Winners & Losers - Glencoe 1st April 2018

Well there was no losers for those who venture to the great outdoors of Glencoe,  Long long time ago it was spotted to be a favourable forecast for the area so with many emails"! and debates, and the usual babbling going on it was gentleman Jim   Dudley that came up with a formulating plan of action with pick up points and what not a plan was drawn up for those that where interested in a Easter weekend of flying at the mighty coe. The 7 am start morning meet at stow for Dud's black beast pronto naebother for rob and myself driving through inches of snaw to be on time, Pick up point 2 the outskirts of Edinburgh so we parked in a small lay by and awaited, out of the gloom a tall fluorescent alien figure appeared with a muckle bright kit bag it was dynamite Dave excited as ever and off we went to catch the silver fox alias Dek's dastardly identified by a dent on the rear end of his blue-ish vehicle, so on to pick up right said Fred at pick up point 3 to who jointly collaborated the outing. And we all met up with Stephen at Stirling services and a bit of a pit stop was indeed needed the agreed area to fly was the mighty Coe.  Fred swapped cars went with Stephen  and with Dek's dastardly stroking his beard in a skulk like muttley manner  slink ed off and was along gone man, Dudley said who can get lost in a car park and Dave arrived clutching a coffee gentleman Jim no more Dudley put his Jackie Stewart face on and the beast fired into life, hyper mode selected and the border ant hill mob was rocking and rolling he was not satisfied til he had them both tagged in his sights a white knuckle ride or what a quietness fell upon the inside of the car or was it just us viewing the big mountains with a bit of in trepidation. Rob spoke zen about being at cloud base and said to us all it helps to take deep breaths and find your karma by that time we had all arrived at Glencoe at about 9:15 safe and sound ( P L F s out of the big black beast into a crowded car park and off to buy a ticket before the masses.  Ganyersel Jackie Stewart the rally is over.   

 

 

Tally ho wizard prang old chaps, On the hill we will go the weather was glorious fast Freddie was quick of the mark grabbing the chair with the fly emirates logo gan 1st class, Stephen and myself following soon after the others felt the urge of bacon sannys. At the top we wandered over to take off pausing to take in the stunning views with plenty pilots there with kit out but not a whisper of wind a few fluffed forward launches and yet more pilots arrived making the take off area busy a couple got off and went straight down. 

On the type of day it was wing beat crew formed a huddle and discussed strategy and laid out there weapons of choice it seemed quite evident with some katabatic flow was present with wings levitating inches of the ground. Share knowledge, It's a way to achieve immortality. With some clouds approaching Fred explained to Stephen and i push out to the valley winds that's where all the thermal activity was on this given day so everyone seem to have a plan for the day. But still zero wind on top there has been some chat of conditions of the day in question on various other forums. However pilots where becoming restless with different tribal dances i do think they where just trying to stay warm me and Stephen was discussing cloud formations over a cupa tea when Julian Robertson 12th in the world launched on a carrera and off he went. Wingbeats Blainslie Brigadier on is new Sigma 10 was summoned to the fold fanned down and prepped for the challenge a head has he rolled his neck with a deep deep breath. Fred nipped in first and pursued the Carrera followed swiftly by oor Rob wing beats silent assassin they searched for a while until 8 to 10 gliders roamed the sky at high altitude, I'm pleased to announce oor Rob was top of the stack in nae time bravo. With that space became available the wind dropped off again but direct Derek must have got away on the cure myself moved across to the walk up path area to get away forward launching. But only managed about half an hour and was on the deck tried over the car park out by the road but nothing you would of thought on such a day that with heavenly intervention it would be easy to no avail. With Dudley Stephen and Dave still on top i looked at my instruments 3 m/s sink 0.9 m/s lift the day was done for me Dave and Derek went back up for another shot but the day was gone. Myself and Dudley headed for the cafe and some tea with cream cake waiting to hear the news of our wing beat hero's the rest you already know. For me the hero of the day award goes to Stephen Wisdom who talked up on the hill much about his cloud formation theory and it worked he reached a personal best of 5,000 ft well done that man. Dave and Rob turned up and Fred charming the tourists for a lift back from Oban, Derek was down by bridge of know where guzzling ale so all the crew was accounted for and Fred drove Charlies Silverton camper van down to Bridge of Orchy Fred was in and out 5 different vehicles he must of felt like nobody's child the sun was going down and with a bit of shoot the breeze chit chat stuff. And everyone seemed to have had a great day, the sun drifted behind the hills with all the formalities over. As Big John says head em out we are burning daylight. A day to remember by all and from Robs point of view he dedicates the day to his friend Colin. Thanks to all gid company a special thank you to the Cloven Laird Dudley for the driving, Long live the little big club.

 

Jed That's all for now Fans