Turbo Porter Sunset

...evening walk became an evening flight

Wild rainy weather for the day suddenly subsided into a golden sunset, warm rays flooding under the dissipating sheet of clouds. Taking the opportunity for some exercise, I headed out for a walk. However I hadn't made it to the corner before I'd decided that this would actually be a great time for a sunset flight.

I don't often fly at the local fields anymore as there's not that much space, quite a few trees and often people walking dogs or playing. However, with sunset approaching and it having just stopped raining, I packed the Turbo Porter and headed down the road.

As ever sunset changes rapidly and the best of it was gone by the time the Porter headed to the skies. However, I managed to capture some of the fading sunset and enjoyed compiling the video... 

Raptor Sunny Clouds

...a ray of sunshine

The weather this autumn and winter has been dreadfully windy, all the more remarkable given that this is usually the stillest time of the year and the opportunity I'd taken to fly off the lake in the still afternoons.

However, there have been a few occasions when the gusting northerly has abated and yielded bejewelled afternoons, like this one.

Heading down to my usual spot, lovely cumulus decorated the vivid blue sky, the dark grey of their undersides vividly contrasting with the sparkling white of their peaks. As on the best late-afternoons, the clear horizon allowed a full spread of lush, golden sunlight to drench the lush greenery of the fields and add a sense of magical perfection to the scene.

These are my favourite flying conditions, preferred to sunny mornings or even lovely sunrises, except for when I'm suddenly wanting to capture a special moment of exceptional light, or beautiful cloud formation, or ibis flying formation.

Fortunately, in some cases such as this, I don't need to worry as I've got the video running and I can enjoy the moment. Flying the Raptor now is lovely, my favourite being it's red and white wings contrasting vividly with the blue and greys of the sky as it sweeps past...

Raptor Sunset Criusing

...kept on getting better

Taking the Raptor into the hills for some late afternoon sloping ended prematurely as the breeze dropped off to nothing at the approach of evening.

So, making the most of what looked to be a lovely sunset, I set the Raptor to cruising down the ridge filming our disappearing star.

It turned out to be one of those surprise sunsets which start of a little dull and then develop as the sun clears the low cloud.

As such, I kept the raptor flying laps up and down, only turning it in when the sun was just a glimmer on the horizon...

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...

AXN Floater-Jet Glider EPO 1127mm. Winter Sunset

...beautiful winter sunset

This beautiful sunset on a still evening had me heading off to the field in a hurry with the trusty Floater Jet and mobius camera to try and capture some of it. It’s always compelling to try and do this to make the most of what is otherwise obscured and diminished by the lack of a clear view.

From a vantage of a couple of hundred feet up, however, this is not an issue although there are others; the Floater is not the easiest thing to fly smoothly and steadily, especially when you’re trying to climb. Also, judging orientation from the ground is a bit hit and miss, compelling arguments for getting a drone with FPV capability.

The video from the flight was understandably then a little scrambled, with lovely glimpses here and there of the sun gradually sinking beyond the horizon. However, gradually sifting through the footage and stringing clips together I think I’ve managed to compile something that’s tranquil and a little bit special, in conjunction with a lovely acoustic guitar soundtrack.

Of course it’s nowhere as smooth or professional looking as something off a drone, but still not bad from a Floater Jet...

Known Value

...sometimes underestimated

Today was grey and cold with the odd shower, a fairly miserable day hinting at the approaching winter. However, towards late afternoon, the grey sky began fragmenting into picturesque patches of cloud and the sun began to filter through from the clean blueness beyond.

A few hours later, a gorgeous evening had developed with the sun sinking towards the horizon warmly illuminating patches of clouds hovering tranquilly in the motionless air. On evenings like these the best thing to do is take a glider and pop down to the field; having a plane leisurely savouring the moment takes you from being a spectator to being part of nature's spectacle.

Unfortunately two of my gliders are out of action, the Fox having crashed from a spin, and the Raptor lacking a motor due to an unfortunate failure of the unit I'd installed. I have, on several occasions taken the Floater, however it just doesn't have the grace and beauty that make flying the other gliders on these majestic occasions so special.

So I had to enjoy the sunset while earthbound, leading me to ponder on the value of well established planes, the ones you fly dozens of times without issue and don't really appreciate the value they are providing...

Sensational Sunset

...a gorgeous spectacle

Today was grey almost from start to finish, overcast with scattered showers. However, late in the day, the wind shifted to a warm northerly, clearing the west and developing the western clouds into a lovely assortment of types and altitudes.

The field was mostly empty so I quickly had the Floater Jet packaged with a camera and launched into the lovely afternoon sky to get some video of the sky show.

I'm a fan of mist and clouds; as regards the latter, particularly those interesting collections you get in the early morning or late evening, when shapes have developed in relative stillness.

This evening was a charmer, a clear west showing the gradually sinking sun and a collection of clouds on the opposite horizon,  an aerial canvas for the low angle of the sun to render in beautiful shades...

Fox Clouds

...exquisite tranquility

Yesterday evening was a rarity; the gusty weather of the afternoon abated whilst there was sufficient light to fly. Additionally, and most compellingly, the greasy cloud cover of the day have developed into a beautiful array of shapes colours and textures, enough to have me grabbing the Fox glider and heading for the door; delicate balances like this don't last forever.

Despite remnant players from the afternoon cricket match and a boisterous Retriever pup being walked on the field, I decided to get the Fox up so, with a bare minimum of preparation (no pre-flight video!) I had the Fox purring sweetly into the lovely evening sky.

Flying was an absolute joy, scenic and incredibly tranquil; the only detraction was having to cut the flight a little short as, with the field mostly ringed by trees, having enough power on tap to clear them is imperative.

Nevertheless, darkness was encroaching by the time the Fox bumped over the cricket pitch for a landing, and I headed for home with the lingering delight of having experienced something special...

Pastel Shades of Flight

...after a very hot day

As evening approached, the heat abated and winds dropped enough to scramble down the road for a dusk flight.

Clouds had amassed with the dropping temperatures, so the setting sun had a blank canvas on which to display fading pastel hues of orange and pink, a vivid contrast to the increasingly dark grey of the clouds.

The gentle cool breeze was a welcome change from the heat of the day as I let the Walrus loose through the skies in a cathartic display of aerobatics and low-passes across the field. Eventually satiated, I dropped off the power and gently cruised the plane as evening approached until, the light fading I turned the Walrus in on finals.

A typically floaty landing would have rounded off a lovely evening's flying, however I had misjudged the wind direction and had the Walrus side-on to the breeze. This sharply tilted the wings, causing the Walrus to thump onto the turf in one of the worst landings it's had.

There's always something...