), and Gareth got his Clemente organised.  We couldn't believe it, when all of a sudden, a paramotor flew towards us from further over at the steel works end.  It was Danny from Weston Super Mare.  (He has some very good videos on Youtube!)  We all flew around for a while and I had some fun flying almost wing tip to wing tip with Danny. Gareth came back to say he'd been as far as Swansea University  - in other words, he accepted the challenge of crossing Swanea Docks en route.  That was enough for me! - Must do the whole sweep of the bay I thought, and get to Mecca - i.e. Mumbles Point!!  ......................................
 
The rest of my story can be pictorial ...........
 
(I did think of going further and joining all you guys who were having one of those great Rhossili days, but enough is enough - and I'll wait for a bit of an easterly to go that far, for some swifter progress!   I was pleased with the flight, and pleased with the distance.  Thanks for the challenge, Gareth!  We'll form a squadron next time! )
 
click on :       http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/doctorgron/AberafonIRMwmbwls882010#
 
 

[Gron]

VERY SPECIAL RHOSSILI DAY – SUNDAY 1st August 2010.
Yes, a lot of us had some good flights after our “Pilgrimage” to Rhossili again, ..........but I will remember the day for the way a bunch of people co-operated, and pulled off a fantastic achievement.  I’m talking about Stevie G giving a tandem flight to Martin, from Reading, - a guy who is virtually tetraplegic following spinal damage.  Honestly, Stevie, you made us feel proud to be paraglider pilots with you!  It’s definitely “hats-off” from all at the Club - .............................Respect Dude!
Getting Martin and his wheelchair up to the Pimple was an achievement in itself.   I gather this was done by Stevie and a couple of others pulling Martin up the hill using ropes to the wheel chair, while another helper pushed from behind!  Fortunately, Martin only weighs some 50 kilos.   Conditions on the launch were strong all afternoon, as you can see from Paul Hyde’s excellent video – good that the take off, and flight was recorded – well done, Paul.  Martin landed with a great big smile on his face, and the whole effort by everyone was definitely worth-while.   Stevie tells me that Martin would like to come down again for more tandems in the future – sounds like he’s got the “urge”  - and “feels the need”, like the rest of us nutters.   The great thing to witness on the hill, was how everyone was ready and willing  to help.  The best side of human nature shone through!  I hope the tandem pilots amongst us can possibly do this for more disabled people in the future.  (These types are multiplying!  – StevieG, Nick, Chris D, Nasher, Cookie- any more?)
Good to see a good turn out from SWWSC.  Steve Watkins and Stevie G had been insomniacs and arrived there at 7.00am or so!  Others were Stu, Nick, Nasher, Rob, Tina, Gareth P,Viv, Gerry, Chris, Cookie, John,  Dee, and ...........Jon Munro put in an appearance together with little son Thomas – a future hot shot pilot.  (Jon didn’t look too bad after his big session the night before for his 40^th!)  Paul Williams, Paraventure, was there, and Rob Mansley showed up in the afternoon, having just arrived from Spain, via Dune de Pilla, the day before.    Stu Kelly and I arrived from Carmarthen at 10.30 and I flew for 45mins in the lightish morning conditions, and beach landed when it got really light.  (The 2 Steves had good early flights when it was stronger.)   It was great to meet up with Dee from the Slovenian Extravaganza  in the village, and have a coffe and a chat with her, while other half, John, also of Slovenian fame, enjoyed an hour’s soaring in the strengthening conditions.  Her leg was in a below-knee plaster cast, and she’s doing well.  It will be few weeks before the flake fracture of her fibula is right – so it’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo etc” for Dee for a while yet!  Back up to the Pimple, and the tandems were going well.   I flew for just under 2 hours in the strong conditions, with lift everywhere, even way past the Llangennith caravans, and also out along the cliffs, half way to the Worm’s Head.   Stu did my old Ozone Electron proud, by flying it for 3 and a half hours!!  (What a great glider – and Stu’s going great guns these days!)  Adrian Childs (of The One Show) arrived at the Pimple, and Cookie gave his mate a tandem ride.   Adrian – in his own words – “Wimped Out!” .  However, he chatted amiably with a lot of us on the Pimple, and on the veranda of the pub afterwards.  Apparently, he’s been coming to Port Eynon every year since he was one, and now owns a  house there!   
Few photos of my late evening flight of 24^th June – added to Albums.Rhossili never fails to generate the “feel-good factor” – Sunday, 1^st August 2010, proved that again!

