flying at the Mynd 27/4/08We began to see people ground handling on the Long Mynd from about 2.30pm (we can see launch from our house), but it seemed very southerly. We managed to get our act together an hour later and got there to find it was indeed well off to the south and a little strong. Sam, Nigel and Martin had flown, but landed shortly before we arrived. We chewed the fat for a while, then went for a cup of tea in Sam’s van, until it seemed more on and a little less windy.

The keener of the pilots out today, Wayno, Chairman Dave, Nigel and David J-H, launched and went straight up. Wayne was on a hang glider, the others on PGs. By the time the rest of us were ready (only 10 minutes later) it was too windy to launch! Those in the air were doing fine, though sometimes seemed to have a little trouble penetrating, and sometimes it seemed a bit rough. They flew for an hour or more. We sat it out for two hours, but by 7.30pm it was still howling, so we canned the day. Geoff – wrongly expecting it to be light and off to the south – hadn’t bothered to take his hang glider – a big mistake!

Those who did fly reported strong thermals, loads of lift, but a little rough near the ridge. All of them pushed far out into the valley, where the lift still seemed good. Wayno flew three times and was in the air for hours.

Off to hospital tomorrow for an operation on both knees, so won’t be able to fly for a few days. But then the forecast is lousy anyway….

See photos of today.

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