Dunstable - 17th August 2007

Given the previous failure at Dunstable I was keen to fly and so leaving work early I arrived on a flyable day to find many people in the air and my friend Richard there also. I got off first go this time and enjoyed a 25 minutes or so wafting around. Eventually things died off and we bottom landed. The hill didn't seem so hard as usual and satisfied with a sucessful flight I spend a while watching others fly and chatting to Richard back on top. The weather also looked promising for the weekend so I was happy have got back in the air.

Dunstable - 6th August 2007

Given the distinctly unusual summer we'd been having, coupled with study and work commitments I hadn't managed to fly since May in Greece. So, feeling like I wanted to get some airtime before I went to the Alps I headed to Dunstable. It was a little windy to say the least and I was content to sit out the gusty conditions watching others pitching around high above the hill. Eventually conditions calmed down and I attempted to launch, but kept on braking the wing too early letting it get properly overhead. Eventually I took a break but by the time I felt ready to give it another go the wind had dropped right off and I decided to head home and have my tea. Of course as I started packing my kit into the rucksack things picked up again for a brief spell and a few people got airborne once again. Still, it was a lovely day to be out, the sky was beautiful and I enjoyed myself taking pictures other people flying.

Dunstable - 10th April 2007

Keen to make the most of the good conditions I headed once again to Dunstable. This time it was a sneaky session during an extended lunch hour. I had planned to go after work but thought it best to try and fly while things looked good.

On the drive over I could see gliders in the air and so was excited that it was 'on' again. I arrived about 12.30 and was in the air not long after although it was clear conditions weren't ideal. There seemed to be cycles of wind and lift coming thought for short periods followed by lulls. After watching the others fly for a bit and one pilot manage a tree landing I managed to get off at a good time and flew for 20 minutes or so - eventually making a (slightly hard and fast - must remember to turn more into wind!) slope landing and getting my paraglider and lines all snagged on the brambles.

Untangling the lines and free from the brambles I returned to the launch but I had to wait a while for another good cycle to come through before I could launch again. Once in the air I managed just a few beats along the hillside before sinking out for a bottom landing. Still, with two flights in my lunch hour on a lovely sunny day I was happy enough, and the walk back up the hill will keep me fit.

Dunstable - 9th April 2007

I made a trip to the downs today hoping to find it flyable. Keeping an eye on the wind during the day I hoped to avoid the stronger mid-day conditions but on getting near to the hill I could tell that it was likely to be a wasted journey as there was little wind. The last of the pilots were just leaving having been grounded for most of the day although some had some good flights before the cloud cover killed off any decent lift.

I sat waiting for the clear skies to the north-west to reach the hill but it was clear they were going to be a long time coming - but it was nice to just take in the view at the end of a warm spring day.

Dunstable - 8th April 2007

Arriving at the downs around 9.15 the conditions looked promising. But instead of flying I was here for a walk with Ravi (the glider was in the car for a chance of a short flight on our return) and so we set off across behind the downs for a half-day walk. It was a lovely walk through farmland and small villages and on the return leg we could see Richard on his Atos high above and occasionally a paraglider. Where we were a few miles away the conditions felt rather strong and on returning to the car park I could see that only one person was flying and most pilots were sitting out the strong conditions.

Being a bank holiday the crowds were out in force and while it looked like conditions were mellowing, they still seemed fairly strong and I also didn't fancy taking off in front of so many people - besides which even the experienced pilots were clipping the fence on takeoff! So feeling well satisfied with the flying two days before we headed for home.

Dunstable - 29th March 2007

Another potential window - this time towards the end of the day. I slipped off early from work at 4pm and was on the hill by 4.30. This time rather than being too strong conditions were too weak. Hugh and another pilot managed to fly for about 10 minutes but by the time I had got my kit out the wind had dropped again. Deciding to practice ground handling, I eventually thought I may as well have a go and made a nice clean launch, but the absence of decent lift soon saw me at the bottom landing field.

Regardless of the shortness of the flight it was still good to be back in the air again - however briefly!

Dunstable - 12th March 2007

Another promising weather window beckoned me to Dunstable (another 1/2 day off work) for the afternoon. When I arrived it felt OK but was considerably more gusty and strong than my last trip here. Keith, Hugh and others were already flying but I felt a bit hesitant as I could see their gliders pitching around - and compared to me they were skygods.

Eventually the wind seemed to drop a little and I felt like giving it a go. I got away first time but couldn't seem to get seated right, had my speedbar caught up and before I knew it was out of the lift band and facing a walk back up the hill. Keith landed after me at the bottom - in spectacular fashion!

