Editorial

        The Ed. Is dead, long live the Ed! Many thanks to Roger for the work he’s done over the past years – he’ll be a hard act to follow.
        I’ll outline what I want to do while I’m editor, then you can contact me and tell me what it is I should be doing!
        First, I intend to get a magazine to you every quarter (January, April, July and October). The deadlines for publication will be the 20th of the preceding month (non-flexible).
        Next, I want a balance of paragliding and hang gliding topics, but this is dependent upon you getting interesting articles to me. I’ve tried to make a start in this issue. Don’t worry if your spelling, etc., is a bit iffy – I am supposed to edit , and that includes checking & corrections – just get those articles in to me. If you have photographs to support your writing, so much the better.
        If you are new to free flying, then remember you bring a fresh insight to the sport. If you are a more experienced flier, then pass on worthwhile info. and tips about flying, equipment and our sites via the mag.
        Thirdly, I’ll introduce a Members Write page, if you demonstrate a demand: the magazine should be an open forum, in my opinion, but remember that all members are welcome to attend Committee Meetings (2nd Tuesday each month, New Cross-Keys Pub, Yarm High Street, Yarm).
        Next, members may advertise gear for sale/wanted for free. This doesn’t apply to traders reading this – you’ll find our rates very reasonable!
        Finally, Geoff and Steve are still searching for items for the club’s website. You’ll find the address at the back of the mag. Photographs are especially welcome – Geoff’s always requesting more hang glider shots.

Pete Wiles

New Chairman’s Chat.

        Well, finally, I’ve managed to get out of the NYSC’s Secretary job! And what have I landed myself with instead?...Time will tell...I just hope I’m able to follow adequately in Ana’s footsteps. My thanks to her as outgoing Chairman. She has done a marvellous job and the club’s many achievements over the past year are in no small part due to her enthusiasm, drive and capabilities. Personally, I’m proud of what the club has done in the last year – just read the AGM minutes (on web page, abridged in newsletter, or in full from me) and you’ll realise how much that is. Fortunately for the club, Ana is continuing her active role as Secretary, so we will continue to benefit from her involvement.

See you on the hill……….Jonathan

Flying Trips 1999

        Through 1999 there are various trips abroard planned and I am gathering together some details of these where the instigators are happy to either meet up at the location or, perhaps, even to share travel and accommodation. However, don’t expect people to organise your holiday for you.

         If you are planning a trip, and are willing to go on this list, please contact Jonathan Greenwood. If you want to know what trips are planned, he’ll keep the list up to date and can give details at any time.

Freedom in the Sky
Flying with the Mosquito

        No more sitting on windy hills, or driving for an hour and a half to find the wind crossed, or too light, or the hill clagged in. No, this isn’t an advert for Wendy Windblows – read on.

        A year ago last May I received a phone call from Graham Geary, asking if he could fly his Mosquito from my farm. After he explained what a Mosquito was, it seemed that this would be worth seeing. I watched him launch several times and on one flight he climbed out to 7000 feet. Thinking that this was certainly worth having a go at, I talked to Nick Pain about it while sitting on Sutton Bank, waiting for the wind to drop, and we decided to buy one between us.

        Our Mosquito finally arrived, three months later and, since then, I have not been to the hills very often. To be able to rig next to my house, strap the powered harness onto the glider, and then launch in less time than it takes to drive to the nearest site, is like a dream come true. I have often looked up to the sky above my farm, seen the wave clouds, and then wished that I had some means of reaching them.

        Well, now I have!
        The Mosquito only carries 4 litres of fuel, so the idea is not to use it as a microlight, but to use it to seek out areas of weak lift on low revs. These areas may then be worked until they become stronger, and then the revs can be reduced so that you can climb without power. The engine can be switched off when the thermals are good, but it is best not to totally rely on being able to restart the engine in the sky.
        A flight that I remember from last May typifies the advantages of the Mosquito. Although the day was overcast at first, it cleared unexpectedly by lunchtime and there was a fantastic-looking sky beckoning. I was ready to launch into a light north-easterly in less than an hour.

