2 low saves on a 60km XC to Oxford
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- I arrived at Marlborough golf club early to get a Wilts Connect bus to Golden Ball. The bus was full of XC hounds and it was nice to catch up with some of them there no on the hill.
Some got up quickly, but I ended up back on the ground after it switched off quickly, but it thankfully came on again for a second go. Up I went and started drifting slowly over the back when I got yo 2000’. There were a couple of pilots a little above me and behind, so I made the decision to stick with now feeble lift and keep drifting. This was not the best decision as I could now see those to the front climbing strongly, where I was in danger of sinking out. I scooted over to the other two and flew with an orange and yellow Zeno who thankfully found a weak climb that I took advantage of. This eventually took me up to about 3000’ where a glide ensured, this time with a gaggle.
I got nothing on the glide but sink, and was eventually down to 300 AGL, desperately trying to work any bubbles of lift. Mr Zeno found something that wasn’t going down and I worked it until it was going up, losing it a couple of times but eventually working with the others to top out the 4400’ cloudbase. This was my lowest low save up to base, and I was really pleased.
The next 7km was easier with a lovely climb to base again at about three 15km mark. This was my favourite part of the flight as I got to fly through and around a newly forming cloud. I flew with a Photon for a while before they landed as I crossed the M4, and then enjoyed thermalling with a Red kite for a few turns. The wide angle lens did this no justice at all, but the memory will stay with me.
From the M4 I glided North East, not getting anything but could see people above a town in the distance that turned out to be Wantage. I arrived very low, almost legs out again at 300’ (sigh), but there was lift to be had. It was quite punchy, and had no opportunity to turn my cameras on as I needed to work it. This was a proper ride with tight turns to core it, and I roared back I up to over 4000’ in short order. Very happy to see Wantage getting smaller below me.
Things then calmed down a tad, and I stayed high, eventually flying with a couple of others, turning in weak lift and flying across the disused Abingdon RAF airfield.
I’d been in the air for nearly 3 hours at this point, and given that and that the last 10km had been more shaded and weak, I decided to land at Oxford rather than tyo push on in the direction of Northampton. The lure of the train station was too great.
I flew over the city at about 1200’, talking in the architecture from above, pushed on to the 60km mark and then back into wind to land just North of the city. The retrieve was ok with a train to Reading to change for Swindon, and then a taxi back to Marlborough Golf Club. I was home by 10pm. A long day out but a cracking flight.
Nicely done! Especially those low saves!
Amazing video! What is the glide ratio of those in "undisturbed air"?
Hey. 10:1 give or take but it varies wildly and any day where we can get to base it always does. It also depends on the drag, so a higher aspect competition wing with a racing harness will do better. They are heavier and bulkier though. Horses for courses 😀
@@MikeJTPG Sounds like you know your stuff! To me it looks like the conditions and performance can change so rapidly from second to second having watched your video near the could base.
Nice one Mike.
Thanks
What's the procedure when you enter dense cloud and you are not alone? How do you avoid collisions? I loved seeing Oxford college buildings from above.
Hey, The first point is to not to enter cloud at all. I should have stopped turning a 360 earlier and maintained the 45’ angle rule, but was caught off-guard as it was my first time to base that day, However, I knew I was at the edge of a small cloud so decided decent techniques such as big-ears weren’t needed. If we do inadvertently enter cloud, 1) Check on the proximity of others to be sure you’re not on a collision course. 2) Take a bearing and follow that bearing. 3) If you’re unfortunate enough to get sucked into the centre of a big cloud, pull big-ears and then put on speed-bar to get out ASAP. Keeping calm and a constant bearing to leave lift is more effective than spiralling because you’d be fighting strong lift. On big cloud days I’d have kept well clear of cloudbase and have changed course in the past to do so.
Do you guys use Flarm?
I know a fair few do now. I have an XCTracer which has Flarm on it.
Yes mate. I have Flarm on my Oudie. I also deliberately wear a bright jacket and have a wing with orange in it.
@@MikeJTPG My glider syndicate have now install strobes and a transponder, on top of having a Flarm to become as visible as possible. but when I see you guys coming out of the side of clouds it does concern me what options we would have if a para-glider suddenly came in to view at cloud base. Love the video by the way.
@@g1zhd-adam Great point, and I should have stopped turning a 360 earlier to keep to the 45’ rule but was caught off guard. If it had been a big cloud day I’d have been more switched on. I’ve seen a strobe in a PG once in Spain but it’s uncommon to say the least. I use FLARM and bright colours on my wing and jacket, because a sailplane zipped underneath me a couple of years ago when I was thermalling near Pandy. I didn’t see it coming until it was nearly on me. He was on a fast glide. I have it on video and the pilot had seen me. I’m glad you like the vid. They really don’t do the experience justice do they. 😃
This is a sailplane encounter I caught on video ua-cam.com/video/vBNXyTVzcmE/v-deo.htmlsi=u-SznxQEmL9wz45K