Not a dramatic flight report from Owens Valley or the Swiss Alps or anything but this is how we do it in little old East Anglia UK, when we are not towing.
East Anglia the UK’s flatlands, but flat is not strictly true. When you reach the East coast it drops down a bit to the sea.
This drop stretches for 40 or 50 miles going from NNW to ESE, with a mixture of dunes, low cliffs and even a couple of relatively high (200 feet or so) cliffs, we call these mountains.
This week we have enjoyed a long run of perfect 24mph NE winds (still on for the weekend as well!) and some of us have been able to slip away during low tide and take on “The Rat Run”.
The Rat Run is a long out and return challenge along part of this coast.
This is great fun. It requires navigating low cliffs, dunes, gaps, the sides of buildings and even, at one point, over flying (from very low cliffs) a Victorian seaside pier (complete with theatre).
All the time the relative wind direction is swinging as you fly around this curved coast. Your out and return are completely different experiences.
I hadn’t flown a cliff for about a year and I had forgotten the delights of vertical take offs. I also hadn’t flown these particular cliffs for about 25 years so I only attempted the shortened Rat Run of about 16 km. I had a total of about an hour boating about in ample lift. Makes a change from having about 4 minutes to find a thermal.
All good fun.
Attached images.
Google Earth image of the East Coast UK.
Fantastic lift from such small cliffs.
The T/O area with a ’78 Super Scorpion getting ready to launch.
This is possibly the oldest HG in the UK still in service.
Guy nearly 70 had it from new.
_________________ Skyhook BogRog built from plans
Own design and built experiment
Skyhook Sunspot
Skyhook Sabre (CFX)
23 year rest…
Airwave Calypso
Airwave Kiss
Discus (super colour, hand picked you know)
Imagine that?!? An actual post about soaring. Whooda thunk it?
Thanks Pud for setting my world back on track. I wish I had the funds to travel. I love this kind of flying that you describe. So what if I've flown the Owens Valley and other spectacular sites? I love long, low coastal flying. It's absolute magic to experience. I recalled seeing some nice video of the flying you describe and searched it out again. Here one of them. There are more out there.
Cheers, Jonathan
I sure do miss coastal flying and that site in the UK is going on my bucket list.
That video is a great find Jonathan, thanks for digging it up.
Time to grab a refill on the caffeine and watch it again.
When you get the chance Pud, strap a video machine on and take the flight. _________________ H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
The Cloudbase Foundation
Learn to fly hang gliders (click here}
Torrey Hawks #208
Imagine that?!? An actual post about soaring. Whooda thunk it?
I know your comment was meant in good spirit, but I do want to make a counter point.
Those beautiful coastal pictures were taken by a pilot who wasn't banned from flying that site by a concessionaire building a PG business who was supported by a national organization that cares more about the number of its members than the members themselves.
That is a beautiful site, and I too would like to fly there some day. Nice post. _________________ Bob Kuczewski: H4/P4 - Torrey Hawks, CSS, SHGA, E-Team, Soboba Soaring, Founding Member of the HGAA
Learn to fly hang gliders • Join the Torrey Hawks • Fly the Big O Loop!! "Hang Gliding must be represented by an organization that cannot survive without it" - gs
Those beautiful coastal pictures were taken by a pilot who wasn't banned from flying that site by a concessionaire building a PG business who was supported by a national organization that cares more about the number of its members than the members themselves.
give it a F@#$ing rest, not ever thread needs to be about you and torrey
I have issues with both PG's and how things are run at Torrey but if I was in region 3 I would have voted to have you recalled
your crap is getting very old[/quote]
Last edited by flyin_canuck on Sat Jun 19, 2010 11:25 am; edited 2 times in total
I would guess about 20km and an hour or so in the air.
NMERider’s video post captures most of what I was talking about.
Starting off at Mundsley a NE cliff about 120 feet.
At 4:20 is the East Anglian Mountain range, up to about 220 feet here.
Good job, as very soon there is a gap at about 6:00 followed by only the sides of the hotels to keep you up 6:16.
Then over the pier to safety and on to the Northerly cliff faces.
Windlord wrote:
When you get the chance Pud, strap a video machine on and take the flight.
I have a clip here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIzhsoE8gUc
This is from Wednesday’s flight using my highly technical “Gauntlet Cam” (£7.00 Hong Kong, gum sized jobbie, on an elastic band around my hand).