[Gron]

Thurday 24th June.
SWEET, SWEET RHOSSILI EVENING - JUST KEEP FLYING TILL IT GETS DARK!!
Yes - I actually managed a week-day (night!) flight!!  Stu Kelly, otherwise known as "White Van Man", picked me up in Llanddarog, and we belted down to the Gower peninsula.  Got to Rhossili at about 6.30pm,  after being dissapointed on the drive over Cefn Bryn not to see any gliders in the air.  Never fear, Nick & Viv were there - on the pimple, and as we trudged up the slope, we could see the top of Viv's Gin Zulu getting airborn.  Nick was getting ready to give a lovely girl from Nant y Moel a tandem flight, and there was another tandem getting ready to go as well.  Waited a while to get the 2 tandems off - as the 12 - 15mph wiind was making the ground handling a little lively.  Then it was our turn.  There were 2 guys with fancy cameras with long lenses up there too. Turns out they were from the Wales Tourist Board, mates of our very own Jon Munro,  taking some promotional shots, after arrangements  with Nick!!   Stop Press - some of these images may get e-mailed to our web site - so hold on!  Guy fro Llanelli was there, and Ian Dobbie also put in an appearance - with his light weight Gin Yeti.  (I don't think I've bumped in to him sonce the 2 of us were on that very memorable SSWSC trip to Algodonalez in 2003!! - The trip where Steve Jones flew his first mini cross country, and I rode a horse around the village square!)  I took off at 8.00pm, and landed at 9.45pm, as the big red globe was touching the sea.  My max height was 680ft ATO, and everyone had very enjoyable flights.    I was chuffed to have extended my landing time from the previous latest of 9.30pm - also at Rhossili .................of course!  The air was lifty and lovely, and we were joined in the air by 2 Hangliders, taking-off and landing near the trig point.  A pleasant little al freso social followed with Stu and I having the company of Guy, Nick & Viv outside the pub enjoying the twilight over the bay at this jewel in the crown of SWWSC sites. All together now - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhh                     
Got home at midnight!     
 

[Gron]

“TOUCHING CLOUDBASE” – 20^TH June 2010. 
A truly excellent day was had by Stu Kelly and myself today.  As you may have noticed in the shout box, we started the day dithering as to “whether the weather” was OK for paramotoring OR paragliding.  Well – in the end- we got lucky and managed BOTH !   So, I had 2 great flights ...........but one crash for the day, and another lesson learned!
Initially, I was tempted to make a trip to the Rhigos site, a few people were going – looks great on the video posted by Reach.  We then decided that we still need to hone our paramotoring launch techniques, and set off to the small microlighting field in Upland Arms, Llandyfaelog, on the Carmarthen to Cydweli road.  Due to it being north north westerly,  our “runway was slightly uphill and we were in the lee of some trees at the  end of the field, but I thought far enough away from them.   The wind was quite variable and we needed to  wait and catch the right moment to “go for it”.  I got away first and flew 3 or 4 circuits to watch Stu, who then came up to join me.  The difference between our 2 gliders became quite apparent.  Mine is a dedicated power wing with full reflex – a Dudek Reaction.  Stu is on a paramotorable paraglider fitted with trimmers to the risers – a Swing Arcus.  My paramotor wing penetrates well and is fast with the trimmers fully let out, and I had to do a few 360s when flying with Stu.  However, his Arcus outclimbed my Reaction.  Stuart’s fast  becoming quite an altitude freak, and I was soon looking for him in the sky, only to see a dot way above me!   He told me later he passed the 4000feet amsl mark!  I had been more interested in crossing over the river Towy for a general tour over the area.  I then powered up to join him, and had a lovely but lively time amongst those great big white fluffy things, which make the air around them a tad turbulent!  I suddenly noticed I was feeling quite cold at cloud base, as I hadn’t bothered with the flying suit and just had a sweater on my top half.  I thought 3 grand was enough for me, and eventually decided it was time for the easy downwind dash back across the river to the Take Off field.  We must have been landing at about 1.30pm, and so things were getting a bit too thermic near the ground at this inland site surrounded by ploughed fields and others with newly cut silage.  The landing approach was therefore quite an up and down affair, with a few unpleasant bubbles, but all was OK, and 2 nice landings were made.   (Stu’s photo attached – Zoom in and you should find me – crossing the river,)   
A cup of coffee and a sandwich settled us down as we excitedly de-briefed each other – not literally you’ll understand!   The wind sock was now really flapping,  so – time to pack up.   Stu phoned John Nash just to see what was happening on the paragliding front.  He had just arrived at Rhiw Wen and thought it was flyable.  As this was closer than Rhigos, off we went.  We saw John flying as we approached from Llangadog, a nice feeling – just like when you scan the ridge as you drive towards Rhossili and see gliders up and say “Yes – they’re flying!!”  It wasn’t smack on the hill, being rather strong when we got there and off to the west a bit.  That’s when I got caught out.  I think I got gusted while facing back in the reverse position, and got a little airborne prematurely.   I twisted forward, but then got dumped, and then dragged over with the diagonal component of the wind, and bumped down the little shelf we were on.   Did you know?  – wearing helmets really is a good thing to do!!   Got myself sorted out with the assistance of Stu and Uncle Nasher,  whose words of wisdom helped me regain my composure, and then the second attempt was lovely!  There then followed a 20 minute flight getting some 400feet ATO, getting  back on the the top old quarry ridge, with excellent views all round with good visibility, just like over the estuary of the Towy earlier in the day.  The lift seemed to die away, and I went down for the landing by the track.   Stu followed me down, and Nasher packed up.  On getting back to the village, I went to the little Welsh Chapel in my village to thank that other Sky God, the one with the Big G, for quite a day!