Ochils round of the Scottish Nationals

[Mike Jardine]

Great turn out for the Ochills round of the nationals, with a move eastwards
to Bishops.

25 or so pilots in the air plus 5 or 6 sailplanes all cruising in smooth
buoyant air.

A tricky task with a turnpoint at West Lomond, and a wonderfully mellow,
chilled pint at the pub beside the landing field.

I can't get out tomorrow but there's a Belgian pilot (plane and paraglider)
who is in town and looking for a lift.

If anyone is leaving from Edinburgh going flying and can give him a lift,
his details are:

Bernard Jacob de Buecken 0032496949617

Have a good day.

Mike

--
Mike Jardine
home<mike...@googlemail.com>
work<mi...@raremanagement.co.uk>

T. 0131 445 5249
M. 07768 945 716
W. 0131 555 3820

[Richard Vereker]

Great Pic Mike,

Wish I was there but it looks like everyone is having a good time
anyone heard from Dave on his trip to Wales & the BP cup?

Cheers

Richard

> <IMG_2339.jpg><IMG_2346.jpg>

[Dave Hutch]

We had a really good finish to the Nationals series, and got out flying on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was just an incredibly good day - it was light on the walk up so expectations were not too high, but by 2pm the thermals had started bursting through and there was really good lift in a number of strategic places along the ridge. The task was launch, two turnpoints and land: one turnpoint out over Kinneswood village (carpark) and the other over the difficult transition to West Lomond (and back). Although there was quite a number of pilots in the air, along with some sailplanes, the ridge was big enough to allow most folk plenty of space, and there was a continual 'ants trail' of gliders pushing along to /back from West Lomond. Later in the day, Sean and Al got huge climbs and drifted over the back towards East Lomond, while the rest of us just played around in the buoyant air. I should mention Neil Christie, who has just completed his CP in the Alps and chose Saturday as his introduction to Scottish flying. Am I wrong to say that this was the best day's flying we have had this year?? I am sure it is the best day I have had anyway.   Saturday evening over a dozen pilots headed back to Gordon and Tina's (many thanks for the hospitality) for fish suppers and beers into the night. I got the best deal on offer, with a reclining sofa bed and views of Myerton After an extremely

[Dave Hutch]

[....whoops, pressed the wrong button and sent my message early!!]   PART 2 I got the best deal on offer, with a reclining sofa bed and views of Myerton in the sunshine when I opened my eyes. V Light wind and approaching cloud meant a leisurely breakfast and a trip up to Lochearnhead for the N/NE ridge above the Watersports centre.   It was quite a slog up the hill, with numerous pauses 'to admire the view', but eventually we all made it to the top just in time to wait for the wind. There were minimal gusts coming through, but with a strong norhtherly drift so we did some parawaiting until George called the final task of the Nationals series for 2009 - a spot landing in the goal field by the centre. Everyone had chance to practice their nil wind launch technique and it was a very pleasant, but quite sinky, flight down. At one point, the sink made me start to look at alternative landing options, but leaned on the bar a little and got into some better air and made the field with plenty of height to spare. It must have been quite a spectacle for the tourists as fifteen gliders came into the field within a ten-minute window.   Thanks to George and Linda for the organisation and G&T for accommodation.   DaveH

[Gerard]

Yes Saturday was just fantastic.
Thanks you to all the organisers, it was great to discover Bishop,
what a wonderful site !

See you on the hills

Cheers

Gerard

[Dave Hutch]

A skydiving workmate came along on the Saturday at Bishops and brought his camera. He was so impressed with the spectacle he shot loads of photos - you can see them here:   http://www.photos-online.biz/myphotos.php4 password: paragliding   If anyone wants copies of any photos, let me know. Not quite the same quality, but I have also attached a couple of photos from the Sunday at Lochearnhead. cheers DaveH

[Neil]

Hi guys, I had a fantastic first Scottish nationals weekend.

It was a great introduction to post CP flying in the UK. I never
would have thought that I would have got 1hr 45mins of soaring on my
first trip to a Scottish hill.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who helped me out over the two days
(especially when it came to reverse launching!)

Looking forward to seeing you all on the next flyable weekend.