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."

February 2020

Malcom Grout reports "St Bee's again! Monday the 20th January saw a number of pilots at St Bee's in a reasonably stiff breeze. Both the main cliffs and dunes were soarable, although with the wind off to the south slightly it was not possible to progress south past the end of the dunes. We had been in touch with Dave Eva earlier to let him know it was too windy at Bewaldeth, so a big thanks for letting us know it was on at St Bee's. The pilot is Rob Grout, photograph Malc Grout." This is the south side of St Bees looking to the north

January 2020

In Winter, you have to be able to grab the opportunities when they come! Patrick Holmes was out in early December and reports "Taken during the lovely spell of sunny weather at the beginning of the month. A 10 minute fly down in zero wind at sunset from the top of Catbells, landing in Newlands Valley. The photo was taken with a chase cam attached by a length of line to a hang point near the trailing edge of the glider." Skiddaw is the high point in the centre of the photo, Derwent Water with Keswick in the background on the right and the Newlands Valley to the left.

December 2019

Just because winter is coming, it doesn't mean you can't fly! Malcom Grout reports that on 10 November "Rob, myself and Paul Clarke launched into a nice breeze from Yewbarrow at the head of the Wasdale valley. We made a tour of all the tops on the north side of the valley from Buckbarrow to Gt Gable returning to land at the foot of Yewbarrow. We enjoyed some nice convergence as the wind veered and a low save from tree top height above the landing field which just could not be ignored. A fine day out for the time of year." Scafell Pike is directly above the wing with Scafell on the right with the gap of Mickledore between the two peaks. Photographer Malc Grout. Pilot Rob Grout flying his Gin Explorer.

November 2019

Saturday 26th October started wet, but drying up late morning and clearing to sunshine with rapidly increasing wind. A short opportunity presented itself. The picture shows Malc Grout flying a Gin Atlas, launching from Bewaldeth on the way to Keswick. Photo by Gordie Oliver.

October 2019

On Tuesday 10th September, Air Ventures had a lady with motor neuron disease to fly tandem. The day was forecast to be reasonably unstable with wind increasing from light westerly to strong SW throughout the day. We launched from Bewaldeth into a good soarable thermic breeze early afternoon. It was possible to thermal high above Binsey and explore out front, although ground speed was limited in the increasing wind. We had a lovely flight landing after 50min due to increasing wind strength and our passenger getting a little chilly - making a perfect touch down with very effective landing assistants, Gordie Oliver, Rob Grout and student pilot Jess. The picture was taken by Rob Grout. Pilot Malcolm Grout, the Flyability wheelie chair borrowed from The Flight Park and Air Ventures Magnum 2 tandem.