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.
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.
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!
Just sometimes things fall nicely into place and a clear day with easterly winds onto the Crest combined with picking the kids up in bristol later. So an early start means a perfect mornings flying. The smaller size of the Wyvern is just perfect for the domestics but its pace and performance makes it the most fun I've had on a slope.
Before the thermals started to cycle through it was possible to play with different set up combinations and get some instant feedback. IM not sure what set up is best, just different.
. When the thermals did come through it really doesn't matter what set up you use!
Dad duty taking Emma to lillieshall kept me from the nationals this weekend. It did give me the chance to sport fly one the mynd for the weekend and a perfect opportunity to fly the Falcon.
Having the wyverns to set up for the last few months means I've not flown the falcons. This is the definition of a first world problem having to choose between 2 models i love to fly.
I flew on the east slopes of the Mynd, picking up thermals and enjoying the falcon responding to better air. The falcon is the model that reminds me most of my old wizard compacts and had me smiling all day.
If last week's flying showed the speed of a ballasted Wyvern, this week the efficiency and handling was tested with a thermalling session.
I love the versatility of these highly efficient models. Normally a 3m model can be great race models which can be sports flown. With the smaller span of the Wyvern its just that much more fun.
The Wyvern certainly doesn't seem to have paid a performance penalty for delivering so much more fun.