        After launch I throttled back at about 500 ft ato and climbed steadily to just below base at 3500 ft amsl. I started heading into wind and decided to see if I could reach the coast 14 miles away. It was fairly easy going into the 10 mph wind as the climbs were close and fairly strong. If I did sink below 1000 ft agl I increased the revs and maintained altitude while searching for lift. Once past Peterlee, however, I discovered that the coastal effect had killed off all the thermals. Checking the fuel situation I found that I still had half a tank left so, instead of heading straight back, I searched around Peterlee for a while, hoping that Nick would look out of his classroom window! I then headed for Durham City for a sightsee and finally returned home to complete a 32 mile triangle. Once back there was still over a litre of fuel left, so I played around up the side of a cloud for a while and practised a few air starts. These are not usually a problem when the engine is warm, but can be more difficult if the engine has been off for a while and has cooled.

        Half an hour after landing, the sky looked totally dead. The active sky had only lasted just over 3 hours, which made the flight all the more memorable since, prior to having the Mosquito, I would not have been able to take advantage of such a slot in the weather.

        Mosquito flying will never replace my hang gliding, but it does open up a lot of opportunities, such as new areas to fly in, the ability to check out different clouds and thermal sources and, generally, more freedom in the sky. It also has the great advantage for me in that it enables me to fly when I only have a few hours to spare during the day, between morning and afternoon milking, when travelling to a site would be impossible.

S.I.V. in TURKEY
Report by Pete Wiles on NYSC trip last October.

        Following one of Jocky Sanderson’s XC/SIV talks earlier this year, and after a bloody awful first half of the year, with little flying, Ana and I decided to return to Olu Deniz , which is becoming increasingly popular for Paragliding. The place has warm memories for us: I had my first paragliding flight there (a dual) in Oct. 95, and we returned with CPCs (gained with Northern Paragliding) in Oct. 96 to fly the mountain ourselves.

        Others (Geoff and Steve Burke, Dave Smart, Jennifer Armstrong and Andy Burgess) rapidly expressed interest and, late October, we left a cold, blown-out UK behind us, landing at Dalaman mid-afternoon. We were settled in the Hotel Taner, about 200m from the beach, by early evening. Next morning we met Jocky and Kayhan (a Turkish flier helping Jocky) at The Flying Dutchman hotel, for a briefing. However, the day was blown out, so we piled in a dolmus to Hisaronu, then later ate out in Fethiye.

        The weather was to play with us for the rest of the week: we just about finished the SIV, but never started the XC element of the course.
        On Monday low cloud meant a take-off from the 800m site – this was very committing, being fairly short with a sheer cliff at the bottom.

        Straight towards the bay then, once over water, Jocky (in a boat below) would instruct. First exercises were Big Ears: first single, then two of three A lines – not a lot of leading edge left, but solid with a quick descent. This was followed by B. Lining and wingovers. Jocky constantly pushes for harder control input, weightshifting where possible (including in B. Lining), and our techniques rapidly improved. Each landing had to be a spot landing. The day ended with a debrief, then on to one of many cheap restaurants for excellent grub! 

Waiting for the wind to drop, at 2000+ metres,
on top of Baba Dag. Temp is -5 in wind on top, 30+ on beach.
Left-Right: Ana, Pete, Dave, Jennifer, Geoff,
(kneeling) Andy and Steve.

        Tuesday’s weather was windy and wet, so Jocky arranged some sightseeing, with Kate and little Josh accompanying the group.

        Next day we used the 1700m T.O., which put us over water at around 4500+ feet. Tried B Lines again, finding that the 3 riser Spears pulled in with much lighter pressure than 4 riser Sabers, which needed a pull up out of the seat and Arnie-biceps! After this came symmetric deflations, firstly normal, then dynamic (ie. pitch back then induce on pitch-forward) , then using full speed bar. The exercises were then repeated for assymmetrics. These popped out automatically on both Sabers and Spears, so we then had to grab the A lines above the risers and really sink them, to induce a rapid turn/spin onset, before recovering. This pop-out on the Saber surprised me (pleasantly), since Big Ears need to be pumped out on this wing. Very confidence-building. Wingover practice and rapid course reversals finished the flight before landing on a warm beach.

        No second flight, since a gust front and cloud necessitated a drive back down the mountain. Pundits have called Jocky’s SIV courses s***-inducing: this was meaningless to some of us, since Turkish tummy was now rife, and what you don’t have, you can’t give!

