NEWSLETTER
november 2014
Well I was expecting to report a first and last this edition. It is definitely my last edition after 9 years
as Editor and much has changed in that time. In the early days I had to print and post about 50 copies
every month; now nearly everyone (one long-standing member excluded) is on e-mail and it’s sent
with the push of a button. Also the format of media has progressed from the editor’s photos and
comments to regular flight reports and videos being circulated. This has actually posed a problem to
collate as some is clearly not suitable for ‘print’ format and is equally becoming spread beyond the
Yahoo Group to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook, with a broader audience, not necessarily members,
but also excluding those not registered with those groups. I still get mails telling me how the
Newsletter is appreciated as not everyone wants to be signed up to social media, with busy lives etc,
and the summary has been welcome.
I was also expecting a first (until just before going to print) as I had not seen any flight reports this
month. This is largely due to the terrible weather, but also due to the diverse range of communication,
mentioned above, that people are now using, which have escaped my attention.
At this time we have not yet had any volunteers to take the Newsletter forward as editor, but there is
clearly the opportunity to take the communication format forward in a more contemporary form suited
to the multi-media age.
October 2014 Meeting minutes
Christmas Curry Night: Alan reported that the available seats are getting booked up. With a limit of
about 30 people, anyone thinking about coming along needs to let him know ASAP to avoid
disappointment. As in previous years there is no commitment until about a week before the meal, at
which point anyone who hasn't cancelled their reservation will be required to pay the cost of the meal.
Darren will be laying on one of his famous quizzes to keep us awake(ish) at the end of the meal.
Colin Blagdon, PG Safety Officer, reviewed what we know of Jo's accident at Polhawn. We were
reminded that Polhawn can be a deceptively difficult place to land at if conditions are not right, and
has been the site of a serious injury to one of our members in the recent past. It seems her injury will
keep Jo out of action for some time yet, which is sad to hear. We all wish Jo a full recovery & look
forward to seeing her back in the air as soon as it's safe for her to do so.
Paul Mahoney led a very animated discussion of the BHPA's latest update to the task requirements for
Club Pilot qualification: in particular dropping the requirement for slope landing and top landing. As a
member of the BHPA Flight Safety Committee Paul was able to present the position as seen from the
BHPA perspective, where there was an overwhelming vote by BHPA members in favour of the
changes. This provoked a fair bit of debate as to who was voting in favour, since all the local clubs in
the SW were known to be vehemently against reducing the skills required of new pilots. This is
specifically of concern to those of us flying coastal sites, which can be particularly dangerous to a pilot
who is not confident in dropping in on top, or slope landing, when conditions require this.
It was felt that these changes need an update to our Sites Guide to advise new pilots which of our sites
are best suited to practising top landings and slope landings, and to add to the Site Risks where pilots
who lack these skills would need to take extra care. Colin Blagdon agreed to convene a meeting of
Coach rated pilots to advise the Club on recommended changes.
Some of the newer pilots in the Club also expressed a feeling that our Club Coach system was not
giving them the support they need to gain experience, and to encourage inexperienced pilots to get into
the air when conditions are right for them.
Darren gave a fascinating report, aided by helmet-cam video, of his recent return trip from Struddick
to Freathy by PG in quite windy conditions. In the last couple of years it has become more common to
PGs to make this flight, at least in one direction, but a successful return flight is more rare, and
requires favourable conditions as well as good pilot skills and judgement. Well done Darren.
Mike Gadd returned to relate his latest exciting adventures in the sailplane world. Since taking up the
sport, from a previous history of hang-gliding, Mike has gone from strength to strength and is really
enjoying the extra capabilities that come with a sailplane's performance. We were treated to a tracklog
review of some of his significant flights, including comps. Mike showed how stopping to top-up
height in a thermal, when his instruments told him he was safe to go on glide to goal, cost him
precious minutes that would have brought his flight time below the max limit for his Silver rating. A
lesson for him, and for those of us choosing to compete on our lesser-performance machines. He is
able to make amazing wave flights in the lee of the moor in strong easterlies - conditions that wouldn't
generally even be safe for us to fly in. The heights, speeds, glide-angles that Mike was achieving left
his audience drooling... Thanks Mike.
Next Meeting Thursday 27th November
7:30 Meet in Bar; 8:00 Meeting Start
1. Intro
Alan
15 min
2. Coaches Meeting Feedback ColB
15 min
3. RASP, or how to predict interesting weather for soaring Rebekah Sherwin
Break (Library open)
3. RASP (cont'd)
30 mins
9:00 - 9:15
Rebekah
45 mins
Meeting End 10:00
[UK] Flying News
As mentioned in the introduction, flight reports have traditionally been gleaned from the Yahoo Group
mailings or direct articles sent to the editor. The only on I have picked up on was from Bob who got
out on Monday 24th November at Beesands:
Had about an hour at Beesands this morning with Todd. Wind was way off to the north which meant we flew
well into the ne corner. Quite lumpy at times too. 190 feet ato first flight then lift was dropping as the wind
shifted a bit more east. Top landed and waited a while. Colin Beer turned up.
I had another short flight but even more lumpy and sinky. Had a brief attempt at heading to the green lz buy
was barely penetrating. Got back low and had to land(into wind) on the path after hitting massive sink on the ne
corner. First time on the path in 12 years.
Todd almost made it to the green but took s different line to the one I'd attempted along the shore which was a
better cross wind direction I thought.
Lovely egg and bacon sarny in Colin s catering truck, with a pint for afters. Mixed Beesands day out :/ fact!
I did also pick up on some video reports of flying Freathy / Polhawn on the 9th November, but no
written reports (good height though)
I also nearly missed Geoff’s report from late October, which missed the last Newsletter:
Yesterday (26th October) worked out quite well for us, we got to Trethill just after 1pm, could see the sky all
littered up with Atos’s as we drove in so it looked promising. Was fairly strong, 22-24 on take-off but after a brief
and hand to launch (Thanks Colin) We were up and away, had a nice hour flying around in sea thermals,
crossed the ranges and went the other way as far as Portwrinkle (the tandem hasn't quite got the glide I'm used
too!). I've been trying to get my sister Ros up in the tandem for just over a year; she had a fly of it too and really
enjoyed the whole thing. Even landed in one piece
Other News
Library Stocktake
Whilst caring out the Library stocktake it has come to light that 5 items have been withdrawn without
being noted in the Library book.
Simon therefore asks that some book/DVD shelf and soul searching is done to assist him in finding
and returning these items as they cannot be far away.
Books
Thermal flying for paragliding and Hang Glider Pilots
Pilot Handbook
DVDs
Paragliding Ground Handling / the Art of Kiting
Fly Another Day
Security in Flight 2
He also asks that those members who have signed out items please make an effort to return then by
November’s (2014) meeting (Text have been sent out), as he is arranging a Christmas party for them
and would hate to think some of the them will miss out, this would also enable other Club Members to
use the facility. Bob is near suicidal as he has been waiting 2 years to watch Security in Flight 2.
Next Meeting is on Thursday 27th November
7:30pm at the Royal Oak, South Brent.
Mark Ansell, Newsletter Editor,
SOUTH DEVON HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING CLUB
E-mail: 44homepark@supanet.com