Ridge running along Cotswold (from Nympsfield)

Pictures from this flight you can find here:
  / wolftheaviator  
Just browse my photo albums.

This video is made on December 2014. On this particular Sunday there was chance for ridge to be working well, but also there was quite big chance for rain as well. The day before, forecast said that it is going to be fine from 9am. I trusted the forecast and off we went.

Rain, rain, low cloud base through whole journey to Nympsfield wasn't very encouraging, but I had trust in my forecast. And indeed, weather improved since 9am. We rigged my Dart and the fun started. After a longer while fiddling on home ridge and near DUY I decided to go cross country. It was easy peasy trip, up to nearly Winchcombe, where I pushed myself too much into lee side of a hill and ended up in 3m/s sink, which nearly forced me to land out there. I learned my lesson there.

I managed to get round to Cleeve Hill, flying below or at ridge level. Then I found some decent lift, gained couple hundred feet and hoped to Leckhampton Hill. That was easy. Unfortunatelly, this was end of a day, and wind weakened. When I arrived low at the ride just before Stroud gap, it was a bit too late into day. I made one run and didn't found any lift, turned back, no lift, so I decided to land out. One the ground wind speed was nearly nil, so no wonder I ended up into field. It wasn't surprising, forecast was saying wind is going to decrease at the end of the day. I think I should trust more in forecast.

BTW, did you notice this twin engine plane? I was really surprised seeing it so close in front of me. It may not look impresive on camera with very wide angle lens (170 deg), but it lookd way bigger than on video. I just wonder whether he saw me. Mmmm...I hope so.