Post by: Happy Days on April 12, 2013, 13:07:48 PM
The polyhedral Riser 100 floated around until the wind gusts became a little too strong for my liking. A few heart stopping moments during the first landing attempt, :( ……. went around and ended up cart wheeling her on the second landing attempt. :evil: The fuse snapped just behind the wing saddle…..there’s a surprise!
No Phase 6 to play with today, (I must crack on and finish the new one. It‘s amazing how much you miss what you haven‘t got when you‘ve been used to it,) so up went the Alpina. :D Almost ‘lost’ it in the low cloud! That caused the old heart to flutter a little bit too.
I’ve seen nothing on the forum about this weekends’ glide in. (It was supposed to be this weekend, wasn’t it? :?: ) I’m assuming it has been abandoned due to poor weather forecasts? Is anyone intending to give it a try tomorrow or Sunday?
Keith
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 13:53:15 PM
So far, I'm , and it's in... Unless people prefer to move it another week end of course!
Forecast change all the time, so hard to tell, wind seems to be the only thing that is certain, but yesterday, Saturday was looking a few showers, and good on Sunday.
Just checked, and it changed again to more rain...
Up to you guys!
If cancelled, let me know now, but whatever happen, I'll go anyway, just in case.
Post by: rogallo on April 12, 2013, 14:26:28 PM
Loads to do for the Menez so I am out.
Post by: JohnPearson on April 12, 2013, 14:39:10 PM
I have checked the weather a few times, and it is changing all the time. It still looks like it is going to be a poor weekend with rain 90% most days.
I think that we will also not travel this weekend and keep the money for our trip to France in May.
jp
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 14:50:53 PM
So, is it cancelled altogether or some are still showing up? :?:
First time ever we will cancel by the way if we do 8)
I guess the "locals" will show up anyway, so I will go up there on Saturday. Local weather can be very hard to tell! :!: :!:
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 14:53:48 PM
Will be pretty hard to find a week end now, we almost have an event a week at this stage! :lol:
Post by: Happy Days on April 12, 2013, 15:20:08 PM
1/ There isn’t one forecast that I’ve seen that doesn’t say it’s going to rain or have heavy prolonged showers this weekend.
2/ The SE winds which are forecast might go more east than south and the more easterly the winds the go, the less likely it is we’ll be able to fly on them. (On Big L.)
3/ Notwithstanding the above, the cloud base was quite low today. As the weekend cloud builds up I have a horrible feeling that base will get lower.
Having said all that,…………I could be wrong. After all, as my misses constantly reminds me, I’m only a man!
Fred; If you do go up tomorrow give me a call.
Tell you what,…..I’ll post a situation report first thing in the morning, if you are intent on going.
Keith
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 15:42:42 PM
BUT! I will go in the morning to:
1 : fly! (local weather can be different unfortunately, that don't make it easy)
2: Wait for people, if any, that will show up.
Unless is pouring rain like crazy, so in this case, no point, so I'll wait your forecast Keith
Post by: Keith on April 12, 2013, 15:45:23 PM
Myself and Stephen are around at the weekend so if your coming give us a shout . We are at a loose end now anyway so we will drop up evn if its only for a chat :-) you have my number
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 16:02:19 PM
Fear not, a few of us will be up there anyway :D
I'll have the coffee, and gliders :D
Oh, and the BBQ to keep us warm! :lol:
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 16:02:55 PM
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 16:58:53 PM
Pretty much everything planned this month is either cancelled or postponed!
Worse April weather we had in a very long time or what!? :!:
Sun is shinning here though... For now!
Forecast changed again.. Looks good in the morning now, and bad weather will start at around 3pm...
Post by: Keith on April 12, 2013, 17:08:13 PM
it could all change on the day
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 17:26:01 PM
That is part if slope siaring :)
I'll be there anyway tomorrow, and expect to fly :) no passaran!! :)
Post by: Alan_Perse on April 12, 2013, 19:36:33 PM
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 20:44:16 PM
We can't ask people to drive from all over the country for maybe 2hrs of flying, so hopefully, in May now! :D
Anyway, car is packed and ready :D
Only bring 5 or 6 machines, easy to setup at the slope, just in case! (packing the car with "don't stoooppp believiiinnnggg!" music in the background! :lol: :lol:
So, now, dilemma! I charged the Crystal, 11kgs should do it for the wind tomorrow. But do I bring it? :?:
Food also packed, just need more hot water for the coffee if anyone's coming can bring a flask ?
See you tomorrow for a chat, and hopefully some flying ("don't stop, believiiiinnnggg!!" :lol: )
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/A0H3bJHWGl4[/youtube]
Post by: Fred on April 12, 2013, 20:50:06 PM
I think we had something like 10 minutes of light rain... Rest of the day was almost summer!
So that's it, I also packed the sun glasses! :P
Motivation, motivation :lol:
Post by: Keith on April 12, 2013, 22:49:33 PM
...
Post by: Happy Days on April 13, 2013, 07:02:50 AM
Morning Lads,
This picture was taken 5 minutes ago.
The mountain is completely encapsulated in cloud at the moment.
Wind speed is 3Kph
Direction : variable
(The arrow shows where the mountain is beneath the cloud.)
