Mynd with mates

 My last trip to the mynd for the year was greated with building conditions to enjoy and some top company to enjoy it with.  It was great to see Mark Southall flying for the first time in a long time.

 As the air became smoother and straighter on the slope I was faced with the spoilt choice of Saker or Wyvern to fly. 

Both could take off as the air came on. I'd forgotten just how easy it is to fly the Saker and get such good performance. The bigger wing and more mass gave it the advantage in some mixed air. Days like this are more about a great time in a beautiful place. I do worry that we might have sparked Mark's racing flame again- someone else to beat me

Welsh open gathering

 So good to spend the day on the ice-cream slope today. Some great patches of air came through regularly.  The regular showers gave plenty of time for catching up with mates.

 I can't call it practise but it was great fun.

Back end development and an old favourite

   A major part of what I enjoy about flying is contributing to a model's development and understanding.

  Over the past few weeks we have been developing the new wyvern tail. The first test pieces came back this week and after a couple of evenings work I had the excuse I needed to get out.

  It's a gradual process to assess a change. Adding on to an already good model, the marginal gains becomes smaller and can be swamped by launching into good or poor air. First signs are good.

 Working with JP in recent years has shown how putting the time in to really understand a model pays dividends. I'm not going to claim to have revolutionised the sport after 1 evening out.

 The parts I needed to get my falcon back in the air have also arrived and she's ready to go. I produce models that I enjoy flying and the falcon is a model I love flying 

Time out with slope dog

  With summer finally starting to appear, slope dog and me decided to take the chance to get out and do some light wind flying.  Although I took the saker and Wyvern, it was the wyvern's lighter weight and agility that was the most fun.

  After a few light summer sessions playing with snapflap settings, compared with the saker, less is more.

 When you have camber applied there shouldn't be any snapflap. But that's just my opinion!

Take your fun when you can

 Although my weekend flying has been trumped by family commitments, summer evenings are made for enjoying your models.

  When the biggest concern you have is whether you should have snapflap working along with camber- you're relaxed.

  Choosing between a saker or Wyvern in these conditions is not easy but what a wonderful problem to have.

 Both perform exceptionally and in different ways bring a smile.

Finishing a summers weekend

  The last time that i can remember flying at Darnford was in the days of pike WRs and Acacias.  Dad's taxi wasn't needed until early afternoon so there was the chance to fly this gentle rounded slope. 

 The contrast to saturday's slope and flying could hardly have been greater.  From using thermals that had started deep below in the valley to add to the Wyverns speed to using light morning thermals to stay aloft.

 My only model for the weekend was the Wyvern but its one of the great features of these efficient models is their versatility.  Helped by predictable handling I was smiling in the sunshine again.

Return to north wales

 Before moving south nearly 20years ago i regularly flew on the northerly slope over looking llangollen.  With Emma having another training camp and the winds set from the north i decided to head back to this brilliant slope.

. The site is shared with parra and handgliders so with the breaze a summer feeling 10mph the slope was bound to be busy.  After a very friendly chat and introductions, i knew where i should fly and so did they.  

. With regular thermals coming through the Wyverns went from fun to Amazing.  The responsiveness to lift and accuracy in placing the models in the sky are the best i've flown, especially in light air.

 The best part of the day was enjoying the slope with other users. After experiencing slopes that are closed for almost half of the summer to give other model pilots use of a slope 600meters away, the difference is Amazing!