I meant to narrate the flight but I was having such a good time I got “answer phone syndrome” and could not think of anything to say!
Tomorrow looks good and I will try to get some video.
bobk wrote:
…I know your comment was meant in good spirit, but I do want to make a counter point.
I must admit the title of this post was slightly mischievous. But really, if you cant make your voice heard on a forum what else have you got? Good luck. _________________ Skyhook BogRog built from plans
Own design and built experiment
Skyhook Sunspot
Skyhook Sabre (CFX)
23 year rest…
Airwave Calypso
Airwave Kiss
Discus (super colour, hand picked you know)
Those beautiful coastal pictures were taken by a pilot who wasn't banned from flying that site by a concessionaire building a PG business who was supported by a national organization that cares more about the number of its members than the members themselves.
give it a F@#$ing rest, not ever thread needs to be about you and torrey
I have issues with both PG's and how things are run at Torrey but if I was in region 3 I would have voted to have you recalled
your crap is getting very old
[/quote]
Hey Mr. Cheerful! You're just so full of sunshine! Not flyin' lately? Hey, what are YOU so sore about? Didn't you guys beat us in 1812? _________________ -Dennis
Dwarf tossing, the NEXT high adrenalin sport.
Crestline Soaring Society - Torrey Hawks - The Dead Poet Society - USHPA - The Cult of the Speckled Cow.
…I know your comment was meant in good spirit, but I do want to make a counter point.
I must admit the title of this post was slightly mischievous. But really, if you cant make your voice heard on a forum what else have you got? Good luck.
Thanks. Freedom of speech is one of many guarantees that we have in our "Bill of RIghts" which owes much to your own Magna Carta (dating from 1215!!). Bullying and shouting people down is part of our human nature. Overcoming that is part of our superhuman nature (that and flying).
I try to take it all in good humor. _________________ Bob Kuczewski: H4/P4 - Torrey Hawks, CSS, SHGA, E-Team, Soboba Soaring, Founding Member of the HGAA
Learn to fly hang gliders • Join the Torrey Hawks • Fly the Big O Loop!! "Hang Gliding must be represented by an organization that cannot survive without it" - gs
_________________ Skyhook BogRog built from plans
Own design and built experiment
Skyhook Sunspot
Skyhook Sabre (CFX)
23 year rest…
Airwave Calypso
Airwave Kiss
Discus (super colour, hand picked you know)
No worries Pud. Pink is in this season. Consider it a high visibility wing.
How often do the cliffs there work? Is it a seasonal occurrence or just off and on
throughout the year? _________________ H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
The Cloudbase Foundation
Learn to fly hang gliders (click here}
Torrey Hawks #208
No worries Pud. Pink is in this season. Consider it a high visibility wing.
How often do the cliffs there work? Is it a seasonal occurrence or just off and on
throughout the year?
All year, and sometimes a week or so at a time (like last week), but N to E is not the prevailing wind.
We often have long flying droughts hence UK towing was developed here.
Next time I plan to video & narrate.
_________________ Skyhook BogRog built from plans
Own design and built experiment
Skyhook Sunspot
Skyhook Sabre (CFX)
23 year rest…
Airwave Calypso
Airwave Kiss
Discus (super colour, hand picked you know)
After 95 all I can do is druel and babble. Keyborred spuelling ability seems two drip of as whel.
Really nice to be 1000 over and cool off. Only 4 hrs for me in last 10 days. What a whimp.
Paul v., a much younger then I,, HG pilot, here and has been flying at least 20hrs a week. I have been taking afternoon naps in support. Oh yeah,, after flying for 4 to 5 hrs,, he rides bicycle back to launch to retrieve his car. Yep,, another nap!! {;-0
So you all,,come out and play. Weather will be very consistent @ no more then 105.
Ok, Al,, We get the point!!!??
PS; if you call or come out,, you won't find me I'll be at launch or higher where it's a bit cooler!!
PSS: Wedding scheduled for this weekend (6&27)is postponed,, so launch is open
Laterz _________________ Greg P
Dan's LZ, Dunlap, CA
PG/Airwave sport II, HG, Sensor F3, Airwave Klassic 144, Pet = puppies, Razamataz papered heinz 58, Baby, Da hound. Cat LilBit!
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