29 December 2012

Christmas Eve, eve

 Last Sunday in the bleak mid-winter....



 low on light, high over trees





working a rocky outcrop




Gary on finals




clearing the strip




post flight a-ok; time to de-rig and crack open the mulled wine!





 Let the festivities begin!

27 December 2012

christmas eve, eve, eve, eve, eve, eve, eve!

Normally we wouldn't have bothered, but seeing as how Mark promised us
he'd maiden the DG, we turn out in force!


it's the time of year for a low sun and interesting orientation issues!





Mark discus launches his mini scalie, but drops the transmitter half way through the spin!





anyone got some debonder?




finally he runs out of excuses and apart from a rather sensitive elevator, all goes swimmingly!




meanwhile in Alpina land....





 Jason returns hot and sweaty from an epic walk of shame





show some respect godamit!!





half a church roof later....




...and we're in business. Though the local pikies were seen loitering in the
lower field hoping for another out landing.



22 December 2012

Last Saturday.....



notice on the gate




Les's floater at the ready





The Essex boys are planning to stay for the duration...




meanwhile inside; something lies in wait




meanwhile outside; Mark's brand spanking new DG is poised for a maiden




suitably stealthy looking



fast arrival for someone




Sir Bob and the Mini Vec





Les waits for a gap in the paragliders





away she goes, the Fantasia owns the light conditions





Simon takes a break from his recent intense building sessions




DG awaits a more suitable day

13 December 2012

cut to the core!

A day's worth of wing cutting at Simon's gaff. It's a bit parky so
fast work makes for warm hands....


bed head Paul pretends he knows what he's doing; someone
should inform him it ain't so cool to be no jive turkey this close to Christmas!




we're set up and cleared for cutting




templates for a 4 metre plus scalie




the ingenuity of an Englishman in his shed




let the cutting begin; in the subzero conditions it takes the hotwire
about 2 weeks to get up to temperature




 it's a serious business!





voila!




a wing is born!




let's celebrate with a little heat to the hands...




and a load more to the toilet area!


10 December 2012

hiatus

whatever happened to those long ago times of regular south westerlies?