        Thursday morning – you guessed! We drove up the mountain, then back down – high winds. The afternoon was better, and we launched from the 1800m T.O. , which was bloody awful being cross-wind and, basically, a rubble heap of stone and boulders.

        This time we searched for Point of Stall, slowly pulling more brake until the wing began to fall behind. The idea was not to look at the wing, but to feel the stall onset and wing behaviour/feel just before this. The brakes on my Saber were almost down by the base of my seat before stall began. This was then repeated a couple of times, inducing deeper resultant dives and dive-damping. After this, straight into onset of Amp-Max Spin/recovery, then opposing 360s with smooth but tight reversals, using dive energy for entry to opposite 360. We finished, as usual by now, with wingover practice before beach landings.

        Friday! Miracles do occur – really good conditions. First take offs from 1700m, second from 1900m. First exercise was stalls. Right! Now I know I can do them AND recover okay, but…..no, I do not like them! Not yet, anyway. Once over the practice area Jocky gave instructions re. entry and when to recover then, on the third and after, it was in our own time. Each type of wing had its own idiosyncracies: the Saber definitely likes to dive and has an affinity for cravattes, while the Spear becomes "untidy" - in Dave’s words, "It turned into a ball of washing." Whatever, all recovered and, as Jocky emphasised, stalling can get you out of far worse situations. Anyway, after several stalls it was into course reversals and wingovers, then touchdown.

        Andy was the stall show-off! His Saber cravatted and he had the tightest spiral I’ve seen as a result. He persevered with recovery, needing both hands in addition to weightshift to force opposing brake, then pulled into normal flight just before Jocky ordered reserve throwing. Andy recovered well, and his next exercises showed no sign of nerves.

        Everyone was on a real adrenaline buzz after the stalls, and went into the afternoon session with mixed feelings. Certainly, I was nervous after seeing Andy’s cravatte, and I think others felt the same.

        We started with more stall practice, increasing skills and confidence each time, then began Spiral Dives. Tremendous! After these, wingovers, then into land. We didn’t know it, but this was our last flight of the week. We intended getting up the mountain early on Saturday: our airport coach was collecting us at 11.00. In the event, conditions looked iffy, but we set off, only to meet an early truck coming back down with its pilots – too windy! Back to the hotel for a rapid pack, then a last meeting at the poolside with Jocky and Kayan, then we began our journey home.

        Reflections? We came at a time when the Turkish weather, normally very predictable, is becoming unstable. We still have the intro. to Flat Spin to do, but that’s all from the SIV. The XC would have been nice but, personally, I went primarily for the SIV. This has already proven its worth in unpredicted, really marginal conditions over Hedley Hill. You learn much about your wing, how it will perform in extreme situations, how really safe standard and performance wings are and do this in an environment where, if things go wrong, the worse you are likely to get is very wet.

        The Olu Deniz area is beautiful, and there’s plenty for the family to do. The people are ultra-friendly, the restaurants are cheap and offer a tremendous variety of foods – anything from egg and chips to truly Turkish.

        The flying potential really will blow your socks off. The worse you get is a flydown from a 6200 ft launch, over stunning scenery, to land on a very long sandy runway – then a Turkish team will pack your wing, expertly, for £1.00. At the other end, the scope for XC is awesome, and there are several other sites within easy driving distance. Remember, we were in the very last week of the season: the weather is generally much more stable.

        Ana did some SIV and became better acquainted with her new Flair. Jen has had very little air time since CPC, and really enjoyed her flying – how many reading this have flown their wings above 5 grand? Steve , who began flying this year (and you know what that’s been like) received some intensive tuition from Jocky, and really lifted his flying experience. As for the rest of us, read between the lines above! Suffice it to say, we’ve all booked already for early next year.

SITES INFORMATION – VERY IMPORTANT.

Please ensure you carefully read this.

