| Comments | :: | I can't believe I've not flown Milk since 2003! Got there at about 13:30 with pilots on the hill but not flying. A hangie in the air was having a good time. Sat parawaiting for the wind to drop and having a chat. A couple of hours or so later and it became do-able. Had trouble getting off initially due to a very strong cross wind component but a couple of attempts saw me in the air. VERY lively with some small but strong and fast moving thermals. My vario making some very strange noises usually followed by a frontal. Also one or two tip collapses, nothing worrying and even the frontals were very benign. The other pilots decided not to venture into the air (propably seeing my wing make some very interesting shapes) so had the hill to myself and it was a great 1 3/4 hour flight. It was rough at times but with my single hang point felt safe as houses. Didn't take a map with me so didn't attempt to get away but did achieve some 6-700 ft climbs. Due to the wind strength anything more than one 360 took me behind the hill struggling to get back so it was difficult to stay with the thermals. I did get pinned in a thermal gust once and landed behind the fence. I turned on landing though and managed a backwards touch and go, propelling myself back over the fence without deflating the wing so could continue my flight. Eventually took one 360 too much and got stuck behind the hill. Rather than struggle to get back I took the chance to go downwind to head back towards my van (at Golden Ball car park). However I was low and in hindsight should have landed on top due to the low level rotor. It got a bit rough but I landed without incident in the small valley behind the hill. One of my more exciting flights and good to see the old Cage still has it :) The downside was I'd forgotten about the Par-Avion BBQ. Hope you had a good time! |
