GliderIreland - Ireland RC Forum - Flying Model forum in Ireland
Gliders => Slope Soaring => Topic started by: Happy Days on September 13, 2011, 15:16:17 PM
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So there I was, stood standing on the west slope of the Big L, feeling slightly intoxicated from the exhilaration of it all. :)
Perfect visibility, dry with warm sunshine, and the first gale of the autumn blowing straight onto the slope. :D It was one of those times when I had to lean forward just to stay on the same spot, until the wind dropped, and then I’d have take a step forward to stop myself falling over!! :oops:
Wind speed varied a lot. With average speeds of between 40 - 50Kph with gusts to 80+ followed by sudden drops to almost dead calm for a few seconds before the atmosphere whipped itself up again. Bloody marvellous!
The model needed all the ballast I could fit in it to penetrate away from the ridge, meaning that it’s wing loading was around 170% of it’s un-ballasted figure. Very fast flying accompanied by phenomenal rates of climb :clap: in the enormous amounts of lift generated by the mountain side ensured that every manoeuvre in the book could be performed with ease. The only one that I know of that I couldn’t do was Ger’s ‘Vertical figure of 8’ by means of an inside loop on top of an outside loop. (He knows what I mean.) I found the wind kept blowing my little Phase 6 out of line and back towards the slope. :roll: Must keep practicing that one!
Landings were a little, er…how shall I put it………“Entertaining.” With dramatically varying wind speeds I could find the model suddenly rose, just as I was about to put it on the ground, or visa versa. A high level of dexterity was needed on the sticks to ensure that I went home with a fully working model. (I think I must finally be getting the knack of landing)
I do hope conditions will be good for the up coming glide-in. I’ve had a very enjoyable few hours flying today. And now, having driven home and eaten some lunch I’m feeling very satisfied with myself……….Hhmmmmm,…..now where’s my favourite arm chair?....... ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Keith