        I visited Mr/Mrs Saddington at the Stud Farm (they live there in a caravan) and talked with both of them calmly for a couple of hours. It transpired that they have a few concerns and some new rules which they wish to be implemented in order to allow NYSC to continue using the site. THESE ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND MUST BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO (see below).
        The club has always had a testing relationship with the Saddingtons, a lot of which I feel is due to the lack of communication between the club and them. In the past we have tended only to deal with the Gliding Club: this was an obvious mistake. Hence, the only time we hear from the landowner is when a small solvable problem has escalated into a much greater one. I aim to solve this by visiting them on a more frequent basis – a bottle of whisky at Christmas probably wouldn’t go amiss, either.
        A very valuable exercise in all, as the club now knows who owns the land around the area. Contrary to popular belief, the Saddingtons do own the take-off area, plus all the land down the front and across to the eastern side of the council road. A full map will be issued with the final version of the new site rules.

        Another concern is a couple of approaches to members by a guy claiming to own the glider station land, as reported in the last newsletter regarding Gold Hill and grouse. This is, of course, incorrect. If you are approached by someone, first stay calm, then ask his name or, if he is a gamekeeper, the landowner’s name. Unless it is Saddington, the person does not own the glider station land. Please study the map of the landowners to identify the Saddington’s and, indeed, anyone else’s boundaries. Then, if you are approached, at least you know the facts regarding the land ownership, and you can politely point out to them that they do not own that land, and that we have permission from the landowner to fly there.

Phil Mackereth
Sites Officer

NYSC INTERNET WEB SITE

        The Club Web Site may be found using the following Internet address: http://www.ssb1cam.force9.co.uk

Geoff and Steve Burke

NYSC Paragliding and
Hang Gliding Coaches

This list is very incomplete. We’ll have an up-to-date one in the next magazine.

NYSC PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

        Many excellent entries were submitted, and were judged under several categories. The winners are reproduced here, in monochrome because of printing costs, but the images will give an indication of the imagination and skill of their photographers. Very well done to all concerned. Your photos will be getting an exhibition more worthy of them on the club’s Web Page. More next issue.

HANG GLIDING
AIRWAVE:
THE CHALLENGE 99

        So what happened last year?
        First mistake was leaving it too late in the season to get started, and then abandoning the competition on three weekends due to unsuitable forecasts for the Dales area. When you look at the calendar, there aren’t that many weekends until the Airwave semi’s, so we must start earlier in the season and also be prepared to travel the two hours to the Pennines, Peaks or Lakes.
        Second mistake was competing against clubs who had not actually paid their entrance fees to the Airwave and so didn’t count when scoring.
        Third mistake was not having enough pilots. In the comp that we did fly, on Wether Fell, against Dales, Lakes, Pennine, Peaks and Northumbria, we came second to the Dales. We had two pilots who scored from the four who flew but, if we’d had a full complement of six, then we could have won.
The Dales won because they had six pilots’ scores from which to choose the best four and not (as is the vicious rumour) because they were doing the scoring.
        The first two mistakes can hopefully be avoided this year, weather permitting. The last one is a bit trickier as everyone has other commitments. However, to kindle some competitive flame in budding league pilots, some local comps will be organised. These will take the form of local tasks, set on any flying day, open to everyone and varied according to the flying conditions. By keeping tasks to a reasonably short duration it should be possible to have several attempts in the day, and there will be an organised retrieval system to encourage this. This is a second club for many of our members, so it should be possible to build this local comp format into a friendly interclub skirmish, with the losers forking out at the Blackwell Ox at the end of the day.Task setting will pay due regard to site sensitivities.

        From the New Year there will be a tally kept on broken uprights and other general cock-ups, with the winner being suitably rewarded at the annual barbeque. Anonymous phone calls are a perfectly acceptable way of dishing the dirt on your friends.

See you on the hill. Brian Freeman (01609 777854)

A Short Message
from your Safety Officer.

        The AGM has been and gone, and I must thank all members at the meeting for electing me into a second year in charge of safety. As luck has it, this is not an onerous job, with few incidents relating to safety occurring at NYSC sites. It was with great sadness, however, that we all heard of Rob Turner’s death at Carlton. Two minutes silence was held at the AGM in Rob’s memory, and it was hard not to shed a tear for a most experienced pilot who was always ready to talk to and encourage any pilot, be they para or hang.
        Our sympathies are with Rob’s wife, Lindy, and his family.
        I have requested a copy of the Board of Enquiry’s report, when available, for club records.
        The old reminders may therefore need dragging out again, lest some of us forget.

