Floater Jet Hill Flying

..chilled-out cruising

The journey into the hills to slope soar the Floater Jet on the strong westerly wind had turned out disappointing; the slope-facing breeze sliding away to the north with the Floater Jet barely for a few minutes. 

Soaring out of the question, I lay on the hilltop watching the clouds changing until the breeze had abated. With the sky clearing as well, I loaded a fresh battery into the Floater for a pleasant cruise around the slopes.

The sky cleared as I flew, with the sun coming through increasingly to bathe the ridge in golden rays and give some warm texture to the clouds. 

No lift of course, but nevertheless a leisurely twenty minutes flying, turning in to the ridge-top only when the battery was depleted…

Raptor D-Box Pro 2000. Sunset in the Hills

...a beautiful afternoon

A brisk breeze saw me back in the hills for another attempt at slope soaring, this time on a westerly breeze. However a shift in direction after a short while had me lying on the ridge watching the clouds form and drift across the sky, powered by the breeze.

Fortunately the disruptive northerly had soon blown itself out, leaving a picturesque afternoon with the sun starting to dip. With no lift to be had, I nevertheless decided to get the Raptor for some leisurely cruising while enjoying the spectacle of a lovely sunset.

Flying on the ridge gives a three-dimensional aspect not normally experienced, flying the Raptor up the hill or floating it over the crest and down the other side. So, despite the soaring being a bit disappointing, the afternoon’s flying was beautiful...

R2Hobbies Raptor D-Box Pro 2000 Glider in the Hills.

...a lovely flight in beautiful surroundings

Having an opportunity to get into the hills I decided to pack the Raptor in the hope that I might be able to find a good spot to have a go at slope soaring, a sadly outstanding item on the RC list of things I want to do.

As it worked out I wasn't able yo find a suitable slope, however I did manage to get the Raptor out for a fly.

Having finished an enjoyable walk to a hilltop with a beautiful scenic lookout, I found a spot flat enough to get the Raptor landed. It was a beautiful afternoon with clear skies and barely a breath of wind. And, with hills in the background and rows of brilliant green pine saplings in the foreground, it was a beautiful setting.

Flying the Raptor here was actually great fun, with the thinner air meaning it flew flatter and faster, and enjoying the sun glinting off its long wings as it soared and turned in the cool afternoon air.

The awkward bit was the landing; the field wasn't all that flat and I was without flaps as the switch on my radio was broken. Also, the fluffy little saplings turned out to be much more solid than I thought, knocking one of the Raptor's tailplanes loose on landing...