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September 2003
- Part II
Sunday 14th September 2003
Report from Jon Eades
I would like to thank all members of the Wessex club especially Dave Daniels, Phil (ZZ ?), and my old mate Ali Florence for all their helpful advice and for making us feel most welcome at Ballard on Sunday. Myself and Andy, visiting from Thames Valley club had a most enjoyable time and for me it was nice to fly at my home town for the first time. Thanks again and we'll definitely be seeing you again soon.
Report from Adrian Bull
After a weekend away I arrived at Ballards very late on Sunday. On my walk up
I watched DD and Nicole land on the beach and met up with John and Paul on
their walk down. It was looking as if I'd miss out again, which was
disappointing as I have been trying to get my first flight at Ballards for
some time. Still I needed some exercise, so decided to walk on up on the
pretence that I could always do a little ground handling. At the top I met up
with ZZ and Russell W. who were still flying in the light conditions so I
decided to give it a go and join Ali F and two other die hard pilots who were
milking the last of the lift..
I spent the next 45 mins enjoying the view across Swanage
Bay in light steady air before flying down. Well worth the walk up. Thanks
Russell for the site brief and Ali for the call.
Photos from Don Shipton
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| Along to Old Harry and back | "And I missed Don by this much!" :) | |
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| As many on the hill ...................................as in the air! | An unlikely SIV retrieve! | |
Report from Alastair Florence
Reports are coming in of sightings on Saturday of at least 3 Pterodactyl like
creatures soaring with fast precision over the Purbeck cliffs. The creatures
appeared to be soaring amongst a flock of up to 14 weird floppy flying beasts.
The floppy creatures must have been severely disturbed by this action as they
continued to swarm around the cliffs until dark.
Both species were spotted again on Sunday, the flying
floppers were still in abundance but the pterodactyl like creatures had
thinned in numbers. Similar sightings have been made in the past but rarely in
such great numbers.
Report from Dave Daniels
After minimal flying over the last two months because of my back, and having
gone visiting friends in Kent yesterday when I could see others would be
having fun, it was good to have a full day of flying again.
Ballards was active from 10am until sunset - a fantastic
sight in glorious sunshine and blue skies - the air warm enough to be very
comfortable flying in shorts and a thin shirt.
The wind was a tad easterly to start with making the lift
band a little narrow, but this improved when it veered a few degrees.
Significant height remained illusive (I think the inversion was pinning down
the dynamic lift too), but the air filled with wings whist retaining good
separation.
Chief Condor, Jon Harvey stopped off on his annual
migration flight to Hotel California - with several Condor chics in tow.
Photo by Luigi
Saturday 13th September 2003
Report from Craig Byrne
Fantastic afternoons flying at Ballard and the first soaring flight I have ever managed there in 10 years! (You should get out more! DD) Very busy but also very buoyant lift and some good sea thermals made for some interesting flights and later in the day it went a tad more east allowing flights towards Old Harry Rocks which was great fun. Neville, ZZ, Richard all had some good flights on HG's.
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| Ian Orpe | ||
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| Martin Hayward | Neville Almond | |
Photos from Jeremy Mortimer
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| RW | Martin Hayward | A fine day at Ballards |