When you get that feeling things arnt quite right

Post by **colin keightley** » Sun May 11, 2014 10:44 pm

Interesting day today went to Moorfoots and got treat to an experience.

On the way there I was watching the sky all the way with John Wallis's comments about big clouds in the front of my mind as I passed Coldstream the clouds started to thin out with good patches of blue so you could see the tops of cloud which were only small.

About 5 mins after arriving at Moorfoots it went to complete cloud cover but I wasn't worried as each little hole that went past made the clouds look very small in height.

After waiting around for others I seen a large downpour over the Firth of Forth so waited another 10mins then decided I should fly before the rain got there.

As I left the car others arrived and I made my way to take off. As I got to take off it didn't quite feel right, what's was a good bit of wind at the car was greatly reduced on takeoff. I was also conscious of the clouds getting darker.

I decided to take off anyway, pulled the wing up turned around and launched without a step forward. As I immediately went skywards I decided to pull forward over the road till I was comfortable that I had good penetration.

This is when I realised it wasn't hit lift and sink associated with the geography of the ground and the lift was from above, so pointed into wind and out over the field, finding myself going up I added 1/2 bar but still going up then 3/4 bar and still going up, big ears and I was 0's so added the bar and started coming down. I was already going through my action plan by point of ears deciding I would ears, b-line, spiral. In that order. Anyhow made it down safely.

Looking back there were a few tell tale signs, the huge cell that was coming towards us the darkening sky which suggest heavily laden or cloud with altitude.

berow · Post by **berow** » Sun May 11, 2014 11:18 pm

Good account. Thanks for being the dummy!

Sad Northerner · Post by **Sad Northerner** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:43 am

Ummm....interesting, can't say that I haven't been in that situation before. Remember the rate of development is probably more important than the size of the cloud.

Good to see an open and honest attitude from you Colin.

Ali

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon May 12, 2014 12:35 pm

I even got a text from Tony Anderson saying be careful there's some monster CBs around today. There certainly was

On the way up even Kate said the sky looks very menacing is it OK for you to fly (And she knows nothing about the weather!! )

Like Ali said I've also been caught in big cloud suck on the Hang Glider and it's terrifying I would hate to get caught out in a Paraglider some of these CBs can go up to 60000 feet get caught in that and you're frozen and dead.

Food for thought!!

berow · Post by **berow** » Mon May 12, 2014 1:21 pm

Does that apply to moon thermals?

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:37 pm

Especially moon thermals

Post by **colin keightley** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:51 pm

My Tracklog is up on the league it looks very uneventful even on google earth, but I think this this was down to early decision making, as I left the hill and lift was increasing I new something wasnt right so took instant action

Post by **colin keightley** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:53 pm

Oh and ive got the full 3min flight on video