If you're going up there Fred, or anyone else, give me a shout. (I'll come up and annoy you. :lol: )
Keith (little)
Post by: Fred on April 13, 2013, 07:21:51 AM
Glorious sunshine here, no wind. That should pick up later, too early.
Having my coffee, then I'm on my way :D
Post by: Happy Days on April 13, 2013, 09:26:38 AM
Where I live visibility is 300m, wind - SE, 20 gusting 30Kph.
See you at Nine Stones.
Coming up Big Keith / Stephen? If only for a chat and a laugh. May even get some flying.
(little) Keith
Post by: stephen.shannon on April 13, 2013, 18:30:54 PM
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/imagerotatedstephen.jpg)
Post by: Fred on April 13, 2013, 18:53:16 PM
Yep, good move to cancel, complete wash out! Where is the summer we had yesterday??!! :!:
Anyway, that's the true sloper's spirit! :clap:
Always good to have a chat with like minded people. I was drenched to the bones, but was it worth it? Yes! :D Good to take some fresh air, and hopefully, the weather in May will be much better. Enough of this winter! :evil: :evil:
Blue sky is back over here :!:
Photos later (The Sugar Loaf was looking really nice this morning :D )
Post by: Keith on April 13, 2013, 19:15:09 PM
Are you coming back tomorrow fred to get more drenched :P :roll:
Post by: Happy Days on April 14, 2013, 08:52:49 AM
Much better weather this morning lads! :D With little cracks of blue sky showing through the cloud and a fair breeze from the south it’s going to be a good day for slope soaring. You can see the Big L emerging from under the cloud. The sun is just breaking through where I live and the car is packed.
So who’s going to join me on the slopes of the Big L? :?: bring plenty of ballast, there’s a 30Kph gusting to 45 blowing at the moment. (Just right for some combat flying!) :twisted:
Post by: Happy Days on April 14, 2013, 08:58:11 AM
Post by: Keith on April 14, 2013, 14:35:52 PM
Post by: stephen.shannon on April 14, 2013, 19:59:26 PM
Post by: Happy Days on April 14, 2013, 21:53:55 PM
It’s very difficult, if not impossible to launch a plane by yourself at those speeds.
So I spent the day helping a friend of mine to re-build a vintage diesel engine! :( (Bit of a difference aint there!) I prefer flying gliders. 8)
Next weekend looks okay. Will you be coming south then?
K.
Post by: Keith on April 15, 2013, 00:13:27 AM
And 100 to 120 winds would have been some craic to try fly in and you know i would have given it a try anyway :twisted:
Post by: Fred on April 18, 2013, 20:15:20 PM
Put the heat on the way home to the back of the car (forgot I had something called Climate Control! :lol: )
Quick drying here now anyway thanks to the wind storm we are having! (calming down now...)
By the way, I took a few photos...
The Sugar Loaf mountain was looking lovely on the way down, with a cloud stuck on the top (sorry, the photo don't pay justice to the view at all! )
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/SugarLoaf.jpeg)
After over taking a few slow drivers (tourists!! :P :P ), this is the view of the slope from the car Park
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/Southslope13APR.JPG)
Shame about the drizzle! Would have been lovely! About 50km/h winds I think at this stage...
And if you think we were mad standing in the rain on top of a mountain, there are wwwaaaaayyyyyy crazier than us!
The Cyclists! :shock:
In the wind and rain, like it was a summer day, and at the speed they were doing, they don't fear anything!
Some of them even went up to the mast like they were having a walk in the park!
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/Cyclistes.jpeg)
Anyway, good to have some fresh air! :D
Post by: Keith on April 18, 2013, 23:41:54 PM
Post by: Happy Days on April 19, 2013, 07:35:29 AM
Looking at this weekend’s forecast, Sunday pm looks good with westerlies of 15 gusting to 23Km/h. :) I’ll be there. (Having said that,… probably no one else will come :( )
BTW Brendan: Well done yesterday, those were quite testing conditions 8) but you did very well. If you’re free in Sunday pop up to the mountain and I’ll hand over your dead Easy Glider and the Skua you bought from Fred.
K.
Post by: Fred on April 19, 2013, 07:41:10 AM
Hopefully, the weather in May will be much better (not hard!)
Would love to come on Sunday, but I'll be (hopefully) flying in Galway, got invited to fly there, so off with the family!
Hopefully next week end, would like to fly the Pilatus before heading for France! :D
Post by: Fred on April 19, 2013, 07:43:21 AM
Quote from: "Keith"
Was that the sugar loaf at the weekend when you were heading down ?? We were on big L today . I was trying to get some pics but my fone kept ceasing for some reason ??? There was great conditions up there today :lol:
Hey Keith,
Yes it was :D
Blue skies and sun when I left Dublin :D
Post by: bren.p on April 19, 2013, 10:25:16 AM
Post by: Keith on April 19, 2013, 15:48:29 PM
Fred did you get to try out the new glider yet ???
Post by: Fred on April 20, 2013, 08:55:59 AM
Soon! :)
Post by: Keith on April 20, 2013, 21:22:22 PM
It could be a bit to windy on big L tomorrow too