Sunday dawned with a clear blue sky and a steady N.W. breeze, a perfect day for slope soaring if only it was 20º warmer; this particular Sunday was New Year’s day 2006. During the winter months I regularly "cycle" my TX / RX batteries so all that was required was a quick top-up for the flight pack using the field charger. I needed to clear the system of the excesses of the festive season and Santa had brought me a pair of fingerless woolly gloves that needed testing so I ventured out.
When I arrived at the slope that N.W. breeze felt an awful lot colder so I decided against going to the car park and walking the couple hundred yards to the slope, but parked on the verge from where I could virtually launch out of the car window. A few paces to the slope, a little power from the speed 400 just to be sure and the Hawk was away soaring beautifully.
Even with the fingerless gloves, TX mitt, woolly hat and parka hood the wind chill started to bite after about 10 minutes so I landed and retired to the warmth of the car. I was chilled to the bone but it was a great way to start the New Year. After I’d thawed out a bit I drove to the car park to turn around; just inside the entrance was a brand new sign so it was back on with the woolly hat and out to see what it was about.
The site had been donated to Durham Wildlife Trust and along with the details of the wildlife to be seen there was a list of prohibited activities: No off road vehicles, no fires, no overnight camping and no unauthorised flying of model aircraft. That certainly put a damper on things.
I finally managed to track down the man in charge of the site and he turned out to quite sympathetic to our cause, the "powers that be" had wanted a complete ban on flying, but his main concern was the safety of the wildlife and members of the general public whilst on the site. I arranged a meeting so we could discuss the way forward.
I explained about the BMFA insurance and this put his mind at rest on that score; to become "authorised", proof of BMFA membership will have to be supplied each year. As far as the wildlife is concerned I told him that the last thing we wanted to do was to clamber about on the slope disturbing the fauna and flora, the idea is to launch from the flat area at the top and then land back on the same area. He intimated that only gliders would be allowed but when I demonstrated the low noise level from the Hawk and pointed out that having the motor really eliminates the chance of loosing lift and having to go into the rough stuff he agreed that electric was acceptable. So far so good, however he was adamant about one thing, the site has to be "closed" during the breeding season, which is March to June inclusive.
It’s a pity to "loose" 4 months flying but all things considered I think it’s the best we could hope for and could certainly have been much worse. As the general public become more environmentally aware I’m sure that this sort of compromise will become more and more common; it’s a sign of the times!
When I arrived at the slope that N.W. breeze felt an awful lot colder so I decided against going to the car park and walking the couple hundred yards to the slope, but parked on the verge from where I could virtually launch out of the car window. A few paces to the slope, a little power from the speed 400 just to be sure and the Hawk was away soaring beautifully.
Even with the fingerless gloves, TX mitt, woolly hat and parka hood the wind chill started to bite after about 10 minutes so I landed and retired to the warmth of the car. I was chilled to the bone but it was a great way to start the New Year. After I’d thawed out a bit I drove to the car park to turn around; just inside the entrance was a brand new sign so it was back on with the woolly hat and out to see what it was about.
The site had been donated to Durham Wildlife Trust and along with the details of the wildlife to be seen there was a list of prohibited activities: No off road vehicles, no fires, no overnight camping and no unauthorised flying of model aircraft. That certainly put a damper on things.
I finally managed to track down the man in charge of the site and he turned out to quite sympathetic to our cause, the "powers that be" had wanted a complete ban on flying, but his main concern was the safety of the wildlife and members of the general public whilst on the site. I arranged a meeting so we could discuss the way forward.
I explained about the BMFA insurance and this put his mind at rest on that score; to become "authorised", proof of BMFA membership will have to be supplied each year. As far as the wildlife is concerned I told him that the last thing we wanted to do was to clamber about on the slope disturbing the fauna and flora, the idea is to launch from the flat area at the top and then land back on the same area. He intimated that only gliders would be allowed but when I demonstrated the low noise level from the Hawk and pointed out that having the motor really eliminates the chance of loosing lift and having to go into the rough stuff he agreed that electric was acceptable. So far so good, however he was adamant about one thing, the site has to be "closed" during the breeding season, which is March to June inclusive.
It’s a pity to "loose" 4 months flying but all things considered I think it’s the best we could hope for and could certainly have been much worse. As the general public become more environmentally aware I’m sure that this sort of compromise will become more and more common; it’s a sign of the times!
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