First Time on Top!

Summary of flying for Wednesday 29 December 1999
Total Hours0h 35m
Best Height Gain300 feet
Total Flights2

It was a little warmer than the last time when I visited the Devil’s Dyke. The wind was cold, but bang on the hill. After I rigged, I was assisted to launch and hang checked. I had a good launch and found it relatively easy to stay up. A grin was painted upon my face as I was reminded of my first soaring flights at the start of the year!

As part of my pre-flight chats, I had been given plenty of tips about top landings. To date I hadn’t completed one, so with what I though was sufficient height, I decided to top land in the Paddock! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but as I passed the point of no return, I realised I was a little low and swooped into the Paddock between the brick structure and copse of trees at the rear of the Paddock! I narrowly made it but was safely landed.

I was greeted and assisted as I carried my glider back to the edge of the field. I was advised that on my next top landing, it might be a good idea to have a little more height [good advice].

A short while later, I realised the advantage of a top landing; it's relatively easy to fly again as the glider was mostly rigged, albeit collapsed flat. So, with that I set off for my second flight but this time, a combination of my poor piloting skills and the weakened conditions, I ended up bottom landed again!

Flying Log(s)


TypeHill Launch
DateWed, 29 Dec 1999 - 12:00
GliderAirwave Calypso
SiteDevil's Dyke
Duration00h 25m
CommentsNNW (15-20mph) first top landing!
Height Gain300 ft
Distance
Total Hours02h 33m

TypeHill Launch
DateWed, 29 Dec 1999 - 14:00
GliderAirwave Calypso
SiteDevil's Dyke
Duration00h 10m
CommentsNNW (10mph) maintained for a while then bottom landed.
Height Gain0 ft
Distance
Total Hours02h 43m

Total Flying Statistics

The total flying statistics up to and including 29 Dec 1999:

Total Hours2h 43m
Longest Flight0h 30m
Gliders Flown2
Unique Sites Flown6
Best Height Gain300 feet
Total Distance0.0 km
Furthest Flown0.0 km
Total Flights13
Hill Launches13
Winch Launches0
Aerotow Launches0