TVHGC Flying Diary: July 2008

31 / 07 / 2008 :: Near Stokenchurch

Name	::	Bob Johnston
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	31 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South
Comments	::	Nice evening flight on the motors for myself and Rob, looked a bit breezy late afternoon but dropped quickly by the time we could get out, still bit of wind at height but it was nice to get out on a nice warm evening with just shorts and T-shirt, watched a nice sun set from the air then wing over practise all the way down, some hedge hopping fun too.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

24 / 07 / 2008 :: Annecy

Name	::	Tom Clowes
Email	::	name _at_ hotmail.com
Date	::	24 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Just back from 5 glorious days flying in strong conditions in Annecy. Now back at work but hoping for more uk flying soon in Wiltshire...!
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://pinnacleadventures.blogspot.com/2008/07/annecy-with-boys.html
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

27 / 07 / 2008 :: Barton on Sea

Name	::	Paul & Kay Sayers
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	27 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South
Comments	::	Great day had by all,Rob A got his head round launching in rotor,Sorry to hear about James Learmonts mishap at Eype, we both wish him a speedy recovery.Seeya soon James.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

26 / 07 / 2008 :: Rybury

Name	::	Fi Burgess
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	26 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Busy during the day watching Spitfires & Lysanders at Middle Wallop airshow then rushed up to Rybury to find everyone leaving after a frustrating day. Reports of strong gusts but no real wind for soaring and quite a lot of long walks up the killer hill. I heard that a few got away and had some cracking flights, and then saw 3 fly away overhead. Two people were packing up as well - oh no, too late! Then I noticed Sion on his smart, new Team 5 Blue wing maintaining nicely and felt a reasonable breeze picking up. The two of us had a wonderful, unexpected hour plus, bouncing around in a sort of restitution mixed with thermals still coming through and a few easy top landings. Max 250ft. Finished well after 7pm and it was still lifty even then. Big thanks to Sion for staying on as he'd already been flying all day.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	None
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

27 / 07 / 2008 :: Barton on Sea

Name	::	Robert Ager
Email	::	robertager _at_ ash-studios.co.uk
Date	::	27 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South
Comments	::	Met Kay and Paul and had a superb afternoon flying this Wessex site. Very warm in the sunshine and the views over Bournemouth Bay were beautiful. Interesting take off (in rotor) but once airborne, a real delight. A very helpful and friendly bunch of flyers and delightful gent who helped lay out the wing every time I fluffed a take off (pesky rotor off the cliff edge) - for your help and patience many thanks!
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

26 / 07 / 2008 :: Rybury

Name	::	Ian Hobbis
Email	::	numpty _at_ puntersgap.com
Date	::	26 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Had a fantastic climb at 12:00, left Richard Bungay and Adrian Thomas scratching around in the dirt, I felt very pleased with myself as I looked down at them several hundred feet below... then after I recovered from the climb to top of Rybury I got my kit out and tried to do the same again... this time in the air!!! woo hey it worked - got myself a punters thermal and road it to base and then same again with another! Landed somewhere between Malborough and Chilton Foliat. Thanks TVHGC for giving me a decent thermal or two, it was worth the 100 mile drive from the south coast after all Richard. Have pics don't know how to do it though!
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

25 / 07 / 2008 :: Sugar

Name	::	Robert Ager
Email	::	robertager _at_ ash-studios.co.uk
Date	::	25 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South West
Comments	::	Drove down on the motorbike (saving fuel!) and arrived at 14:00 and flew till 19:00, what a fantastic day! Saw three other paragliders landing South of Swindon so I guess Golden Ball was working. The day started very punchy but settled down and the thermals coming off of the wheat field in front were big and booming. Never really got enough height to get away but managed to get a lot of height above take off and the whole ridge was working, from the power lines to right over the pathway and beyond. My only disappointment was that I was alone all day, I thought maybe a few members may turn up after work. Never mind, I didn't have to worry about doing the "paraglider dance." On the way back home it seemed the whole flying community was out to play. Lots of parachutists over Swindon, microlights by the score and then of course the balloons.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

22 / 07 / 2008 :: Rybury

Name	::	Mike Long
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	22 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Had a nice climb at Rybury that enabled me to push out well over the rape field in front of the hill. Not sure how high 'cos my vario packed up. After landing for some refreshment the wind seemed to drop a bit so I decided to meet Ian Pepper at Milk. BIG MISTAKE! The afternoon at Rybury gave a few pilots the chance to get away; one even flew over to us, whilst we sat and watched, then he was off again! Had a bit of a fly about at Milk but Rybury was the place to be but only if you chose the right moment to take of off......
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

22 / 07 / 2008 :: Combe Gibbet

Name	::	mike Hibbit
Email	::	cloud9airsports@btopenworld.com _at_
Date	::	22 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	North West
Comments	::	Where were you guys? Arrived about 6pm. Hang glider flying. Drove to NW launch with none flying friend. Wind good. Flyable till 9.15.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

16 / 07 / 2008 :: Liddington

Name	::	Bryan Regan
Email	::	bsr _at_ jet.uk
Date	::	16 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	North
Comments	::	Fantastic 100km+ flights to the coast by Al Wilson and Richard Westgate (who now tops our national XC league). Conditions on the hill were weak thermic with unimpressive looking clouds.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

16 / 07 / 2008 :: Chinnor ridge

Name	::	Bob Johnston
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	16 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	North West
Comments	::	Yep Chinnor again, overcast and dull but very flyable if rough! it took me a while to work out while it was so lumpy until I spotted the wave about the cu, I can only assume we were flying in broken wave all the time, still it was still nice to have a evening flight on a local site, looks like maybe more to come at the weekend.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

