Saturday, April 25, 2009

Flying around London on a paramotor

The email came through from Michel…. “You fancy trying again, with just a small group of us…?” This was another opportunity to try to fly the circumference of London. This was to be without support and a true vol biv adventure over 2 days. The group was Michel Carnet, Laura Turner, myself and my brother Ben. We met at Barry’s field, just outside Guildford and took off at about 5pm. We should have taken off much earlier. It was a beautiful day with light winds and a thermic sky. By this time the air was quite buoyant and the wind had swung around, now blowing from the south, which was good for us because just before Lasham, we headed north and made good ground. We dropped down to follow the Thames over Henley. Low evening flying over the river was QUALITY! Onwards skirting around the airspace at High Wycombe now heading East where we landed for fuel at the dis-used airstrip at Bovington. Ben and I ran down the hill for fuel – Michel and Laura laid out the machines ready for a quick take-off to squeeze in some more kilometres before dark. We tried asking some motorists for a lift back up to the airfield but they were all in a hurry (of course!) and I nearly got beaten up by the boyfriend of the girl I asked – he must have thought I was trying to crack on to her – unlikely as she looked like the back end of a bus! Anyway, we sweated our way back up the hill where Michel and Laura had laid out our gear ready for squeezing in some more kilometres before darkness.

We landed south of Potters Bar in the dark (just inside the legal time!) and slept out under the stars in our sleeping bags and bivi bags. We were tired having flown about 132kms. A big thank you to Andy who met us there with some refreshments and a little fuel. Andy flies locally nearby so knows the area well. Sadly we could not persuade him to join us for a drink in the pub which was conveniently near our chosen landing field.

Up the following morning at 4.30am to get ready. A couple of muesli bars, some water and we laid our wet wings out from the dew. There was nil wind. We had to run fast to take off. We were soon flying into the rising sun above the M25. (The above photo of myself and Ben was taken by Laura)

The world was waking up. Over Epping forest and Stapleford airspace before heading south to Damyns Hall aerodrome. We flew straight over the Thames by the Dartford Bridge and over Dartford. I was shivering with cold – why hadn’t I packed some warmer gear – and I needed a pee! I thought for a brief moment of just wetting myself as I was desperate and thought it might warm me up. Fortunately, I thought better of it and held on… trying to concentrate on the route ahead!

We were flying into a headwind, so we dropped down low leaving Swanley to our right and flew low over the golf courses in a lovely valley. This was fun. We then rejoined up with the M25 and spotted a van that had caught fire and about to explode I think – long traffic jams had jammed up behind and the Police were on the case. We were now flying back towards Guildford but we needed fuel so we landed at Clackett Lane Services and filled up. The wind had now strengthened and launching was easy – a few steps and we were off, flying once again low next to the North Downs – very scenic and a good end to another wonderful adventure, when we landed back at Barry’s field… (total distance flown: 264km) all upon our doorstep! I told you that we would be trying again soon!! We all took photos, and Ben filmed the whole thing, we want to organise a lecture later in the year for St Luke's Cancer Centre (Laura's charity). The venue will most likely be in the Guildford area.

Now we are just dreaming of the next vol biv adventure and I have some ideas!

Watch this space and see you in the air...!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Windy conditions

We arrived on a very wet Friday night with the promise of a good forecast for the weekend and for our attempt at circumnavigating London. Saturday dawned bright but the north easterly wind was just a little too strong. A few pilots did take off but most landed near Reading ending their day there. For us and everyone else, we decided to stay put hoping for lighter winds later in the day. By 4pm we were still waiting on the field and by this time had decided to drive to Damyns Hall where we had been due to fly to that day in East London.

Some pilots flew that evening as the sun was setting. We met the locals in the cafe and had a good feed which they refused to charge us for (THANK YOU Gary, if you ever read this!). Michel gave a briefing that night and we decided to be up early and out first thing. It was calm when we woke and we quickly sorted our machines. Ben, Luke and I were first off out of all the pilots. The wind was strengthening and cloudbase was only 1000ft or so... We decided to go for it heading off towards the Thames crossing it near the Dartford Bridge in cloud! We headed over Dartford and then were over more open country thankfully, waving to the golfers on a course below us.

We rounded a turnpoint at Chevening Park before following the M25 south of the North Downs. We had been travelling at about 75km/hour (groundspeed) but now we were being hit by rotor and turbulent air as we were now in the lee of the Downs as the wind blew over them before hitting us. It was very bumpy and we saw one pilot (Simon Harding) land by Clackett Lane Services. We were crabbing side ways along and trying to fly back upwind required full bar. It was rough and we decided to land near Simon and call it a day. We had only flown 34kms but it had been an experience. By the time we got back to the car at Damyns, everyone else had given up and we got home at 6pm - tired but happy after a fun weekend. Only about 7 pilots had taken off that day - 2 reached goal at Guildford in rough conditions. For me, it was not fun and certainly not worth the risk.

We plan to attempt the flight again soon... in better weather!

Thank you to Michel Carnet who organised the whole event and to all the volunteers.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Fowey

Just back from holiday and the weather was perfect for flying. Sadly I put my back out and spent most of the holiday on my back, in pain, unable to even pick up my 15 month old son Sebastian! It was sad! We were staying in a beautiful cottage just 2 miles from Fowey on the south coast. My brother Ben came down and flew along the coast a few times trying to tell me it was boring so I wouldn't feel too green with envy! He lied! Check his blog for photos if you want to be green too! (http://benclowes.blogspot.com/2009/04/coastal-flying-in-cornwall.html)

The most exciting news is that we are gonna join the paramotor rally where pilots are flying around London over 2 days. If you want to join us please check out this link. The event is open to all competent XC pilots. Ben and I plan to give a lecture afterwards in aid of St Luke's Cancer Center, showing film and photos from the flight. Venue and date TBC.

The start and finish points will be Homestead Farm, a small campsite near Guildford. One of the aims of the circumnavigation is to raise money for St Luke's Cancer Centre, just round the corner from the campsite.

The confirmed 264km route (which was finalised on 14th April) will be flown clockwise, with an overnight stay at Damyns Hall aerodrome where there will be an evening BBQ and full English breakfast.

There is no entry fee for the rally, but both Homestead Farm and Damyns Hall aerodrome will charge small fees for the use of their facilities.

Details can be seen at the following link...
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=d7v5wp7_8cb2f4ccd&pageview=1&hgd=1&hl=en

Michel Carnet is organising the event.

Let's hope for sunshine...