Read your Sites Guide.        It gives information about every site, to help you plan and fly safely, with consideration to met. conditions. Eg. the rather rough air that can be found at Captain Cook’s: the site guide states this, and it’s true.
Try flying back in this direction at your peril! Look at the map!
This is just one example – there are many more.

New and Low Airtime Pilots.         Please, please seek out and hound your club coaches to fly with you, to give site and met. advice. Phone numbers may be found in this newsletter. We are not instructors, nor fountains of knowledge, but may have a little hard-won advice to share.

Check your kit.        Especially that all-important reserve pin, every flight. If you still have a split pin, get rid of it now and use a curved one which won’t jam. It can be very tempting to save a few quid on wires or lines. I have to admit to being the tightest git around when it comes to parting with cash but, if in doubt, get a second opinion or consult a local reputable dealer. I guarantee it’s cheaper than a visit to hospital!

Watch the Conditions.        If ever unsure, even if you don’t know why, land – but NOT down in the fields below Model Ridge, or the stud farm at Carlton.
Safety is planning. Aim not to be there for the security of these sites. If these areas were water, no pilots in their right minds would have the slightest difficulty in ensuring a wide berth. Real emergencies are an exception, of course.

Coastal Flying.        Many of us fly the coast when it’s too strong inland, or after work. It seems obvious, but always leave yourself a landing area – most of the cliffs rotor a long way back ( I’ve done time with this before, and it’s not fun). Remember that there have been water deaths this year: we don’t want to add to the toll.
So, after the doom and gloom, enjoy your flying. I will. And don’t miss out on those odd winter days when ridge soaring conditions can be excellent.

Best wishes, Malcolm

In Memory of Rob Turner

On Wednesday 4th November 1998 we lost a friend.

Rob Turner died while flying at Model Ridge. For an unknown reason Rob impacted heavily with the hill whilst flying across onto Carlton bank. He was killed instantly.

Rob’s death has left a gap in our lives and things will never be the same out on the hill without him around. Rob was one of those people I got to know when I started flying, and was instrumental in getting me soaring and turning me into the pilot that I am today. It was Rob’s calm but authoritative voice which could often be heard on the hill encouraging this rather nervous fledgling flier into the air when I might otherwise have found excuses and talked myself out of it.

Rob spent his flying career encouraging other pilots in the same way. Aviation in all its aspects was Rob’s life and, as well as hang gliding, he also spent many years microlighting, as well as trying his hand at paragliding (ignoring the inevitable ribbing from his hang gliding mates). Recently he embraced the latest change to the CAA regulations, and purchased a Mosquito power unit for his hang glider.

We said goodbye to Rob on the 11th November at a moving ceremony in Newcastle, and gave him a good send-off afterwards, the sort of get together of pilots Rob would have loved to have been at, which of course he was – in spirit.

A permanent memorial to Rob will be erected at the Bowl (Shill Moor) in Northumberland. What better place to remember Rob than on a beautiful Northumbrian hill which he enjoyed flying many, many times. Rob will be remembered as a true gentleman, an ambassador for our sport. My sympathies go to Lindy, his wife, and Lisle and Jenny, his children.

David Hume, Member of NYSC and Northumbria HPC.

Outgoing Chairman’s Chat

As outgoing Chairman I would ask you to welcome Jonathan Greenwood as your new Chairman. Jonathan has filled the Secretary post for many years, and has done some sterling work but, due to job constraints, cannot now fulfil the administrative burden. I shall be taking this over for the next year and hope that I can reach the standard already set.
        I have enjoyed my time as Chairman of the NYSC and have thought of it as a great honour, being relatively new to the sport – the learning curve has been quite steep! For the past year you have had a team of people working for your club who have been dedicated to making a success in all aspects of club life, and it has been a joy to work alongside them..
        The star of last year’s Committee, it must be said, was Jennifer Armstrong. Jennifer’s enthusiasm, energy and patience are second to none. So many initiatives have sprung from her– see the AGM minutes.
The other "notables" are also mentioned in the minutes, together with a brief description of their contributions.
        During my "period in office" (rather grand!) the Committee, on your behalf, achieved the following ( I mention these items as I am very proud of what has been achieved in a very poor flying year).