13 / 07 / 2008 :: Rhossilli

Name	::	Reech
Email	::	rstiling _at_ blueyonder.co.uk
Date	::	13 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Bit strong, bit sw but got in the air. Went more west and calmed down. Float about, take pictures, float about, look at the scenery, float about, that's coastal for you...........
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

16 / 07 / 2008 :: Westbury

Name	::	Simon
Email	::	fourdonks _at_ yahoo.co.uk
Date	::	16 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	North West
Comments	::	Could see the cloud coming in at 10AM when I dropped off monkey at nursery in Cirencester, so high tailed it to Westbury, where there was about 1.5 hours of full sunshine left. Str8 into an ultra smooth 7.5 average thermal to 3000' QNH before breaking off for the D123. Still had about 45 mins of out of ridge thermalling mostly off the cement works, then when the thick high cover came over, packed up. I hope my incompetence at getting airborne didn't put the others off launching - was on my own in the air most of the time. Wind 14-25kph at a guess.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

16 / 07 / 2008 :: Chinnor ridge

Name	::	Bob Johnston
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	16 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	North West
Comments	::	Got a text from Rob Ginger at 10 saying it was on a Chinner, a hour later I looked at the window as the bugger flew past my shop but he failed in his objective to fly home so I picked him up and had a little fly while I was there, by then completly overcast but found a small thermal which then left me behind about a mile behind the ridge, quick jog back to the van then back to work, maybe fly again later if it's still on. Flying at last!
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

13 / 07 / 2008 :: Ringstead

Name	::	mike silvester
Email	::	mikepsilvester@btinternet.com _at_
Date	::	13 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South
Comments	::	Had a good boat about at Ringstead Sunday afternoon with Paul and Kay. about a dozen or so flying. perfect conditions. Good to get a free flight in after PPG'ing Saturday at Weymouth.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

13 / 07 / 2008 :: Chinnor ridge

Name	::	Bob Johnston
Email	::	stormdodger _at_ getting wet.com
Date	::	13 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Desperate to fly so shot up to Chinnor after work just after a big down pour cleared, the promised NW wind was way lighter than forecast and a lot more west, it got better as the next Cu Nimb aproched so flew the slight gust front in light rain (nothing dodgy about that is there!?) after about 15 mins it dropped off so down to the bottom, after walking up it got better again until I got the glider out when the wind dropped, the sun went in and it rained, then a little weak sun tempted me to try again but nothing doing, still it was flying of a sort! Went to Dunstable on way home yesterday afternoon but nothing doing there by the time I got there.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

14 / 07 / 2008 :: Milk / Sugar

Name	::	Lawrence
Email	::	Lawrence _at_ verticaltd.com
Date	::	14 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South West
Comments	::	Met up with Mike at Milk to only watch the sky getting better and better but the winds just didn't ease. Left after a chat with Craig (good meeting you finally mate) and headed off to Sugar (thanks Mike!) where it was flyable around Midday if not a little strong on top. Didn't spend that much time in the air as had to head back home. There were some nice climbs available despite the now overcast sky.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

13 / 07 / 2008 :: Rybury

Name	::	james learmont
Email	::	me _at_ my surname dot com
Date	::	13 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	West
Comments	::	Lured by Wendy over to Combe along with a few others, but it went west and dropped. Bob headed to Wesbury and the rest of us to Rybury. At Rybury the usual crowd of desperadoes could be found and indeed it was overcast and still till about 2, by which time most had left and cycles began to come through. Had about 10 minutes airtime, popping over the hill to see gliders lying on Milk, but meteo wind improving all day so I expect the evening flying was smoother. Slightly regret not getting in the car and heading west or north to where all the action was..
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	None
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

13 / 07 / 2008 :: Milk Hill

Name	::	Fi Burgess
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	13 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South West
Comments	::	What a frustrating day - the phone companies must have done well with all the calls and texts from everyone desperate to find some flying all day. In the end Milk was fun from 3.30 ish with Ian P and Matt Brown with a late (and short and sweet) visit from JamieG. Just a few short flights and T/Ls (inbetween the cows) and lots of handling. And thanks to Ian for helping me fix my glider to the m/bike. Does anyone know when summer is coming?
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	Nope.
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

04 / 07 / 2008 :: Bewaldeth

Name	::	Mike Hibbit
Email	::	cloud9airsports@btopenworld.com _at_
Date	::	04 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South West
Comments	::	Up in The Lakes for the XLakes comp. Arrived Friday 1.30 am with my good friend Daniel Games. We found a small(240 ft. TTB) site. It grows into a 600 ft.! Had some superb flying there. One guy was out flying everybody by miles! He came in, like a curious eagle, inches from my wing tip at one stage, and we Hi'd and eyed one and other. I later found out he was, and is, the amazing Steve Etherington currently at number 3 in the National XC League flying the superb Niviuk Icepeak XP. An incredible pilot in stunning scenery.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National

04 / 07 / 2008 :: Golden Ball

Name	::	Fiona Burgess
Email	::	_at_
Date	::	04 / 07 / 2008
Direction	::	South
Comments	::	Today was a red letter day for me, my first XC! Only 6km to just south of Avebury. The day started nicely and all the XC hounds arrived, so I figured I was in the right place. Got a lift back for more but it got very windy and knarly so parawatching was quite sporty enough.
Weather	::	06:00 12:00 18:00
Pictures	::	Far too busy concentrating to take pics!
XC League	::	TVHGC :: National