With a fierce NW wind and spectacular forecast all the gliders were rigged before briefing, Bo suggested a very unstable airmass with strong climbs and a huge cloud base. Launch conditions were extremely sporting, requiring full deflections and nerves of steel. Rowan claimed to to have a squirrel on his wing during the initial ground run and H5Matt was commended by tug pilot for managing to hang on during the first few hundred feet. The air smoothed out above 700’ and the gliders were dropped off one by one onto Y’Das.
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| Eagle over Y'Das |
6knot thermals were in abundance with a sprinkling of 10 knotters thrown in for good measure and with the 6000’ cloud base we all thought cross country ahoy…..but
The tephigram showed positive convective available potential energy CAPE (ask google) in the atmosphere all the way up to 18 thousand feet. It wasn’t long before the surging updrafts were producing towering cumulus all around us which soon had white columns of snow and hail joining them to the ground. It gave me the impression that we were flying in amongst some kind of Alice in wonderland giant mushroom forest.
The tephigram showed positive convective available potential energy CAPE (ask google) in the atmosphere all the way up to 18 thousand feet. It wasn’t long before the surging updrafts were producing towering cumulus all around us which soon had white columns of snow and hail joining them to the ground. It gave me the impression that we were flying in amongst some kind of Alice in wonderland giant mushroom forest.
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| Rowan in the giant mushroom forest |
The Black mountain ridge was working well again providing a safe place to fall back too after pushing north into wind exploring the streets before they turned to showers. James said he had his highest thermal climb ever toping out at 6300’ QFE above Talgarth (970amsl).
Everyone had long flights with JB putting in another 6hrs in the air narrowly pipping JP and Nick Jones in the Eagle for the longest flight. After the usual team derig James set off into the sunset homeward bound with ENW on tow and the rest of the team retired to a pub in Crickhowell.
Everyone had long flights with JB putting in another 6hrs in the air narrowly pipping JP and Nick Jones in the Eagle for the longest flight. After the usual team derig James set off into the sunset homeward bound with ENW on tow and the rest of the team retired to a pub in Crickhowell.
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| The Black Mountains |
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| The ridge basking in the sun before another snow shower |
