March 2015

Although the flying season is not far away now, winter flying can provide some superb moments. Mike Harper took this picture while flying on Clough Head on 8 February. The pilot is Mark Lennon on his Mentor 3. The cloud trail marks a temperature inversion where the air at ground level is colder than higher up (which is normally the reverse). Blencathra dominates the picture with Blease Fell on its left hand side. Jenkin Fell and Skiddaw are to the left of the photo

February 2015

Winter flying in the Lakes is cold but can provide some of the most rewarding flights in your flying career. Malcolm Grout is the pilot in this photo taken on January 22 2015. Take off was on the summit of Blease Fell NE of Keswick on the Blencathra ridge. The photo looks south to the Helvellyn massif with Clough Head on the middle right and Wolf Crags to its left. Malc says "I had only 34 minutes soaring the summit ridge, as cloud cover was increasing and the wind becoming more SW all the time. It was very much a down wind run to Blencathra summit; interesting when enveloped in thin cloud! Not a long flight but well worth it for that ethereal atmospheric feel". The photo was taken by Sean McMahon who has a great photo diary of Lake District fell walks at http://www.stridingedge.net/

January 2015

Mike Harper took this photo of Jackie Knights on Clough Head on Sunday 28 December. Jackie says "Very little wind, North westerly so the two of us took an early hike to the very top of Clough Head in the snow. Despite the sun being very hot and the wind blowing about 10 mph on take off (plus wind chill making it seem like about 15) we could pick up nothing on the cliffs - but the views were stunning and the fly down lasted nearly 15 mins."

December 2014

Cautley Spout is a great Cumbrian site. It lies to the east of the Howgill Fells on the Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen Road. This photo was taken at top takeoff on Yarlside between light showers on 9 November by John Hamlett. Several DHPC and CSC pilots were there; Dennis Marston (blue Rush 4), Ken Gamble (green Gin Atlas), the Buzz Z3 in the air is Mark Gilthorpe.

This month we have an alternative picture for you. Stuart "Tom" Thompson has got a new landing system for his Zeta, you can see it here.

Also recommended is Mike Harpers gallery of photos taken this month which can be found here

November 2014

After a magnificent summer, Autumn is coming in but we're still getting some super days. Phil Kew, Mark Lennon, Ken Gamble, Stuart Thompson and Mike Harper took advantage of a good day on Wednesday 29 October to fly from Ill Crag on the Scafell Pikes ridge. Phil is flying a Ozone Delta 2 and Great End is in the centre of the picture. The view is to the NNE with Skiddaw in the background. Photo by Mike Harper

October 2014

Autumn colours are arriving. This is Carrock Fell looking east in mid September

September 2014

August sees us at the annual Grasmere Show event. We have a light hearted accuracy competition in the field next to the showground but the aim is to fly for as long as possible and then try to land accurately. After a slow start, conditions dramatically improved with most pilots commeting on the buoyancy over the landing area. Pete Askew took this photo of a pilot striving to hit the landing spot

August 2014

With grateful thanks to Ed Cleasby for rescuing this month's PoM; we need your photos! It's the 2014 LCC and the Saturday A comp task was Buttermere Moss to Grasmere. Here Ed climbs up in a thermal over take off. The photo looks north east to Derwent Water and Skiddaw in the background.

June 2014

Jenkin Coaching day Saturday 3rd May. "It was a dull day with light winds, but despite that 10 members came to Coaching and had a good day. Plenty of ground handling, some soaring and everyone got flying and had a sociable time on the hill. The wow factor for new member Gordon Coulthard was a first post CP flight with spectacular views of Derwentwater. photo Mike Harper

May 2014

Spring has sprung and the flying season has started. Here Al Westle took this photo on an early March day over Ennerdale. Ennerdale Water is below and Skiddaw is on the horizon just to the left of the risers. Al says "This one was Mark Lennon (Atlas) and Stuart Thompson (Sprint Evo). We had planned to pass Pillar on our way to Wastwater but the direction was far too much North to do anything but boat about on Grike."