Good evening fellow aviators.
I have taken a trip to the Scottish Gliding Centre this weekend to try and extend my Gliding season a little more.
It is my first time visiting here, so I have taken a few pictures below to share with you all. Hope you enjoy them 🙂.
The forecast predicted a 15 knot 240 degree wind, so I knew the ridge to the north of the club should be working.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-097-1-300x169.png)
I woke early to survey the ridge I would be flying.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-104-1-300x225.jpg)
The launch point is run a little differently here than at Bath Wilts. They run two Winch lines parallel to each other. With each line taking one of the two winch cables when they are retrieved.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-119-300x225.jpg)
The club tug plane is a neat little Euro Fox model.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-244-300x225.jpg)
The club weather vane and windsock is worthy of a quick photo too 🙂.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-223-300x225.jpg)
There was a large variety of private Gliders at the club, but there was one in particular I thought the longer serving members of Bath Wilts might enjoy seeing a picture of….![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-118-300x225.jpg)
I chose winch launches today, as my objective was working the north ridge, which is comfortably in reach from winch height. A club K21 was my trusty stead for the day, and arguably has one of the best tail numbers I’ve seen 🙂.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-116-1-300x225.jpg)
The views are spectacular from the moment you release from the winch.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-173-300x225.jpg)
The club is located alongside Loch Leven. Housed on a small island in the Loch is Loch Leven Castle, and on the edge of the Loch is Kinross House. Both structures can be seen surprisingly clearly from the air.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-214-300x225.jpg)
The ridge I was flying today forms part of the Lomond Hills Regional Park. Its a great feeling flying so close to such an impressive geological feature. The detail you get to see in the landscape from this vantage point is truly beautiful.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-148-300x225.jpg)
![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-150-300x225.jpg)
The ridge itself works with surprising ease and predictability. With todays weather conditions, the ridge reliably generated between 2 – 6kts up all day, with the ridge effect topping out between 2000ft – 2600ft depending on wind strength.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-156-300x225.jpg)
As you crest the top of the ridge, the views keep getting better and better 🙂.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-175-300x225.jpg)
To help lend a sense of scale for those that haven’t visited here before. The waterway you can see on the image below is Ballo reservoir, situated on top of the ridge! 🙂.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/F226822D-A4DB-4BF3-8B76-3CDFFAB26E51-300x225.jpeg)
This Gliding site is truly, truly, beautiful.![](https://www.bwnd.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Port-Moak-180-300x225.jpg)
What a great day dear aviators.
What centre of Gliding majesty should I visit next I wonder….
….Aboyne perhaps?
Hmm…. I’m certainly tempted by tales of wave, and tremendous height gains.
Yes dear aviators, its time I think to start planning my first trip to Aboyne 🙂.
Kind regards.
Damien.