Returning immediately to the top of the hill I once again prepared for launch. Again the wind seemed gusty and strong and I was nervous about getting dragged. Failing to commit to the launch saw me thrashing my glider around for about 30 minutes before deciding to wait for a lull to launch in. 10 minutes later I hit the perfect window and once again was flying.

Conditions were stronger than I had experienced at Dunstable previously and having had a small tuck on one side and some pitching around I felt a bit nervous. I tried to stay out from the hill, using the speedbar and decided that perhaps I ought to land. As I left the hill to head for the bottom landing I contacted with some lift and soon was high above the hill - much higher than I had been at Dunstable and not sure I wanted to be there. I decided I may as well make the most of it and soared the ridge trying to enjoy myself. Eventually I needed to land as I had an appointment I had to be back in Milton Keynes for at 4.30. Trying to fly out from the hill didn't seem to be working - I was gaining height, so returning to the ridge I crept backwards half considering a top landing. Eventually I managed to get within a few feet of the ridge, but just couldn't seem to touchdown - every time being forced to fly out again. However, one failed landing saw me drift over to the next spur and I managed (by a combination of luck and judgement) to put the glider down nicely.

I managed to fly for about 35 mins this time and was very pleased I had managed to top land in slightly tricky conditions. I was pleased I had saved myself the trudge back up the hill too!

Dunstable - 8th March 2007

Now extremely keen to take any small opportunity to fly I set of early to Dunstable for a brief flight before work. When I arrived it was a little foggy on the highest part of the ridge but a gentle breeze was blowing onto takeoff. Completely alone (apart from the odd dog walker) I felt confident enough but was used to having a few other pilots around.

I brought the wing up and stood facing into wind keeping the wing nicely stable. I went for it and pushed forward and over the fence. I was flying but not getting any lift. I soared across the bushes and trees that cover parts of the ridge and realised I was going to have to head for the landing field if I didn't want to risk a tree landing.

I landed comfortably just short of the main landing field in the recently cleared area. Disappointed there wasn't enough wind but happy to have flown if only for a few minutes. At least I now had a better idea of how much wind was needed. I packed up the glider, walked back to the car and headed off to work.

Flying at last - 1st February 2007

Given the previous day was a bit of disaster, the next day looked more promising with the winds scheduled to die down a bit. I was right and so after going in to work in the morning I once again headed off to the downs. As I arrived Gary was preparing for launch and was soon floating around nicely.

I couldn't get my kit on quick enough. Pretty soon I was also flying and enjoying the winter sunshine. In all I managed a first flight of 1.5 hrs, followed by a second one of an hour - though struggling to stay up as the wind dropped and went off to the south again. At the end of the last flight I managed a slope / top landing on one of the grassy spurs towards the pimple which saved a long walk back up the hill.

It was great to have flown for so long. It wasn't especially lift but easy to stay up for the most part and I had the hill to myself a number of times.

Parawaiting - 31st January

At the end of January there was some settled weather and keeping an eye on XC Weather (as you do) I noticed that we looked in for a few days of westerly winds but for once - it wasn't meant to be blowing a gale. I booked a day off work in expectation and checking the wind before I left in the morning, I set off for Dunstable full of expectation. It was a clear and sunny day - just perfect for flying.

Unfortunately once at the hill it became clear that the wind was well off to the south, and whats worse, it seemed to be far too strong in comparison to what was forecast. Conditions didn't improve throughout the day and most of it was spent mooching about the hillside, sitting in Hugh's car and watching Markus fly his hanglider from the comfort of the new visitors centre.

Towards the end of the day I thought I might be able to give it a go, but it was still pretty gusty and the wind had gone off to the south. I tried to launch but just ended up getting dragged and covering my glider in muddy water.

First flight as a club pilot - November 2006

Having got my CP I joined my local club the DHPC and spent much time on the Internet eargerly awaiting the right conditions to occur on a weekend. Eventually As a suitable window appeared and as I drove up the hill I could see paragliders in the air - I was so excited. My initial enthusiasm quickly evaporated as I realised how windy it was - there was no way I would take-off while it was blowing like that. I met some of the other club members who were a pretty friendly bunch and generally spent the day parawaiting but completed my airspace briefing from Kenny. Eventually the wind dropped off and I got ready to launch.

I got my wing up and made a clean launch first time. I made a number of soaring beats up and down the length of the hill before I started sinking out with everyone else. I had got into the air just as the lift died. Landing was easy - one side of a massive field, just keep going until you touch down.

Despite all the waiting around I was pleased I'd managed to fly unassisted and finally made it into the air once again. Unfortunately soon after this the winter set in for real and every weekend it seemed flyable I was away. Such is paragliding...