The week last week
Monday light lift at Selsley, Andy flew his Calypso, never enough lift for it to make that
distinctive hollow wing sound.
Tuesday Selsley again, more lift - John Godard flew his Nebula, this had
the usual tip stall problem. The wind dropped at 3.00PM allowing me to
fly HLG for while. Selsley - Wednesday Jan 31st –
lunchtime.
Phil asked me to scribe a few words, if I had a midweek fly, so here
we go.
10 mph forecast, Westerly. Met John Williams, leaving the slope as I
arrived, struggling with two big scaly things in the 20 mph blast. Any
sign of Phil, I said? Nah, too windy for him, no challenge, he
doesn’t like it easy. How’s the lift, I said? ‘B’ freezing but
great!
Struggled to the face of the slope to find Den with a splat
disassembled Wannabee, Don screaming around with a Sid King V tailler. The
poor old Wannabee had been giving Den a few problems. Never mind, help
was on its way, unbeknown to Den.
The West bowl at Selsley was at its very best.
Strong, smooth lift to die for. Only trouble was frozen digits and
streaming eyes. The good old MiraJ didn’t care a damn. ‘I don’t
get cold’, it said as I yanked another pylon turn and a couple of
rolls.
Nice landing for my MJ and help for Den arrived. You guessed, good old Bob Steadman.
Big rubber bands and lots of sticky tape and Den’s Wannabee was,
repaired and ready for Bob’s clinic. Off it went – splat. Again
splat. Put some lead on its nose Bob said. More tape, lead and several
more splats and it eventually became reasonably well behaved and
flyable.
Indignant Den insisted the CoG was as per plan and
there was no way you could get all this lead up the nose in company of
a receiver. I’m sure he will find a way because it was flying rather
well when I left to ‘get back to work’. Apologies for taking the Michael
a little Den (and Bob).
Any rate, amongst all that excitement Bob flew his
almost new Talon mk2. Wow it rolls in a twinkle. Loops bunts and turns
on a sixpence. I was corrected when I commented that it looked a bit
‘twitchy’ by the explanation that it wasn’t but it was
‘responsive’. I guess he was right.
Anyway, the wind was dropping off very quickly and
moving more to the South and the lift deteriorating. Therefore there
was a real danger that Phil might show up with more indoor flying
stories, his PeggySue and his camera, so I went back to work. (Sorry
Phil).
A final plea. Where have all the summer softies
gone on these winter days, midweek and weekends. I wouldn’t dream of
mentioning Bill or Ade or Ian and I’ve given up on Andy F.
OK Phil, I won’t
ever scribe again……See you on Saturday, if I’m allowed back on
the slope.
Guy
Editor, arrived 3.00PM when the wind went SW, the wind came back to
west. Andy flew his blue foam vacuum bagged Zagi. I flew Bob's larger
Tallon - went well. There is now enough light to fly until
5.00PM
Thursday
Light Lift at Frocester, I flew My Hyper HLG, Andy continued trying to
get a receiver to work in his Calypso, the usual carbon problem
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