December 2020

Not a lot of flying this month so it's back to the archives to remind us that we can still fly in November. On the 8 November 2011, the wind was from the North West and a gaggle of pilots were able to fly on Burnbank Fell over Loweswater in the NW Lakes. Although there was a lot of cloud, the flying was good.

November 2020

Friday 30 October was a fairly wet and windy day around the county but a few Cumbrian pilots made hay while the sun shone at the coast. James reports that take-offs could be challenging and patiently waiting for the lighter-wind cycles was the name of the game. The view is from Lowca at about 4.30pm with St Bees Head visible in the background. In the foreground is pilot Pete Simmons. Photo by James Jackson

October 2020

Sunday 27 September was a light wind day with N to NW winds. Malcolm reports that there were no great climbs to be had, just some local soaring in fine scenery around Crag Fell and Grike in Ennerdale. The view is up Ennerdale with Pillar on the right. In the foreground is Andy Mac flying a Advance Omega X Alps. In the distance is Phil Kew flying a Sup Air Savage. Photo by Malcom Grout

September 2020

Fed up lugging heavy paraglider bags up hills? Here is Phil Kew trying out his new mountain glider at Sandbeds north of Carrock Fell in the NE Lakes. The glider is a single skin AirDesign UFO. The Harness is a String from Neo and it all fits in a 26 litre pack. Photo by Sarah Eilbeck

August 2020

Malcolm Grout says Thursday 9th July provided some late evening soaring at Bewaldeth. The development of convergence cloud over Skiddaw and inland was impressive. About an hour after picking up from the SW the fairly stiff breeze died away to almost nil very quickly. Rob Grout is flying his Gin Explorer. Photograph Malc Grout. The view is SW from Bewaldeth (to the north of Keswick) with Bassenthwaite lake in the background.

July 2020

Malcolm Grout reports "Sunday 14th June provided a good days flying despite many forecasts predicting rain by the afternoon. Once the high cover cleared out by around 11:30hrs in the North Lakes, the thermals got going. A mid day launch from Grisedale Pike took myself and Rob straight to cloud base. Rob flew home and landed in the field by his house. I had a pleasant tour round some of the fells in the local area including a landing and relaunch on Sail." The photo shows Bud Patterson thermalling over Crag Hill in the North West Lakes. Bud's legs are pointing towards the summit of Crag Hill and Crummock Water is above the wing. To the right of the wing is the ridge leading towards Grasmoor. Photo by Malcolm Grout

June 2020

Some of our sites were able to re open in late May. Malcolm Grout reports "After a layoff of almost 2 months to the day we were lucky enough to be able to start flying again on 20th May, with a decent enough forecast for Wasdale. The inversion started at just over 3000ft amsl so no great heights to be had, but plenty of thermal activity provided for an interesting tour of the valley. Eventually after many attempts we found a lifty line into wind across the valley to Lingmell where not surprisingly in the wind direction and strength the air was 'interesting'. A fine day out was head and home in time for tea." Paul Clarke is over Kirk Fell and the view is to the SW with Wast Water on the left. Underneath Paul is Stirrup Crag at the north end of Yewbarrow. Photo by Malcolm Grout.

May 2020

No flying this month so its back to the archives to remind us what we should be doing! This was taken on a lovely April day on Barkin Fell which is our most south easterly site. It works in a SE wind - Dentdale is to the left and Barbondale is to the right. Crag Hill is in the background. Photo by Heather Stevenson

April 2020

In mid March before the Covid-19 lockdown, Cumbria Soaring Club organised a zipwire reserve deployment day on the Keswick Climbing Walls outdoor zip wire. Here is Chris Little testing out the zip wire on the rehearsal day. Jonny Simms did a great job in organising the day which was a great success. Hopefully we can do it again next year. We didn't deploy real reserves and used dummy packs - we felt that the real value was extracting the reserve from the harness.

March 2020

A lot of storms and rain this month. Patrick Holmes was out on the 7 February and reports that they flew on Blencathra in the North Lakes "taking off from above Middle Tongue on the ridge between Blease Fell and Halls Fell top; we flew for an hour along the ridges of Blencathra. Richard Bungay was flying the GIN Gliders Camino and Patrick Holmes was flying the BGD CURE 2. Photos taken by Stuart Holmes."